Heir Of The Fallen Flame

Chapter 29: The Silk Girl

Kael hated crowds.

It was simply because the air smelled of roasted nuts, horse sweat, fresh bread, and too many people pressed together beneath narrow streets.

Meadow’s market had all of that. Kael had never liked crowded places but now, he had a valid reason why he might hate them even more.

What if someone recognises him? True he hasn't seen any picture of him being plastered anywhere in the small settlement but that doesn't mean travelers haven't.

So he kept his cloth mask covering his nose and mouth. His hood stayed low as he followed behind Lyra through the busy marketplace, carrying two sacks of grain over his shoulder while trying not to stumble into merchants and wandering children.

Lyra walked ahead of him. Her face remained hidden beneath the dark cloth mask wrapped around her mouth as well.

“Why do we need grain?” he muttered beneath his breath.

“Would you rather we starve?”

Lyra had recently developed the habit of answering his questions with more questions. She realised that it seemed to shut him up.

Sometimes.

Kael adjusted the sack again with a groan. “I think he enjoys making me suffer,” he muttered. “Master Liam.”

“He does.”

Kael paused for a second, his eyes on Lyra. “That was quick.”

Lyra did not even look at him. “You make it easy for him to pick on you.”

Kael opened his mouth to respond, then stopped when something soft brushed past his shoulder.

Silk.

He turned without thinking.

A group of women had walked past him, their layered silks flowing behind them in shades of crimson, gold, and deep blue. Tiny silver bells hung from their wrists and ankles, chiming softly with every step.

Street performers. He didn't need to be told they were dancers. Astra often hires them during special celebrations.

Several merchants had already stopped working to watch them pass. These groups of performers are often very stunning young women with radiant smiles and charming voices.

Kael barely noticed the others as one of them looked directly at him.

She stood near the center of the group, sunlight catching against the bronze jewelry around her throat. Dark curls of hair spilled over one shoulder while gold paint shimmered faintly beneath her eyes.

Beautiful did not feel like a large enough word.

Her gaze lingered on him for half a second longer than it should have before she smiled softly.

Kael forgot the sack was still on his shoulder. His smile seemed to find its place awkwardly.

The woman tilted her head. “You stare boldly for a masked stranger,” she said.

Her voice was smooth like warm honey over firewood.

Kael blinked once. “I…”

Lyra kept walking. He didn't seem to notice as he remained standing there like an idiot.

The woman laughed quietly at his expression.

“My apologies,” she said. “Did I startle you?”

“No,” Kael lied immediately.

“Yes, she did,” one of the other dancers teased.

Kael felt heat crawl up his neck beneath the mask. The woman stepped closer now, the scent of jasmine filled his nostrils.

“What is your name?” she asked.

Kael hesitated. His name had been clearly plastered all over the cities in the realm. What if she has seen the posters?

Kael glanced back; Lyra was already disappearing deeper into the crowd.

“…Jin.” he lied.

The woman smiled again. “A gentle name.”

Kael swallowed. “And yours?”

“Roset.”

The name fit her far too well.

One of the dancers called from ahead. “Roset! Come!”

“In a moment,” she replied before her eyes returned to Kael. “I can see you are not from Meadow.”

Kael chuckled awkwardly. “Is it obvious?”

“Very.”

He laughed despite himself. By the light, when was the last time someone spoke to him like a human ?

Roset’s gaze moved briefly toward the sacks on his shoulder.

“A laborer?”

Kael glanced down. “Unfortunately.”

She laughed softly again and Kael realized very quickly that he would probably follow that sound into war if asked politely enough.

“Well,” Roset said, “that appears heavy.”

“You have no idea.” He tilted his head.

“I might.”

Kael looked toward the crowd again and Lyra was nowhere to be seen. Good. The last thing he wanted was for her to lecture him on how this is a horrible idea.

Roset stepped backward slowly, silk trailing behind her.

“We dance near the southern square at midday,” she said. “Should you get tired of carrying grain like a broken mule.”

Kael stared at her. Then nodded too quickly. “I mean… perhaps.”

Roset’s smile widened before she turned away with the others. Kael stood there another five seconds before remembering he was supposed to breathe.

“Kael.”

He nearly jumped out of his skin. Lyra stood behind him now holding another sack beneath one arm.

Her eyes narrowed slowly. “…What?”

Kael adjusted the grain immediately. “Nothing.”

“You were behind me and then you weren't."

Kael smiled, “You were worried about me?”

Lyra scoffed. “You wish. If you ever get caught, don't you dare mention my existence.”

She dumped the sack she had on her on his shoulders mercilessly. Kael groaned.

