New Company (II)

Since the two sides established that they were equally capable but on somewhat friendly terms, Sorin took the opportunity to study this new friend a little more.

Usually, a person who had any trained fighting ability would show signs not only in certain physical cues, but it seeped into their personalities as well whether they were outgoing or of the quieter type.

These habits and traits were hard to hide, and anyone experienced enough could always pick them out.

Yet this young woman looked gentle with a defenceless disposition and a certain elegance to support it. A medical professional? More likely a professional troublemaker.

"Anyway, we'll miss the festival if we stay here any longer here," said Kamaria and started walking ahead.

"Young master, why do I feel as if we won't be having any peace if we keep meeting her?"

"We're just doing our duty as soldiers aren't we? We're making sure that the citizens are safe," said the young master with a smirk.

Altair suddenly wanted to go to bed. Judging from her self-defence skills, this citizen barely needed to be kept safe. His young master just couldn't have met some quiet young lady from a nice family.

Then again, what nice young noble lady would be out at night without a guard, enjoying a street fair with commoners and casually making conversation with strangers?

Within a few minutes, the small group was back on the busy street. The young Lord and Lady walked side by side while their attendants walked behind them. Altair tried not to look at the two young women beside him because every time he did, he received a glare from the mean looking one that he felt even after looking away.

"Even if it was your beloved who gifted you the comb, I don't think they'd be happy about you jumping into a river to get it back."

Kamaria almost smiled. What type of unruly aristocrat could be so frank with her?

Usually, everything was always said and done in such a roundabout way that it took ages to get to such a gossipy topic, so the conversation was amusing. It made her speak without reservation.

"Who said it was from my beloved?" she asked in an equally bold way.

"Unless it was a family heirloom or a dear friend, I couldn't think of any another reason for a lady such as yourself to react that way," he stated as if waiting for her to confirm if his statement was true or not.

"Not that it would matter to you Sir, but it was from someone… special."

He noted the hesitation in the answer, making him relax just a bit more.

"Well, they were born under some interesting stars to be considered special by you."

Kamaria turned to look at him, but he kept walking while staring ahead.

The young man was honestly striking and wouldn't have been short of partners to accompany to a festival, so she had doubts about what he was trying to accomplish with her.

Even with his looks, maybe the 'well-dressed mercenary' impression he gave off was somewhat problematic.

It was the type of thing that people were attracted to from a distance, but it made approaching him quite menacing.

Growing up in the company of soldiers and patients from questionable alleys, neither his unsmiling face nor distinct aura frightened her.

Most of the young people rushing past or buying at stalls were either couples or groups of friends. The better off commoners and gentry were accompanied by their friends with their attendants and sometimes guards close behind.

There were families too, people with their children held by their hands with treats or toys in the other hand.

With the assortment of people, costumes, and the bustle of the festival activities, the two of them didn't look too out of place.

"Why didn't you attend the festival with your um… beloved?" she casually asked.

"Who said I didn't?" he asked teasingly and from the corner of his eye he saw her face change with a roll of the eyes.

When she turned to look ahead, he turned to glance at her and smiled a little at her reaction.

Lili noticed the interaction while Raisa glared at the young man next to them.

"Raisa, I want to buy some of the Lady's favourite pastries before we head back."

"What? Pastries?" absentmindedly asked Raisa while Lili was tugging at her arm.

"Let's go," whispered Lili.

"We can't leave them alone," Raisa whispered back.

"Look, doesn't she seem as if she's having fun? Besides, we won't be far."

Raisa looked at the two walking in front of them. She hadn't noticed due to glaring at Altair the entire time, but she had to admit that the two ahead of them seemed to be entertained by the conversation they were occasionally making.

Just because Kamaria avoided speaking much in most situations didn't mean she was unsociable.

Both Lili and Raisa were always happy when they saw her having a good time and letting more of her personality show. The young man looked amused and didn't mind that she wasn't acting like a fragile glass flower.

"My Lady, we want to do a bit of shopping," said Lili.

"Altair, accompany the ladies," said Sorin.

"As you command your Lordship," replied Altair in a slightly playful tone.

Kamaria turned to look at the one beside her still wondering about his identity.

"So, do you care for showing a stranger around, Miss?"

She covered her smile with her hand, amused at being addressed as Miss.

"Didn't I say earlier that I'm a medical professional?"

Sorin slightly tilted his head, trying to study the if she was serious or not and she stared back.

"Right, so it should be Doctor then?" he finally asked.

"That's exactly correct, my Lord."

"Now to unlock this guided tour, one must be informed that information is not free," she said while looking around.

She was hungry again so a particular stall had caught her attention, and she drifted off before he could say anything. He just shook his head while following her. By the time he reached the stall, she was busy with her coin purse trying to look around for small enough change for her purchase.

"I'll cover the order for the Doctor and add two more of each," he said to the vendor and paid before she could protest.

The vendor winked at him and handed him the treats placed in a box since they had bought more than two.

"This doesn't count as paying for the information," she said.

He waved a skewer of chocolate covered cherries in front of her and she stared, her eyes following them.

"Guess you have no need for these then."

"No wait let's not make hasty decisions here. Question me, I am your guide," she insisted while sticking out her hands as she wiggled her fingers.

It was an impossibly adorable sight especially with her fuzzy and sparkly antennae. He took out a cherry skewer and a strawberry skewer and handed them to her, leaving the other four fruit skewers for later.

"Part payment for now."

"Deal," she agreed.

Afterwards, she was happily eating her chocolate covered fruit, her cheeks moving like a little hamster as they walked through the streets. On their way, Kamaria pointed out stalls with the best foods that were available even on normal days.

She told him about the different vendors and stall owners that she knew some extra about and noted those that had the best deals on all types of things from clothing to weapon accessories.

"Just the other day, that shopkeeper was chased by his wife in the street with a pan because she found him with the woman that sells live ducks."

"Why and how do you know this?" asked Sorin with a chuckle.

"My Lord, one doesn't ask informants about such trade secrets otherwise you'll be facing a poison dagger."

He nodded in agreement as she carried on walking because for some reason, he did not doubt that she could pull a dagger from out of nowhere.

To speak so playfully about such obscure parts of society and clearly know the city market like the back of her hand. What a character.

On the way, they picked up more snacks to keep the guide satisfied while she was clearly having the time of her life without a care in the world.