The Dragon’s Throne 1

Chapter 4

Eli stepped out of the forest and onto the path that led to the Neutral Zone, his empty bag slung over one shoulder as he walked.  He could already hear the musicians in the distance, providing lively music for the revelers to dance to.  Eli smiled, hoping that Festival was as fun as it sounded from here. 

He picked up the pace and lengthened the stride of his long, muscular legs, his black leather boots eating up the distance quickly.  He was excited to see what all the fuss was about, and even more excited to see why his father had forbidden Eli and Lauren to attend. 

Rounding the corner, the wind picked up and he could smell the delicious food and treats that Festival was known for.  His mouth watered and his excitement grew as he topped the low hill and saw the brightly colored displays at all the different booths.

“Fantastic,” he said out loud.

He stopped at the first booth, checking out the various crystals and gems on tightly braided leather cords.  Eli picked up one on the end of the display that held a polished purple stone on it.

“How much for this?” he asked the young boy manning the booth. 

The boy looked up, his jaw dropping when he saw the Dragon Prince, standing in front of him.  He bowed slowly, his hand trembling visibly.

“No charge, sir,” the boy said quietly.

“Don’t be absurd,” Eli said.  “How much would you charge if I wasn’t the one buying?  Don’t lie to me.”

“Twenty dollars, sir,” the boy said without looking up, his head still bowed.

“Thank you,” he said, handing the piece to the boy, who wrapped it in a thin cloth and handed it back.  “Keep the change.”

“This is fifty dollars,” the boy said.  He looked up for the first time.  “I can’t take this.”

“I didn’t ask you to,” Eli said, and walked away, putting the necklace for his mother into a small pocket of his backpack and putting it over his shoulder once more.

He perused each booth, receiving almost identical reactions from each vendor and buying little trinkets on the way.  He admired the workmanship of each piece, surprised that the humans of Aldeia had so easily found their way back to their simpler roots after the generation before had been controlled and ultimately destroyed by technology. 

Eli bought some food from one of the concession stands, then leaned against a tree, watching the villagers dance happily around the makeshift dance floor, laughing and singing along with a tune that he didn’t know as the guitarist and the tambourine player raised their voices to be heard over the crowd.  Eli enjoyed the quiet moment to himself, the villagers so intent on their dancing that no one had noticed him.

Festival was brilliant, the sights and sounds so abundantly joyous that Eli found himself grinning from ear to ear as he lost himself in the moment.  He could see why the servants were always so eager to get away and join Festival, and he didn’t know what his father could have been worried about.   

His eyes were drawn to a booth across the dance floor, a small booth surrounded by hanging dresses, some men’s clothes and handmade dolls.  Curious, Eli made his way to that booth, giving the dance floor a wide berth and trying not to call attention to himself. 

The grass was tall and wet against his boots, but he paid no attention to it.  His eyes were glued on a dress hanging in the sun, the darkest purple he had ever seen and something that would surely delight his mother.  The silvery details were visible from where he was a few yards away, catching the sun and glimmering slightly.  The fabric underneath peeked out around the hem, sleeves and the slight dip in the cleavage, the fabric a dark silver that complimented the stitching perfectly.  It wasn’t just a dress, but a work of art that Eli knew his mother would adore.

He looked around the booth, surprised that it appeared to be unmanned until he saw someone moving around near the back of the booth, getting into a large trunk.  Well, he saw someone’s backside as they rummaged around in the trunk.

“How much for the purple dress?” he said, raising his voice slightly to be heard by the woman whose head was now in the trunk, her shoulders holding the heavy lid.  “Do you need help, miss?”

“No,” a muffled voice said from inside the box.  “I’m fine.  I’m just looking for something and I’m sure that I brought it.”

She was backing out of the trunk now, which came up to her waist and was large enough to fit her inside.  Her back was still turned to him and her head was still in the trunk when she yelled out “Aha!” triumphantly, putting her feet back on the ground and doing her best to shimmy out of the predicament she was in.

Eli breathed out, chuckling as she struggled.  He stepped forward, holding the heavy lid up and wrapping his arm around her waist.  He pulled her up and out of the trunk, setting her on her feet, her back still to him.

“I’m looking at the purple dress and I’d like to know how much,” he said again.

She took a deep breath and didn’t answer right away.  He waited, wondering if she was struggling to hear him.  He repeated the question again, and this time, he saw her head tilt down, loose curls falling down over her shoulders as she took another breath, straightened her shoulders and turned around.

“One hundred dollars,” she said as she turned.

“I’ll take it,” he said before she’d turned fully around.

He reached into his pocket and was looking down at his wallet when she spoke again.

“I’ve changed my mind.  It’s not for sale.”

“What?” he said, perplexed. 

He looked up, and he almost stumbled backward when he saw her sweet face, framed perfectly by long hair that hung loose around her shoulders.  But it wasn’t her face or her hair that had caught his attention.  It was her bright, dark green eyes. 

“You look familiar,” he said, the hundred-dollar bill in his hand forgotten.  “Do I know you?”

“I don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head.  “Anyway, I’m sorry.  Now that I’ve set a price, I realize that I’m not willing to sell the dress.”