Sir Torren felt the chill brush across the square. The playful warmth that had softened his features disappeared, replaced by something colder, sharper. His jaw tightened slightly as his eyes swept across the market, his posture straightened, and the easy expression he had worn only moments before hardened into the focused vigilance of a man trained for danger.
In an instant, the charming guard who had returned a ribbon was gone.What remained was a man prepared for a fight.
His eyes moved quickly across the market, measuring the crowd, searching for the source of the sudden change in the air.
The merchants were still shouting their prices. Children still darted between carts. The musicians near the fountain continued their lively tune. Yet something about the air had changed.
Torren's gaze moved once across the far end of the market before he forced his attention back to the three young women standing before him.
Elira had just finished tying the ribbon back into her dark hair, the loose strands now gathered neatly once again. Carolina and Eguine still looked as though they had stepped into a dream.
Eguine in particular seemed barely able to contain herself.
Torren allowed a small smile to return. "Forgive me," he said calmly, "but it appears my duties are calling me elsewhere." He gave a respectful bow toward the girls.
First to Carolina. Then to Eguine. And lastly a deeper bow to Elira.
Behind him, the guards who had accompanied him straightened immediately. Without question, they fell into step as Torren turned and began walking back into the restless flow of the market.
Within moments, the crimson cloaks of the royal guards disappeared among the crowd.
For several seconds after he was gone, none of the girls spoke.
Then with quick movement Eguine grabbed Elira's arm. "You must tell us everything!!!" she squealed.
"Yes," Carolina said, crossing her arms with a knowing smile. "Everything!"
Elira blinked at the two girls before her. "What do you mean?"
Carolina leaned slightly closer with a sarcastic tone."The guards…," she said slowly."Sir Torren…."
Eguine nodded eagerly tightening her grip on Eliras arms.
"You looked as though you knew him!" Eguine flirted out.
Elira opened her mouth to protest. But Carolina lifted a hand to stop her. "We just finished our final sale AND made extra coin today so there is PLENTY of time to start from the beginning," she said proudly with her chin held high."
The excitement in Eguine's eyes was impossible to ignore and before Elira could utter a word Eguine interjected, "How did a royal guard come to know your ribbon???"
"And why," she added breathlessly, "did he look at you like that??"
Elira felt her face turned all shades of red and pin all over again running the quick memory of the events today.
"I—" She hesitated.
Where was she even supposed to begin? With the silver coin? With the bread? Or with the word Torren had spoken only moments earlier that still echoed uncomfortably in her thoughts. Vampires.
Elira remembered she needed to let the Inn know she had no bread to sell as it was first time she had sold all loafs. Elira straightened suddenly.
"I just remembered," she said quickly. "I must stop by the inn."
Carolina frowned. "The inn?"
"Elira," Eguine added, "we are in the middle of a very important conversation."
Elira laughed nervously. "I know, I know."
She lifted her empty basket slightly as proof.
"It's the first time I've sold every loaf before noon. The innkeeper always expects a few, and I must let him know I have none left today."
Carolina opened her mouth, clearly preparing to argue but Elira was already stepping away.
"I promise to tell you everything," she called back. "I'll meet you at the clock tower!"
Before either of them could protest, she turned on her heel and slipped into the narrow lane between the stalls.
The market swallowed her immediately.
Merchants called out their final midday offers while shoppers pushed past with baskets full of produce and cloth. A pair of boys darted past her chasing one another through the crowd while a farmer struggled to guide a stubborn mule through the square.
Elira moved quickly between them all, the empty basket bouncing lightly against her arm.
The inn stood at the far edge of the market road, its wooden sign creaking softly above the door as travelers came and went throughout the day.
She had nearly reached the end of the lane when the same strange chill brushed faintly across the back of her neck. Elira slowed. Just for a moment.
The noise of the market continued around her as if nothing had changed.
She glanced back over her shoulder. And saw the crowd moved like a restless sea of color and motion.
No one seemed to be watching her. Yet the uneasy feeling lingered. Elira shook the thought away and continued toward the inn.
She had one last stop to finish before returning to Carolina and Eguine which were two very impatient friends waiting to hear every detail of her morning.