Chapter Ten: Market Day

Planning the journey...will Castor be back before they leave?

Chapter Ten

Market Day

Ange sat by Sage’s bedside, holding her hot hand. Still, she had not woken, and was only getting hotter. Robin had said it would be safest to just let the fever run its course, but how long would that take?
“Mommy,” a small, quiet voice came from the doorway. “Robin is taking May, Melina, and Moreno to see the Taining Folk, and the market,” Jenna said.
Her black hair was tied back with a pretty blue ribbon and her long lashes made her green eyes even more sweet.
“May we go to, mama?” Delphina asked, much more impatient.
All she ever wanted was adventure. She would get so excited to go with her mama to the castle, or to market, that sometimes she would run out the door with no shoes, and so her bare feet were always dirty.
Ange sighed and looked at Sage’s little sleeping face. She turned back to the girls.
“Stay near Robin. Be careful, and help Melina and Moreno find their way around, don’t lose them.”
She knew that would be no problem. Ever since the morning when the four had met, they had been inseparable best friends.
“Yes mama!” Delphina’s voice was already fading as she ran down the steep stairs.
“Thank you, mama,” said Jenna softly. Sweet, gentle Jenna.
“Make sure your sister wears her shoes,” Ange said. “I love you.”
Jenna nodded. “You too, mama.” And she turned to follow Delphina.
“Be careful!” Ange called after them again. She looked at Sage. Giving her hand a squeeze, she whispered, “When you wake up, you’ll be able to go too,” and she smiled weakly.

~

Robin watched the five children run ahead of her. Melina and Moreno were gazing around wide eyes moving fast, as if they couldn’t decide what to latch onto first. Women were selling pottery, men working as scribes, nuts and cakes and other foods being sold every few feet. The castle, that they could now see in light, was still decorated for the Prince’s return. There was supposed to be celebrations of the new bride, but it was too dangerous now. The soldiers were walking around the base of the castle, as if there were any people in it to protect. Even the servants had for the most part found other things they could do to make some money, as there was nothing to do in the castle, no one to work for.
Melina and Moreno stopped dead in their tracks, staring open-mouthed at the performances being put on by the Taining Folk. Fablen was contorting herself in unbelievable ways, and other acrobats were forming human statues; leaping, whirling, twirling through the air. Up high were the tightrope walkers, but what caught the children’s attention the most was Firethorn.
In front of him was a large blaze. He was making in dance and shape shift with his hands. Sticking them in and shaping the flames, yet never getting burned.
All of the children had stopped now joining the ever growing crowd.
Robin pulled out some coins. She went over and whispered to them,
“Spread the wealth,” and the four older ones ran to different performers to toss their coins. Young May just tossed hers towards Firethorn, and nearly cried in distress when it landed in his fire.
Firethorn smiled and reached down, pulling out the coin. He held it out toward a forlorn looking May, smiled, and bowed. She smiled in relief, turning to her mother.
“Did you see?” she asked eagerly.
Robin scooped her up. “Oh yes, I saw. He looked very grateful to you.”
She smiled at the look on her young daughter’s face. Putting her down again, she bent over so they were face to face.
“Let’s go round up the others and pay a visit to Mabel shall we?”
May nodded eagerly. She loved the story teller who treated her as a daughter of her own. Hand in hand, mother and daughter walked along the cobblestones towards the tents.
Delphina was bouncing in circles around the other three who had stopped by the tightrope walkers.
“We’re going to go see Mabel!” May said excitedly.
Delphina stopped bouncing. “Oooohh, maybe she’ll have that story ready for us, Jen!”
Jenna smiled. “Let’s go then!” she said. Again they were off.
Mabel was standing near Roana, where she was putting on a skit with different masks. Mabel smiled at the looks on the little children’s faces. When she saw May, she lifted her into her arms.
“Havin’ fun?” she asked.
May nodded earnestly, smiling.
Putting her down, Mabel saw Melina and Moreno.
“And who have we here?” She looked questioningly at Robin.
“This is Melina, and that’s Moreno. They’re brother and sister.”
Again the questioning look.
“Can’t explain here. I was going to go to Amaline and Solin’s,” Robin said meaningfully.
Mabel nodded in understanding.
“I need to talk to him about something,” Robin said. “I’ll explain when we get there.”
With effort, they managed to tear the young ones away from the beautiful scene, and walk them down a side road.
Robin knocked on the door. Solin answered, again looking a bit nervous.
“Oh, Robin,” he sounded relieved. “I assume Ange...” he broke off, not wanting to say more, but Robin nodded. She knew what he meant.
“Come in, then,” Solin gestured for them to enter.
Stepping inside, the group stomped the dirt off their shoes and went in to the living room. Prince Calleo, Princess Evette, Rachel, and the baby were against the far wall, and they seemed to be holding their breath. At the sight of Robin, Castor exhaled.
“Robin! Good to see you,” he said, then turned to Rachel and Evette. “Robin is a healer. She lives in the fields by the castle,” he explained, and their shoulders seemed to sag with relief.
“This is my wife, Evette, her maid, Rachel, and our baby daughter, Devon.”
“And this is Mabel,” Robin said as she stepped forward. “I think she can help. She’s one of the best story tellers in the Taining Folk.”
While all this had been happening, the children had been staring at the royal family in awe, and “oohing” and “ahhing” at the cute little baby.
“Let me explain,” Robin said, and everyone took a seat.
The girls cautiously approached Rachel, who was holding Devon, and with a nod from Evette, Rachel bent over so they could see her better.
“Melina and Moreno worked for the Lion Prince.” Everyone flinched. “ But when they heard that Calleo had escaped, they managed the same feat,” Robin turned to Calleo. “I am caring for them now, and you’ll understand that it isn’t safe for me to stay here. Ange has told me you’re planning to go somewhere and hide, and she needs a healer for her sick daughter. You could use a healer. Might I ask you if we could come along?” she sounded pleading by the end of this.

