Reo: Okay. I'm glad you liked the story. However, I'd like to sat one thing. Now I'm a senior that means I will get bucket loads more work from school. So the reason why I asked for people to review to this story was because I don't want to waste precious time writing a story no one will read. Unlike my other two stories, this one I haven't completely worked out yet, so I experience a hell of a lot of writers block with it. So that's why I asked for the reviews (and I didn't sugar-coat the way I said it either like other people do). But to everyone who reviewed, I'm very grateful! I have sort of got the direction of this story so it may be a bit easier for me to write from now on.

Chapter 2- Out of the Blue (Hey! That rhymes! Okay... I know it's not funny...)

Jeremiah was an old man. He had realised this long ago, when his once youthful looks had perished and his grey complexion began eating its way through his skin. It was sad how the only thing which couldn't be won back, youth, was the only thing he desired. But that was a lie. Truth be told he would rather feel the comfort of his wife, Rosanna, next to him again…

Being a merchant wasn't difficult for Jeremiah. In fact, he found it unbelievably easy. He was skilled at knowing exactly what the towns' current demand was, and exactly how he could get it. He was so skillful at it that he could probably retire with his daughter soon. The thought tickled his opal grey beard. Retirement was probably the only good thing that ever came with age.

"Father!" Rosina called up to him, "I'm going to the market place! Do you want me to get you anything?"

"No. I'm fine," he called back in his usual husky voice. "Don't go too long though, alright?"

"Don't worry!" she said back with a laugh. The next thing Jeremiah heard was the door closing downstairs.

As soon as she had left, Jeremiah pulled himself out of his chair and had walked over to the nearby table which was covered in beautiful oriental fabrics. He examined them carefully, making sure they were undamaged. He would probably sell them soon, but he had to pick a good occasion when they would become desirable to the public.

Rosina walked through the market place, basket in hand, and observed the busying setting around her. She looked at the small list which she had made herself, and wondered what items she should get first.

Maybe I should get the fresh items I need first so they haven't sold out of them by the time I get there.

She had arrived at a stand filled with delicious fruits and vegetables. She noticed, as she was picking some out, a man leaning against the other side of the stand. He was a brunette, who happened to be wearing emerald green armour. As he was staring spaciously up into the clouds, Rosina walked closer to him, pretending to examine peach. She had never seen him around him before, but she was certain he was a knight. His armour was a sure sign of it.

"Hello," she said as a pleasant greeting, "I haven't seen you around here before. What's your name?"

Sain had been standing there quietly, asking himself why on earth he had made that stupid bet with Kent. After all, he had never successfully wooed a woman before. Who knows… Kent had never tried before so he might actually have some luck. But why was no one interested in Sain? What did he always do that made women think so poorly of him. He thought back to all the girls in the party he had been traveling with. Florina was the first which sprung to mind. She was awfully shy, but Sain had always tried to make her show her true colours.

Maybe that was why Sain had been unsuccessful. Maybe he had been too headstrong in his approached to women. Perhaps he should go about this another way…

Then suddenly a pretty girl walked over to him, holding a basket. Sain stared at the girl. Her pretty golden eyes and opal coloured hair were the first things he noticed. The fact that she was smiling at him was the second.

"Hello," she said, "I haven't seen you around here before. What's your name?"

Sain was shocked. He hadn't even approached the girl and she already wanted his name. Could Sain's luck finally be turning around?

"Uh… my name's Sain…" he said in an unsure voice. He was careful in his method this time. It had occurred to him that wooing a lady may be more of an art form than he had originally thought.

"My name's Rosina," replied the girl.

Her smile is one of pure beauty…

"…So Sain…" she continued, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm waiting for some supplies to be made by the blacksmith," he replied trying to resist the urge to look into her stunning eyes. But he couldn't help it and blushed at the sight of her. She gave a small chuckle when she saw his expression. "Yes… well… I'm only here for two days…"

"Only two?" Rosina said in disappointment, "Why can't you stay for longer?"

"Well… I, um… I'm with a group, and we're leaving in two days." Sain was not sure why he mumbled those last words. After all, he was never inarticulate normally. Perhaps it was just the fact that this girl was talking to him willingly, and he got a strange feeling that if he acted the way he normally did he'd scare of this charismatic young girl.

"Well, if you're only here for two days then I should probably give you a tour! You wouldn't want to leave this town not knowing what you're missing, would you?"

Sain was about to respond, but already the girl had grabbed his arm and was dragging him down the marketplace.

Kent admired her. She was far prettier than any which he had seen before. The surface of her gleamed and Kent found it hard to look away. He stroked her carefully, being careful not to damage a single part of her elegant body.

"So… you were saying?" Kent asked.

"Ah… yes… she's one hell of a ship. Took me two years to finish her."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah. I'll probably send her to some ocean town. My work on ships goes pretty unnoticed around here." The carpenter continued carving into a small piece of wood, which would probably become the name of her. "So what about that bet?"

"What bet?" Kent asked in shock.

"You know… the one that you and your friend made…"

"How on earth did you hear about that?" Kent insisted.

"How could I not hear about it!" the carpenter laughed, "You were only several yards away when you said it."

"Oh…" Kent felt slightly embarrassed, "Well it may please you to know that I don't care about that stupid bet.

"Why's that?"

"Because I'm not interested in winning gold, and there's no way I could possibly loose anyway," Kent stated.

"No way you could loose?" the carpenter said puzzled, "What if your friend wins?"

Kent laughed abruptly. "Sain couldn't charm the backside of a buffalo, yet alone a woman!" The carpenter was slightly shocked with Kent's over confidence.

"Maybe he can't charm a buffalo, but that girl seems pretty keen on him," the carpenter said, pointing over to Sain and a girl who was dragging him through the marketplace.

"How on earth…?" Kent muttered in complete astonishment.

A girl that's interested in Sain… now there's something I thought I'd never live to see…

Reo: Did you like it? You should because it took me about two months to think of it (CURSE YOU WRITERS BLOCK!). Oh well… I know where this stories heading now, so I might start getting into it. If you want to get all critical, then write me a review. I love making improvements on my stories.

Till next time!