13. Tiera and Her Firebird Take Sapphira to Get a Gift #2
Kaelen’s birthday has always been special to Isabel.
They’ve been best friends since they were little ones and have always gone all out on each other’s special day.
With everything going on since Sapphira’s appearance in their lives, she doesn’t want him to think she has forgotten or that he is no longer important.
Once Sapphira is dressed, they head across the dewy ground and take the trail into town. They’ll have to be quick to get back before he wakes.
“So what is this night market?” Sapphira asks. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
A blush rises on Isabel’s brown cheeks, and her face warms. She looks away from Sapphira’s curious gaze, listening to the shuffle of their slippers against the packed dirt as she grasps at an acceptable answer.
“Well, the night market was originally created as a place for . . . a certain clientele. Cielans with a peculiar appetite.”
Sapphira’s brows furrow in confusion, and Isabel quickly moves on, kicking herself for having to be so thorough in her explanations.
“Anyway, that’s not the point. It evolved into a place where underground goods are sold.
Anything that might be frowned upon by the average citizen.
From outlawed goods to exotic creatures.
Now it’s mostly a place where people can buy imported goods or sell the rare and unusual.
Nothing too bad though,” she rushes to add.
“And it’s the only place open this late, so it’s good in a pinch.
They have normal things there, too, like resold goods.
I’m sure you’ll find something Kaelen will like. ”
Sapphira touches the pouch at her side, her long, graceful fingers caressing the silken material.
Isabel went into town while she was still house-ridden and got coin for her.
She traded the valuables on the ruined dress Sapphira arrived in to get it.
Sapphira hasn’t spent any of it yet, so she has a small fortune.
“Come, the market is at the edge of town,” Isabel says when Sapphira begins to head toward the center of town.
When Isabel stops beside a giant statue, staring at the dark sky, Sapphira asks, “What are you doing? Aren’t we going to the market?” The woman looks around. “There’s nothing but trees around here. I don’t think we’re even in town anymore.”
“Just wait.”
Sapphira does as she says, but she does it with lots of sighing as she scuffs her feet across the grass. When she gets bored, she leans against a crumbling statue wound with growth. Isabel turns to watch her, thinking she’s pretty, draped on Lomadaku’s oldest landmark.
“What?” Sapphira asks as she turns away, embarrassed, and presses her face against the stone. “Why are you staring at me?”
“No reason,” Isabel says. She sighs, unable to keep the warmth from her eyes.
Sapphira’s eyes trail up the stone, her fingers running up the statue’s legs. “What is this?” Stepping back, she reads the plaque. “Askerh?lla?”
Isabel comes to stand beside her. “The great hero, Askerh?lla. He’s a legend. Practically a god.”
Sapphira raises a brow. “For what?”
Isabel laughs. “For what, she asks.”
Sapphira gently shoves her, making her stumble. “I’m not from here, remember. Why is this guy so important that he deserves this massive statue?”
“What he didn’t do would be easier to tell. Everyone you ask will have a different answer.”
“Well, I’m asking you.”
“Well, if you’re asking me . . .” Isabel shrugs. “He founded Cielo. He led people out of the harsh conditions and endless wars of the North and settled in the first city in Cielo, Teotlnēchīcā. It’s why we speak their language.”
“There were already people here?”
“Sure. There were people, but there were no cities, no dominions. Askerh?lla brought them all together and blended all these cultures. He was amazing. He could speak to anyone, and he had this quality that made everyone want to know him and follow him.”
“Sounds unbelievable.”
“That’s why he’s so revered. He wasn’t an ordinary man.”
“No,” Sapphira says, pushing off the statue and walking around the chimera. Isabel tries following her with her eyes, blushing under the scrutiny. Sapphira bites back a groan. “ He was a god ,” she whispers with a note of sarcasm.
Isabel rolls her eyes and laughs, pushing Sapphira away. “You’re ridiculous. Fine, don’t believe me. But you’re the one holding his sword.”
“Well, it is a beautiful sword.”
Isabel hums. “I—” Her words are cut off when something appears in the sky. A large, colorful bird with wings that glow like fire swoops down, melting from the shadows to blot out the stars. There is a figure on its back.
“What in the seven kingdoms is that?” Sapphira screeches, ducking the attack.
The sound of whistling accompanies the dive as the bird comes back around.
The figure on its back aims an arrow, but before it can launch the weapon, Isabel lets out a shrill whistle.
Fumbling with her pockets, she pulls out a sewn patch, then raises it above her head.
It shines with a glowing outline of a single, pointed tower.
