In the end, she managed to get her bath, and everyone got ready to go out for the afternoon. Egon had decided that she would also need a sword of her own if she was going to be learning swordplay. She hadn't joined them when they had gone for Evander's sword the day before. Instead, she had stayed in the house by herself to enjoy some peace and quiet. Not something she got very often in a busy castle.
The marketplace was as colorful and bustling as it had been the first day they had walked through. Much like the Pontus market, every stall they walked by was trying to pitch their wares to passersby. As a group, they were all dressed very nicely, so they were called out to a lot by the merchants. Mina was drawn in by a few, especially those selling fruits she'd never seen before, beautiful dresses, and accessories. Everything in Chrysanthos was beautiful.
She was looking at some bangles made of precious stones instead of gold when she was grabbed by the wrist. Startled, she looked up, and it was a woman in flowy dark robes. She looked kind enough, so Mina didn't immediately panic.
"Can I help you?" Mina asked cautiously.
"No, but I can help you. There are things you don't know that you'd like to, are there not?" The woman's voice was low and raspy and her green eyes were locked on Mina.
"Doesn't everybody?" Mina asked skeptically.
"But you have important things." The woman insisted, still holding her wrist tightly.
"Unhand her," Egon had appeared behind her. "No need to talk to this charlatan."
"Wait!" The woman called as Egon pulled Mina away. "I see a yellow cloak."
"That's my brother. Let me go, Egon!" Egon's grasp held firm.
"You don't want to talk to her. She calls herself an oracle, but she speaks in riddles and half-truths. She'll only cause trouble. Trust me, please." Mina looked back at him when he voiced his plea. Trust him. She'd only known him for a few days.
"Mina, he's probably right." Came Casper's voice. Evander had also seen the upheaval and joined them. "Oracles are just trouble, in my experience."
"Fine." She said reluctantly. "We should go then."
Egon nodded and led the way. Casper and Evander let her follow him before they took up the rear. Mina's mood was shot. She didn't even want to look at the bobbles and trinkets that the merchants were peddling anymore. She wondered how difficult it might be to sneak out and find the oracle after everyone was asleep. The woman hadn't had a booth and had disappeared through a door between two booths after she had agreed to turn her down. Surely Mina could find it again. She looked around herself and tried to memorize everything she could.
The Blacksmith was on the opposite side of the marketplace. As they approached the building, all they could smell was the burning fire within. She wasn't prepared for the heat inside the building. Chrysanthos was already a hot climate and the constant burning fire and hot metal had turned the building into a sauna. In the center of it all was a very large woman working at an anvil. She was covered in sweat and soot and very focused on her task. Egon waited patiently for her to come to a stopping point before he spoke.
"I have another commission for you, Eisele."
"Have you? You've been very busy, Egon." She took off her protective gloves and approached the group. "Who now?"
"The girl." He answered simply.
"Well, that's new and refreshing," she said, looking at Mina. "Pretty little thing, no wonder." The locksmith grabbed a stick from her tools and approached Mina with it. "May I?"
"Yes," Mina said, a bit nervous as the gargantuan woman reached for her arm. After it was extended, she began to take measurements of her hand and arm.
"Any requests for this sword?" She asked the question of Egon, bypassing Mina entirely.
"The hilt should be as beautiful as its owner. Perhaps with some sapphires inlaid. Violet is from Sapphirus after all."
"This is going to be expensive," Eisele informed him.
"Not a problem," Egon insisted.
Once Eisele had everything she needed, they went back out into the crowded marketplace. Having decided that she was going to sneak out that night to see the oracle, Mina's mood was greatly improved, and she enjoyed the walk back. She even bought a few things, including another green dress in a different style than the one Egon had provided her. This one was more robe-like and flowing with a beautiful, thick beaded belt.
Egon disappeared after dinner as usual, no doubt going to one of the brothels in town to drink and goodness knows what else. She decided to sit in the courtyard before bed, enjoying the sky's changes from day to dusk to night. She almost didn't notice when Evander joined her in the retreating light of the sunset. They sat quietly for a while before either of them spoke.
"I don't like when they talk about you like that." He said quietly. She laughed a little. "I know. It doesn't even seem like it's my feelings. It's strange."
"It's the bond. It wants us to be closer. It wants you to protect it." She explained.
"I don't think I really like it." He admitted.
"I don't think I really like it either. From the moment it happened, it felt both foreign and natural to me."
"Yes!" he agreed readily. "Like it was always meant to be there, but someone had shoved it unceremoniously upon me."
"We'll get used to it, I guess." Her words were not comforting.
"I think we should spend more time together."
"We can probably manage that." She agreed.
"I think I'm going to go to bed." He made to stand, but she stopped him and leaned in to kiss his cheek.
"Goodnight, Van."
She went to her room soon after, but only long enough that she was sure Casper and Evander must be asleep. Then she sneaked down the stairs as she had the night before. Instead of going out to the courtyard, she went out the front door. The walk to the oracle's door was a lot shorter when the market was closed for the day and most people were at home in their beds. The door itself would have blended into the rest of the street if it wasn't for the bird skull and herbs tacked to the wood. When she raised her hand to knock, it opened.
"I've been expecting you." The oracle moved from the opening in the doorway so that Mina could pass.
"You have?" She squeezed through and waited to be told to sit before choosing a large chair in the middle of the one-room home. The home itself also seemed pretty normal aside from what was clearly an altar covered with candles and more herbs.
"Of course. I am an oracle." She sat in the chair opposite Mina.
"What did you see of my brother?" Mina asked urgently.
"Payment first." The oracle insisted. "Three gold coins."
"Okay." Mina had pocketed some money during her shopping trip just for this occasion. She happily dropped some money into the oracle's hand.
"He is with the darkness." The oracle stated.
"Is he okay? Is he alive?" Mina was filled with panic.
"He is currently unharmed."
"Who is wielding the darkness?" This was the important question.
"This I don't know. They are shielded by the darkness, and my gift cannot see through." She explained.
"Do we have time to finish our task here?" Mina needed to know if they needed to go home immediately.
"If you leave now, you will surely die, as will all you love."
"And if I stay?"
"You have asked three questions and gotten three answers. I'm not permitted to give you more." The oracle explained.
"But I didn't know I only had three questions!" Mina argued.
"Your ignorance doesn't change the fact." The oracle stood from her chair and made her way to the door. "I am sorry. I can tell you no more."
Mina stood wordlessly, tears stinging her eyes. She barely had more than she had when she'd entered the oracle's home. What she did have in abundance was worry for Aurelius. He was "with the darkness." What did that mean? Was he in trouble? Was the wielder in the palace or was Aurelius captured? She was in full tears and panic by the time she reached the walk up to the house. When she opened the door, she quickly entered and turned to latch it shut. When she turned back around to quietly make her way upstairs, she ran into someone's chest.