The day was mild and sunny as the women made their way to the center of town, where the small caravan of traders had set up shop. Several others were already there, perusing the various wares and trinkets, and Rose paused more than once to wave at an old friend, or smile at a familiar face, as pleasantries were exchanged. Beside her, Merry bounced Althessia on her hip, the baby's expression wide eyed at all the activity.
“It is a good day for a market,” Rose commented, as she passed a stall of dried meats, pausing as Merry stopped at the next stall to look over an array of fabrics and threads. Rose reached out, running her finger over a length of pale green cotton, then shook her head. “Have care for what you pick child, but if you wish to make yourself a new dress, I will help you.”
Merry's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and the next several minutes were spent ogling the display of colors and textures, before settling on a deep green fabric with pale pink roses.
“This'll make a fine festival dress,” Rose said, as she looked through the threads for a match. “It'll go with your coloring as well and … what child?” she paused as Merry let out an 'oooooh.'
“This one!” Merry said, holding up a shimmery fabric, the color a deep burgundy. “It would be perfect for Emra! And she's never had a dress of her very one, only ones she's borrowed from me or … well, borrowed.” Merry stutters to a stop and blushes.
Rose shakes her head in bafflement before looking down at the fabric. Though she'd only seen Merry's friend a handful of times when she was cleaning around the mill-house, Rose had to agree that that color would match the girl's dark hair and eyes nicely. “I've not that much coin to spare though,” Rose started, but Merry held up her hand, waving off the argument.
“I've a little saved up. I can buy this,” Merry replied as she ran her hand across the silken cloth. “I can't wait until she returns and I can show her!”
“Well, if you've a wish to spend your coin on her, then that's up to you. I imagine she'd be pleased to have a dress of her own for once.” Though I wonder if she'd do the same for you child, Rose thought, but held her tongue.
After their purchases were wrapped and paid for, they looked around for a place to buy something to eat. Merry pointed out a vendor selling a selection of meat sticks and other delicacies, and they headed there together.
After they finished eating, Merry relaxed on a small bench, Althessia squirming constantly to get down and explore. “I'll stay here with the baby, if you want to look around some more,” she said, “or maybe I'll take her to the small park nearby and let her run.”
Rose stood up and stretched, nodding in agreement. “I'll meet you by the fountain then,” she said, “I've a couple of matters to tend to while we're here, but they shouldn't take long.”
Their plans made, Rose wandered back through the stalls, looking around at the strange faces. She could feel the weight of the journal in her market bag, though so far she'd not seen anyone which she felt could help her decipher the strange woman's story.
She pulled the leather book from her bag, staring down at it before she looked around again. Clutching it in her hand, she worked her way from one stall to the next, sometimes simply stopping to chat, sometimes inquiring about their wares, but mostly carefully gauging the vendors. Occasionally, she'd show the book to one of them, but they all shook their head after flipping through it. After several inquiries, Rose gave up and headed to the fountain to wait for Merry. It was useless, she thought. There's no one here that can assist me with this.
To pass the time until Merry arrived, Rose opened the journal, using her head as shade so she could read.
I am to be challenged. Should I not fail – then I will be found worthy. I do not know what these tasks will be. Gwenaewen will tell me nothing, except that I will either succeed – or not. In the meantime, I watch the tracks of the cun annun grow ever closer to the sanctuary. Found remains of several animals – those that did not make it to safety. Among the tracks are those unlike the others, larger, deeper. A leader? It is likely, though I have not seen this beast. It fills me with dread.
I have passed the tasks set out to me. I did not even know I was being tested until it was done. Gwenaewen told me of it later, as I ate. Speed, strength, endurance, and wisdom – she told me I had done well, that the hunstman was pleased with my learnings. It is time, she said. Time for what? She smiled but said no more.
“Where did you get that?
Rose looked up at the sudden question, and found herself staring into the hooded face of a woman. It seemed odd to her that anyone would wear a cloak on such a day, but before she could comment, she realized the woman was staring down at her hands. “The book, you mean.?”
