Chapter 6
Shelaya, unknown by her that her last name is Cartwill, rode through the gates of the capital city Corus late the next afternoon.
Shelaya got off Blaze and led him through the crowds, it looked like market day or something.
Mothers were grabbing little boys by the ears and lecturing them, little girls skipped between legs and hooves, horses shied away from bellowing men announcing their merchandise, women in tight bodices fluttered their eyelashes at shirtless men who looked like they were building a chapel, their muscles bunched up under the hot sun and sweat glistened on their tanned bodies.
Shelaya stood awed, but she felt like she had been here before, a flash and a pain in her head sent her stumbling to the ground, she cried out and a scene followed:
A five year old Shelaya looked at the crowds from on top of her family's travel caravan.
"Mommy, mommy there's so many people, is it really Corus?"
A heavenly sweet voice answered her "Yes darling it is."
The child looked up to look into her mothers sweet face, the present day Shelaya held her breathe, maybe now she'd know who her mother was, but she was jolted out of her reverie-
"-Hey, kid, are you okay! Woah there, come on I'll help you up"
Shelaya groaned in frustration
"Hey, easy there" The voice said
Shelaya forced herself to breathe easy, her emerald eyes swung up to meet lapis lazuli coloured ones.
"Come on"
She let herself be lifted up off the ground.
"Let's go over there, where it's a bit quieter and you can catch your breath."
She quietly followed the owner of the lapis lazuli eyes, who was guiding Blaze.
The three figures threaded their way through the thickening crowds.
The lapis lazuli owner walked towards a long strip of land, like sidelines to the market, covered with heavy material that blocked the sun, it was like a tent with no sides just a roof, and it was rectangular in shape and it went around the city.
"Here" the lapis lazuli-eye owner tied Blazes reins to a near by post and gave him a trough of water and a mound of oats.
Shelaya found a large pillow-like seat and plonked herself down.
She placed her aching head in her hands.
"So what was that all about?" An inquiring voice disturbed her thoughts.
She burst out "Why'd you do that for, I was this close!! I was SOOOOOO close, but noooooo you had to interrupt. Yes?!!! Gghhhhhraaaaa"
The lapis lazuli eyes widened in surprise, "Okaaaaaaayy, I guess you're not in the mood, and uh…you're welcome"
"Look, I'm sorry.." Shelaya began
"No it's alright, I mean…no worries, kid."
Shelaya looked up at the lapis lazulis and let her emerald eyes travel across the rest of the face and body. No wonder Lapis called her 'kid'.
He had jet-black hair, not oily or shiny with chemicals, no it was soft and clean and fresh looking, falling down softly across his forehead and cut to his ears.
His jaw line was strong showing that he was no child. His lips sensual, his chin stubborn.
He was tall, and was muscular, not wiry muscles, nor bulky, but well built. He looked around seventeen or eighteen, much too old for Shelaya; she was just a kid really.
His clothes were made up of different shades of blue, probably to compliment his eyes, Shelaya thought, loose and well fitting. Overall, he was absolutely gorgeous.
And Shelaya didn't even blink.
As she was studying him, he was studying her and her results were "Well, aren't you a pretty little thing, with those gorgeous green eyes, and that silky blood-red hair, y'know what, you remind me of a…. leprechaun, that's it!" He laughed out loud.
Shelaya's eyebrow rose "Okaaaaaaayy."
"Well, aren't you gonna ask me what a leprechaun is?" He asked with a smirk on his face.
"No, I already know." She shrugged
He gave her a sideways glance, with a slight widening of his lapis lazulis. "Smart kid huh?"
She shifted in her spot, and her golden dagger momentarily showed from under her dark tunic. She covered it up and glimpsed at the boy to see if he had seen anything, no he hadn't, she thought.
Shelaya and the stranger continued talking, him trying to get answers out of her and her giving him the vaguest of grunts for an answer.
But it was in mid-sentence that Shelaya felt a shifting in her clothes, oh- ever-so-slightly-as-it-was, she still felt it.
She felt the pressure of her clothes change minutely and a breathe of wind colder than before by mini-degrees hit her hip.
