“We could. This recipe doesn’t have icing. We will make some for it. I don’t know how it got orange so we can ask for the ingredients.” Summer didn’t know how to make icing but shrugged it off and waved to the cake. She could learn how to make it. It couldn’t be that hard. Maybe is walk milk of some sort? Orange milk. Maybe. “We’ll take that one.”
“Just one?”
The half-Zith nodded while the cake was boxed. It had occurred to her before and now, Summer nibbled her nail, now it was brought to the front. She’d have to take this boy back to her temporary home. Phobius would know where she lived. Her stomach felt as if she’d eaten fresh worms. Uncomfortable, to say the least. Summer thought she might be afraid but banished it quickly, she was not afraid of some boy who might figure out she was Zith and ruin everything. It was going to be ruined anyways.
Summer swallowed the piece of nail she’d chewed off. It scratched down her throat, cut the worms to ribbons and pushed her foreword. Without a word Summer took the cake and all was silent around her. She stared at the baker but he said nothing. “How much?” She asked finally, he seemed to think then grinned.
“Five gold.”
There was something in his smile that said he thought Summer couldn’t buy it. Perhaps she was just projecting her own thoughts. Even if it were true, Summer took great satisfaction in handing the coins over with a smirk and walking away. Immediately the coin was tucked away like a great secret. She hadn’t waited for Phobius, he seemed excited for the food, she knew (hoped) he’d stay with her.
“Here, did you want to eat some now?” The half-Zith held the cake out toward him as she looked to the stalls. The people had come back into focus, stifling and loud. Summer moved closer to Phobius, once more falling a step behind as if waiting for him to lead. He was (even if he didn’t know it) her screen from the world. He allowed her to see without others truly seeing her.
She tried to focus her attention on the more important things, not the daunting way the building expanded or the thoughts that she didn’t know how to make an orange cake with strawberry decorations. Summer looked for another vendor but all she could see were cakes. More cakes. Cookies. She could smell a roast somewhere off a ways. “What is first? Lead the way and I’ll pay. Could you carry the stove when we get it? Or the ingredients.” Out of the corner of her eyes, Summer spotted a…dog? Goat? It was something with horns. Excited she pointed it out to Phobius, “They should have milk! And butter comes from goats, doesn’t it? I haven’t had a lot of milk, it doesn’t taste like anything. I think they have bread too, they should have flour. Do you think they’d have eggs? I forgot to ask what kind of eggs you like, I’ve only eaten chicken.”
“But I’ve heard you can any animals eggs and that they even taste like the animal they come from!”
Not realizing it, Summer had begun to lead the way, chattering on and on as they approached the new stall. The half-Zith paused here and there, trying to give Phobius time to answer but forgetting as a new thought cropped up. As she thought of all the things they’d need she wondered it she still had enough coin to buy everything they’d need. Summer had brought enough to make her uncomfortable. In Sunberth she’d know better but here she’d let herself feel a little safe. Summer pulled her arms in more, shielding herself from imaginary thieves.
“Since it’s for you, you can pick what types of things you want. Go on. I’ll eat anything.”
Which wasn’t a lie. If it didn’t make her sick, Summer ate it. It was a trait that had disturbed even her father. She’d thought nothing of it and didn’t think anything of it then either. Summer was too busy waiting eagerly at his side. Her eyes glues to his face, it was always pleasurable to watch someone share in her excitement. To see that look of happiness as they got what they desired from something as simple as food.
“Just one?”
The half-Zith nodded while the cake was boxed. It had occurred to her before and now, Summer nibbled her nail, now it was brought to the front. She’d have to take this boy back to her temporary home. Phobius would know where she lived. Her stomach felt as if she’d eaten fresh worms. Uncomfortable, to say the least. Summer thought she might be afraid but banished it quickly, she was not afraid of some boy who might figure out she was Zith and ruin everything. It was going to be ruined anyways.
Summer swallowed the piece of nail she’d chewed off. It scratched down her throat, cut the worms to ribbons and pushed her foreword. Without a word Summer took the cake and all was silent around her. She stared at the baker but he said nothing. “How much?” She asked finally, he seemed to think then grinned.
“Five gold.”
There was something in his smile that said he thought Summer couldn’t buy it. Perhaps she was just projecting her own thoughts. Even if it were true, Summer took great satisfaction in handing the coins over with a smirk and walking away. Immediately the coin was tucked away like a great secret. She hadn’t waited for Phobius, he seemed excited for the food, she knew (hoped) he’d stay with her.
“Here, did you want to eat some now?” The half-Zith held the cake out toward him as she looked to the stalls. The people had come back into focus, stifling and loud. Summer moved closer to Phobius, once more falling a step behind as if waiting for him to lead. He was (even if he didn’t know it) her screen from the world. He allowed her to see without others truly seeing her.
She tried to focus her attention on the more important things, not the daunting way the building expanded or the thoughts that she didn’t know how to make an orange cake with strawberry decorations. Summer looked for another vendor but all she could see were cakes. More cakes. Cookies. She could smell a roast somewhere off a ways. “What is first? Lead the way and I’ll pay. Could you carry the stove when we get it? Or the ingredients.” Out of the corner of her eyes, Summer spotted a…dog? Goat? It was something with horns. Excited she pointed it out to Phobius, “They should have milk! And butter comes from goats, doesn’t it? I haven’t had a lot of milk, it doesn’t taste like anything. I think they have bread too, they should have flour. Do you think they’d have eggs? I forgot to ask what kind of eggs you like, I’ve only eaten chicken.”
“But I’ve heard you can any animals eggs and that they even taste like the animal they come from!”
Not realizing it, Summer had begun to lead the way, chattering on and on as they approached the new stall. The half-Zith paused here and there, trying to give Phobius time to answer but forgetting as a new thought cropped up. As she thought of all the things they’d need she wondered it she still had enough coin to buy everything they’d need. Summer had brought enough to make her uncomfortable. In Sunberth she’d know better but here she’d let herself feel a little safe. Summer pulled her arms in more, shielding herself from imaginary thieves.
“Since it’s for you, you can pick what types of things you want. Go on. I’ll eat anything.”
Which wasn’t a lie. If it didn’t make her sick, Summer ate it. It was a trait that had disturbed even her father. She’d thought nothing of it and didn’t think anything of it then either. Summer was too busy waiting eagerly at his side. Her eyes glues to his face, it was always pleasurable to watch someone share in her excitement. To see that look of happiness as they got what they desired from something as simple as food.
