Fiona’s POV…
“That’s 20 gold pieces for the next two months and a little tip for all the hard work you’ve been doing lately. I never expected this tavern to be up and running in such a short time. Good job, Fiona!”
“Thank you,” I smiled as I collected the small sac of gold pieces that Basi, the tavern owner, threw on the ground I was mopping.
Today was a good day, as not only had I just finished all the work I’d been assigned, but I had just received something I never expected Basi to be so generous as to hand me; advance payment! My wolf, Rin, howled within me. She could feel the excitement too.
After labouring, I removed my apron and changed it with my jacket from the stand to head back home. The night worker would take over from where I stopped. She was in for a whole lot because the tavern was mostly active at night hours. My back cracked as I stretched; it ached from bending for such a long time with hardly any rest, but what could I do? I needed the wage, after all.
I giddily counted the gold pieces as I headed back home. There were 21 gold pieces. I was to receive ten gold pieces for each full month I worked in the tavern, but Basi decided to pay me for two months, and the one extra piece must be the tip he was talking about. If I manage well enough, this money will surely be more than enough to last me for the next two months. I don’t spend on plenty except for my house and my food, so I will be just fine.
As I walked home happily, I could not wait to tell my lover, Hugo, about what Basi said today. He’ll be so proud of me. Before I headed home, I decided to stop by Hugo’s place to tell him the exciting news.
His house was not too far from where I laboured, so I could easily branch there before I headed home. Moreover, it’s been a long time since I saw him and I missed him.
I arrived at his place in a short time, but when I knocked on the door, no one answered from inside. I knocked again to be sure, but with Rin’s assistance, I detected that no one was in the house at all.
Funny. It’s unlikely for Hugo to be out after sunset. He is without work, so what would he be doing outside in the evening hours?
After waiting a while, I decided to use the mind link to reach his wolf.
“Where are you? I have been waiting for you outside your house for some time now. I miss you, my love. There’s so much for us to talk about!” I said, channelling my words to locate him wherever he was.
After a few minutes, I was growing impatient until he answered back.
“I apologize, my love. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I should have told you I was coming. I just decided to come here after work today since we haven’t seen each other in a while.”
“Okay, my love. Go inside and wait for me. The door is unlocked. I will be with you soon.”
I hadn’t even noticed that because I’d only knocked. Thankfully, now, I didn’t have to wait outside any longer. I entered Hugo’s house. It was already dark inside, but I could locate a small lamp on the floor using my enhanced vision. I turned it on and placed it on the small table where Hugo eats his meals, then I drew on the chair and sat down to wait for him.
A moment later, he was back and, with him, welcomed the stench of alcohol. I could tell he’d been out having fun somewhere.
“And how is my lovely lady doing today?” Hugo tried walking towards me but staggered, almost falling. He was still in his right mind but appeared a bit drunk.
“Sorry. You know today is Laurel’s birthday. I bought her some drinks and had some for myself.”
Oh, goddess! I would have completely forgotten about my best friend’s birthday if not for Hugo, who reminded me. Guess I won’t be heading home after here.
“I came here to tell you some good news, dear, but now I don’t think this is the right time….”
“Nonsense! I only had a few drinks, Fiona. My ears are still very open to anything you have to say.”
I thought of whether to listen to him or go and attend to Laurel, but then I remembered the last time I saw him. Since I am always so busy working, I don’t know how long it will be before I have this chance again.
“Okay, fine.”
I watched as he pulled out a small stool from under his bed made with straw and timber. He then sat on it in front of me.
“I’m all ears.”
I began, “well, today, I earned more than I usually did for my work. The tavern owner even complimented me on how much the tavern had grown since I began my labour. He decided to give me advance payment, along with a tip! Who knows? I might even get a raise later on, and then I’ll have enough money to save and….”
If I’d expected Hugo to bounce up and be happy at what I’d just told him, then I was sadly mistaken. He drew up a frown upon hearing my words. Were they what upset him?
I had to ask, “what is it, my love?”
“You remember the business I told you about? The one I told you I was about to indulge in?”
I don’t know how or why the topic shifted from me to him all of a sudden, but then I decided to carry on.
“Yes. I recall you telling me how you wanted to start bringing Maltian weed from across the border. I remember telling you it was a bad idea because Maltian weed is banned in the whole of Mastoria. You risk getting exiled if you are ever caught with any of that substance.”
The next look he had on his face told me he’d done something he knew I would disapprove of.
“What did you do, Hugo?” I asked him sternly.