She listened to the boy avidly but inconspicuously slid her eyes downward.
And what she saw made her nearly burst out laughing, but before she laughed she said "What are you doing?" Very pointedly to the boy.
He froze and his eyes became round as saucers "Child prodigy" He whispered, he let go of her dagger and promptly disappeared.
Shelaya blinked in surprise, well that was a quick get away. She looked around, and spotted him climbing the side of a building with a speed Shelaya didn't even dream to match.
She turned back and then she let out her guffaws.
George watched with amusement from a good hiding spot, his trained eyes watched everything with care. And when he saw the young man run away he clapped out loud "Well done Shelaya, well done, you'll do." He chuckled and walked away.
Soon after, as Shelaya was walking around munching on some flavoured bread with Blaze in tow, she finally got up the courage to ask where the Dancing Dove was.
She stopped in front of a dress shop, tied Blaze to a post told him to 'guard' and went inside.
The shop was immaculately clean, and there were many pieces of beautiful materials on sale, there were pieces of lace, bodices, dresses, stocking, underclothes all displayed perfectly through out the shop.
Shelaya walked towards the end of the shop, where the owner was sitting down, looking like she was working on a dress.
As she neared, the owner looked "''ternoon, m'lady, how are ye?"
"Fine thank you" Shelaya answered politely. She looked closely at the woman, she was rather pretty, with full lips and big brown eyes, she was short and plump and looked absolutely sweet.
"Were ye after somethin' miss?"
"I…uh…" Now that the woman had mentioned it, Shelaya remembered that she could never get a job without a few under and outer clothes, she couldn't just wear her black tunic, pants and cloak forever, but she only had a few gold coins, when she left the Barony, she had forgotten to take money with her, maybe she could barter something…
"Well, yes…I am after something, but…but" She looked helplessly at the woman.
"Oh dear…well…" She looked confused "Are ye lost miss?"
"No, I…uh, no, I'm fine, but I didn't take any money with me, and …"
"Oh"
"I'm an orphan"
"Ooohhhh"
"And I'll be getting a job soon"
"In Corus?"
"Yes"
"And do ye happen t'need whatever yer looking fer right now?"
"Well…yes" Shelaya told her uncertainly
"Well then, I'm sure I could wait a few days fer my money t'come, don't ye agree miss?" The woman smiled at Shelaya gently
Shelaya's eyes snapped open "Oh…I couldn't, I mean…here why don't you take this" She pulled out her golden dagger and gave it to the woman. The woman's smiled and eyes widened.
"Miss, Mithros no!! Do ye know how much this would cost miss? This is priceless, miss, don't let anyone see that, unless ye'll be using it, no miss, I suggest ye keep that, looks like a family heirloom to me…"
Shelaya breathed.
"Come on, lets see what we can get fer ye, and ye can pay me all of it later okay, by the way, my name is Lalasa, Miss."
"Oh, thank you ever so much Lalasa" the girl hugged Lalasa.
"'Tis alright, Miss, ye look ever so honest t'goodness, I couldn't help helpin' ye" The woman chuckled.
"I'm Shelaya, and I…uh…well…"
"…I hope we can be friends, Shelaya" Lalasa finished for her.
"Now, let's see, you need a deep red tunic and green pants, of course some underclothes, a burgundy gown, an olive gown, a jade outfit… what sort of job are ye doing?" Lalasa chattered.
"I couldn't possibly afford all that," Shelaya gasped as Lalasa started pulling her clothes off and giving her outfits to try and ignoring Lalasa previous question
"Okay, how about this, I give you everything you'll buy now for half price, if you will be a constant customer, meaning you will buy clothes only from my shop, deal?" Lalasa asked as she helped her into a tester-blue tunic
Shelaya looked at the clothes she was wearing, it felt oh-so-comfortable "DEAL!" She laughed, "Of course! I mean your clothes, they look and feel so good."
"Well, why do you think the Queen chose me to make her gowns for her" Lalasa boasted with pride
"The Queen!!" Shelaya goggled "Woo, you must be really good, I'll definitely be a constant customer."
