The Forsaken Hero

Aerion and I continued to chat as the carriage made its way out of the old city and into the common districts beyond. To be fair, it was mostly Aerion doing the talking, but I did my best to let his endless conversation wash over me, trying to relax after the tension of my vision. As Fate said, what would come would come, and worrying about controlling everything never led to anything good.

”Here we are, Burblebrook District,” Aerion said, gesturing out the window.

I peered out. The city sank into a shallow valley some miles across, with groves of trees sticking up between half-timber buildings and open-air marketplaces. Colorful banners, ribbons, and drapes brightened the windows and decorated the exterior. Every building seemed to have some kind of garden or courtyard, with low, four-foot walls separating the properties from the road and each other.

Canals intersected the blocks, winding around in naturally shaped rivers. The gentle rush of water filled the air, cooling the breeze and pleasant to the ear. Arched bridges took the road over them, some only five or six feet above the waterline. Lilypads and blossoms floated in the lazy currents, and more than once, I spotted a group of elvish children swimming in ponds between open, grassy parks.

”It’s beautiful,” I said.

Aerion nodded. ”The Burblebrook District was created some five hundred years ago as a sort of tourist attraction. The Splitbark Family owns the land, as well as about half of the businesses here. But, given that there aren’t many foreigners in Duskwood, it’s mostly enjoyed by the locals. It’s a good spot for a picnic, a walk in the garden, or to do some shopping. The Splitbarks carefully curate what kinds of stores and businesses are allowed to operate here, so it’s amicable and affordable.”

”And people live here?”

”Some, but it’s only affordable to relatively wealthy merchants with connections to the Splitbark. Most of these are shops and merchants of some sort. Any idea what kind of place you want to visit first?”

I hesitated, looking around at the various signs and stalls crowding the street. There were so many options, so many names with meanings I didn’t understand.

”A boutique or something, right?” he asked helpfully.

I nodded, blushing slightly. ”Yeah. The maids thought I should try and diversify my wardrobe a little.”

He rubbed his chin, frowning a little. ”I’m afraid I know next to nothing about women’s fashion, much less the best places to shop. Anryth, pull over,” he said, knocking sharply on the front carriage wall.

The carriage bore enchantments to mute the outside noise, but the butler responded instantly, finding a dirt pull-off in front of a park. A small river ran through the middle of the meadow, with a grove of trees on one side providing shade to a lichen-covered stone table. It had an ancient, mysterious feel to it, making the few young couples strolling around seem out of place.

”Yes, my Lord?” Anrynth asked, opening the door.

”I think we’ll walk from here,” Aerion said. ”We’ll return before noon to make our appointment at the Vineyard.”

He executed a sharp salute. ”As you wish. I’ll remain with the carriage. Might I know where you’re headed?”

”Hmm, not sure yet. We’ll probably poke around until we find a boutique or something. They can’t be that hard to find, right?”

Anrynth’s eyebrows rose. ”Just you and the lady?”

”Is something the matter?”

The butler shook his head, but his expression remained skeptical. ”I’m simply mindful of the rumors that might cause. As a member of the Sunsinger family, you should consider your image.”

A shiver ran down my tail, and I opened my mouth, edging away from Aerion. But he caught me off guard, appearing beside me, his arms slipping through mine, like a lord escorting a lady.

”Maybe we are?” he asked, grinning.

Anrynth’s eyebrows knit together. ”There are better ways to fend off suitors, my Lord. I believe her guard will do that without the need to pretend.”

”Oh, you’re no fun,” he said. ”I’m old enough to be her great-grandfather, you know.”

”Rumors are a vicious thing, my Lord.”

Ignoring my protests, Aerion started off, dragging me behind him. The Starguard shared a chuckle and circled us. An elf and demonkin walking arm in arm might have drawn attention, but I felt basically invisible behind Kahlen. The blade demon strutted a few paces ahead of us, a single sword floating in the air behind him. His silver skin and clothing caught the morning sun, sending glittering sunbeams across the street. Elves whispered nervously as we passed, gazes locked on him.

Try as I might, I was unable to worm my arm free of Aerion’s grip. After a few minutes, my face cooled, and my tail quieted. As frivolous as he was, this seemed a little much just to tease me. I felt a strange sense of distance between us, a professionalism and purpose behind his gentlemanly actions. It wasn’t like with Luke, who had held me because he wanted to.