She didn’t know what they would do if he said no. Live every night in fear that the Lion Prince’s men would come knocking? They may have just been servants, but they heard many secrets; surely Melina and Moreno would be looked for.

“Of course, Robin. But we do not know when we are leaving, or where to go. We planned to ask Castor for help, but he isn’t home yet,” Calleo answered, relieving her of her worry.
“That’s why I asked Mabel to come along. She’s one of the Taining Folk. We know we can trust all of them. Since our group has grown, traveling amongst them would be less suspicious. We could get Roana to make masks, and we would blend right in. Mabel, you would have to be sure all the performers are trustworthy, and willing to take the risk. I assume Ameline and Solin are coming too, as it would be dangerous for them to stay here?”
Ameline nodded.
“I hadn’t thought of it before, but if it would be alright, my prince-”
Calleo cut her off.
“You have done us a great service at your own personal risk by allowing my family to stay here. Of course you are welcome to come along.”
Now Mabel spoke up.
“I can do it,” she said. “We’ll spread the word throughout the players what the circumstances are. They can keep secrets. We’ll pack up as if we are giving up on the festivities on the day of your return. Then we will travel. We will need a good place to hide.”
“We’ll figure that out when the time comes,” Robin said. “Now we must prepare for a journey. I’ll go tell Ange what is happening.”
She nodded to the Prince and Princess, as well as everyone else, and took the children out. Before leaving, she knelt down and said this to the five of them,

“How would you like to go on an adventure? It has to be a secret adventure though, nobody can know about it.”

Smiles crept over their faces, Delphina’s especially, and they nodded.
“I should go, too. It will take Roana a while to make these masks.”
With a wave, Mabel turned to leave as well.
“Well,” Solin said. “I guess we’d better get ready ourselves.”
And on that day in Modet, three groups were suddenly very busy preparing for a long, secret trip.

Author's Note

This is a bit of a longer one...thanks if you took the time to read it. What did you think? I hope the sitch with Sage is making you sad! I went away from Castor to hopefully keep you in suspense about his reaction...thanks for any comments!

Reviews

[Plagued Monumentally]

Jenna is extremely cuuute. :3
I loved this chapter. Keep going!!

[TheElfPrincess]

I love those children, Jenna is soo cute! It does make me sad that Sage isn't awake yet, but that keeps it mysterious. I loved it, well done.

[BrynnaW.]

Mistakes every now an then but an excellent chapter! I hope to see more soon!!! :) Very well written. Good job and keep on writing! (Sorry for lame review...)

[Black]

It is really well written,
though some grammar problems here and there.
but im sure you will get it out of the story when you re-read it
again your writing is magical
and draws me i nthat time when the doctors weren't that good,
kids could go into the market because comunity would watch them.
and no harm would be done,
the secretness and the togetherness this group of childeren has is charming
good job,
and keep on writing