Selast looked up at him curiously. She wasn’t expecting him to ask that question. “I remember some of them. I have forgotten a few because I haven’t been looking into the stars for a long time. I have refused to acknowledge them and the mystical meanings behind them.”
She didn’t understand what the stars had to do with anything right now but his mind must be wandering. That was the only explanation she could think of.
“When I was still young blood in the kingdom, I attended an astrology course and they said that the stars are chased across the sky by a dark spirit which threatens to engulf them all. That’s just a legend, though,” he shrugged, looking away. He tucked his arm around her elbow more firmly this time, leading them onto the main road, where bluebells sprung up from the tall grass like little jaybirds. The lights of the Redmane Inn were in sight, but they seemed hazy in the cool night air. “What should we do tomorrow?” he mused.
Selast smiled as she took in the scenery and let it affect her thoughts. She had no clear idea for anything she would want to do. “Well I’m sure there are some more things we need to buy so we should get them and after that I think we should explore the town. It is large and like a maze but I’m sure we can find many interesting foods and other trinkets here as well.”
She saw the lights of the inn and felt saddened that the day was over but she was glad she had been blessed to be here for the celebration.
“That sounds good,” he nodded warmly. Lanterns were beginning to be strung up, depicting the fiery spirit in his earthly form. The candlelight blazing behind it made the creature appear to be no more than a shadow. The village men came and went at bazaars and bars, a few drunkenly staggering into the street with gleaming grins on their faces. “Want to get a drink?” he asked her, gesturing inside the bustling restaurants. “May as well celebrate with the rest.”
Selast watched as the men drunkenly stumbled about. She looked at the restaurants and her stomach growled. Her face flushed with embarrassment, “I guess we should. But I’ve never been to anything like this before.”
She looked up at Ren and wondered how much he could help her with all this. Is was strange and new yet it seemed much more warm and inviting than what she was used to.
“Come on, let’s go get dinner,” he said at last, noting her uncertainty. He grabbed her wrist as they whirled through the crowd, trying not to lose Selast despite the color and movement that surrounded him. They stopped outside a small but clustered restaurant. A short line paused outside the door, and he stopped behind the others before waving a hand at a waiter. “For two, please!” The waiter nodded and gestured them toward a seat in the back.
Selast’s blue eyes were going everywhere as she tried to take in everything. It was noisy, loud, and crowded. She was surprised by everything but when they were told to sit she did carefully simply because she didn’t want to upset anyone even though nobody appeared to be paying attention to them. “This is crazy yet amazing. There are so many different smells and sounds I’ve never heard before plus it is quite warm.”
--Apologies for the slow response, I was busy due to the American holiday. :)
"The spices and flavors here are unlike any other I've dared to taste in the northern kingdoms," he admitted. He had become so accustomed to dried food, to unclean water, that the restaurant seemed like a blessing. Its humble interior seemed to embrace the two, swallowing them in the atmosphere of liveliness and community. A woman came up to them dressed in a simple uniform. "Ya like a beer?" she asked brusquely. "The wheat's doin' well, I figure it'll be good," she grinned, revealing a gap between her teeth.
(4th of July? Yeah. I don’t blame ya.)
Selast was hesitant because she’d never tried beer before. It was consider beneath her station to drink it. She gave a small smile, “Well I would love to try it. What do you recommend we eat to go with it?”
She was feeling very curious and wanted to try everything. But that would be strange and make them stand out. She would let the waitress make her recommendation since she would have the best knowledge.
"We serve good pork an' potatoes," the woman replied quickly, still grinning like a jack-o-lantern. She peered over at Selast, giving her a subtle second look. Immediately Ren's heart leaped high into his throat, pulsating at the back of his brain. But his anxiety was quelled after she looked away dismissively. "You got pretty eyes, dear," she said to Selast. "In the meantime, do you all want some bread?"
Selast was surprised and her cheeks turned very red in her embarrassment. She wasn’t used to genuine compliments. The only time she received them was from her maids, but only because they were forced to say it. She nodded, “Uh-yeah. That would be great. And-uh-thank you. For the compliment.”
She looked into her lap as she felt her cheeks heat up and turn even redder. She was extremely embarrassed now but a part of her was happy that she wasn’t treated different because anyone could tell she was a vampire.
Vampires had their fangs to let the world know who they were, even if they weren’t extended. She now wondered if her fangs, which she had been taught, like all other vampires, to smile and speak to keep her fangs hidden. As royalty it was enforced since the moment they grew.
"Mhm, sweetie," the lady said warmly but casually, without looking her in the eye again. "That sounds excellent," Ren replied to her as she hurried off. He turned to Selast, a playful gleam in his dark eyes. "You looked surprised to hear her say that," he commented, leaning back in the battered oak chair and resting his boots firmly on the dirt floor.
Selast took a deep breath to calm herself before letting it out slowly. She looked up at him and seeing the look in his eyes she looked back down, “I have never received genuine compliments before. My parents never said anything and the other royals said nice things to avoid displeasing my parents. My maids wanted to live so they gave them away like it was nothing.”
She shrugged her shoulders and stared at the table while she spoke. She wasn’t sure exactly how he would handle the information but surely he wasn’t surprised. As a princess she was supposed to be a certain way and that was all that mattered.
“Huh,” was the only weak reply Ren could muster. “Yeah, I guess it’s tough being genuine when everyone in the kingdom is so eager to suck up to you.” As he spoke, the waitresss arrived and set down a generous plate of bread accompanied by two pints of ale. “To our new life,” Ren smiled at Selast, raising his glass as the golden liquid foamed within.
Selast gave a small smile as she grabbed her pint. She raised the glass and agreed, “To our new life!”
She eyed the bread but wanted to try her drink. The bread had a wonderful smell and was fresh so it was guaranteed to be good. Her drink was foamy which made her smile grow. This was definitely going to be quite the memorable night for certain.
Hearing the satisfying clink of the glasses, he allowed himself a contented smile as they settled into their seats. The intense fragrance of the sweet bread made his stomach growl, but first he downed a quarter of the pint, relishing in the distinctive flavor. “Do you like it?” he asked her, grinning.
Selast laughed and took a sip of the drink. Her eyes went wide at the flavor within. She took another, larger, drink to ensure her tongue did not lie and was surprised. She looked at him, “This is amazing. It’s so flavorful and the foam is also very soft. Kinda ticklish but it’s all good.”
She was grinning widely and reached for the bread, willing to bet it would taste amazing as well. She grabbed a piece and was surprised at how soft and warm it was. She took a moment to admire what was in her hand before taking a bite.
Her blue eyes popped wide and she turned to Ren, “These are amazing! You really need to try some Ren. And it goes nicely with the drink.”
(Bump)
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