3. Chapter Three
Small cottages dot the landscape, growing closer together until they converge with larger structures.
The path shifts from rocky to smooth. Specks of black, silver, and five other unique shades speckle the white ground.
The windows are about ten shades close to blue, and everywhere I look, vivid colors overwhelm me.
As beautiful as it is to see an abundance no one else can, I often prefer the calmness of nature's hues.
A cream stone wall blocks the outskirts from mixing with the inner city, and I hand my papers to the guards at the eastern gate.
The one in charge scrutinizes my papers for several seconds. “Purpose of your visit?”
I extend my hand to the cart. “Merchandise to sell and barter at the market.”
His men search my cart and allow me to proceed through the gate that splits in half to allow me entrance. Brick buildings touch, with about every fourth one having an alley that is lined with daisies in wooden boxes. Some structures appear to be multiple homes in one massive unit.
The sharp herbs and incenses alert me to the apothecary shop before I reach it.
It will be my goal once I sell everything in the cart.
Outdoor booths cover both sides of the street.
There are rows in the middle in certain spots, but the path to the left leaves enough room for me to guide Elton to the bartering center.
Bakeries heat pies, cakes, and scones in tiny ovens behind their long tables where they set out fresh product, and my mouth waters for the treats I can’t afford.
I move on quickly from the temptations into the clothing section, which is divided into types of garments sold.
Scarves, jewelry, and other accessories hang on small displays next to shops with grand dresses, fighting leathers, and work outfits.
Clocks, artwork, and kitchen items rest next to random objects with many purposes.
The spice bins create more cravings with their rich aromas.
Scoops stick out from each bin, and empty glass jars provide a container for customers to mix and match their selections.
Bartering echoes through the space and becomes louder as I reach the back, which extends to a tall black fence that keeps people from entering the castle grounds.
There appears no need for red markings in the city.
With large walls and abundant guards surrounding everything, no one fears the madness or monsters as we do in the villages.
I approach the line of merchants who sit at a long table with signs stating their desired products.
The canned goods seller buys all of my cans immediately, commenting on their superior quality.
The rest of the items are harder to find buyers for, and I get much less than I was hoping for most of it.
A man with silver hair watches everything I do.
His golden eyes are framed by a green as deep as mine, and I wonder if that’s how they appear to everyone else.
The black cloak, leather pants, and blue shirt he wears look expensive, and the engorged money pouch on his hip seems to confirm that assumption.
His intense gaze makes me squirm, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of showing I notice.
An elderly man braces his weathered hands on the table to stand as he peeks around me to see into my cart. “What do you have there?”
“He’s a baby typhon.” I secure the money in a pouch and zip it into an inner pocket of my pants to deter pickpockets.
“I’ll give you a hundred gold for him.”
My gaze dashes to his sign. “You’re a bloodletter?”
“Yes, and typhon blood will contribute nicely to some needed elixirs.”
“He’s only a tiny baby, and you won’t get much from him.”
“It’ll be enough. I’ll give you two hundred.”
I climb onto my cart and back away from the booth. “He’s not for sale.” I cringe, knowing I very well should take his deal, but for some reason, I can’t.
“What about three hundred?”
I weaken for a moment before turning Elton fully around to take us to the apothecary shop. I park next to the curb and remove the typhon from the cage to go into my bag. He’s clearly valuable enough that leaving him in the open would prove moronic.
The bells on the door chime at my entrance into the enormous store.
Candles flicker in little coves between shelves of potions and powders.
Barrels hold ingredients to mix or take separately.
Tiny white lights wrap around the room from the top of the wall and provide enough light to see everything clearly.
Beyond the main room is a smaller area with no door.
Books surround a comfy sitting area that has a man and a woman reading across from each other in sizeable chairs.
I return to the main area and examine the medication section to find what I need most. The door chimes, and the silver-haired man enters, keeping his eyes locked on me.
My heart sinks when I find the purple jar that will help strengthen my brother’s lungs.
It costs nearly triple the money I got from selling anything extra we owned.
