Chapter 50

After walking into the town I realized that it was very different from Crescent Port.

The houses were all made of brick and stone and they towered tall above us. The windows were all wrought with black vines and curves that looked almost ghostly. All of the buildings were covered in vines and plants of sorts.

We walked until we arrived at what seemed a town square of sorts. The buildings were all labeled as shops and had people going in and out.

"Quite busy." I said under my breath as I attempted to spot a livery or farrier of sorts.

Seeing a man approach, wearing a brown coat over top of a white one and long brown pants matching his coat. On his head sat a strange round hat that also matched his coat. Ignoring his absurd costume I asked, "Pardon me, sir. But, would you happen to know where we could find a livery or stables of a sort. Our horses are tired and in need of care."

He stopped and observed our group, his eyes resting on the Sovereign.

"These your horses?" He asked in a strange accent.

"Aye, they're mine. But my sister cares for them primarily as they were a gift to her." The Sovereign answered matching the man's queer accent.

"I see." The man dressed in brown answered, his eyes moved back to me, the Sovereign's wife who he had called his sister, "There's a fine livery down that street thar. Yeah, tall yellow building it is. Owner's name is Joe, he'll fix you up."

I nodded slowly and looked at Brigitte who did not seemed confused by the man's manner.

"Th-thank you, kind sir." She replied in the same accent and then moved to walk down the street the man had suggested.

I watched, 'Was she from Waxingville?' I wondered.

We walked down the narrow street made of broken cobblestone and we soon came to a pale, yellow building.

I could hear the sound of a hammer against metal and horses' hooves hitting the cobblestones.

Walking in a bell rang and we all started our eyes around the stables looking for the owner; Joe.

"Hello." I called.

"Eh?" A voice came from behind a stall, "Do I have a customer?" He questioned.

A man came out, his grey hair greasy and his face streaked with mud and lacquer. His eyes were bright and happy, and his teeth were all crooked.

I swallowed and handed the horses reigns to Brigitte and she nodded to me.

"Hello, I'm afraid that we have no money for you but we do have a few things to barter or trade for tools and shoes. I can do the work." I said stoutly. I could do it, I had shoed a few horses back home in the local livery for a few extra coins but it was not easy.

Now Linden was working there and at sixteen years of age he was much stronger than me.

The man, Joe, glanced at the Sovereign, then back at me, "You can do it? Ah, I doubt that."

Instead of getting angry with him I said, "Aye sir, I can," I drifted into my mother's strong Crescent accent, "I done it all the time back home. My brother does most the work though." I said.

"Is this your brother here?" He asked nodding at the Sovereign.

"Aye, that be him." I said swallowing and clearing my throat. I had long practiced speaking in a clearer voice but it seemed as though in Waxingville it was not the norm.

"Alright then, show me what you have to trade." He said and crossed his large arms over his chest.

I moved to check the packs on the horses' backs and found a lovely jewel encrusted dagger, a beautiful cloak made of silk and an oil lamp crafted with gold.

I handed him the oil lamp and his eyes widened as he took in the object, "Now, where did you get this?"

"Found it." I said in an indifferent tone, "Will you take it?"

He looked up at me then at the Sovereign, "Y-you are not thieves are you?"

"Nay, my good man. Just simple merchants." The Sovereign answered mimicking my accent, "Our ship sprung a leak so we had to escape with our lives and few possessions."

Joe nodded, "Ah, I see." After regarding the lamp a last time he said, "Well, I can see nothing wrong with it, you may use my tools and whatever you like."

I nodded gratefully and then led one horse to a stall and Brigitte another.

"Brigitte, you can please wash them." I said returning to my normal voice.

"Yes, your-" She swallowed, "H-hydie."

I smiled and then set to work on cleaning the poor horses hooves. I grabbed the hammer and buffer then began to slowly ease the shoe off while hitting the buffer and lifting the shoe.

After removing just one shoe I was panting and my back ached.

Rolling my shoulders I grabbed the hoof knife and began to trim the hoof.

"So… what was with that accent?" I heard the Sovereign ask as I swung my hair over my shoulder.

"That… was my mother's accent. She has a much stronger one than mine." I said as I finished with the first hoof and moved to the next.

"Hm. Why don't you speak like that all the time?" He asked. I glanced up and saw that he was just leaning against the wall.

"You could help." I said thinking that he could brush the mane out.

He nodded and I sighed exasperatedly knowing that he would say no.

"No." He said.

I began to clean the second hoof.

"What about you?" I asked after a second had elapsed, "How come you know-" I struck the buffer, "So many accents."

"Hmm." I heard him hum, "I've travelled."

I just nodded and focused on my work. It had been awhile since I'd used my hands for such hard labour.

"Your- Hydie. I'm finished." I heard Brigitte say.

"Excellent! Thank you." I called, "If you don't mind could you please come and groom this one? I'm nearly finished with it's hooves."

"Mmhmm." She hummed and she soon appeared from the other stall.

I glanced up at the Sovereign, "Could you stay in the other stall and watch her?"

"No please for me?" He asked smirking.

"No." I replied as I finished shaving the hoof.

Moving onto the next one I saw that he had left.