Cold Feelings

The Way To Ulias

"10 silver." Priella's haughty voice said as she looked down on Evangeline from her doorstep. Evangeline scoffed at her price. 

Evangeline had come around noon to Priella's house and brushed aside, with much effort and tongue biting, the insults Priella spat.

"15 silver and no less." Evangeline said folding her arms, not budging one inch. "If you cannot afford at least that much I'll ask Carmen instead." Evangeline turned and began to walk away.

Carmen and Priella were the only two girls aside from Evangeline, who were at marriageable age and single. They often fought over the boys and would not allow the other to best them in beauty. Evangeline knew that if she brought up Carmen it would more or less help her sell the ribbon to Priella.

"Wait!" Priella called to Evangeline. Evangeline stopped with a sly smile and wiped it away before turning around. Priella stepped off her doorstep and the few steps to Evangeline with a forced smile. "Such a pretty ribbon would be wasted on Carmen and you. I will take the ribbon off your hands for 15 silver I suppose, I mean we all know you won't have any use of it." Evangeline's frown deepened as she switched the coin purse in Priella's hand with the ribbon. Leave it to Priella to make it seem like she was doing the favor.

"Whatever and lovely doing business." Evangeline rolled her eyes as Priella held the ribbon in her hands and walked away back to her house.

She weighed the coin purse and made sure it was all there before heading to the tavern up to street. If the Jackson was going to be anywhere it would be there, all the passing travelers lodged there.

"Let's hope mother's right and the man fancies me." Evangeline muttered as she walked through the mud.

Before she even reached the doors to the tavern, laughter and music flooded outside. During this time of year the tavern was always like this. Kredan wasn't a famous stop but it was one of the closest villages on the way to Ulias. Plus with the festival happening tomorrow there were still plenty of people at the tavern.

With the tavern being so busy no one noticed when Evangeline walked in. The atmosphere was a lively one. The bard and others playing instruments an singing filled the space with cheerful tunes and songs. Beer and conversations were plenty as the bar maids walked around giving customer both.

The tavern was the biggest building in Kredan, there were three floors. The first floor holding the tavern and the top two being rooms for rest. A very durable wooden building where most the money was made in the village.

Evangeline scoped the area but couldn't see past many of the larger men as it was crowded. Instead she maneuvered her way past drunkards and bar maids in search of Jackson, each second making her doubt he was still in town.

After searching the entire first floor Evangeline looked up to the other floors. From the top floors you had a better view of the first. Evangeline headed towards the stairs and began walking up them when a hand grasped hers.

"Is the lady perhaps meeting somewhere upstairs?" Jackson's deep voice said behind her. He was close enough for her to feel his breath and hear him over the noise. Evangeline turned around and rubbed her ear.

"No just searching for someone." Evangeline answered and pulled her arm away. Jackson raised an eyebrow at the response and smiled. She was a step higher than him but he was tall enough to still look down at her.

"Oh? And who might that be?" He asked crossing her arms.

"Found them already." Evangeline said with a small smile of her own.

Jackson's smile widened at that and he looked around the tavern before nodding to the door.

"Let's head outside. I would invite you to my room but that wouldn't be very appropriate of me." Jackson turned and headed out the tavern doors with Evangeline following close behind.

The walked to the side of the tavern and into the side alley between the tavern and another building. People passed by but none bothered looking into the alley since it was dark.

Jackson leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, looking Evangeline up and down before speaking.

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of such a lovely lady searching for me?" Jackson's hair seemed black in the shadows but his light green eyes stood out.

"Ulias." Evangeline replied leaning against the opposite wall from him. Jackson raised an eyebrow.

"Are you heading to the festival there tomorrow?"

"Yes and it's why I was looking for you. My mother and I go there for work and we are currently looking for some kind sir for a ride." Jackson's green eyes stared into Evangeline's blue and the smile faded from his lips.

"It's such a fine day out today, don't you agree?" Jackson turned his eyes upward at the sky.

Evangeline looked up as well and then back to Jackson.

"If it's coin you want I can provide 10 silvers, 5 for me and 5 for my mother." Evangeline said as Jackson continued to stare up at the sky, not speaking. He moved his crossed hands to his pockets and sighed a long deep breath.

"Jackson?" Evangeline didn't want to rush him but depending on his answer she would either need to get her mother ready or find a reliable horse and carriage.

