II

Greyson could barely contain his excitement as he inspected each and every blade he could get his hand on. Thorstein had been giving him instruction on what exactly made a worthwhile weapon as opposed to an ornament that had the appearance of a lethal weapon. He studied with a now-practiced eye as he looked down a the length of a straight sword.

"There's a slight warp near the center. If you don't find a way to straighten it, you might as well as sell it as a piece to mount on the wall above your fireplace."

"You've come a long way since you first started coming down to my shop. I saw exactly the same thing."

"Also... the blade is slightly top-heavy, which could make it dangerous to swing around if you're untrained. Perhaps it's better to use it as scrap metal to forge a more balanced weapon."

"Now, where'd you learn that?" the merchant bit back some of his saltier word choices. Thorstein regarded the duke's heir cautiously. There was something off about him. It wasn't a negative kind of off, but it was... different. Odd.

"As I felt it in my hand, I felt how the weight shifted as I held it. After that, my reasoning is essentially common sense."

Thorstein chuckled. "Perhaps you're growing faster than I could've expected. I may need to give you more credit."

"Thank you, but it was your teachings that permitted me to come this far."

"Still modest as ever, I see."

"I do suppose," Greyson sighed.

"Are you doing okay, Grey? You seen to be troubled over something. Is there a way I can help?"

"No, just family matters is all."

"Come on, you know you can trust me with stuff like that."

Greyson sighed once more, returning to a small dagger that he always toyed with to either pass some unfilled time or to avoid a particular kind of uncomfortable situation. "I know I can, but not them." He gestured to the entrance flap.

Thorstein nodded, guessing the matter was far more serious than he was letting on. Rather than push the subject, the weapon's dealer moved on to something new. "When was the last time you heard a good story?"

"It's been quite some time, friend. Care to give one to me? My spirits need some lifting." Greyson chuckled.

"Well, what kind of story do you seek?"

"You know me too well to be asking that kind of question, Thorstein. Just get on with it."

"Have you ever heard of the time a savage beast attacked me in the Wilds?"

Greyson sat up straight, oddly perturbed by the mention of the Wilds. Both of them noticed, but neither said anything. Probably for the same reason. "I have not. Please, do tell."

"It was in the dead of night, sonI suppose I was to blame. While I was making my way closer to my post here in Avalon, I began to sense this feeling that I was being watched. Because of this, I tried to move as quickly as possible without looking too suspicious. That was when it attacked me. It was huger than any creature I've ever laid eyes on, and the only thing I could make out with a certainty were it's eyes. Gold like the dandelions we all pass by every day. Coat blacker than night. I was purely terrified, as any reasonable man would. It sounded my horse and gave me a swatting that hit hard enough to knock me out cold for a few moments. When I came to, it was gone. No trace, so I continued on my way here. Made it by sundown the next day."

"Damn, Thorstein. You could've been killed!" Greyson gasped.

"Why, I reckon that whole encounter may just have been a warning to stay out of its territory. Animals have been known to attack people for that reason."

"True, but my gut instinct says we're missing something here."

"Wish I knew what that was."

"You and I both, my friend. You and I both."

Greyson spent a bit longer with Thorstein before beginning to branch out to other shops, greeting familiar faces and welcoming new ones. It was a pleasure to meet new people and there was at least a few with every coming season. The hours he spent here in the seasonal market melted away and everything began to blur together into one mass of contentment. He thoroughly enjoyed this experience, and found that he began to crave it.

As Greyson wallowed in his most intimate of thoughts, he suddenly found himself almost quite literally eating the dirt. An electric sensation ripped through his whole body, and his vision had blurred. Once this passed, he turned around as he got up and saw another boy, about his age, that had been knocked to the ground as well. This was probably the person that ran into him.

"Excuse me, are you alright there?" Greyson asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Sorry for not watching where I was going, I was in a rush." the boy picked up a small sack out of the dirt and began to fidget with one of the ends of the rope.

"Kinda figured. Where ya headed?"

"Back home. I've had enough of the market for the week."

"Alright then. Don't let me keep you. I'll see ya around."

"See you around." the boy said before once again heading in the direction of his dwelling.

Greyson got the feeling that they would very much indeed see each other around.

Greyson returned to the Fallheart Estate just before sun-down. After helping the stable hands get the horse back into the stables and putting the riding equipment where it belonged, Greyson went back to his room and stripped himself bare. He folded his worn clothing and set them on the floor in front of the foot of the bed, then headed to the bath he had readied for him.

Greyson's body recoiled pleasantly at the warmth of the water as he immersed himself. The sensation crawled up his toned, slim form and spread to soothe his worked spirit. Greyson let out a sigh of relief. Another day well spent, or so he thought. The heat of the water just kept seeping into him, lulling the heir gently into a light and pleasurable sleep.