The woman nodded, silent for a moment before she spoke again. “The book, yes. Where did you get it?” she asked again.
“A friend bought it from a traveling vendor,” Rose replied, baffled as to why this woman would be interested in what she was reading. I've had a hard time understanding it, or even determining if it's real or ...”
“It's real,” the woman replied, cutting Rose off, and took a step closer. “You wish to understand it?”
“Well, yes ...” Rose was shocked to find the woman sitting next to her, even as she answered. “I would, but no one has been able to help me.”
The woman snorted at this. “No, I imagine not. I can help. But it will cost you.”
“How much,” Rose asked, suddenly skeptical at the offer. She tried to see the woman's face, but much of it was hidden in the folds of her hood.
“No money,” The woman said, shaking her head. “The book. I will explain it, but then you must give it to me.”
“I've not much … the book?” Rose stuttered at the request. “You want me to give you … the book … as payment?” She clutched at the book, wondering what the woman's trick was, and surreptitiously scanned the square for Merry.
The woman noticed her nervousness and let out a sigh, before reaching up for her hood and pulling it back. “Yes. The book.”
Rose's attention was caught by the movement, and she turned to stare at the woman's face. So unusual she thought, unaware that her mouth had dropped open until she heard the woman's laugh, gravelly as though she did not do so often, and watched as she pulled her hood back up. Rose looked down at the book, then back at the woman and wordlessly handed it to her.
“You are wise, duvodiad,” the woman said, her fingers caressing the cover of the book, before opening it to where Rose had bookmarked it. Handing it back, the woman said, “Read and ask your questions. I will answer them.”
Rose accepted the book back and finding where she had stopped off, began to read aloud.
I dreamed. The hunstman stood before me, his voice echoing inside my head.
'You have learned much in the past years Aneira. Healing, fighting. You have proven yourself to the spirits. Now, you must choose.'
Choose what?
'A fight comes, will you take up your spear and defend the hall?'
There is no choice.
'There is always a choice. You can simply leave, walk away. You are always free to go.'
No. I will stay. Fight.
'Then you have chosen. Fight well, Aneira ferch Enaid.'
It has come time for me to face the cun annun and their leader. My spear and daggers are sharp, my armor mended. I have cut off my hair, the second time it has been shorn. This time, it is cut to remember those who cared. Gwenaewen will bury the braid in the sanctuary. Either way, I will not return to the hall when the fight is over. I will miss it. I am ready.
Rose turned the page, only to find it blank. It had ended as abruptly as it began. “What happened next,” she muttered aloud, looking up from the pages. “There is so much … so many things.”
“Then ask your many things, I will answer them,” the woman replied.
So Rose began to ask, and the woman explained things to her. What time passed, Rose wasn't sure, but soon she saw Merry standing near the fountain with Althessia asleep in her arms. There was a question in her eyes, but Rose held up her hand to stay the girl from coming closer. “I have never seen this place, this land of yours,” she said turning back to the woman, “but I am glad to have gotten to know it through you. But … the tale. How does it end?”
The woman looked into Rose's eyes, a smile playing across her face. “It hasn't … yet. And I cannot see what is to come.” She took the book gently from Rose's hands and closed it. “Perhaps one day, we shall both know.” Gracefully, the woman stood, and bowed to Rose. “You are not so bad, for a duvodiad,” she chuckled and turned to walk away, melting into the crowds before Rose could ask what she meant.
“Mrs. Rose!” Merry said breathlessly as she approached, “Who was that? What did she want? And why did you give her the book!”
Rose turned and smiled up at the girl's flustered and somewhat annoyed expression. “I gave it to her, because … it belongs to her,” she replied.
“It belongs … you mean that was ...” Merry's eyes widened as she looked through the crowd for some sign of the strange woman.
“Yes, it was. And when we return home, I shall tell you the story she shared ...”