Jackson looked back down finally and stared at Evangeline, a uncomfortable smile on his face now.

"My lady I would love nothing more than to help you and your mother but..." His gaze went to the floor this time.

"But?" Evangeline asked. She had a little idea of where this conversation was going but wanted to hear it from Jackson's lips herself.

Jackson looked back up, his expression serious.

"But I cannot help those with such...peculiar rumors going about them." He said.

Silence grew between the two and Evangeline could do nothing but stare opened mouth at that answer. Jackson frowned and looked down, not meeting her eyes. Evangeline wasn't surprised he had heard the rumors already but at the very least she had hoped it was from her.

"Was it the tavern owner? Or perhaps the many ladies you seem to charm?" Jackson looked up as Evangeline spoke. Her eyes turned cold and her voice sharp.

"After talking with the others you apparently know everything about my mother and I right? Secondhand information than the source does seem quite reliable I agree." Jackson opened his mouth as if to say something but Evangeline held a hand up and continued talking.

"Well actually it doesn't matter who told you so please no need to provide any more information, in fact let me." Evangeline's smile was anything but friendly and welcoming. "Yes my mother WAS a prostitute. She had no redeemable prospects, wealth, or skills when I was born, and with my father leaving her she had no support. Instead of sending me to the orphanage, or worse leaving me for dead, she sold her body to provide for us." Evangeline slowly walked toward Jackson step by step as she continued. "She collapsed when I turned 10 and so I took on the responsibility to take care of both of us. Everyday she grows weaker as it gets harder to survive but I do what I can." Jackson pressed himself to the wall as Evangeline got closer.

"These days she doesn't seem to have the strength to sell her body but I have plenty of strength. I hunt, cook, clean, harvest, haul, fish, dig, but prostitution? No I don't think I have ever done something like that. You see everyone here in this village hates me and my mother." Evangeline was face to face with Jackson now and he looked uneasy.

"Who would ever want to touch, let alone help us, right? Thank you for reminding me so fully." Evangeline gave a small laugh and began walking away. Before she exited the alley Jackson called to her.

"Evangeline! Please wait!" Evangeline turned around and saw Jackson flinch at her sharp expression. If Jackson was waiting for a reply he got none. Evangeline only coldly stared in silence at the green haired man. 

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend your mo-." Evangeline cut him off before he could finish with his meager apology.

"Offend? Oh don't apologize sir. I should be thanking you for reminding me that in this world, actions speak louder than words. So don't regret what you said, it taught me something I nearly forgot about others." And with that Evangeline walked towards the horse master's stable. Hoping that there was a cheap horse and carriage for rent.

After much bartering and promises, Evangeline was able to settle on the price of 25 silver pieces for renting a horse and small wagon for 3 days. A day to ride to Ulias and back and two days while Evangeline and her mother were there. Preferably she would have wanted to save that money for food while they were there, but she could always fish in the ocean Ulias was by.

Ulias' was abundant with fish in their waters so fishing was no problem. Just finding the time to do that was since Evangeline and her mother's work schedule during the festival was packed. Instead of sleep she would have to spend that time fishing, which wasn't ideal but she could sleep when they got home.

Evangeline looked up at the sun, still high up in the sky, and smiled. A few years back they weren't able to afford renting a horse and wagon but this year was possible from their hard work. Evangeline felt accomplished and for the time being hopeful that their lives were finally seeing some progress.

"Time to get mother now." Evangeline said as she attached the wagon to the horse and climbed up, then rode back home.

Evangeline didn't want her mood ruined so she took the outer roads back home. Enjoying the silence and peaceful forest on the way. When she got home her mother was outside in her garden. She looked up when she heard Evangeline approach.

"My so we are renting a horse again this year? What happened to that Jackson boy?" Her mother asked with raised brows.

Evangeline didn't want to trouble her mother with the details since that type of treatment only upset her so she merely said the bare minimum.

"Jackson was unable to provide a ride but we had enough for the horse after selling the ribbon. Priella was more than willing to let it go for some silver." Evangeline said as she got off the horse and tied it to a nearby tree. "I'm going to start loading our bags and we'll head out okay?"

"Do you need any help with that darling?" Her mother said getting up slowly to meet Evangeline.

The question made Evangeline smile and she walked over to her mother and hugged her. Breathing in her mother's pleasant smell that she always seemed to have.

