Antares Once More

The port City of Antares is filled with merchants and caravans of either witches or mortals. Everything's so colorful the building with stained glass the people in their reds, yellows, bright orange and pinks resemble the sunrise over the lake in mid-February. When I trained in the City of Glass, I got to see such things as beaches and sunrises that didn't start in bloodshed the sunsets where my favorite with their pink and yellow strikes against the blue sky at times it looked like the sky was on fire.

"Ruby," Pearl calls pulling me out of my memories.

"What?"

"Ren found an inn," Pearl says pointing towards a building, that's name reads MorningStar.

Inside only thieves and mercenaries occupy the back end of the tavern. The bar is occupied by a burly fellow that seems to stand at seven feet his shaved head has intricate markings deeming him a member of the Bear Tribe. He runs a weathered hand down his long beard as he takes us in, one look from Raksha has him looking the other way.

Princess Thea and Vania squirm in the cage Raksha placed them in having turned them into birds before leaving the carriage, "to avoid any trouble," Raksha had said. Not giving them a chance to argue she turned them into canaries. Now I wonder if it was simply to keep them in line, no doubt they would have tried to pay someone here to take us out.

A rosy-cheeked boy runs up to us his hairs disheveled and he's missing a few teeth. "Are you a fairy?" the boy asks eyes hopeful.

I smile at him and ask, "what if I am?"

"You're too pretty to be an ordinary lady," the boy says.

A man that could only be his father rushes over wiping sweat from his brow, "forgive my boy Lady he doesn't know any better. Magnus, stop bothering our clients," he shoos the boy away, "how may I be of service?"

"We require a few rooms," Raksha says.

The man gulps wiping more sweat from his brow, "I'm afraid we only have one left, see there are many travelers due to the Festival of Lights."

"It seems we'll have to separate," Uncle Ambrose says.

"Most of the inns are full the only places left are the brothels," the man says.

Uncle Ambrose shrugs, "that's fine by me," he clasps a hand on Ren's shoulder, "you're with me."

For once Ren looks panicked, "now's not the time to visit brothels," he tries not to look at me as he says this.

"Have you ever been to a brothel?" I send him.

His face reddens just the slightest, "of course not, have you?" he sends back.

"Yes," I send back without looking at him, "go with Uncle we'll be fine here," I say, out loud.

Uncle looks between us he may play the fool but that's as far as that goes, "It's settled then," he says watching us closely. I ignore pretending to take an interest in the barmaid and her tray of stew.

"Don't stay too far," Raksha says, "and keep about your wits."

"Always," Uncle says dragging Ren away.

"We'll talk later," Raksha sends, there's no point in responding I just nod my head and follow her up the steps and onto the second landing. The barmaid that lead us hands Raksha a copper key before heading back. The room is small a bead at the center with a table and chair next to the window there's a small bathing chamber to the left and a fireplace to the right of the bathroom.

"Cozy," I say, heading for the bathing chamber.

"Why do you get to bathe first?" Pearl asks through the closed door.

I don't answer instead turn the faucet on filling the copper tube with icy water. With the wave of my hand, I open the tiny window letting the smell of the broiled fish and baked breath in. I throw a barrier up before undressing the water hisses as I step in. I've had a fever for the past day the icy water my only relief. Using my magic, I lift the water and let it fall on my head over and over again.

Closing my eyes, I lean against the tub arms hanging from either side. There's a rustling then a soft wind caresses my skin as Ren settles on the rim of the tub still in his bird form. Through half lid eyes, I watch him transform biting into his wrist he brings it to my lips. I don't hesitate to drink from him, his blood like a song to my soul. Rich and strong like one of the fine wines I've stolen from Uncle Ambrose. It almost hurts to let go but I must.

Ren watches me bathe not once looking away. His eyes follow my every movement tracking down my face, throat and lingering on my breast before rooming down the up again. I turn my back to him handing a vial containing a violet liquid he takes it pouring it onto my hair.

His fingers are careful as he washes my hair then takes the washcloth from my hand pouring a crimson liquid onto it carefully scrubbing my neck my back and arms sucking in a breath as he runs the washcloth over my breast.

There's a knock on the door causing him to fall into the tub. Hold in a laugh as he shifts into his bird form and flies out of the bathing chamber. I'm not going to hear the end of this one.

"Almost done?" Aunt Sonia asks.

"Yes," I answer as I finish bathing myself opening the faucet for more cold water, for my skin is feverish for a completely different reason than before. Thank the Underworld it was Aunt Sonia and not Raksha I can already guess what she needs to talk to me about and I simply don't care.

I dress in leather pants and a midnight black corset adorned with stars and twisting vines my hair remains loose for once, it needs a trim its already past my waist.

