Page 20 of Mermaid on Heels
What now?
The triplet girl’s words, about reporting to their father of Liriya’s accusing behavior, rang in her head. What would happen then? Would she be thrown into a prison? Did humanshaveprisons?
All her questions came to an abrupt pause the moment she heard applause. Liriya looked around her. One by one, every human who witnessed her row with the triplets began clapping. Eventually, the marketplace broke into a full applause.
Liriya and her sisters glanced at them in utter astonishment. The shopkeepers stepped out of their stalls to clap their hands for her, some of them smiling.
“Thank you.”
Liriya turned to the soft female voice next to her and saw the redhead who was mistreated by the triplets, with a smile on her face.
“No mention.” Liriya smiled back. “I am sorry they spoke to you like that. You or no one deserves to hear such.”
“It’s alright. I’m kind of used to that treatment from them now.” The redhead smiled solemnly.
“Well, well, that’s one brave young woman you are.” A shopkeeper who seemed to be around early sixties called out to Liriya once the applause died out. He stepped out of his vegetable stall in his short and bulky frame, wiping his hands on his pants. “Those three needed that tongue lash. No one talks back to them, you see, daughters of the earl they are—you heard them. Nice job, daughter, nice job.”
“You three are new faces here.” A woman in her late forties commented next, stepping out of her stall that sold… clothes—Liriya noticed. However, she was startled at the woman’s words. Drawing people’s attention was the last thing on her list, but here she was, the center of the market’s attention.
“We—uh, yes, we—” she stammered anxiously. If she said yes, the next question would bewhere are you from. What then? And if she said no, she would have to come up with a believable lie to convince them they weren’t new, except she didn’t know how to make one.
“You know what, let’s go to my place.” The redhead jumped in to her rescue. “It’s not every day I make a friend, agoodfriend.” She smiled at Liriya. “This way.”
Liriya’s shoulders slumped with relief and gratitude towards the girl and grabbed her sisters’ hands before following her, smiling forcefully at the older woman who thankfully didn’t push for an answer. She spared a glance and a smile for every eye she met on the way, watching her and her sisters curiously.
“My name is Bianca, by the way. But you can call me Bia. What about you three?” Bianca asked as they stepped out of the marketplace that went back to its bustling.
“I am Liriya, and these are my sisters Ella and Sessa.” Liriya sent a polite smile sideways at Bianca. “I like your name.”
“Thank you,” Bianca said with a laugh. “And I like yours too, truly. I have a little sister at home, around little Sessa’s age here, and her name is Kitty. You can meet her when we get home.”
“That is sweet. And thank you for inviting us to your home, it is so kind of you; we just met after all.”
Bianca shot her a quirky smile, amusement alight in her light green eyes. “Yes, we just met. And you stood up for me like no one had dared to before, without even knowing me. That market is full of people I know and I have been a victim of the triplet sisters’ nasty remarks every time I crossed paths with them since my father’s death six months ago. So… what would you say to that?”
Liriya chuckled with a shake of her head. “I do not know… But I am glad I was able to.”
“You are not from here, are you?”
A nervous laugh escaped Liriya. “And what made you ask that?”
Bianca cocked her head to the side as she looked at them. “You three look exotic; your appearance, skin texture, and even your accent are exotic. I’m curious, where are you from?”
Ella squeezed her hand, and Liriya failed to make out whether she was trying to tell her something or was a simple, encouraging gesture. However, whatever she would say, she couldn’t tell her new friend the truth.
“It is a long story…” Better say that than lie.
Bianca got the cue. She composed herself. “Oh, okay…”
Liriya felt bad, sensing her enthusiasm dropping a little. “I am so sorry, but it is a little personal. We are not from here, I can tell you that.”
“No, it’s fine, we just met. I shouldn’t pry.I’msorry.” Bianca assured her with a smile.
“Thank you for understanding.” Before she registered what she was saying, the next words tumbled out of Liriya’s mouth, “Perhaps I will tell you sometime later.”
“I’d like that.”
The afternoon sun beat down on them the entire walk to Bianca’s house. Liriya’s inexperienced, new pair of limbs began to ache, her steps hobbled, and she felt tired. She could tell her sisters were too, but they were putting out their best effort.