Chapter 4 : The First Village

*Fynn*

The sound of the birds singing woke me up. The sun was just starting to pull over the horizon and light the woods, and I rolled over to try and steal a few more minutes of sleep.

My arm draped over a small form next to me, and I pulled it away as if I'd been burned.

Sage.

I had forgotten she was here, and I startled myself. It was crowded to have her in the bedroll with me, but I couldn't risk letting her get away from me. She didn't need to report to Evangeline what I was up to. I needed at least a little bit of edge when it came to fighting the Water Court.

Seeing her in my bed, hands bound, in that barely-there shift dress, my mind was slipping down a rabbit trail it really shouldn't be traveling. I frowned and turned away. Definitely a succubus.

She needed new clothes. We were about to get to a town, and she would be a spectacle. It was going to be embarrassing enough to have to take her into this town in that dress, much less if we made it to meet my men with her still in that scrap of cloth.

I guess I'd be spending my own money on buying her something to wear.

I was a prince. I shouldn't exactly be bothered about budgets right now, but I was trying to be cautious with the way I spent my money. It should be dedicated to protecting and bettering my court, not buying strange women new dresses.

She mumbled a little in her sleep, and I pushed my way out of the bedroll. I needed to get up and get packing anyway.

Alastor was standing with his hind leg cocked, staring dreamily off into the woods. Horses rested in the strangest ways, and it was always a little unnerving to see him stare blearily into the distance, eyes seeming nearly lifeless.

"Good morning," I greeted him softly, stroking him along his powerful neck, hoping to jar him out of whatever his mind was doing right now.

He snorted in response, but the distant look left his eyes, so I was satisfied. I offered him an apple out of my pack and he took it gratefully.

I pulled a little more fruit from the pack, needing to eat it now before it went bad. It was the last of the rations I had, and I was thankful we were going to be in town to get more soon. I'd have to buy extra now though, and I was irritated by that thought too.

"Get up," I ordered, placing a handkerchief of berries and a slice of cheese next to Sage.

Her face turned sour with her eyes still closed as she rolled over. "Go away."

"You're not in a great place to argue," I pointed out.

"You're not in a great place to be handing out orders," she mocked.

"I'd like to know what authority you use to talk to me that way?" I snapped. Where was this coming from? She seemed to waver between shockingly bold, anxious, and cowering. In the handful of hours that I'd known her, I felt as if she were as unpredictable as the rest of the fae folk.

"Your mom," she grumbled, rubbing at her eyes with her fists.

My mom? Did this woman know my mother? How would she have known my parents? I'd have to press that later. This woman seemed to speak exclusively in nonsense and riddles.

Finally, though, she started to get up from the bedroll, snatching the food and eating it hungrily.

It didn't take long at all to get camp packed up and Alastor tacked up and ready to ride. I placed Sage back behind the saddle again, and I mounted my horse, glad to be leaving this camp behind. I still had sticky black blood on my clothes and my face, and I was going to be cleaning myself at the first bathhouse I could find.

The road began to widen, other trails and paths joining the main road to feed into the town. The trees began to thin out, and the sun warmed my back. I could feel it warm my muscles all the way down to my bones. My strength started to return almost instantly, and was feeling better than I had in days.

The town was bustling with activity, which made me anxious. I did what I could to keep from drawing attention to us, but I noticed there were an awful lot of young men gawking at us as we rode through town.

Not us, her.

She was still nestled against my back, arms wrapped around my waist. I couldn't see her because of the way we rode, so I could only guess what she must be doing back there. I glared at anyone who dared to look our way, hoping people would get the message to leave us alone.

I passed the bathhouse. I would clean myself later, the first priority was now getting Sage something less revealing to wear. I hated the way the men of the town fawned over her.

"You need new clothes," I told her, stopping Alastor near a tailor and dismounting.

"You don't like my dress?" she asked, waggling her eyebrows at me.

"No," I lied.

It wasn't exactly a lie. I didn't like her wearing it here. I had no right to feel possessive over her, but I felt like she might draw less attention in something a little less revealing, and that thought brought me peace.

She scrambled down from Alastor's back gracelessly, and I held out a hand to help steady her. She landed hard on the muddy ground, and I realized that she didn't have shoes either.

Something else to waste my money on.

I led her into the tailor's shop, trying to keep an eye on her without it looking like she was a captive. People didn't take kindly to kidnappers, and I doubted they would listen to the very fair and legitimate reason I had taken her captive.

