Spring 33, 507 AV The Seaside Market The constant splash of seawater beneath her feet was an annoyance to the girl. Nauss knew that the salt would creep up the back of her boots and leave gritty white stains in their wake which she would be chastised for later. But it was inevitable; Leth’s magnetic force had already begun to reel the tide in from its depths and submerge the marketplace in water. Right now, the sea barely lapped at her soles, but Nauss knew in less than a bell’s time the ocean would already be creeping up to her knees since the flat streets of the market were all too accommodating to the tides. She would have to pick up her pace. It was a rare day that the young Kelvic was alone. Normally, Nauss would be attentive at the side of her Dhani master in his home, but not now. No, today she had been sent out to the flooded market as per her lord’s request. Nauss was not usually relegated to errand girl and being completely on her own was unnerving. But she did not complain. If her master sent her out to shop, she obeyed without a second thought. And though she did not question it, his current demand of her was an odd one. The Dhani handed the Kelvic a hearty chunk of Mizas and told her to simply “find something of worth” at the stalls. How frustrating. The stands were only filled with junk and those petty enough to try and sell it. There was nothing valuable here, in the items or the people. So, how was she expected to find anything suitable to bring back? Nauss slumped through the market, her arms curled to her chest and her head hung low. A tattered cloak concealed most of her frame save for when her boots peeked out from underneath its folds. And although it was a fair day, the wary girl still had the hood pulled up over her head. A precaution against the more dubious occupants of the city, but one that was easily overcome. She was young, female, and alone. It probably would have been more subtle if she had painted a bull’s-eye on her back. The Kelvic was ever alert under such conditions but bit confused as to why her master would knowingly put her at risk. Bah! Who was she to question her superior? Keep moving. Her eyes wandered constantly from place to place, taking in every inch of her surroundings and browsing the undoubtedly stolen loot in the shops. However, she never once exchanged glances with a stranger, even the stall keepers who were keen to swindle money out of the girl. That would be foolish and set her apart as an even larger target. Clearly the brilliant gold of her eyes was not human, far from it, and Nauss wanted to keep her Kelvic nature as much of a secret as she possibly could. Not that her safeguards did her much good. She was being followed. Two men had been cautiously tailing her from about thirty feet back. From a spectator’s point of view, they seemed harmless and only interested in what the marketplace had to offer. But, they paused when she did, sped up with any quickening pace she took, and stole glances her way now and again. And Nauss knew it. |