"No it's alright. You rest and wait until I'm done, then I'll help you onto the wagon." Evangeline pulled away from her mother and laughed when she pinched her cheeks then kissed her forehead.

"I'll pick a few fruits for a snack on the way." Josephine replied as she knelt back down.

Evangeline watched her mother with a loving gaze for a moment then turned to grab the packs and bedroll from their house. 

Evangeline wouldn't let her mother drive the wagon but made sure she slept in the back during the trip. So once she was done loading everything she helped her mother into the wagon and tucked the blanket over her. Josephine gave a small giggle once Evangeline was done.

"Something funny mom?" Evangeline asked as she tied their belongings so that they wouldn't fall on her mother.

"Just that sometimes it seems like I am the child and you are my mother." Evangeline stopped and looked at her mother. She was looking at her daughter with sad eyes. "I wish I was able to help more darling, I'm sorry."

Evangeline finished tying the bags then turned back to her mother with a small smile. She brushed a strand of her mother's red hair from her face and kissed her on the cheek.

"You've done plenty enough mother. Raising a child on your own, being the handful I am as well, wasn't easy and I'm forever grateful to you for it." Evangeline held her mother's hands and kissed them before mounting the horse. "Now get some rest mother. We won't be in Ulias until sundown if we hurry." Her mother nodded.

"Wake me if anything happens." Her mother said as she turned to her side and pulled the second blanket over her head. Doing this blocked the wind from hitting her face.

Once her mother was settled and comfortable, Evangeline clicked her tongue and the horse began to ride off. She waited near the village gate until the other travelers and caravans started leaving. Not because this was planned but because everyone knew the benefit of traveling with a large group. Safety in numbers.

When a good amount of people were gathered, the biggest carriage, went first followed by the rest of us. Evangeline saw Jackson while they waited but ignored his gazes and made sure to be a few wagons ahead of him for good measure.

Most of the rode in silence but here and there children were playing and singing. We all rode this was until the first checkpoint, where we stopped to give the horses and us a break to rest and eat for a few hours. The checkpoint was only a small clearing near a drinking well that was built for such travels. Evangeline tied their horse to one of the ground logs with the rest of the horses and checked on her mother.

The blanket was still over her mother's head and she removed it to see her mother still sleeping. Her soft snores giving Evangeline a sense of peace. She decided she would wake her in a few minutes to eat since she slept so soundly.

Evangeline reached for her pack and took out an apple to eat herself. After downing the water flask and eating a few more berries Evangeline got off the wagon to refill the water flask at the well.

There was a small line as the other travelers began to fill theirs and Evangeline viewed her surroundings while waiting.

People from all wakes of life were around her. Children, adults, and the elderly, some families, solo travelers and couples made up their little group. The children were all in a circle playing some game that involved holding hands and one of them dancing in the middle. Evangeline smiled at the sight and listened to the song they were singing. 

It was a game where the person in the middle would spin while they all sang. When the song ended the spinning player would stop and point in front of them, whoever was there would be the dragon, and the other players would run from them. If the dragon tagged you then you became a dragon as well. The game ended only when all players became dragons or if the dragons gave up chasing the other players.

One two three four

Spin spin spin some more

Five six seven eight

Where I point-

"The dragon lays." Jackson's voice said from behind me. My smile disappeared from my face as I turned forward and ignored him. "Milady still cross with me I see." His chuckle sounded nervous but Evangeline didn't care.

"Nice weather for riding right?" Jackson said and coughed when Evangeline gave no answer. Once she got her fill of water she turned and walked away without another word.

"Please wait Evangeline." Jackson followed her but stopped when she turned to face him.

"What?" Was all she said as she looked at his green eyes. Jackson seemed startled from the sudden change in attitude but smiled.

"You're willing to hear me out, thank you." Evangeline scoffed at that.

"If I wasn't you would have followed me to my wagon where my mother is sleeping, and I would hate to have my mother be exposed to such a lowly character." Evangeline did not feel bad about her words even when Jackson flinched.

"I deserve that I know, but I'll take it anyway." Jackson smiled and then looked around. "Can we speak somewhere more private?"

"No." Evangeline said as she stood there watching him. "You are the one putting an inconvenience on me. If you are worried for your reputation, considering you wanting to speak away from prying eyes, then leave me alone. You are wasting my time." Evangeline turned and began walking again but this time Jackson grabbed her arm.