The bow is lowered. Isabel lets out a breath of relief.
Sapphira, still covering her head with her arms as she stands, gives Isabel an incredulous look. “Are you going to tell me what just happened? What is that?”
“Our invitation,” Isabel says, pocketing the patch as the phoenix touches down before them, its long wings tucking into its sides. She smiles as Tiera steps down from the bird, the train attached to her tight, black robes billowing behind her as she sways forward.
“Hola, lindo ciervo. Isn’t it late?” she purrs, raising an eyebrow as she towers over Isabel, her hands on her hips and bow and arrow across her back.
“Estoy buscando un regalo para el cumpleanos de Kaelen,” Isabel replies.
Sapphira clears her throat, looking confusedly between them, and Isabel turns away from Tiera.
“Oh, sorry. Sapphira, this is my friend Tiera. She’s a .
. . well, a merchant of sorts. She and her brothers run multiple markets around Cielo, including this one.
” To Tiera, she says, “I thought you were in Aelestis.”
“I was.” Tiera reaches up to scratch under her phoenix’s chin when the bird lowers its head to her. “I returned a few hours ago.”
“And your brothers already have you working the watch?”
Tiera throws back her head, her laughter deep and booming. “Like my brothers could tell me what to do. No, Anubis here was restless from our journey, so I took her to burn off some of that energy.”
Anubis lowers her head to Isabel, who reaches up to scratch her. When Sapphira clears her throat again, Isabel startles, her cheeks heating. Sapphira glares daggers at Tiera, who crosses her arms over her ample chest with a smug smile.
“And who is this little birdie?” Tiera asks.
“Tiera, this is Sapphira. She’s staying with me right now.”
Tiera raises an eyebrow. “Eh? Isn’t that interesting?”
“Anyway, we’re in a hurry,” Isabel says. “We need to get a present for Kaelen before he wakes. Do you have anything he might like?”
She raises a brow. “A chew toy?”
Isabel is surprised when Sapphira doesn’t laugh. Instead, she crosses her arms over her chest and says, “That isn’t funny.”
Tiera smirks, directing a red, pointed nail at Sapphira. “Tough crowd.” It takes her a moment to tear her eyes from Sapphira, but when she does, she brushes long brown curls over her shoulder and pouts dark, painted lips at Isabel. “I might have a few things.”
Tiera turns and climbs onto Anubis, and Isabel moves to follow. Sapphira grabs her arm. “We’re not getting onto that thing, are we?”
“It’ll be fine,” Isabel says, laying a comforting hand on hers. “It’s just like riding Kaelen.”
“That’s not what I—”
“Are you coming or not?” Tiera calls down to them. “The sun will be rising soon.”
Sapphira growls under her breath but follows when Isabel pulls her toward the phoenix.
The ride up to the night market is quick. The phoenix barely flaps its wings as it glides toward the rock carvings. Between two precarious ledges, a hollowed stone offers openings wide enough for Anubis to land on.
Sliding from her back, they step into the night market.
Despite the sun being near rising, the area is still full of roaming customers. The dark place is lit by stars that float up from the ceiling. They were gathered and brought here, and without any way to escape, they can’t return to the sky.
Merchants are scattered everywhere, selling wares, and the room is a mess of tents and tables piled with goods—food, fabrics, handmade pieces, and medicines.
That’s how Isabel met Tiera. She came to find a rare ingredient she needed, and the woman wouldn’t leave her alone.
She’s been a good friend, though she leaves so often and is so guarded that Isabel hasn’t been able to get as close to her as she wants.
It’s funny to think about it now, but she once had budding feelings for the woman. Her eyes stray to Sapphira, who is giving an earful to a pushy merchant who is trying to sell her a glittering sundial, and she can’t stop the fond smile on her lips as Sapphira tears into the man.
When she catches Tiera watching her, she smooths out her face and moves onward. “Let’s get this done quickly,” she says, pulling Sapphira away from the berated man.
Tiera takes them to a few booths that best fit their needs, but Sapphira turns each down straight away.
“He needs a new fishing kit,” she muses.
“Books, a fancy brush to groom his wings, clothes, and art . . .” But none of it is to Sapphira’s taste.
“Kaelen wouldn’t like any of this,” she sniffs.
“He appreciates fine and pretty things.” She raises a brow at Tiera.
“I guess you would know nothing of that.”
Tiera rolls her eyes, looking Sapphira up and down. “I don’t care much for pointless finery. Silk is hard to clean. Can never get the bloodstains out.” With that, she turns and strides away.