A Single Spark

by Tayvia Pierce

  Iolyn steered his own horse next to the one Brynmor and Rhian shared and he murmured to her with a sly smile. “It may not be so bad staying here for a few weeks, Rhi. Perhaps you can bring some style and sophistication to these people,” he teased, winking at her. She blushed, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was pleased with the idea. She began to look at the townsfolk with a renewed interest, her light blue eyes sizing up their attire.

  Some of the ladies that had been whispering and staring at us caught Rhian’s appraising look and huffed, turning to disappear quickly into the the shop behind them. Another smiled back at her before turning to the young man walking next to her to say something as they continued down the road. “I’m not sure if they want to be more sophisticated.” Rhian mumbled to Brynmor, who chuckled.

  The main road through Lund steadily climbed upwards, lined by two and three story structures, shops of all kinds mixed with houses and apartments in what seemed to be a random fashion. Rhian visibly brightened when we saw a tailor’s shop with a pretty dress in the window, and then she beamed as we came within sight of the park. It was lined with trees and flowering shrubbery, thick enough to allow park-goers some measure of privacy from the city just beyond with a glass pavilion placed in the center.

  A duo played a jig on a lute and fiddle next to a fountain that brought a joyful squeak from Rhian. “At least they know what music is.” She said with no small measure of relief on her face. I lifted a brow at her, not sure whether she was joking, or truly believed that our country was the only one that knew of music. She couldn’t possibly be that ignorant, I finally decided she was joking.

  Finally we reached the pinnacle of the city, such as it was, and there was a large Inn with a pleasant courtyard garden and stables off to the side. A large sign hung above the door that read ‘The Silver Stag Inn’, with a surprisingly well drawn stag painted in white on the carved wood. The Inn appeared well maintained, at least, and the perpetual stream of locals and foreigners alike entering and exiting indicated it was at least popular, though less classy than I was accustomed to. It would do for us for a few weeks, at least, and I felt relieved that at least this had gone right today.

  Brynmor had already dismounted, offering his hand to Rhian to help her down. Rhian smiled shyly at him, Bryn’s smile warming in return and I watched them for a moment, thoughtful. Whether he shared in her romantic feelings or not wasn’t clear to me, though there was no denying the special affection he had for her. He genuinely cared for each member of our family, but my little sister was the one he doted on.

  Rhian’s feet were hardly planted on the ground before Brynmor turned from her to offer his hand to me, setting his other hand on my waist to guide me down from Madox’s horse so he could dismount. I caught the jealous look on Rhian’s face as she watched us before she looked away, pretending to be aloof.

  Pedr came over to stand near us, Rhian in particular and he was trying to give her a stern look. “My Lady, you are to stay close to a guard at all times while we are here.” Pedr told her directly, though his attention was quickly stolen by a stocky, dark skinned man as he climbed the steps of the Inn.

  “There seem to be many foreigners here, and probably many of a less than savory nature. But do not fear, Lady Rhian. You are well protected.”

  Rhian frowned at him, clearly not happy with the oppression of her freedom. I studied Pedr intently for an extra moment, not as familiar with this escort as I would have expected after traveling together these last months. He had joined us at the last minute, though his reasons why were yet unexplained to me. He was young and pleasant looking, and wasn’t a guard though that was essentially how he acted. He was of noble birth, and according to Rhian, had requested to journey with us for the purpose of seeing more of the world, though I had long suspected it was actually Rhian who he wished to follow.

  Two stable keepers approached our company quickly, smiling and eager to please, one of our drivers climbing down from the wagon to speak with them about the details of stabling all of our horses. Others who had been in the courtyard turned to watch us with no shortage of curiosity, some fixing their clothing as though they suddenly felt disheveled and wished to impress.

  I finally turned to look up to the Inn, eying the three story structure as it towered above me in all of its stone glory. “Well, I suppose we should go in and see what rooms they have available.” I commented with a slight sigh, already mentally calculating the costs.

  Father grunted as he came up behind me. “I trust you can make those arrangements, daughter. I am going to see to storing our belongings safely.” He leaned down to kiss the top of my head, gripping my shoulder in a loving squeeze before he murmured. “I trust your judgment.” He murmured before releasing me. I looked around to the others before climbing the steps to the door, pushing it open to enter.

  The Silver Stag Inn was bustling with activity, even at this hour of the afternoon. Men and women were seated at tables, some lingered by the bar counter, and others lined benches along the wall, but all seemed comfortable and happy, the orange glow and the crackling of the fire casting a cozy light through the common room, the smell of roasting meat and cooked food filling the air. Laughter echoed from some corner of the room as a towns-person told a tale, and at the front counter was a man who could only be described as large and beefy with a bushy beard, looking rather intimidating but for the merry twinkle in his eyes.

  “Ho, there!” He called out to us and I approached, giving him a warm smile. “I’m Jack Redding, yer friendly neighborhood innkeeper. What can I do for yeh, lass?” His eyes flicked up to see the rest of our group coming in the door after me, widening at the sight of so many. “Err, for all o’ you, folk, I mean?” He nearly looked like he might drool as I sensed him mentally calculating how much money he was about to bring in.

