“Yes, milady. I told Sage that you needed to buy some female supplies, just the way you told me. He never asked anything,” she said.
“Perfect.”
We continued on in silence. I was unaware of how close May was following me until her voice sounded right next to my ear.
“If I may ask, milady. What are you planning to do?” she whispered.
I smiled, watching the merchants haggle with customers in a free, unguarded manner. From where we stood, it seemed like pure chaos. Coins exchanged hands. People shouted prices and a bunch of kids ran around with caramel apples on sticks. The scent of melted sugar, wine, and aromatic herbs filled the air.
“Milady?” May squeaked beside me.
“Follow me,” I said, entering the labyrinth of disorganized rows.
I walked through the maze of sellers who mostly looked rugged and rough. At the corner, two women’s loud voices carried over their fruit cart. I paused, selecting a ripened apple.
“The monsters from the clan of black are going to ruin us, mark my words. I’m going to sell all this and I’m closing the shop. Dark times are upon us. They are not like us. Barbarians, let me tell you. They say that the leader has one eye and he takes the eyes of his opponents every time he fights. And the woman with him is not who she says she is.”
My ears perked up. I picked more vegetables and placed them in my canvas bag.
“They say that she’s a gigantic woman, built like the largest knight. Some say that she is, in fact, a man.”
Against my will, my mouth hung open and the seller noticed me staring at her.
“Are you buying?” she inquired.
“Yes. I will take these.” I smiled at her, but she only scowled.
“They’re going to push us out of the city and take our homes. Mind my words.” The seller continued talking to her quiet friend.
“Are you sure about that?” I tried my best to look worried.
“Mind my words.”
“Why don’t they do something about it?” I asked.
“Who? Old Hubert? He’s a coward. I bet he’s not even sick, just buying time. They struck a deal with the council and are waiting for help. But the council doesn’t care about anyone else,” the merchant woman continued.
“What about Augusta?” I asked.
“What about her?”
“She could take his place. Couldn’t she?” I offered the coins in my hand.
“Not in that family. Hubert’s son was always his pride and joy. He never cared about his daughter.”
“It’s true,” the other woman suddenly added. “He only wanted her to marry well, but the girl wanted no part of it.”
“That’s right.” The seller nodded, looking for change in her well worn apron.
“Thank you,” I said.
“And who are you? I haven’t seen you here before.” The seller stared at me.
“I’m that giant woman you heard about. Keep the change,” I said.
The seller's eyes went as wide as the pumpkins she was selling. Satisfied with the reaction, I turned on my heel, leaving the stall behind.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
