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“Please,” I said. “I invited you.”
“The next meal is on me, then,” Aislinn said with a smile, which made my heart skip a beat.
I counted the gold coins twice, then placed each one into the waiter’s palm, one by one.
Despite my efforts to stay calm, my hands were getting sweaty. This was almost half of my monthly allowance, given to me by the palace. To spend it all on a single quail was not something I would have done willingly. I decided never to come back to this place ever again, but I did not say anything.
He took the gold and left without clearing our table.
I turned to Aislinn.
“Do you think it really costs that much?” I asked. “It’s absurd.”
I realized too late that I was being rude. I shouldn’t have been talking about the high prices after insisting to pay for our meal.
To my surprise, Aislinn laughed.
“I thought you were a snob lordling with lots of money to spare,” she said. “You never come to places like this?”
I shook my head. My parents had been nearly destitute before the crown gave them all that money in return for sending Jasmine to the trials.
“The fact that you think this is absurd makes me like you more,” Aislinn said, cocking her head and making my heart do a little flip inside my chest. “We should go now.”
The fresh air made me feel a little bit better as we stepped out into the street.
“Where to now?” I asked.
“We should stop at a few stores,” Aislinn replied. “Our store is not too far away.”
“Can we visit that store?” I asked, pointing at a divination store that looked interesting. “I might actually find something that I want to buy.”
“That would be even better,” Aislinn nodded.
The divination store was at the edge of an alley. Although the storefront was to the main street, the entrance was on the side, and the alley was empty as we entered it. I wondered if it would have been better to choose a busier store, but Aislinn did not say anything about that.
“Hello,” the store owner got up from her chair as we pushed the door and entered the store. We were the only customers inside, and I felt sorry for her as she eagerly smiled at us.
“Hello,” I replied. “I am looking for a divination ball.”
Her eyes widened as she attempted to hide her excitement. Divination balls were not cheap items.
“Of course,” she said. “I’ll bring you our selection.”
She did not have any balls showcased at the front of the store, probably because she did not want customers to break them while examining them. The store was filled with divination aides, potions, and herbs that were rumored to help one see the paths more clearly. Aislinn started examining the shelves and when the woman came back with a tray of divination balls, Aislinn was already opening bottles to smell them.
“We have crystal and quartz balls and lastly one moonstone ball,” the woman started to explain the selection. “I would suggest moonstone. It is the best material. Sturdy and looks elegant, but it also helps even the most unpracticed diviner see the paths clearly.”
“How much?” I asked, reaching to grab the moonstone ball. All the divination balls I had seen at the palace were of moonstone, the reason I wanted one of my own was to be able to look into the paths without later having to tell anyone what I had seen. I could look into Jasmine’s path alone in my room, with no fear of seeing something.
“Five gold coins,” the storeowner said.
I did not know if I was being generous because I’d just spent twice that amount on a single meal but it felt like a fair price.
“I’ll buy it,” I said, reaching for my right pocket to pull out my purse.
“Is the light tricking me or is the adularescence not quite right?” Aislinn asked, walking over to the counter as I reached into my left pocket.
“It must be the light,” the storeowner said annoyedly.