  Most conversation in the room had come to a halt as the patrons caught sight of us, craning their necks to get a better look at the wealthy company that had just arrived. If we drew this attention everywhere we went, we would hardly be able to leave our rooms during our time here, and that was going to make this a horribly long two weeks. Slowly, the whispers started, voices low as the residents of this town began their gossip, or returned to their previous conversation, but regardless, the jovial mood of the place had shifted.

  “We need rooms, Mister Redding.” I ignored the other patrons and smiled at the barkeep as I began. “We will be here at least two weeks, if not more. I realize you may not have the space to house all of us, so we are prepared to share.” Rhian wiggled herself in next to me at the desk, though her attention was fixed on the room behind me with wide eyes as she watched the patrons with open curiosity.

  He was already shaking his head. “Not t’ worry, lass. I have several rooms free, though some will need t’ share if yer stayin’ that long.” He gave me, and then the rest of my family curious looks as I explained our situation. He chortled at the end and nodded, pulling out his ledger and setting us up with accommodations as best he could. He certainly liked to talk, and was helpful in directing us who to see about our wheel replacement needs and where to get the best deals in town for whatever we might require...and several things we wouldn’t.

  Two hours later, we were settled into our rooms and finally able to relax. It was dinnertime, and the smell of the roasting boar had lured nearly everyone to the dining room for dinner. I smiled when Iolyn beckoned me to join them and said I would be along shortly, though all I wanted to do was enjoy the feeling of a soft bed beneath me once again. The thought of subjecting myself to the gossiping scrutiny of the townsfolk again was not something I desired, and sorely needed to be alone. A contented sigh echoed in the empty room and as my eyes drifted shut in the enjoyment of the quiet, and that was all it took before I was fast asleep.

  CHAPTER 13

  The morning came all too soon and my explanations for skipping dinner were met with mixed reactions, though it was quickly forgotten with Rhian’s whining thr
ough breakfast about her room, which was clearly inferior to what she deserved as a noble. There was a lot of eye-rolling among the family, and when I could stand it no longer, I broke into her commentary and suggested we explore the town. We were in need of a few ways to occupy ourselves for the next couple of weeks while we waited for our wagon to be repaired, and despite all the attention we seemed to be attracting, it seemed a good time for a walk.

  My siblings and I, along with our guards, left the Silver Stag’s courtyard without a particular direction in mind, content to enjoy the warmth of the July sun as we wandered the streets in search of whatever entertainment or distractions this city had to offer. A light breeze carried the scents of hay, wood and green grass through town, three things this city seemed to have in abundance, and while the local merchants seemed friendly enough, they were clearly flustered with our presence as we browsed their shops and stalls.

  Admittedly, there wasn’t much in the way of amusements to be found, though we discovered an outdoor theater which, after a closer look, did not seem to get much use. That fact brought a pout to Rhian’s lips; she adored the theater, though Brynmor expressed his vast relief in not being dragged along to plays in this place, too, a comment that earned him a deep scowl from Rhian and a jovial laugh from Iolyn.

  As we made our way through the busy streets, I noticed a surprising number of other foreigners, mingling amongst the locals as though they belonged here as easily as anyone else. This city was a hub of travel, I recalled from Father’s map, built on the crossroads of the two main roads that would carry travelers east, west, north, or south. It brought travelers of all types through town, though the reactions to our presence did not seem limited to heritage.

  I could feel the eyes of many foreigners and locals alike intently watching us, and not all gazes seemed to be friendly or welcoming. I was glad to have Brynmor and Madox with us, and even more glad for the blazing sunlight. Feeling their eyes trailing after us had planted the seed of wariness as the little hairs on the back of my neck began to stand on end and I edged a little closer to Madox.

  Rhian walked ahead a little in blissful ignorance of those watching us, stopping to press her palms to the window of the tailor’s shop where she had seen the pretty dress the day before. “Can we go in? I want to look at that dress and maybe some hats. Or coats, since winters are going to be much colder here,” she said, ignoring any answer I might have given her and going inside the shop anyways. I wouldn’t have refused her, though I couldn’t prevent the annoyance at being dismissed before I even had a chance to agree.

  Brynmor groaned. “I think I’m going to wait out here. You know, keep a lookout.” He leaned lazily against the wall of the shop, loosely crossing his arms over his chest and letting out a little yawn. “Besides, I have all the dresses I need already.” He flashed a teasing grin at me to which I could only respond with a roll of my eyes and a smirk. Rhian giggled as she passed through the door and I followed with Madox and Iolyn, the former looking resigned and the latter looking curious.

  Rhian was like an excitable puppy, moving from one rack of clothing to the next, on the hunt for something she considered to be appropriate attire. She pulled a blue dress out to look at it more closely, holding it up to show me as I browsed through the coats. “It isn’t silk, unfortunately, but I like the color and the style. What do you think? Would Father let me buy it?” Rhian asked, but didn’t even give me a chance to answer before plucking a large, ostentatious hat from a mannequin to set it on her head. “This is really what passes for fashion here?” She giggled, the hat positioned wrong and thus, looking ridiculous.

