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I was the farthest I’d ever been from the palace, in a city called Gallen. It was exhilarating. Mother had no idea I’d planned to come this far, and hopefully she’d never know. Otherwise, it would be the end of these little trips.
I wore the plainest clothes I owned, dull tin goggles around my neck, and a wool cap on my head. My pocket watch stood out, but I never went anywhere without it so I tucked the chain in my waistband. It wasn’t much of a disguise, but I had yet to receive more than a passing glance when dressed like this.
Lucas wore his usual breastplate and uniform under a large trench coat, but he’d traded his sword for an umbrella since it looked like rain.
The sour weather did nothing to my mood. I was raring to go at dawn and bounced in the back of the steamcar the whole way there. The second it stopped I leapt to the ground and breathed it all in.
Most of the buildings were made of brick. Shops had large windows displaying their temptations. Older shops and establishments had wooden signs hanging on black iron poles. Newer ones, or at least ones with more money, had spinning signs and eye-catching mechanics. A barbershop’s sign had scissors snipping the air, steam hissing from the joints every time they clicked open. People flocked down the road, talking to each other and laughing. A group of kids rushed past me, crying “Race you!” and were followed by an exhausted looking woman with her hair falling out of its pins.
“Must be a market day,” Lucas remarked, stepping closer to me.
“I hope so.” I took off after the kids.
Lucas yanked me back by the collar. “Need I remind you of our rules for these outings?”
I sighed and straightened my jacket. “I know, I know. I got excited.” I’d heard people talk about markets and all the things the traders brought from all corners of Wingomia Kingdom, but I’d never been to one before. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have come on market day.
“It will still be there,” he promised.
We started again, leaving the pilot and extra guards with the steamcar. We were constantly caught behind slower people, but I couldn’t find it in myself to be angry. Eavesdropping on them was too interesting.
A poster pasted on a wall caught my attention. Two wrenches crossed over a gear on a bell, and printed under that read “The time for change is now! Join the Chimers and build a better future today!” A date and location followed.
Lucas scowled and tore down the poster, crumpling it and shoving it in his pocket. “Bloody revolutionists.”
“Revolutionists?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No matter how good the king, there will always be unhappy folks who want change. They’ve gotten louder the last few years, that’s all.”
I frowned, trying to figure out what changes they could want, and Lucas pushed me on.
The market pushed all thoughts of revolutionists from my mind. Traders had silks from the Spodale Mountains and amber necklaces from the Ricona plains. Artisans displayed all manner of artwork, from oil paintings to gear sculptures. I didn’t see it, but I could smell fish from the seas.
Hours passed by. I bought some of the silks for my mother and a horse made out of old gears for my father. I picked out an amber necklace to send to Miranda, a girl I frequently corresponded with, and then spent a solid hour looking for something for Lucas. He was a hard person to shop for, but I found a silver ring he’d be allowed to wear under his gloves.
He protested profusely when I turned around smiling, but he did finally put it on before I had to order him to.
It started raining not long after that.
“We should head back,” Lucas said, holding the open umbrella over me.
“But it’s barely afternoon,” I argued. “It won’t take that long to go back.” There was still so much to see, and I hadn’t tried any of the food yet. “Let’s at least have lunch first, okay?”
He sighed and gave in, and I took my time picking out what I wanted to eat. His side-eye told me he knew exactly what I was doing, but his voice never stopped me.
I had my eyes on a stand of meat pies when someone snatched the cap off my head.
“Hey!” I went to grab their shoulder, but I missed them by inches. The culprit didn’t look back at me, just continued on and fit my cap over their head while slipping into the crowd.
I stormed after them, earning a harsh warning from Lucas.
The thief’s red hair made him easy to spot, at least, even with most of it hidden under my cap. I seized his right arm and pulled. “Hey! That’s mine!”
He hissed and stumbled when turning to face me, and instantly I saw why. His right wrist was swollen pretty badly. Even though I hadn’t grabbed it, I’m sure any sudden movement aggravated it.
It wasn’t just his wrist that choked down my thoughts. He looked terrible. He was soaked from the rain, dirt streaking down his chin. His shirt hung off his shoulder, and his collarbone stuck out. His pants had small tatters everywhere, and his boots had seen better days. A wrench hung from his belt, a habit only people in the lower class had. He didn’t have a jacket or even a vest, despite the rain and the chilly temperatures.
“You can afford another one, can’t you?” he asked. He had a drawl to his voice I only heard out in town, and his one foot was edging back, ready to run.
The rain pouring down on me abruptly stopped, Lucas appearing with an umbrella and his no-nonsense attitude. He held his free hand out towards the guy. “The cap, if you please.”
“No, it’s okay,” I waved Lucas off. “If he really needs it, he can keep it.”
He narrowed his eyes at me.
“Like you said: I can always get another one.” I only wore them in town anyway. I wouldn’t miss it.
“Jack,” Lucas started.
I turned to head back towards the meat pie stall, and then I had another idea. I shrugged out of my jacket and turned back.
The kid still stood there, dumbfounded. He only stared at my coat when I held it out to him.
“I know it’s already wet,” I said. “But when it’s dry, I think you’ll need it more than I will.”
He looked between me and the coat. “What’s the catch?”
That caught me by surprise. “What do you mean? You need one, don’t you?”
His gaze glanced down for a moment like he’d forgotten that.
I pressed it into his good hand. “I’ll get another one.”
His fingers wrapped around it one by one. “I don’t know...thanks, I guess.”
“You’re welcome.” His wrist still bothered me, and he could do with a few good meals, but he was already disappearing into the crowd.
“That was very noble of you,” Lucas said. “You’re going to make a fine king one day.”
A better king would have gotten that kid to a doctor. I could have at least offered him money to pay for one, or offered to buy him lunch. Just giving him my hat and a coat didn’t feel like enough.
I hoped the guy would be okay.