The Day At The Fair.

It like there was a feast going on, there were various delicacies on the large table and a group of dancing ladies.

Jada caught sight of Leo who sat beside a man wearing a thick red royal robe. The black haired man said something to Leo which made him turn to a particular direction. There was a half naked dancing lady, swaying her hips in erotic ways.

There were other seated men in the room, Jada could tell they were noblemen with the clothes they wore.

The windows wasn't too big so they didn't have a clear view of what's happening at the other side of the room. Jada turned to look at her new friend.

Penelope was as red as a ripe tomato, her eyes dancing round the room from where she stood, her eyes kept looking at the two seated men who was saying few words to each other.

Jada turned to look back at the ladies, no wonder the maids were giggling like children.

Her eyes darkened when a lady approached Leo and they walked out of the room, that instant, she felt something stir in her.

The other man was still seated enjoying his wine and the view of the dancing ladies. "Let's go now before the Emperor notices us, I'm not ready for a round of teasing". She flushed while pouting.

They came down. They walked for a distance, each other lost in their thoughts. Penelope sensed Jada's discomfort and halt, Jada stopped when she noticed Penelope was not walking close to her. Penelope held her hands in her's.

"You looked worried, you could tell me what's bothering you". She said.

Jada hesitated, she wasn't ready to experience the cold side of the princess.

"I'm a really good listener", She tried to persuade her.

"I saw the way you look at the Lord, Do you have feelings for the Lord?".

Jada almost choked on her spit. "N...No princess". She stuttered embarrassed.

"Then tell me what's bothering you".

Jada sighed resigning to her fate. "I'm not who you think I am, I work for the Lord as a maid". She bowed her head unable to look at her in eyes.

There was silence. Jada stood still expecting the princess to react with disgust.

"Is that all you are worried about ?", She asked.

Jada nodded. Unable to swallow down the lump that formed on her throat. "Does it make any difference?, we are friends and always would be friends, nothing changes". The grip on her hands tightened.

Jada looked up at her in surprise. Penny had a smile on her face, "your past and present wouldn't make us stop being friends". She gave her a hug.

***

"Who's the lady you came with". Theo asked Leo whose eyes were stuck on the dancing ladies.

"None of your business, your Majesty". The taste of alcohol linger in his mouth. He needed something stronger, his throat dried and itchy, he was thirsty for fresh warm blood.

Theo laughed out amused by the Lord's outburst. "That's news to me". He commented taking a sip from the wine.

"The brunette has been giving you a flirty look for some while, wouldn't you approach her, she has been rejecting the other nobles for you". Theo said with a mischievous smirk.

"Let her come to me, I don't chase after women".

Theo laughed out loud. "Just make sure she don't end up like the other lady I sent to you today".

The lady slowly approached him with seductive steps.

"I can't make any promises your Majesty". He stood up to meet her midway.

"Milord", She bowed.

"I was hoping to be the Lord's escort for the night". She gave her most attractive smile.

"I could tell". They both walked out of the room to a private room.

She closed the door, turning to look at the Lord, she felt his hand reach for her neck, the back of her head hit the door. Clutching her neck, she struggled to breath. She had a puzzled look on her face.

Leaning toward her, he whispered to her ears. "Who sent you?",

"I don't understand what Milord is taking about". She said gasping for air, the grip on her air neck tightened.

She tried to push him away from her but he didn't bulge.

"Don't try to play smart with me, who sent you".

She tried to chuckled but failed, she ended up coughing. Seeing she couldn't keep up the act due to shortage of air, she said "Milord is a smart man, I could now tell the reason my mistress had an interests for you". His green eyes darkened.

"Where's she", "I can't disclose my mistress location".

"If you tell, I might just give you what you want". He used his knee to push in between her thighs, touching her sensitive parts.

"How charming, I'll consider it when I get what I want".

"Nice try darling, I know the Emperor never gave his attention to you". He pressed harder.

Turned on, she resigned. "Fine!, it's pretty hard to tell her exact location, one moment she's in the central empire, the next she's at the western empire, the other mages said she's searching for something pretty valuable. I also heard she had a breakthrough, she can now conjure three elements at once", A frown appeared on Leo's face, the news wasn't what he would call a good news.

"If she manages to control the last element, she might have the chance against the Arch-mage, I don't know much since I stay in the palace grounds, now give me what I want". She pleaded.

Leo released his grip from her neck. "Back to my first question, who sent you".

"I came on my free will". She said removing her garments.

***

Jada sat opposite Penelope in the carriage. They were heading to a church, Penny got bored in the palace, she invited Jada to follow her to the church claiming she has someone to meet.

The ride was a silence for a while before the carriage rode into a town the church was built.

The sound of instruments playing and people cheering caught their attention. It was a fair, the town people were having a great time. "Have you ever been to a fair". Penny asked.

"No", "Me too!, Let's check it out after we visit the church". She suggested.

Jada felt relieved when she heard she wasn't sticking out like a sore thumb. The carriage packed at the front of the church. Some town members where seen either walking in or going out of the church.

They both came down from the carriage with the help of the carriage man.

On getting inside the church, Jada sat down while penny approached a man wearing a priest garment. Jada had her eyes fixed on the crucifix as the middle of the alter.

She noticed the priest stealing glances at her. They spoke for a while before penny approached her.

"Let's go change, we can't go to a fair dressed like this, we don't want unwanted attention, do we?", She smiled.

Jada shook her head and followed her closely. They passed through a door in the church, there was a hallway, nuns moving around carrying out their duties. A nun approached them. "Arch-Sage". She bowed. "The priest said you'll be needing these". She said giving them some folded clothes. "Thanks". Penny gave her a gentle smile.

The nun cast a side glance at Jada, Jada noticed how everyone that passed by looked at her. They looked at her warily, steering clear from her.

They got changed out of the dresses into almost identical pale grey dresses.

The duo stepped out of the church and walked to the guards that escorted them.

"Your highness, Milady", They bowed.

"We'll be heading to the town's fair, we wouldn't take long".

"But your highness I was instructed to bring you straight to the palace when you are done seeing the priest".

"You worry too much, I promise we wouldn't take much time".

"I'll come with you".

"No, you'll attract unwanted attention, just wait with the carriage man".

Without waiting for their replies, Penelope held Jada's wrist, they walked away.

At about an hour in the fair, Penelope held a brown bag filled with different objects bought from the fair. Her mouth filled with hot steaming buns that were on display.

Jada felt like she has to look over a kid that just got her freedom to go out.

Penny kept buying anything that caught her fancy. "I never knew a fair would be so fun, these buns tastes so good". She moaned.

They walked away from the crowded place. It was getting late already, the sun was setting down and they had to leave for the palace before the Emperor send troop of guards to look for them. Jada couldn't deny the fact that she enjoyed her day, she had smiles on her face. For the first time in her entire life she had the taste of freedom.

Jada kicked the Little rocks on the dirty ground. There was something glittering in the mud. Without thinking she reached for it.

Penny stopped on her track when she saw Jada paused.

"What's that with you", She asked moving closer.

"I think it's a necklace", Jada said unsure of the object she held.

The necklace had a gemstone that was shaped to the form of a crescent moon, the blue color was enchanting, it glows under the almost faded sunlight.

"It's beautiful, I think you should keep it", Penny said still eating the buns.

Jada smiled. "Yeah I should".