“Goodness! You are hateful.”

Lyra ignored him as she walked away again. Kael glanced once more toward where Roset had disappeared.

Then followed Lyra.

***

Midday arrived warmer than expected and they weren't done with half the things Lima asked them to buy.

Music echoed through the southern square long before Kael reached it. He told himself he was only curious.

That was all. Pure curiosity. Nothing else. Absolutely nothing.

Which was why he had somehow wandered away from Lyra again.

The square was crowded now, filled with travelers and merchants gathered around a raised wooden platform draped in colored silks.

Roset danced at the center.

Kael's eyes landed on her and his steps seemed to falter and stop moving entirely.

The dancers moved like flowing water beneath the sunlight, bare feet stepping lightly across wood while ribbons spun through the air around them.

But Roset? By the light. She moved differently.

Every turn of her body seemed effortless, every motion timed with the drums echoing through the square.

Kael barely noticed the crowd anymore. At one point, Roset’s eyes found his again and she smiled mid-dance.

That alone nearly killed him.

When the performance finally ended, coins rained across the stage while merchants applauded loudly.

Kael lingered awkwardly near the edge of the square, suddenly uncertain whether staying made him pathetic.

Roset solved the problem for him. She approached directly.

“I wondered if the grain mule would return.”

Kael laughed before he could stop himself. Lyra was waiting for a shoe mender to fix one of Liam's worn shoes and he had dumped the sacks of items on the ground after lying about his need to stretch.

As soon as she was distracted, he left.

“I escaped briefly.”

Roset smiled, “A dangerous thing.”

“I live recklessly.”

“I can see that.”

They began walking slowly through the quieter edge of the marketplace while the other dancers packed away instruments behind them.

Roset glanced sideways at him. “Is there a reason you hide behind a mask?”

Kael stiffened beneath the hood. He should have left when he had the chance.

“So do you.” he managed.

Roset laughed as she pulled the silk away from her face. Goodness, he must have forgotten how beautiful she was because now, he wasn't sure if he had the right words to say anymore.

“Mine is for beauty,” she teased lightly. “Yours appears for trouble.”

Kael looked away. “…Something like that.”

Roset studied him more carefully now.

“ I can see you carry sadness. But in a strange way.” she said quietly.

Kael blinked. “What?”

“Most men wear grief loudly. But you …it's hidden even in your smile.”

Kael stared at her. Nobody had ever said something like that to him before.

He laughed awkwardly. “You speak like a poet.”

“I am a performer.” she offered. “It is part of what you learn.”

That made him smile despite himself.

For a while, conversation became easier after that. Roset spoke of traveling between cities with the dancers and all Kael did was listen. He learned she loved rivers because they reminded her that movement meant freedom. She learned he hated silence because it left him alone with his thoughts.

Eventually they moved toward a quieter alley near the back of the square where hanging fabrics swayed overhead between buildings.

Roset leaned lightly against the wall and Kael suddenly became very aware of how close they stood.

“You are nervous,” she observed.

“I am not.” he said, eyes wide.

“You nearly walked into a barrel earlier.”

“That barrel attacked me first.”

Roset laughed softly again. Her eyes met his and she slowly reached for his hood.

Kael took a step back, leaving her hands hanging awkwardly in the air.

“No.” He muttered under his breath.

“Why?” She asked quietly.

His heart immediately forgot how to function. For a second he considered it. What did he have to lose? What if she has no clue who he is anyway?

A sharp voice cut through the alley.

“There she is!”

Roset stiffened instantly. Three armored men shoved through the crowd toward them wearing Astra insignias across dark cloaks.

Kael’s expression darkened immediately. The first man grabbed Roset roughly by the arm and dragged her with him.

“There’s our little purchase.”

Roset jerked back. “Unhand me!”

One of the other dancers appeared farther down the alley looking terrified. She made a u-turn, fleeing for her life.

The second guard laughed harshly.

“Seize the others!”

Kael frowned, “What is the meaning of this?!”

The guard turned to see who had spoken but to his shock, there was nobody there.

Roset's eyes scanned the empty space in shock, where did he go?

“Take them!” The guard ordered before dragging Roset away.

“Unhand me! Unhand me! Help! Help me!”

In a corner, out of sight from the guards, Lyra had Kael pinned to the wall with her hands clamped over his mouth. He struggled, trying to push her off but she held him against the wall regardless.

She listened for silence and only then did Kale manage to yank her hands off.

“What is this?!” He snapped.

“You,” she said flatly, “need to stop wandering toward terrible decisions.”

He tried to yank his arm away, forcing Lyra to tap his pressure point on the neck, knocking him out flat.