hearts

chapter 9| Cas

"What do you mean this is not the correct currency!?"

I glared deeply at the old man in front of me. He didn't bother making eye contact with me as he looked everywhere but at me. "Sir this is Heart currency and my shop doesn't take it, you can go exchange it and a shop down the stree-

"Why don't you take my money then you exchange it. Money is money!" I growled out.

Long story short I was lost. We entered the East a long time ago and Hibi immediately started walking somewhere and expected me to follow her. I was going to but I got distracted, last time we were in a town I barely had enough time to look around, we were in and out.

The whole point of escaping my mother was to see what was beyond her palace walls and all this time I'd been following someone else's map. Right there and then I decided to depart from Hibi and do the rest of my journey alone. Which brings me to this tiny shop that I found.

The owner was an old man, and by old, I mean on the brink of turning to dust. He owned a tiny jewellery shop that sold beautiful necklaces with stones that were unpolished, taken right from the ground and wrapped in metal. A black necklace caught my eye and I knew I wanted it.

It was black leather that was wreathed together before being wrapped around a Lapis stone. It looked so rugged and effortlessly beautiful which drew me to it. It even made me forget that my past status was no more as I slammed my fist on the glass display and demanded he hands me the accessory.

Naturally, he was appalled by my disrespect and pointed to the price tag that was tagged on the necklace. Lucky for me the price didn't even make a dent in my wallet that I was smart enough to bring along with me, but then the fossil had the audacity to tell me that my money was not used here.

What bullshit is that, it's money!

"Sir, if you are not going to pay for this in the correct currency I'm going to ask you to leave" He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back into the display case behind him, he didn't seem to be changing his mind very soon.

"I'm a paying customer!"

"Not with that currency you aren't" A bell rang indicating a new customer had arrived.

"Hey, Oisin!" My eyes snapped to a short woman who'd just entered. She had short blonde hair and big bright blue eyes. Was this land just littered with beautiful women? Her eyes looked at me with curiosity for a second before looking back at 'Oisin'.

The old man's face softened "What can I do for you darlin" My eyes narrowed at his change of tone.

She swung her bag over her other shoulder and gave him a friendly, warm smile "Just the usual, came to get this polished" She lifted up her left hand to show a ring on her engagement finger.

Pity.

"Well of course! Lemme just go grab my kit" I watched as he walked around his counter and went into a back wooden door. Yeah, you better run...

My eyes looked back at the woman who was staring at me. When she noticed I'd caught her she looked down and blushed a deep red "Sorry, I just can't recall ever seeing you round these parts" She outstretched her hand "I'm Irina".

My eyes widened at the tone of Heart accent that peeked out as she said her name "Caspian" I shook her hand slowly "Hearts?" She smiled brightly.

"Really! How'd you know?" I chuckled.

"Lucky guess?" She shook her head.

"That's why you look so familiar, you have that hearts look that every man there has" She tucked a strand of loose golden hair behind her ear "Not to mention those blue eyes, I would've noticed one of my people a mile away with those gems!" Her presence was very warm and comforting.

Her left hand went to hold the glass as her right searched for cash. This gave me an opportunity to get a better look at her ring. My eyebrows raised, it was a traditional Hearts engagement ring, with the oval ruby cut and silver band. It was especially easy to tell from the heart that was cut into the side of the band.

"Who's the lucky guy?" She looked up at me startled before following my line of sight to her ring. A ghost of a smile then graced her face.

"He's a heart warrior, we were just about to get married when we were separated due to...casualties" I nodded my head in understanding. Casualties=My mothers wrath. "What about you, I think I'd have been told if a new Hearts was coming in. Especially since you look so darned familiar".

I saw her eyes search my face as if trying to connect the dots "I just came recently, I'm still settling in, not sure where to go" Her eyes softened in understanding.

"It's okay, we've all been there before"

The old man came back with some gel and a cloth. Irina plucked off her ring and gave it to him, her ring leaving a pale mark behind in contrast to her skin, showing the length in which she'd worn it. "How long do you think this will take?"

He waved her off "Give me an hour and it will be as good as new" She slid him his money and leant over the counter to give his a kiss on the cheek.

"You're a sweetheart Ois" She turned to me "So what were you here for?"

I looked at the necklace that I had forgotten "I'd really wanted to purchase this necklace but old man isn't taking my money" She glanced at the shopkeeper with an eyebrow.

"He doesn't have the correct currency, Irina!" She glared at him accusingly.

"So didn't I when I first got here!"

"That's different" He grumbled gruffly underneath his breathe. She rolled her eyes and let out a puff of air.

"I'll take you to get you money exchanged Caspian, then you can come and get your necklace" She shot another menacing glare at the shopkeeper "You're a butt for this Ois" He chuckled softly but was quickly silenced by another one of her glares.

The bell dinged as we left the jewellery shop "C'mon I have some people I can introduce you to that would love to help you out" I gave her a thankful smile.

I looked down at the leather necklace in my hands with a smile on my face. I was going to give it to someone special, that's for sure. Who knows? Maybe they'll be the love of my life.