When I exit, I find Raksha is nowhere in sight. Pearl sits by the window the cage with Thea and Vania on the table before her. Aunt Sonia helps her bring down her hair half her hair is already free from the many braids the tiny beads she wears int hem rest in a pile on the table.

"So many braids," I say, taking a seat at the edge of the bed, "will you leave your hair down this time, I love your curls."

Pearl smiles, "you can have them," she says.

"You once told me they require great care and I'm no good with the beauty stuff," I say, lacing up my boots, "where's Raksha?"

Aunt smirks, "Meeting a potential client," she looks at me then back at Pearl, "you can't keep this up."

I run a wooden comb through my blood-red hair, "she already knows."

"She'll forbid it," Aunt says.

"Why?" Pearl asks wincing when I run the comb through my hair too roughly for her liking, "Stop that."

I look at her as I do it again, "No," I say, "also Raksha forbids everything that's not to her liking."

Aunt lets out a sigh stepping away from Pearl her hair now free. "Ruby his older."

"Aunt tell me at what point in time have immortals truly cared about age. Is the Dark King not an Ancient in contrast to the Shadow Princess? Besides he's only four years older than you and you said your thirty."

Aunt Sonia's eyes widen at my questioning of her age, "I am thirty," she looks away giving up on the argument.

One of the canaries' starts chirping, "what is it?" I ask.

It chirps again probably wanting a say in our conversation. I remove the spell setting Thea and Vania free in a way.

"Why don't you run away with him?" Vania asks.

Thea just shakes her head turning to me, "I advise against that, Raksha would hunt you down."

"How do you know her?" Pearl asks stopping at the bathing rooms entrance.

"I had her steal something once," Thea says, "around nineteen years ago."

"The egg," Aunt Sonia says, "so what was it really?"

Thea looks at Vania then back at Aunt Sonia, "what do you think?"

"Why were you an egg?" I ask.

Vania adverts her gaze simply saying, "I wouldn't marry him."

"Him?"

"The Summer King," Thea answers, "you Fay don't seem to deal well with rejection."

I wrap a black cloak around me, "I don't know what you're talking about," I say, changing them back into canaries and heading out the door.

###

The market is bustling with merchants even at this late in the day. I find a vendor sealing meat on a stick the smell makes my mouth water.

"How many would the Lady, like?" the man asks.

"Four," I say, handing him a piece of silver.

"Thank you, Lady," he takes it before anyone else can see.

By the time I make my way to one of the fish vendors I've already finished my meat and even had a plum. How lovely would it be to live a carefree life where you have to worry about food and not about someone trying to kill you. The broiled fish taste as good as it smelled when its smell reached my window.

A child pleads his mother for something called a honey cake. I pay the vendor taking the extra fish for Pearl. The honey cakes are sold by an older ban with long white hair and a long white beard. He smiles as I approach already a dome-shaped cake in hand.

"Where are you from?" the old man asks his voice is like a serene night.

I take the cake and bite in its so sweet, "Everywhere and nowhere," I say, once I manage to swallow.

"That's a very ambiguous answer," he says with a chuckle.

"But it's the truth," I say, "I was born by a river and have lived in just about every realm."

"Even the Shadow Realm?" his eyes sparkle with humor.

"Perhaps not everywhere," I say, no need to give him to much information. Before I can ask, he wraps a few cakes up and hands them to me refusing payment he vanishes from sight. I shrink the bundle attaching it to my silver bangle.

"There you are," Pearl says.

I turn to find her dressed in leather pants and a long flowy blouse a mixture of yellow and red there's a white crane embroider at the center, its head resting on her belly. A minty shawl is wrapped around her shoulders, sometimes I envy how lovely she looks.

"Here," I hand her the fish and turn towards another stall.

"This is good," she says in between bites, "where you get it?"

"That's a good question," I say looking around, "just follow your nose."

"That's a horrible habit," she says.

"Did you make what I asked for?" I ask her as I look over an array of fabrics.

"You know the odds…

"Pearl."

"I couldn't find the herbs needed."

"I'll do it myself," I say moving on to the next stall. After sometime Pearl leaves me in search of more food and I head to a healer.

The shop smells of various herbs yet somehow it's not overpowering. I get what I need from the healer and am on my way when I spot someone following me. A Shadow to be precise, I step into an alley and wait the Shadow follows coming face to face with my blade.

She throws up a hand engulfing us in a shadowy cocoon.

"Our master sends her regards," her voice is low yet powerful.

I take the folded note committing it to memory before seating it ablaze. The Shadow leaves without another word.I head back to the MorningStar, Raksha won't like this.