Fiona’s POV…“What did you do, Hugo?” I asked him sternly.He bent his head, “well, I went ahead and did it anyway.”I threw my hands in the air frustratedly. “For the goddess’s sake, Hugo! Why would you do such a thing when I told you not to? Do you realize the kind of trouble you’re getting yourself into?”“It’s easy for you to talk about what’s allowed and what’s not when you can easily find labour. Do you know how difficult it’s been for me? Every day I go out, people look at me like I’m a bad person, and then no one wants to employ me! They keep accusing me of chasing after women when I don’t even know what they’re talking about. They’re wrong. I’ll show them! They’ll see!!!”"Hugo…” I shook my head. “Was this what you needed the money for the last time you asked me?”Hugo nodded slowly in response. “Yes, my darling, but I promise, it’s for our future. Once I’m done with this deal, I will wash my hands completely off it.”I sighed, “so, what problems are you experiencing now?”“T
Fiona’s POV…I was scared to come close, contemplated even running away and pretending I didn’t just see this, but something held me back. I don’t know what it was, but it seemed the goddess brought me here for a purpose.I came closer to the body and realized it was a young man, about 10 years older than me, dressed in expensive fabric. Oh, goddess! He must be a noble, and I am certain he is not from Abia. No one in our village could ever afford such majestic clothing.Why is he here, then? Is he sleeping or what? Is he drunk? I couldn’t perceive any alcohol or any of the sort, so the answer was no. How did he end up here, then?I tried touching him to see if he would wake up, but he didn’t. He was unconscious, and not just that, he was bleeding! Seriously from a stabbed wound!Oh no! I gasped, realizing that whoever brought him here must have wanted him killed. From my senses, I knew he still had some life in him, but it was slipping away slowly. If I do not save this man now, he wi
Author’s POV…“Fiona!”“Fiona!!! Wait! Just listen to what I have to say before you go! It’s not what it looks like!” Hugo yelled behind Fiona after she stormed out angrily from his house front.“Are you going after her her?” Laurel asked, looking distraught.“I’ll be back, babe,” Hugo kissed her after putting on some pants to hide his nakedness before running after Fiona.“Fiona! Wait! Will you just listen?”Fiona had almost shifted to her wolf form to run away from this place as fast as possible, before something stopped her; the reason she’d come here. Fiona hated being desperate but she didn’t have a choice. She cursed under her breath as she waited for Hugo to reach where she was standing.Fiona then turned to yell at him, “so, how is it not what it looks like, huh? You banging my best friend behind my back? After all I did for you? You have the guts to betray me, Hugo!”Tears escaped her eyes as she banged at his chest, he quickly used his hands to stop her before she would inf
Fiona’s POV…Upon hearing the voice, I couldn’t believe my ears or eyes! The goddess has finally heard my cries. The stranger is awake; now his family will reward me handsomely for saving his life. I would do well to take him to his home as soon as possible; I didn’t have anything to feed him, nor did I have any more money for his treatment.Oh! The goddess be praised! It’s a miracle he woke up so soon.I hurriedly wiped my face using my hands and walked over to where he was. He’d sat up on my bed and looked around his surroundings strangely.“Hello,” I said to him in a friendly manner. “My name is Fiona.”I expected him to respond with something, but he just stared at me strangely, like he’d seen a ghost.“What’s your name?” I asked him.He closed his eyes as if trying to think of something, and then, “I... I don’t know.”Is this some kind of expensive joke? How can a person not know their name?I didn’t wish to sound harsh, but I desperately needed him to tell me something, anything
Fiona’s POV…After a long talk with Chan, it was finally time for bed. He became perplexed upon seeing me arrange my spot on the floor.“Where is your spare bed?” He asked me.I looked up, “oh, I don’t have one.” I answered.“Have you been sleeping on the floor because of me?”“Only the previous night. I let you sleep on mine since I had no spare bed. You don’t have to worry about me. At least, you can rest properly.”“Thank you for your hospitality, but I can’t keep letting you do that. I will return your bed tonight. Let me have the floor instead.”I objected, “no. Doctor Inna says you need to rest properly because of your medication. I am not the patient here; you are.”“And this is your house. I can’t keep taking your bed from you, Fiona. It’s just not fair.”“I was not complaining.”“Well, I am, and I will not be sleeping on your bed tonight, not while you sleep on the floor.”I sighed. No doubt this man is very stubborn in his real life.“Okay, you know what? The bed is not big,
Chan’s POV…I woke up to see the sleeping beauty right next to me. Her skin glowed like the bright sunlight escaping through her window blinds. She was golden, pure, and heartbroken, and I had just taken advantage of her vulnerable state. I felt like shit for doing that.This woman seemed like she’d been hurt by the people she’d trusted the most, the people who’d let her down. She had given me her trust by letting me be with her, but now I had to try to show her that I wouldn’t turn out to be one of those people.I could try, but heck! I didn’t even know who I was, to begin with. How do I know I won’t let he
Chan’s POV...After getting sacked in less than an hour, I was back in the marketplace. I tried thinking of something not too heavy for me to do to earn; I tried searching for hours, but unfortunately, I had no luck.I sighed. Fiona will be so disappointed if I couldn’t bring anything to the table tonight.It was almost evening time, and the market folks were already closing their stalls. Guess I could say I failed to find labour today, but maybe tomorrow will be better. I was about to head home when I remembered something else I had come out for asides from finding a job. It had to do with regaining my memory. I hurriedly opened my sack and brought out the clothes Fiona handed me this morning, the ones
Authors POV…Fiona was surprised to hear someone knocking on her door late at night. She was not expecting any visitors; she hardly had any.“Let me get it,” she told Chan as she walked away from the compartment and went over to open the door. She could not believe her eyes.“Hugo!” She growled, along with her wolf. If it were not for the sake of comportment and the man standing behind her, she would have attacked this idiot with everything in her.“Fiona, I know you’re mad at me, but please, just listen. I would not have come here if I had nothing good to say to you.”&n