She could help but laugh lightly as she watched her reaction from
underneath her eyelashes. Amusement sparkling in her eyes, she let her hand off
the fabfics and crossed her arms, not letting her sight off her. Of all sudden, she felt
her mood brighting up, despite the gloom that had been crawling after her like a
shadow in the past few days. She did not know if it was he fine bargain or just plain
joy of seeing someone else's happiness caused by such simple matter.
Was it really that much money? She bit on her lip as she wondered
what actually was the finaly price she had just agreed to pay. To her, it didn't seem
to be such a terrible amount, as now she had plenty money thanks to her growing
business and popularity at the court, just as well as the good harvest at her castle.
Paying for a few gowns should not be such trouble to her and she had to smile at
the awful irony that it brought, that few coins, merely two night with some gracious
patrons, would mean so much for this girl.
She watched her packing her new fabrics and with a careful hand
touched the purse that was hidden underneath her cloak. She smiled as she
looked around, her eyes searching for her guards that seemed to disappear as fast
as morning mist did. They were terrible sometimes, for whenever she needed them
most they were never around, but any time she would beg them to go away, their
grinning faces were still there. She sighed lightly and hoped that at least they would
get her some valuable information while she did her shopping.
She listened to her words, patient and careful. She took the
information she had been told and tried to make the pieces fit, to create a full picture
that would tell her more about this girl she had found herself interested in. She had
been taught to collect, create and use any kind of information and the years she had
spent at the court certainly helped her get throught it. WIth this one, however, she
found herself almost unable to cope, as her replies were confusing and empty.
She wondered if she had ever heard of Tibesti of the part of Africa
she was talking about. Geography and history were both quite clear to her and she
was familiar with more temrs and places and events than most people of her age
and origin, yet her memory was sometimes failing her, as her knowledge faded
away since the years she had been studying with her beloved tutor. But now she
could use the knowledge she had elaborated. She had to smile at the memory of
her tutor yelling at her that a time like this would come, when she would need to
know more. Back then, she did not listen nor care, for studies seemed rather boring
to her compared to her little adventures.
"I see," she started slowly, nodding her head. "So there is nowhere
you can come back to? No family? Parents? Husband?" she raised her eyebrows
as she slowly and quietly proceeded with the interrogation.
She could not imagine living like this. Her parents were gone for a
long time and so was the man who had raised her and loved her, but she felt that
she always had somewhere to go to. Number of friends, people who were like
family to her, and even her lovers would always offer a shelter if she needed.
Besides that, now that she was a lady of her own castle, her security raised and she
truly felt a strong bound with a certain piece of land. She wondered and pitied the
girl, though that sympathy was not one of her specific traits.
She started looking for the purse as she smiled at the girl. She took
out the money and handed it to her, quickly counting in her head. She looked around
the place and chuckled. "There should be my guards running around somewhere
here, but they probably got into a street fight or into a conversation with some
taverns wench, as always," she shook her head, laughing. "I suppose I will have to
wait for them or carry it myself. Unless you would like to earn a few more golds,
aye?" she arched an eyebrow and gave her a small smile.
turnnoffyourmind
gummygunk
blakekathryn
jacobvanloon
