3. The Market
The Market
Scarlet
T he scent of spices and baked goods fills the market, making my mouth water. I had been so busy that I forgot to grab any food for myself before we left.
I trail behind my stepmother and stepsisters as they flit from stall to stall, cooing over frivolous hats and garments. My arms ache from the pile of boxes and packages they continue to add to my load. We will need a second carriage at this rate. I bite my tongue to refrain from complaining.
A flash of royal blue catches my eye. A man in an embroidered tunic heads purposefully to the central bulletin board, parchment in hand. My pulse quickens - could it be a warrant with my face? No, I was wearing a mask. The king didn’t see my face. Holding my breath, I edge closer, packages teetering.
The man tacks up the parchment and walks away. Letting out a relieved sigh, I step fully into view and read the elegant script: An announcement of a royal masquerade at the palace. My heart flutters as I imagine the glamour and mystery. I chose to ignore the voice of warning in my head that asks why the king who normally stays shut away is suddenly holding an event?
My stepmother and stepsisters have wandered over and are giving the announcement their own examination. Starla looks particularly intrigued, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Oh, a masquerade!” she exclaims. “Can we go?”
“It’s a great opportunity for the two of you,” my stepmother says, nodding at my stepsisters. “Perhaps you can even catch the eye of the king.”
Her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm as she looks around the room, expecting agreement from everyone. Petunia and Starla giggle together as they immediately start looking for the most sumptuous fabric and ribbons to make new dresses for the event.
I sigh, feeling my shoulders grow heavy at the prospect of another event that requires purchasing a new outfit and learning a new set of dance steps. Of course, I wouldn’t be going. Not only would stepmother never allow it, but I also need to stay as far away as possible until we figure out how to get the crown. A night where there would be extra guards is not it.
But I can’t deny the thrill of anticipation that surges through me as I imagine what the masquerade would be like. As I turn away from the bulletin board, I catch sight of a masked man watching me from across the market. He is tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes that seem to look right through me. Dressed all in black, his clothes tailored perfectly to his form. Lucius.
Is he here for me? Probably not. The guild is large and they have many missions going on constantly. This is probably just a fluke.
Just as I am about to turn away, he steps forward, approaching me with purpose.
“Excuse me, miss,” he says, his voice deep and smooth. “I think you may have dropped this.”
A small note slips into my hand, and I blink, surprised that Fairy Godmother has contacted me in the open like this. “Yes, thank you,” I reply.
With a wink and a smirk Lucius walks away leaving me alone. I shift the packages I carry and read the note.
Come see me at Herlads. We need to talk.
F.G.
The sketch of an ornate capital G transformed into a flower sits on the bottom corner of the page. The sign of the GGG, or really one of many. The G is the important part. It is always transformed into something unassuming by whoever it is that uses it to make it clear who the sender is, their matching mark inked onto their skin. My own is hidden on my upper thigh. An area that would be easy to show, but difficult to accidentally sneak a peek of.
I glance back at my stepsisters and see they are thoroughly engrossed in their search for the perfect dress. I quickly tuck the note away, thankful for this opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
No one makes Fairy Godmother wait.
Taking a deep breath, I hurriedly weave through alleyways and narrow streets until I arrive at Herlads, a small tea shop tucked away in the corner of the market. It is almost empty this time of day, so it isn’t hard to spot her. She is sitting in a booth near the back, wearing an elegant blue dress and sipping a cup of tea.
She waves me over with a kind smile. “Hello dear! It’s good to see you again. I trust your family is doing well?”
I nod politely playing my part as I slide into the chair opposite her, placing my packages on the floor beside me. “Yes, ma’am, we’re all doing fine,” I say hastily before getting down to business. “You wanted to meet with me about something?”
Fairy Godmother's voice drops to a hushed murmur, though her words seem to reverberate strangely in my mind. Perhaps she is using magic to ensure privacy, even here in the open. It is unlike her to take such a risk.
"The masquerade is the perfect chance to infiltrate the castle and reclaim the Bodian Crown unnoticed," she says, eyes intent on mine. "With all the guests coming and going, you can blend into the crowds."
My pulse quickens at the thought. Ever since my failed attempt to steal the crown, just setting foot near the castle makes my hands tremble. A royal ball surrounded by guards seems like a death wish.
Sensing my hesitation, Fairy Godmother gives my hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "You're more than capable, my dear. Just get inside and reclaim the crown, then disappear into the night."
I force a shaky smile, wishing I shared her confidence. As a thief, I prefer the shadows. Deception and charm are not my strengths. But I cannot fail at this job again. That crown is my one chance to earn enough gold to save my inheritance from my stepfamily's clutches.
Taking a deep breath, I meet Fairy Godmother's expectant gaze. "I'll do it. No matter the risk, I will get inside the castle and take back that crown."
Pride lights up her eyes. She raises a hand to flag down the server, her words once again muted. "Excellent. Now about your gown, I think red would be quite striking..."
A smile tugged at my lips as her enthusiasm proved infectious. "Red sounds perfect," I said, a twinge of excitement welling up inside me. "Thank you for all of your help."
Fairy Godmother waved away my thanks with a dismissive gesture. “It’s my pleasure, dear. Now, let’s talk strategy. We’ll need to get you an invitation, and a mask, of course. And we’ll need to figure out how to get inside without attracting too much attention...”
As she spoke, her voice began to fade into the background, my mind racing with the possibilities of the masquerade. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to do this - slip into the palace, surrounded by people, and try to steal the Bodian crown again. But the thought of the rush, the adrenaline of the perfect heist, made my heart race with anticipation.
This was going to be one for the history books, I thought with a grin.
With her words of encouragement ringing in my ears, I left the tea shop and made my way back to the market, my mind racing with plans and schemes. I knew that this would be a risky venture and that there was a possibility that I might not make it back out.