The baby typhon squeaks in my purse, and selling him may be the only way.
I take the jar up to the glass counter, which has pricier items locked inside, and clear my throat to get the hunched merchant’s attention. “Excuse me, ma’am.”
She jumps and has to hold on to her chair to stabilize herself as she clutches her chest with her other hand. “What can I help you with?” She grasps her blue cane, comes closer, and adjusts her white hair under a purple cloth. “Is this your purchase?”
“I was hoping you could cut me a deal or maybe allow me to buy this on credit. My little brother desperately needs it, and I only have about a third of the cost.”
She pats the counter until she finds wire spectacles and puts them on to scrutinize my selection. “Oh, this is very rare and difficult to come by, but if it were only up to me, it would be a yes. The owner of the shop wouldn’t take so kindly to not getting full price.”
“I could work in your shop once I get this back to my brother to save his life.” My desperation would have me agree to almost anything.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
I take heavy breaths as I unzip my bag and hold the typhon out to her. “Could you use this? Someone in the market will give me more than enough for it. I’ll trade it for the medicine.”
“That’s not a decision I could make. You’ll have to come back in a week and ask the owner.”
“My brother needs this medicine now, so he can live. He’s only two! Please.”
“There’s nothing I can do.” She shrugs and sinks into a chair to ease her shaking legs.
“I’ll buy the creature for the price of the medicine.” The silver-haired man puts the coins on the table and holds out his hand for the typhon.
My shoulders fall as I give him the little monster. “Will you treat him kindly?”
“Does it matter? You got what you wanted.” He winks and leaves the store with the typhon.
The old woman takes forever to make sure he gave her enough, and I grab the jar, putting it into my bag for safekeeping.
The man has disappeared by the time I make it outside.
I climb back on Elton and put my unused money back into my pocket.
On the way out of town, I purchase four pastries to give my family a treat since I got to keep all the money from the market.
I also buy several loaves of bread and give them away in the villages.
I continue toward home, barely containing my excitement about how much Florian's life will improve.
Low growls from somewhere disconcertingly close startle me, and I whip around to find the source.
Elton neighs and halts. I try to nudge the horse forward, but he grows more distressed as he bucks and walks backward.
The growls become louder, and Elton whips around, tipping the cart, its contents, and me.
The cart flips back upright, but I’ve already landed hard on the ground.
Pain shoots through my thighs and elbows.
Elton takes off running with the cart bobbing behind him.
My bag rests several feet away, and I crawl to it. “No!”
The jar with the medicine is shattered, and all the precious potion has seeped into the dirt. Not a drop is salvageable. I search through the broken glass like I might find some to save, not even stopping when I cut my fingers. Frustration, sorrow, and rage swirl together as I scream at nothing.
The growls increase in volume and proximity, and I spin around to see three red wolves standing in an almost perfect line.
Their heads thrash oddly about. I cautiously stoop down, grabbing pieces of broken jars to add to my defenses.
Their glowing yellow eyes move back and forth, like they can’t quite focus.
The moment I believe they will pounce to maul me, they turn and attack each other.
The strange sight of them ripping their pack members apart shocks me so much that I can’t glance away from the horrific display.
Silence falls as the wolves bleed out, and if I had my cart, I’d place all three on it to sell for more medicine.
The best I can do is recover it and hope the wolf corpses remain when I return.
I step into the forest Elton galloped to, and the quiet becomes heavy, as if the woods steals any sound that enters it. A frigid fog chills my ankles as it turns colder. The tightly locked trees let in very little sunlight.
What will you do now? What will you do? The whispers return and remain even when I stomp my ears.
The path ahead is completely dark, so I cup my hands to my mouth. “Elton! Where are you?”
You should quiet. Oh, so quiet, they sing.
I look around to find the source of the whispers, but it's not clear what direction they originate.
Nothing moves as I spin around searching.
It's becoming more of a concern that I'm in the first stages of the madness. The path has narrowed too much for Elton to have run this way, and I’m going to have to hope he ran home.