CHAPTER III

Harvest festival at Dizmon is visited by tourist every year, different delicacies and crafts are sold by every stall. The market area is not the only area where goods are sold, stalls and tents are set up around the plaza. Children and adults wear hats with embroidered vines or flowers or grains or leaves or the roaring lion of Rossia Kingdom, the children has a wooden toy sword tied on their waist and running around pretending to be knights on duty. At the center of the plaza is a group of travelling musician and performers that came to entertain playing pieces originated from different region, lads and lasses jump, twist and turn stomping their feet and waving their hands dancing.

Sarah looks at her young miss from behind and silently plead to the gods or goddesses listening to her that her young miss would not stick her nose in any troublesome business that would make them suffer again.

Audience surrounded the center of the plaza passing by and stopping to watch the performance some claps their hands along the beat livening the atmosphere.

"Milord, is it alright to stop?" Charles asks his lordship standing before him and watching the lively dance.

"Of course, it is a rare opportunity to come across a festival while travelling. We'll stop for a bit." Dorian replied looking around burning the sight in his mind.

"It's lively." Dorian commented with a faint smile tapping her foot along the beat.

"Of course it is lively; it is a festival after all." A lady in dull blue dress said carrying a tray of treats. "Want a treat? It's called 'squashy'."

"Squashy?" Dorian repeats.

On the tray are bite sized blocks of yellow candies dusted with powdered sugar and beside the yellow blocks are oblong shaped orange translucent thin candies in a stick.

"This one is made of squash," The lady points at the yellow blocks. "And this is made of barley." The lady points at the candy on stick.

"Squashy is an odd name, may I have one?"

The lady smiled. "Of course, you may pick Sir."

Dorian takes one candy on stick and one squash candy. The squash candy is not as hard as he thought it would be, it's soft like cotton and the rich taste of squash spread across his mouth, the sweetness is balanced as well.

"It's tasty."

"I'm glad you like it, Sir."

"How much for these two?" Dorian asks his mouth still busy savoring the squash candy.

"It's free Sir."

"Sorry?"

The lady smiled and point at a stall behind the crowd across them. "If you like the candy you can buy from that stall with barley red flag. Tray holders like me only hands out free taste goods so the people can decide what they want to buy and not regret it afterwards." She explained.

Dorian looked around and sees three more tray holders like the lady before him. Kids and adults approached the tray holders getting treats without paying.

"Aren't you losing money this way?" Dorian asks.

"No. In fact, we gain more like this."The lady chuckled. "This is the young miss' idea and it truly is effective."

"Young miss?"

Before the old lady could answer, a clear voice like water in the river called out in the crowd. Her waist length curly hazel brown hair waved along the summer breeze, her ocean blue eyes shone like jewel and her white cheeks are naturally flushed pink like a fresh bloom of rose in spring. Surprise crossed Dorian's eyes but it soon extinguished when the lady reach them.

"Elena!" The voice called.

"Oh dear me, Young Miss!"

Ainsley stopped before Elena and look at the treats on tray, she recognized the barley candy, and stares at the squash candy with surprise. "Is this..."

"Yes it is Young Miss, Welma finished making them last week, too bad you could not taste it first. Please have a taste."

Ainsley takes one block of the squash candy and ate it, just like Dorian's reaction, the rich taste of squash brought wonders in the mouth and Ainsley could not stop chewing like a happy squirrel that luckily found a nut.

"It's tasty, Elena."

"You flatter me, Young Miss. Welma will be glad to hear your compliment."

"Are Lago and Peter selling separately again?"

"Yes, they are." Elena gasps remembering the time. "Oh dear me, I've been chatting for a while now. I'll leave now Young Miss."

"I hope you have a good sell today."

Elena smiled and excuse herself to continue her task. Just then, Ainsley realizes there's another presence with them all this time. Dorian felt neglected but didn't show in his expression and just enjoy eating the barley candy at hand. Ainsley scans Dorian from head to shoes and back to the head again, normal clothes neither faded nor bright, and a short knife tied on his waist.

Ainsley smiled. "Hello dear sir, are you enjoying the festival?"

"Surprisingly yes."

"How do you find that candy?"

"Delicious. You're a noble?"

"Yes," Ainsley lift her skirt a little and curtsied to the lad before her. A traveler's identity as nobles are sometimes hidden for security and mystery fun purposes, still a commoner or noble behind the lad's mysterious identity, Ainsley did not hesitate to bow. "I am the daughter of Count Durham."