Also strange was our meandering path. We wandered the District, viewing shops through wide glass windows, crossing parks, and occasionally stopping to admire a colorful garden or gently burbling waterfall. Random as Aerion’s steps were, he never faltered at a branching path or even slowed as we passed various boutiques.

”Are we, um, really shopping for dresses?” I finally asked.

”Eh?” he blinked, looking down at me. ”Why wouldn’t we be?”

I nodded, chewing on my lip. ”Well, it’s just...we passed another one. Aaaand another one,” I said, nodding at yet another clothing shop falling behind us.

”I was just enjoying the city. It’s not often I get a chance to stroll like this, leaving the cares of my life behind. And with such a charming girl on my arm, too.”

My face warmed. ”I-it’s not a date. I just wanted to see the markets.”

”A date?” He grinned, holding me a little tighter. ”I never suggested such a thing. Ah, here’s one. Why don’t we check this one out?”

I looked up as he stopped before an unassuming shop with a display window that showed several elegant dresses on mannequins. The window was large enough that the entire interior was exposed from the street. There were shelves and hangers with more styles than I could name, but only a few customers. An elderly lady sat behind a counter, idly fingering the edges of a bolt of fabric.

”Why this one?” I asked.

”Didn’t you want to buy a dress? It’s a dress shop,” he said.

”No, that’s not what I–”

”Come on, stop dragging your feet. Or we’ll never finish!” he said, chuckling as he pulled me inside.

The Star guard remained outside, finding innocuous posts around the street to monitor the store. Jenna alone joined us, but she vanished into an aisle, grinning like a child.

”Welcome!” the elderly woman said as we entered. ”What can I...”

She trailed off as her eyes found me. I slowed, drifting behind Arion, my horns itching at her gaze.

”A demonkin. Not often do we get those around here,” she murmured. Then, shaking her head, spoke up again. ”Welcome to the Hazelnut Boutique. We carry styles and fashions from all over Enusia. What might you be interested in purchasing today?”

”The lady’s looking for a few dresses,” Aerion said, firmly pulling me out from behind him. ”She’s a little shy, though, so be good to her.”

”Aren’t you a pretty little thing,” the woman said, looking me up and down. ”I see you’re wearing a Brithlite style dress. Are you from there, originally?”

I nodded timidly. ”Kind of. I’ve been through Blacksand, too. I was, um, hoping I could find some new dresses? Maybe something a little formal, and a few casual wears too.”

She smiled kindly, putting an arm around my shoulder and walking me away from Aerion. He gave me a wink and turned, almost bumping into a young, richly dressed elf who had just entered. Aerion rubbed his head and apologized, and somehow struck up a conversation. They casually drifted into an aisle, conveniently out of sight of both me and the street. The last thing I saw before the woman pulled me into a back room was a crimson tassel tied around the newcomer’s belt.

”Now then,” the woman said, circling me with a scrutinizing eye. ”The current fashion might be a little tricky for you. Judging by your current garb, having an unrestricted tail is important, right?”

I nodded again, ever so subtly edging back toward the door. We were alone in the backroom, which seemed more like a fitting or dressing room. The dresses hanging in the wardrobes and shelves all bore silk tags with names written on them. A few shut doors on the far wall were labelled as changing rooms.

”Now, let’s grab some sizes, shall we?” the elderly woman asked.

She snapped her fingers, and her second-level soul lit up. She pressed her hands together and slowly drew them apart. A thin, glowing ribbon of mana drew between her fingers, forming a length of twine.

She circled me, looping it around my waist, chest, and even legs. She was dizzyingly quick, finishing in a matter of seconds. Just how long had she been doing this for?

”Hmm, you’re a little smaller than most elves your age, but I believe a few garments are in stock. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, you can order something and I’ll have it done in a week or so.”

”Is that expensive?” I asked, ”I, um, don’t have that much money.”

She raised an eyebrow. ”Is that right? I was under the impression money wasn’t a concern. Hmm, I see. Lord Sunsinger said it would all be taken care of.”

I nodded uncertainly, sitting on a small, firmly cushioned seat as she began rifling through the dresses on display. I stared out the door, catching a glimpse of Aerion as he patted the person he’d accidentally pumped into on the shoulder, seeing them out the door. The other elf hadn’t even tried to approach the shopkeeper. If he wasn’t going to buy something, had he come in here by mistake? But a mistake leading to such a friendly conversation...? Was Aerion always that outgoing?

And how had the old woman known Aerion’s name? His house wasn’t that big, and I didn’t remember him introducing himself to her.