218 Rabbits and Rouge Part 1

The shop keeper at Rabbits and Rouge Jewelry shop seemed to be rather curious as she watched two people enter her domain. A little girl and her mother seemed very interested in the trinkets and jewels on the shelves. They were chattering away, but even under her watchful eyes never touched a piece.

The older woman did did eventually pick up a pretty blue necklace, and hold it near the little girl's eyes. The pair giggled girlishly in delight as a comment was made. They were both dressed so well, they could only be nobles, not that it surprised her. All her clients were wealthy. She made sure of that.

"Isn't that the Princess?" a patron nearby asked her sister.

"but who's the woman?" another woman asked.

Listening to the chatter, the Shop Keep was surprised to see them place the necklace back on the counter. They did not seem to intend to buy it. After such a good laugh at her hard work too. She walked over as if inspecting pieces. She would show them…

Kyera set the pendant back on the table. "It is a good option. If your dress is the right shade, we can come back for it." she offered and Raina glowed excitedly

"Yes! It is very pretty." Raina agreed obviously enjoying every moment of this trip. Kyera's knowledge of stones and metals gave the trip more substance.just then another piece caught the little girl's eyes. The shopkeeper was cleaning the stone of a very pretty necklace. The setting was made if polished silver, but the stone was captivating. It was black as the midnight sky deep in the forest. Yet there were small crimson circles that seemed to shimmer like red diamonds in the black stone. The diamonds seemed to be set into the stone and yet it looked like one piece.

The shopkeeper saw Raina's interest and offered it before her to look at. The little girl took the stone gently between her hands. She looked it over carefully, feeling its warmth and marveling at its color and creation. Kyera looked as well, but her eyes darkened.

'What do you mean in handing a child a stone like this?" Kyera asked taking the necklace from a rather confused Raina. The Shopkeeper glared at Kyera. How dare she speak in such a tone.

"I see no reason a Princess should not see the best I have to offer." the woman responded warmly. However, Kyera hardly cared. She set the jewel on the table.

"If this is the best you offer, we have no business here." Kyera replied firmly but the princess frowned.

"It was really pretty. I can see how it was her best piece. Is there something wrong with how it's made?" Raina asked, oblivious to the reason Kyera suddenly seemed dangerous. There was a ice in the air that replaced that motherly warmth, but it seemed to flow around Raina rather than through her.

Kyera's anger turned on the child for a split second before remembering those innocent eyes had never seen the blood of a battlefield. She had a childhood that wasn't bathed in blood and dressed in fear. "Princess, that is called a blood stone." Kyera began to teach but the shopkeeper scoffed.

"It is called a honor stone. Given this name in honor of those who fought back the scourge." The Shopkeeper replied snorting. Raina frowned completely lost by the woman's comment.

"Scourge?" Raina asked trying to clarify.

"The half human beasts that roamed the land. Mutts and half breeds without honor or feeling. Barely even monsters." The woman replied "They should have been wiped out, face their fate with honor. Yet the cowards ran." and Kyera felt the glow of hatred deep in her soul. Everything inside her wanted to kill. Taste this woman's blood and send her onto the judgement, but Kyera knew better.

"She means shifters, Raina." Kyera whispered seeing the child was still lost. Raina's little brows furrowed as she thought this over. "Though she speaks with a ignorance far below her years."

"I see. I don't like you." Raina said looking up at the woman whose face suddenly looked shocked. She couldn't believe the clear cut way the child had responded to her. There was a honesty that made the other women snicker.