Dragon Thief Box Set

Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

We rolled through the streets, and I watched the homes fall away to make room for various sizes of shops. There were those with single-window fronts beside the more ambitious shops with awnings that stretched several yards out from their carved wooden doors.

I waited to see those low stone walls that surrounded the market, but before they came into view, Castle leaned forward and gave a slight tug on one of the reins. Ferox slowed to a stop and Castle hopped out before he turned around and offered me a hand. “I should like to show you the shops, and the view is far better from the ground.”

I nodded down at the broom in my lap. “What should I do with this?”

“Ferox is a good driver, but he’s no item keeper,” Castle mused as the horse in question gave a sharp whinny. “It would be safer with us, but mind the blanket doesn’t unwrap and keep an eye out for thieves.”

I snorted as I stood up in the carriage with the bundle pressed tightly against me. “I’ll be careful to keep an eye out for quick wrists and black masks.”

I took his hand, and he helped me to the cobblestones. Castle glanced at the horse. “Meet us at the stables.” Ferox threw back his head as though nodding and trotted off toward the Plaza.

I examined the area in which we stood. Quaint little shops with window-seat-like front windows covered both sides of the street, and a few homes were nestled between them. “So, what does a magic-heavy world like this sell in these shops?” I asked him.

“Whatever the heart desires, and then some,” Castle told me as he guided me down the street after our disappeared carriage. “Though one must be careful with magic. It always has its price.”

I lifted an eyebrow and couldn’t help but cast a wary look down at my bundle. “Like what? Some curse or a year off your life?”

He laughed before he shook his head. “Nothing so dire, I assure you, but the best magic is quite expensive. The lesser concoctions might fetch you a boyfriend for a week, but the greater potions will catch you a husband for life.”

“So long as he’s rich,” I teased.

He smiled and bowed his head to me. “Of course. One doesn’t spend a thousand barons and expect a pauper.”

“So, what do people sell besides love potions?” I wondered as I looked over the wares in the windows. Small vials lay on velvet pillows and tomes were spread out over silken clothes. “Anything to win the lottery?”

“Or perhaps return you to your own home?” he spoke up.

A bittersweet smile slipped onto my lips. “That obvious, huh?”

His expression softened with pity as he studied me. “It’s never far from your mind, is it?”

I clutched the broom closer against myself and shrugged. “Just being here reminds me of it.” A thought struck me that made me snort. “One of these shops doesn’t happen to have a potion for melancholy, does it?”

He nodded. “Many do, but a potion won’t make your troubles go away. However,” He looped one of his arms through mine and offered me a smile. “I do happen to know a rather rare shop that might have what you’re looking for.” I gave him a quizzical expression, but he merely shook his head. “I would rather save that for a surprise, but come. It’s just down this way.”

We continued our journey down the street, and I took in the sights. Posters and graffiti dotted the walls. Some of the posters showed a black-cloaked figure with arms outstretched reaching toward a single word in the center. That word was ‘Phantom,’ with the tips of the letters written in sharp angles like the points of vampire teeth.

A few of the graffiti caught my attention, namely the repetition of the name ‘Joey.’ “This Joey guy sounds really popular,” I spoke up as I looked up at my guide. “Is he an athlete or something?”

Castle chuckled. “Far from it, but-”

“Get yer paper here!” a boy shouted on one of the street corners as he waved a thick paper over his head. The young lad wore tweed pants and a grimy but well-stitched sweater. The short dirty-blond hair that stuck out from beneath a cap was messy but clean, as were his hands that handled the papers. “Emperor still searching for lost prize! Boat of wheat from the south delayed due to pirates! Rats in the sewers grow to gigantic size!”

I lifted an eyebrow at my guide. “Are the rats really that big?”

He smiled as he guided us over to the boy. “Let’s see. I’ll take one, Tim.”

His last comment was directed at the young lad who quickly handed him the one he held. “‘Course, My Lord. I’ve been saving this one, especially for you.”

“I’m sure you have,” Castle teased as he smoothed out the wrinkles on the front page the boy had caused with his tight grip. “Now what’s this about rats?”

The boy shrugged. “Beats me. Just something my gran’s been telling me since I was little.”

I leaned to one side to study the front page of the paper in Castle’s hands as he scanned the headline news. The top headline shouted, ‘Emperor Still Searching,’ which made me grip my broom ever tighter. “So, it’s not the paper?”

He snatched another paper from his stack and turned back to me with a wrinkled nose. “Well, it might not be, but that don’t make it untrue, does it?”

“How is your gran?” Castle wondered as he flipped through the paper.

Tim stretched himself up and grinned at the lord. “A lot better now, thanks to you, My Lord. Her cough’s just about cleared up.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Castle answered as he looked over the top of the paper with twinkling eyes. “You don’t happen to have any more news for me, do you?”

Tim shook his head. “Nope, unless yer wanting to hear about the return of the Phantom. That’s all the rage now on the streets.”

Castle chuckled as he tucked the paper under his arm. “No, I think not. Have a good day, and happy selling.”

“Oh, I never fail to drop the whole lot on someone,” Tim swore as he tipped his cap at Castle. “And good luck on yer date, My Lord. She’s not bad-looking, as far as they come.”

Castle bowed his head as my cheeks reddened. “Thank you for your words of encouragement, Tim. I’ll be sure to keep this one close.”

Tim returned to his hawking, and we continued our walk. I couldn’t help but cast a curious look at my guide. “So do you usually walk around the city with a girl attached to one arm?”

“Not often. I’m more likely to be found with women attached to both arms.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course you are.”

His eyes twinkled as they looked down at me. “Is that jealousy I detect from my lovely companion?”

I stiffened and my face grew warm with embarrassment. “T-that’s not what I’m doing at all! I’m just pointing out that, um, that you would do that!”

He chuckled as he stared ahead. “Yes. One must keep up with appearances, otherwise the real wolves would swoop in and have their fangs into me in a second.”

I leaned forward and caught his eye. “The real wolves?”

“Those unscrupulous women who are eager to test their love potions on one of my, ahem, status.”

One of my eyebrows shot up. “What kind of status do you have?”

“And here we are!” Castle announced as he stopped us in front of a shop.

I raised my eyes to the sign that stretched across the whole front of the building. “‘Sally’s Salacious Spells.’ Is this a potion shop?”

“Oh heavens, no.”