"Look I deserve this and more I know, but it is not my reputation I worry for but your safety. I would like to explain my actions from earlier since, believe it or not, your opinion does matter to me." Jackson's eyes were pleading and seemed...honest the least to say. Evangeline looked down and sighed, then pulled her arm from his grasp and turned to him.

"Fine but make it fast."

Jackson lead Evangeline a little ways away from the group, behind a tree. For the most part the others could not see or hear them. Evangeline sat cross legged on the floor and propped her head on one hand. She only watched as Jackson paced back and forth while glancing at her.

After a few minutes of what looked like internal struggle Jackson spoke.

"First off, again I apologize I was extremely rude and discourteous to both you and your mother's circumstances. Believe it was not my intention, I really do like you Evangeline. I can tell you're a good person." She raised an eyebrow at that but said nothing.

"It's true, I can read people's...energy and your's is like...sunlight." Jackson laughed and brushed a hand along his hair. "I've never seen one quite like yours to be honest."

Evangeline scoffed and got up. She had enough of his half-assed flattery.

"Your cheap compliments won't excuse your words and I've no time to be dealing with your bruised ego." Evangeline said as she got up. Jackson looked panicked and held up his hands.

"Evangeline I'm not trying to compliment you to make up for what I said. Please...I'm not finished." Jackson held her gaze and gestured to the spot she had just left empty.

"5 minutes." Was all she said before sitting back down. Jackson sat down this time as well and rubbed his hands on his legs.

"I'm not supposed to be telling you this but for some reason you feel trustworthy." Jackson's eyes seemed to be getting brighter as he spoke. "What I am about to tell you must not leave this conversation." Evangeline only nodded but thought who would take the time to listen to her anyway.

"Good." Jackson said and he held his hands out to her. "Place your hands in mine."

"What?" Evangeline said as she looked from his hands back to him.

"Your hands. I want to show you something." Jackson smiled and stretched his hands out a little farther.

Evangeline stared into his eyes a few moments more before looking down at his hands, then placing her own over them.

The world glowed.

There was a beautiful light emitting from almost everything around them. The tree behind Jackson was a soft green, as well as the ground beneath us. The flowers shined with the same color their petals were. Wind currents moved with various colors in them but it was the people who had the most beautiful hues. Violet, lavender, pink.

Evangeline looked at Jackson and saw that he glowed with an emerald green that was more opaque than the everything else.

"What...what is this?" Evangeline asked tracing the glow around his body with her eyes. Jackson smiled and laughed.

"Aura sense. It's a special ability some arcane caster's have." Jackson looked up as I thinking for a moment and shrugged. "It's actually the only ability you need to become an arcane inspector." Evangeline could only gap at that last sentence.

"Arcane...inspector?" She whispered.

"Yes." He whispered back. "It's my job to inspect an area in secret. Make sure all the wards, protective circles, and even arcane knights, are doing their jobs. I was assigned to Ulias this year." Jackson's smiled faded and he looked down again. "My declining your request was because of the rumors but only because such attention would bring more scrutiny to me, thus making my job a little harder to perform while incognito." Jackson squeezed her hands again. "I'm sorry for hurting you."

Evangeline noticed the light around him flicker.

"It's fine I understand now...but why tell me this?" Evangeline knew how important an arcane inspector's job was. It went beyond so much more than what Jackson said. Corruption was infamous with the arcane knights. Many occurrences of their abuse of power, or politicians bribing the knights was all too common in the kingdom. Some knights even shirk their duties and forget to renew a ward or protective circle in a region, making it vulnerable to demon attacks.

Arcane inspectors worked undercover to investigate such things and we're depended on by the people to make sure their protectors...well protected them. It was a noble and dangerous job, since discovery of such an agent could be fatal for them. A noble not wanting to have their bribery reported could send an assassin or a corrupted knight could try and kill them as well.

Evangeline looked into Jackson's eyes and frowned.

I understand now. He didn't say that because he was scared of the rumors...but for his life. And mine as well since discovery could hurt us both.

"I'm sorry you felt you had to tell me." Evangeline looked away, ashamed of the way she acted.

"Don't apologize, I wanted too." Jackson smiled.

"Why now? Couldn't you have told me in the alley? And...why tell me at all?" Evangeline asked.