"Alright, now lets get you into a fitting for some instant clothes…"
Shelaya, unknown by her that her last name is Cartwill, rode through the gates of the capital city Corus late the next afternoon.
Shelaya got off Blaze and led him through the crowds, it looked like market day or something.
Mothers were grabbing little boys by the ears and lecturing them, little girls skipped between legs and hooves, horses shied away from bellowing men announcing their merchandise, women in tight bodices fluttered their eyelashes at shirtless men who looked like they were building a chapel, their muscles bunched up under the hot sun and sweat glistened on their tanned bodies.
Shelaya stood awed, but she felt like she had been here before, a flash and a pain in her head sent her stumbling to the ground, she cried out and a scene followed:
A five year old Shelaya looked at the crowds from on top of her family's travel caravan.
"Mommy, mommy there's so many people, is it really Corus?"
A heavenly sweet voice answered her "Yes darling it is."
The child looked up to look into her mothers sweet face, the present day Shelaya held her breathe, maybe now she'd know who her mother was, but she was jolted out of her reverie-
"-Hey, kid, are you okay! Woah there, come on I'll help you up"
Shelaya groaned in frustration
"Hey, easy there" The voice said
Shelaya forced herself to breathe easy, her emerald eyes swung up to meet lapis lazuli coloured ones.
"Come on"
She let herself be lifted up off the ground.
"Let's go over there, where it's a bit quieter and you can catch your breath."
She quietly followed the owner of the lapis lazuli eyes, who was guiding Blaze.
The three figures threaded their way through the thickening crowds.
The lapis lazuli owner walked towards a long strip of land, like sidelines to the market, covered with heavy material that blocked the sun, it was like a tent with no sides just a roof, and it was rectangular in shape and it went around the city.
"Here" the lapis lazuli-eye owner tied Blazes reins to a near by post and gave him a trough of water and a mound of oats.
Shelaya found a large pillow-like seat and plonked herself down.
She placed her aching head in her hands.
"So what was that all about?" An inquiring voice disturbed her thoughts.
She burst out "Why'd you do that for, I was this close!! I was SOOOOOO close, but noooooo you had to interrupt. Yes?!!! Gghhhhhraaaaa"
The lapis lazuli eyes widened in surprise, "Okaaaaaaayy, I guess you're not in the mood, and uh…you're welcome"
"Look, I'm sorry.." Shelaya began
"No it's alright, I mean…no worries, kid."
Shelaya looked up at the lapis lazulis and let her emerald eyes travel across the rest of the face and body. No wonder Lapis called her 'kid'.
He had jet-black hair, not oily or shiny with chemicals, no it was soft and clean and fresh looking, falling down softly across his forehead and cut to his ears.
His jaw line was strong showing that he was no child. His lips sensual, his chin stubborn.
He was tall, and was muscular, not wiry muscles, nor bulky, but well built. He looked around seventeen or eighteen, much too old for Shelaya; she was just a kid really.
His clothes were made up of different shades of blue, probably to compliment his eyes, Shelaya thought, loose and well fitting. Overall, he was absolutely gorgeous.
And Shelaya didn't even blink.
As she was studying him, he was studying her and her results were "Well, aren't you a pretty little thing, with those gorgeous green eyes, and that silky blood-red hair, y'know what, you remind me of a…. leprechaun, that's it!" He laughed out loud.
Shelaya's eyebrow rose "Okaaaaaaayy."
"Well, aren't you gonna ask me what a leprechaun is?" He asked with a smirk on his face.
"No, I already know." She shrugged
He gave her a sideways glance, with a slight widening of his lapis lazulis. "Smart kid huh?"
She shifted in her spot, and her golden dagger momentarily showed from under her dark tunic. She covered it up and glimpsed at the boy to see if he had seen anything, no he hadn't, she thought.
Shelaya and the stranger continued talking, him trying to get answers out of her and her giving him the vaguest of grunts for an answer.
But it was in mid-sentence that Shelaya felt a shifting in her clothes, oh- ever-so-slightly-as-it-was, she still felt it.
She felt the pressure of her clothes change minutely and a breathe of wind colder than before by mini-degrees hit her hip.