  Iolyn laughed while Madox rolled his eyes, the latter taking up a spot by the doorway and looking thoroughly unimpressed with dresses and hats in general. Iolyn took the hat and fixed its placement on her head, vastly improving the overall look of it. He couldn’t help but tease Rhian. “I cannot even imagine you wearing anything but the finest of gowns. And no buying anything today, little sister. Only looking. ” He was then quickly drawn to a waistcoat which he began to inspect closely. “This is fine craftsmanship. Perhaps once our coin arrives from Taurova, I will have to come back here.” He chuckled.

  I had to admit, the work of this tailor was excellent. Not quite up to the Perinthas Clothier’s Emporium’s standard, but for a provincial city like this, it was admirable. I had to admit, I saw a dress in there that I liked, a pale green with delicate dark green vines and silver flowers embroidered along the collar. It was much simpler than any of the gowns that were in my trunks, which now just seemed pretentious and extravagant. And with a dress like that, you won’t stand out like a sore thumb, the thought came to me in a flash.

  I glanced to Rhian and Iolyn wearing their usual elegant clothing and I saw us through the eyes of the townsfolk, seeing why we were drawing so much attention, both good and bad. It was one thing to pick up and move to another land, but I was finally coming to a new understanding of what that meant: wherever we ended up, our clothing would likely be completely inappropriate. Whatever grand cities had once existed out here were long destroyed by war, if my studies of history taught me anything, and what cities were left would have no place for nobles in their grandeur.

  I hadn’t given much thought about where we might end up, simply trusting that it would all work out to our benefit one way or another, but now I couldn’t help but think to the future and the reality of what we might face wherever we decided to stay. Our way of living was going to change more dramatically than I had anticipated, and it filled me with uncertainty. I hated not knowing what to expect, this was no exception.

  Rhian’s excited voice pulled me from my thoughts and she was heading out the door. What had I missed, I wondered? Likely nothing much, knowing my sister’s thoughts tended to be simplistic and vain in nature. I followed her and Iolyn through the door, thanking Madox as he held the door open.

  The streets had grown busier as the afternoon wore on and we were forced to stick to the side of the roadway as large carts rumbled along. We stopped in the market square, which boasted all manner of booths, their vendors selling all manner of wares from cutlery to tea to fruit and candlesticks.

  Rhian’s attention was caught by the baker’s stall where she was filling one of her baskets with a variety of sweetbreads. “Caryyyyys….” She grabbed onto my arm as she started to beg. “Those honey cakes look so good! Can we get some? Pleeeaaassee?” I rolled my eyes, thinking she really was getting too old to ask like that, but I pulled my coin purse out and chuckled, handing her a few coins. “Get some for all of us. I saw a park yesterday when we arrived; we can find it and have a picnic.” She squealed with joy and whirled around, her skirts twirling with the sudden momentum as she headed right for the baker while Iolyn followed her, flashing the baker a charming smile.

  Brynmor let out a short laugh and looked around. “I don’t even remember where that park was. But this town isn’t that big, I’m sure it won’t take long to find it.” He looked over to Iolyn who let out an amused laugh at something the young baker said, bringing a blush to her flour-dusted cheeks along with a pleased smile. Rhian was oblivious to Iolyn’s humorous conversation, watching the baker wrap the honey cakes with anticipatory joy and licking her lips, finally taking the parcel from the baker while she held out the payment.

  They returned with our treats and we headed off in the direction we thought the park was, turning down a narrow road that was nearly empty, save for a couple of giggling children running in the other direction. Doorways to homes lined the narrow road, baskets of flowers hanging from the eaves and window boxes displaying their colorful and fragrant blooms made this street almost look like a garden in its own right, at least until the sight and sounds of the clotheslines rippling in the breeze above our heads reminded us of the truth.

  I glimpsed a small fountain ahead, the bubbling water glittering like diamonds in the sunlight, and I pointed to it as I suggested. “What about up there by that fountain?” Rhian smiled and nodd
ed cheerfully, the others voicing their own agreement. None of us seemed particular about where we sat, only wishing to enjoy our treat and rest our feet for a few minutes. I didn’t know about anyone else, but my feet ached, not having done this much walking in quite some time.

  We broke free of the narrow road, stepping into the fountain’s open courtyard. I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was to see that it was not, in fact, a part of the city as it had been constructed, but that we now stood in the stone courtyard of ancient ruins, fully intact and hidden behind the more recently built city structures. I let out a breathy laugh of delighted surprise, wondering how this beautiful alcove had remained when the rest of the former architecture had fallen into ruin?

  “I did not expect to see the old Velynesian ruins intact in the middle of Lund, of all places.” I said, stepping up to a crumbling wall to run my fingers gently over the ancient stonework. My comment was met with silence so I glanced over my shoulder to see the blank looks on all their faces. “Why are these ruins even here? Wasn’t their city far to the West?” Rhian asked hesitantly.

  For the love of the gods...I rolled my eyes. “Did none of you pay any attention to your history studies?” I said, directing the comment more to my siblings than my guards.