Jackson tilted his head to the side and thought about his answer.

"I could not say anything in Kredan because too many ears were around. This travelling group we have here only consist of non magical bystanders, I can tell from there auras, and nobody of political rank. We aren't being watched here." Jackson looked around as if to make sure once more then back to Evangeline.

"As for the reason why I am telling you this well...it's like I said before." Jackson looked straight into Evangeline's eyes. "You're aura is like sunshine. It's warm and comforting." Evangeline blinked then realized that she had not looked at her own color.

Evangeline looked down at their her hands and saw what Jackson meant. The color around her figure was a golden light, very thin and dim like the others, but still there. Evangeline gasped as her eyes made there way from her hands, to her shoulders, then the soft glow around her red hair.

"You can tell a lot about a person based off their aura. And yours...it tells me all I need to know about your character." Evangeline looked back at Jackson.

"The colors are beautiful." Evangeline smiled and looked back at her own color. Fascinated at the way it seemed to glow brighter. "Why is it getting brighter."

"Not only can aura's show you a glimpse of the person's character, but also their mood." Evangeline pulled on hand away and held it up to the sky, loving the way the wind on her hand seemed to pull some strands of the gold with it as it brushed against her. "When it gets brighter that usually means the person is having a positive emotion. The brightest being when the person is feeling love." Evangeline stilled when Jackson said that word. 

She looked back at him with a shy expression.

"Oh." Was the only word she could get out. Jackson eyes narrowed and then widened when he realized. He laughed and let their hands go. The movement left a cold feeling in her as the colors around her faded back to normal.

"Please don't worry about any affections from me my lady." Jackson wiped a tear away and looked back at Evangeline, speaking only when he caught his breath. "My taste is more towards the male audience."

Evangeline blinked then put a hand to her mouth.

"Oh! I'm sorry I mistook your words for frivolous flirtation!" It wasn't common to see gay men around but that didn't mean they didn't exist. Evangeline again felt ashamed at her own assumptions without realizing Jackson's situation.

"Please don't apologize anymore, it only makes me feel bad. I'm actually quite glad you did not think of me as gay. I have a certain character I am trying to show so the less attention I bring the better." Evangeline smiled and nodded.

There was a pause as they both felt ticklish on the inside and a second later laughter left their lips. This went on for a few moments until Evangeline noticed the others starting to pack up.

"Looks like we have to go." Jackson said as he looked over too. Evangeline's merry mood dimmed a little at the thought but shook it from her mind.

Nothing to do about it now. Just be grateful you got to speak with Jackson.

They both stood up and Evangeline held a hand out to Jackson. He seemed a little surprised but took it in his and shook it.

"Thank you for this chat Jackson. I won't expect anything after, and you can trust I will say nothing, but I hope one day our paths may cross again." Evangeline knew this would probably be the last time she and Jackson would meet but she hoped. For the first time, in a very long time, she felt like she had a friend.

"Thank you for allowing me to explain myself. You're a wonderful woman Evangeline. If only others could see your true character they way I do." Jackson leaned down and kissed her hand. "I sincerely hope our paths cross again as well. Till then, please take care of yourself and your mother. I wish you both the best." Jackson turned and began walking away. After a few minutes I followed after.

Glad to see there are still some kind people left in this world.

As Evangeline reached her wagon she saw her mother sitting up and eating a a carrot. She smiled when as spotted her and Evangeline smiled back.

"You seem to be a good mood darling." Her mother said handing a carrot over to Evangeline. "Happy to be on our way?" 

Evangeline took the carrot, placed it in her mouth to hold, then climbed on the wagon. Once settled she passed the water flask to her mother.

"Yes but I had a pleasant conversation with a friend." Evangeline replied, then she clicked her tongue for the horse to move.

"A friend? Oh that sounds wonderful, I'm glad your making some on this trip." Her mother took the seat next to her daughter and wrapped  the blanket around her.

"It was wonderful." Evangeline looked over to her mother and her smile widened. "Okay mom! I've decided to enjoy this trip with you."

Evangeline's mother looked surprised at her daughter's changed mood and bright mood, but was only too happy to see it.

"It's been a while since I've seen you so energized darling. I agree fully, let's have a grand time!" Her mother clasped her hands and laughed.

 Evangeline could only imagine how bright their aura's must have been. Probably the brightest it's ever been since forever.