She listened to the boy avidly but inconspicuously slid her eyes downward.
And what she saw made her nearly burst out laughing, but before she laughed she said "What are you doing?" Very pointedly to the boy.
He froze and his eyes became round as saucers "Child prodigy" He whispered, he let go of her dagger and promptly disappeared.
Shelaya blinked in surprise, well that was a quick get away. She looked around, and spotted him climbing the side of a building with a speed Shelaya didn't even dream to match.
She turned back and then she let out her guffaws.
George watched with amusement from a good hiding spot, his trained eyes watched everything with care. And when he saw the young man run away he clapped out loud "Well done Shelaya, well done, you'll do." He chuckled and walked away.
Soon after, as Shelaya was walking around munching on some flavoured bread with Blaze in tow, she finally got up the courage to ask where the Dancing Dove was.
She stopped in front of a dress shop, tied Blaze to a post told him to 'guard' and went inside.
The shop was immaculately clean, and there were many pieces of beautiful materials on sale, there were pieces of lace, bodices, dresses, stocking, underclothes all displayed perfectly through out the shop.
Shelaya walked towards the end of the shop, where the owner was sitting down, looking like she was working on a dress.
As she neared, the owner looked "''ternoon, m'lady, how are ye?"
"Fine thank you" Shelaya answered politely. She looked closely at the woman, she was rather pretty, with full lips and big brown eyes, she was short and plump and looked absolutely sweet.
"Were ye after somethin' miss?"
"I…uh…" Now that the woman had mentioned it, Shelaya remembered that she could never get a job without a few under and outer clothes, she couldn't just wear her black tunic, pants and cloak forever, but she only had a few gold coins, when she left the Barony, she had forgotten to take money with her, maybe she could barter something…
"Well, yes…I am after something, but…but" She looked helplessly at the woman.
"Oh dear…well…" She looked confused "Are ye lost miss?"
"No, I…uh, no, I'm fine, but I didn't take any money with me, and …"
"Oh"
"I'm an orphan"
"Ooohhhh"
"And I'll be getting a job soon"
"In Corus?"
"Yes"
"And do ye happen t'need whatever yer looking fer right now?"
"Well…yes" Shelaya told her uncertainly
"Well then, I'm sure I could wait a few days fer my money t'come, don't ye agree miss?" The woman smiled at Shelaya gently
Shelaya's eyes snapped open "Oh…I couldn't, I mean…here why don't you take this" She pulled out her golden dagger and gave it to the woman. The woman's smiled and eyes widened.
"Miss, Mithros no!! Do ye know how much this would cost miss? This is priceless, miss, don't let anyone see that, unless ye'll be using it, no miss, I suggest ye keep that, looks like a family heirloom to me…"
Shelaya breathed.
"Come on, lets see what we can get fer ye, and ye can pay me all of it later okay, by the way, my name is Lalasa, Miss."
"Oh, thank you ever so much Lalasa" the girl hugged Lalasa.
"'Tis alright, Miss, ye look ever so honest t'goodness, I couldn't help helpin' ye" The woman chuckled.
"I'm Shelaya, and I…uh…well…"
"…I hope we can be friends, Shelaya" Lalasa finished for her.
"Now, let's see, you need a deep red tunic and green pants, of course some underclothes, a burgundy gown, an olive gown, a jade outfit… what sort of job are ye doing?" Lalasa chattered.
"I couldn't possibly afford all that," Shelaya gasped as Lalasa started pulling her clothes off and giving her outfits to try and ignoring Lalasa previous question
"Okay, how about this, I give you everything you'll buy now for half price, if you will be a constant customer, meaning you will buy clothes only from my shop, deal?" Lalasa asked as she helped her into a tester-blue tunic
Shelaya looked at the clothes she was wearing, it felt oh-so-comfortable "DEAL!" She laughed, "Of course! I mean your clothes, they look and feel so good."
"Well, why do you think the Queen chose me to make her gowns for her" Lalasa boasted with pride
"The Queen!!" Shelaya goggled "Woo, you must be really good, I'll definitely be a constant customer."
"Alright, now lets get you into a fitting for some instant clothes…"