Dorian faintly smiled and bow to the lady too. "It is my pleasure to meet you Milady, I am called Rian."

Ainsley smiles. Just watching the lad bow is enough to know that he is noble born. She did not inquire of his identity any further, for her, she thinks this is only a once in a lifetime meeting and no need to know anything further.

"May I trouble the Young Miss to show me around town? It is my first time in this land."

"It is no trouble Sir, I would gladly show you around."

"Milady!"

"Milord!"

Charles and Sarah called at the same time. Dorian and Ainsley looked at their servants. Sarah just prayed a while ago not to let the young miss stick into troubles but it hasn't been half a day and a troublesome lad appeared. Charles' has the same thought as Sarah. He only hopes that his lordship would only visit for a while and continue on their travel but his lordship met a troublesome lady.

"Don't worry, you'll be with us." Ainsley assured Sarah.

'Even with me or a knight around you'll always get into trouble.' is what Sarah has in mind but did not dare to voice it out.

Aninsley turns to Dorian. "Shall we Sir?"

"Please."

Ainsley takes the lead and show Dorian around town introducing him to many delicacies that they pass by. She also talked about what is there more than food in Dizmon like the hospitality, kindness and generosity that the citizens of Dizmon have. Although they could not visit personally, Aisnley told him about the waterfalls surrounded with a field nearby, it is a touristic spot for picnics in summer and spring. Ainsley's words spoke of admiration but behind that is a cunning objective that a business minded person can think about. While looking around and tasting different delicacies that are mostly made of crops grown, tended and harvested by the citizens of Dizmon, Dorian saw that Dizmon is not only rich of food but the citizens are also well-mannered and warm. A festival is an event where one has only profit in its mind but not in Dizmon, the warm welcome that the citizens show towards the tourists can make one truly have fun.

The company of four stopped at one stall run by Elena's sons; Peter and Lago. There are crowd forming in front of their stall waiting for their order and also making an order.

Lago, the younger brother noticed Ainsley and the company. He wipes his sweaty forehead with the white towelette hanging on his shoulder and spoke."Young Miss, we've been waiting for you."

"I see you're selling well this year again."

"It's all because of your help Young Miss." Peter said taking out a plate of square flat bread with tomato paste on top with chopped bacon, ham and onions and three different colors of bell pepper. "Our new creation."

"Improved version." Lago said busying himself serving the customers.

Peter sliced it in half, Ainsley takes one half and gave the other half to Dorian who gladly took it. The slightly sour taste of tomato accompanied with various spices spread in Ainsley's mouth. Peter offered Sarah and Charles a slice too and even they are amazed by the taste. The bread is not too crispy and not too thick, it's just right.

"This is truly better than the previous ones you've made."

"Thank you for the compliment Young Miss." Peter and Lago said at the same time with wide smiles on their faces. A million compliments cannot be compared to one compliment that their young miss gives.

"We won't keep you then, I hope you sell well." Ainsley said and invited her companions to another stall. Helen, Martin's sickly daughter is at the stall together with her mother and introducing the products to the customers. Helen fell ill last year and could not attend the festival seeing her healthy and joining the crowd again is a pleasing scene to Ainsley. Seeing that she's occupied Ainsley led the group back to plaza and sat on one vacant bench.

"Milady, please wait here for a moment, I shall fetch your parasol."

"Please." Ainsley replied and let Sarah leave.

In plaza, lads and lasses are at the side and the older ones are the one performing to the song being played.

Dorian turns his head to the lady beside her, they've walked quite a lot today and she talked non-stop and yet there is no sign of exhaustion in her. Her foot lightly taps the ground following the beat, her lips slowly lifts forming a smile and hum along then the song ended. The group of performers assumed another position for the next song. Ainsley recognizes the first note and turns her head to Dorian. Dorian quickly looked away. Charles who saw the whole scene raises an eyebrow with a questioning look at his lordship.

Ainsley stood and bowed to Dorian with one palm open and the other behind her back, she simply copied how her brother Ailen bow during their etiquette lesson before. "May I ask for a dance Milord?"

A noble lady asking a man in a sloppy manner made Dorian chuckle and accept the lady's hand, bowed like how the ladies do and Ainsley could not help but chuckle on his sloppy bow.

"With pleasure, Milady."

______________________________End of CHAPTER III