Page 31 of Forgotten Fate
“Mags can make anything out of anything,” Nadia continued, eyeing her sister with admiration.
Magda began to press the tips of her fingers into the soil to compact it, then dipped the fine tip of the stick into the gray dirt. Then she brought the stick to my forehead, gently etching lines where the wrinkles on my father would be. “If I can contour your face enough, Ican give you wrinkles. I can make you look old,” she said as the stick glided on my skin with precision. Elias watched from beside us with interest.
A minute or two passed, and Magda stepped back to get a good look at me. She let out a laugh, which was echoed by Nadia. “It’s not my best work, but it will do,” she snickered. “But I recommend wearing a hood to hide your hair.”
I quickly pulled my cloak out of my pack and put it on. I pulled the hood up as high over my head as it could go, and tucked my long hair in. I turned to Elias. “What do you think?” I asked.
Elias smiled. Not a half smile or a forced grin. A genuine smile. Butterflies filled my stomach. “You look like a dirty grandmother,” he teased.
Heat flushed my cheeks. “Well I guess that’s the look we’re going for,” I laughed. “Are we ready?” Elias and the sisters composed themselves, then confirmed.
We stepped out from behind the trees and onto the path towards the gates. I walked as I had seen elders walk, with a slight limp and short, slow steps. As we approached, one of the guards shouted, “Halt!” We stopped in our tracks. “What business of you in Chatus?”
Magda stepped forward. “My husband and sister and I brought my grandmother to see a healer,” she answered. She was a quick thinker. She reminded me a lot of Rose.
“What ails her?” the guard asked, maybe not out of concern, but rather to confirm the newcomer’s story.
Nadia began to play her part and came up to put my arm around her shoulders, indicating that I should be acting less independent. I leaned into her, pretending my legs were weak. “She barely sleeps. Hardly eats,” Magda continued. “We were told the healers in Chatus were the best.”
The guards looked to each other in silent conversation, then backat us. Perhaps the little boast about their kingdom stroked their egos enough to blind them from the truth. “Enter,” one guard told us. We did so without looking back.
As we stepped through the gates of Chatus, the familiar sound of a bustling city hit my ears. Gaving was the name of the city, and only a few blocks from the gate was Gaving’s glorious city market, filled with vendors and shoppers alike. Unlike Rimor, whose castle sat at the back perimeter of the city, Chatus Castle lay at its center. I could see the golden walls of the castle in the distance.
We made our way through the city towards the market, which was overflowing with civilians. Many of them wore extravagant garments, from silk dresses to full leather ensembles adorned with feathers and jewels, that showed off their wealth and unique style.
The market itself was full of canopies, tents, and wooden stands topped with all sorts of priced goods. The smell in the air was a mixture of heavily seasoned foods, rich perfumes, and succulent wines. People from all Four Kingdoms would come to Gaving for its famous market. The rich city market was filled with delectable foods, fine clothing and tapestries, and nearly any vendor you could think of. As we got closer to the loud crowd, we paused to discuss the plan.
I looked at Elias, who seemed uncomfortable to be in such a crowd of people. “I can go to the food vendors and purchase food for travel,” I said to him. “I can also see if they have anyone who sells bandages and medicines just in case. Why don’t you go find us a bow and some arrows from a weaponsmith? Or look for anything else you think we might need.”
Elias eyed me and my ridiculous wrinkled face. “I do not think we should separate,” he stated.
“We can meet back here in half an hour,” I told him. “It won’t take long at all.”
“It’s okay, Elias. I’ll go with you!” Nadia said, grabbing Elias by thehand.
“Absolutely not,” Magda interrupted.
“But I want to see the weapons with Elias!” Nadia argued. I was starting to think she had a little crush on the poor man.
“This is not up for debate,” Magda scowled. “You stay with me.”
“It’s only for thirty minutes, Mags! Please. We’ll meet you right back here, I promise.” Nadia continued to hold onto Elias’s hand. He did not try to pull away.
Magda placed a hand on her forehead as she furrowed her brow. She then looked up at Elias, seriousness in her eyes.
To my amazement, she gave in. “You don’t let her out of your sight, you understand?” she said to him, sounding as intimidating as I’d ever heard her. Elias only nodded in response and we watched as Nadia led him by the hand towards the market. “Let’s go,” Magda said to me, trying to mask the tone of annoyance, but failing.
We stepped into the market, and Magda led me towards the side that held the food vendors. I realized she had probably been there a lot more than myself. I hadn’t stepped foot into Chatus since I was a child. Chatus was the midpoint between the Four Kingdoms, making the Golden City the usual host of events, many of which I was allowed to attend before my mother’s death.
As we approached, the aroma of delectable foods hit my nostrils. Lamb topped with rosemary and other spices. Smoked meats that I had no doubt were as fatty and juicy as they smelled. I quickly realized how hungry I was for a good meal.
I kept my wrinkled face hidden under my hood as I began approaching each vendor and nearly drooling over the fine foods. A few minutes had already passed by the time we reached a vendor who sold dried meats, the perfect traveling food. Magda stood behind me as I pulled a pouch of gold pieces from my pack. While I began counting some out in my hands, I heard a male voice call out from behind us,differentiating his voice from the rest of the crowd. “Magda!” he cried.
I whirled around in sync with Magda as we searched for the voice. Magda’s eyes frantically darted around, searching the crowd. “Magda!” we heard it again.
“Gabriel?” she cried out.
Suddenly, a tan-skinned man with brown hair and a young face pushed his way through the crowd until he was only feet from us. He stopped for a moment, and he and Magda stared at each other with wide eyes. Before I knew it, they collided into a deep embrace, and heavy sobs escaped from Magda.