Her eyes were wide and she kept turning her head in every direction, taking in the shop. It was as if she'd never been to a tailor's shop before. Where would she have gotten any of the other clothes she wore if not from a shop like this?

"Weary travelers," the older man at the back of the shop greeted. "How can I help you?"

"Do you have anything ready that might fit her?" I asked, gesturing toward Sage. She wasn't paying any attention, still marveling at the bolts of cloth on the wall.

"I can see. Do you have any preferences?" the man asked, eyeing Sage critically.

I wanted to tell him to stop looking so hard, but I knew he was just trying to guess her measurements. I couldn't shake the protective feeling now that we were in town. I was surprised at how quickly I was already ready to get back on the road. Usually, I enjoyed lingering a little in the villages I came across, but I was anxious to go back to the privacy of the road with Sage.

The weedy graying man disappeared behind a curtain into a back room. I could hear him rummaging around, and I prayed to the gods that he would find something that would fit her.

"What's the odds he's got something that actually fits me?" Sage asked with a taunting tone.

"I guess we'll find out," I dismissed, not wanting to engage in whatever mind game Evangeline's spy was trying to play.

The man emerged almost immediately after my reply.

"Will this do?" he asked, holding up a blue dress. There was some embroidery along the cuffs of the sleeves and the neck of the dress, and a silver belt hanging at its waist. It would do the job.

I nodded and gestured for Sage to try it on.

She slid it on over her head, cinching up the waist and letting it settle on her shoulders. It seemed as if it was made for her. I was impressed at the man's skill, both with the craftsmanship of the dress and at guessing her size.

"We'll take it. What's the price?" I asked.

"Ten rone," he answered.

"Damn," I sighed. I pulled the coin purse from around my belt, sifting out ten silver coins. It was expensive, but I wouldn't deny that the quality was worth it. I placed the ten rone in the man's hand and waved goodbye, guiding Sage out onto the street.

"Shouldn't we get the horse?" she asked, head turning toward where Alastor was drinking greedily from the trough at the hitching post.

"No. Horses need breaks too. He's happy to stay there while we make our way through town. You need shoes," I answered, dismissing her concern.

"Won't he get lonely? What if someone steals him?" she continued.

I barked out a laugh. "I'd hate to be the man that tries to steal Alastor," I retorted.

She grumbled something about carelessness but continued down the street as I guided her with a firm hand at the small of her back. I tried to convince myself that the only reason I had my hand at the small of her back was because I was trying to keep her going the way I needed her to go, but it felt wrong to not be touching her for some reason.

The shoe store was run by a small, ancient woman who was hunched over a pile of leather. She didn't even look up when we entered, and she didn't bother speaking to us.

"Find something that fits," I told Sage, sitting in a chair in the corner of the store near the door.

Sage at least had the presence of mind to follow my orders, and she quickly sifted through the displayed boots to find a pair of tall leather boots. She laced and unlaced them a couple of times before looking over at me questioningly.

"Do these look okay?" she asked, seeming suddenly unsure.

"Do they fit well?" I asked instead of answering.

She looked beautiful. The blue from her dress complimented her warm, golden skin. Her hazel eyes were a patchwork of color in the morning light, and she had braided her long brown hair over to one side. The boots matched some of the embroidery on the dress, and the way they climbed up her legs toward her thighs once again had my mind going places I didn't want it to go right now.

"I think so," she answered, breaking me from my daydream.

"How much for the boots?" I asked the woman who was still busy stitching more shoes.

She looked up to see what Sage had selected and studied the boots.

"Twenty rone," she answered, looking back to her work.

This was an expensive town to live in. I was glad we were only passing through.

"Thank you," Sage said, still not moving from her spot.

The craftswoman's head snapped up, ancient gray eyes studying Sage.

"Saint," the woman breathed. "For you, nothing."

I narrowed my eyes, unsure of what was going on.

"Excuse me?" Sage asked gently, voice soft and musical. I was jealous she'd never spoken to me that way.

"For you, my saint, take them. Take them and remember me," she answered, eyes wide and beginning to fill with tears.

Sage went over to her, pulling her into her arms. "Thank you," she said, holding the woman tightly.

I studied the exchange, unsure what it meant.

Sage hurried out of the store and I followed her out onto the street.

"What the hell was that about?" I demanded.

"I have no idea," Sage answered, and for once, her confusion sounded convincing.

What was that woman talking about? What saint?