Page 4 of Starlit Bargains

He moved to step around Eliar, but the man shifted, blocking his path.

“You should leave the village,” Eliar said, his tone somewhere between advice and command. “Now. Today.”

Kai raised an eyebrow. “That's a bit dramatic, don't you think? I set some flowers on fire, not the entire market. I'm sure by tomorrow, they'll have found something new to gossip about.”

“It's not about the fire.” Eliar's eyes flickered toward the mouth of the alley, then back to Kai. “There are... tensions here. Things that have been dormant for a long time are beginning to stir. Your presence, your magic—it's like throwing oil on embers that were nearly cold.”

Despite himself, Kai felt a shiver run down his spine. The words were delivered matter-of-factly, but there was an undercurrent of genuine concern that was difficult to dismiss.

Still, dismissal was what Kai did best when confronted with unsettling truths.

“Look, I appreciate the cryptic warning, I really do. Very mysterious, appropriately ominous, excellent delivery.” He took a step closer to Eliar, noticing with satisfaction how the taller man's eyes widened slightly at the decreased distance between them. “But I've got a job to do here, and I'm not leaving until it'sdone. So unless you want to be more specific about these 'things stirring,' I'll be on my way.”

Eliar's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching at the corner. “You're making a mistake.”

“Wouldn't be the first time,” Kai replied cheerfully. “Probably won't be the last. It's kind of my specialty.”

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, gazes locked in a silent battle of wills. Kai couldn't help but notice how the sunlight filtering through the overhead laundry cast dappled patterns across Eliar's face, highlighting the almost inhuman perfection of his features. There was something ancient in those blue eyes, something that didn't match the youthful appearance of the rest of him.

Finally, Eliar sighed, a sound of pure frustration. “Fine. On your head be it.” He stepped aside, gesturing toward the alley. “The main road is that way. Try not to set anything else on fire before you leave.”

“No promises,” Kai replied with a wink, just to see if he could provoke another reaction.

Kai wandered back into the marketplace, his encounter with Eliar still echoing in his mind. The sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees felt different somehow—sharper, more focused, as if the world had shifted slightly on its axis.

He moved through the remaining stalls methodically, ticking off items from Silas's list while his thoughts kept circling back to those impossibly blue eyes. The man had to be at least partially non-human. No one born to ordinary parents had eyes that seemed to glow from within, or moved with that uncanny grace, or disappeared into shadows like he was made of them.

“Moonroot powder, check. Crystallized dewdrops, check,” Kai muttered, tucking each purchase away. “Mysterious brooding stranger with cryptic warnings, unexpected but also check.”

As he paid for a bundle of dried blackberry stems from a vendor who kept shooting nervous glances his way, Kai felt a distinct weight land on his shoulder.

“Someone's in trouble,” sang a tiny voice directly into his ear.

Kai didn't flinch, though the sudden appearance would have startled most people. “Hello, Briar. Wondered when you'd show up.”

The sprite—no larger than Kai's hand—made herself comfortable on his shoulder, her dragonfly wings iridescent in the dappled light. Her skin was a mottled green that would have let her blend perfectly with forest foliage if she hadn't chosen to wear a dress made from what appeared to be stolen scraps of bright red silk.

“I was napping in your pack,” she said, stretching lazily. “Until someone decided to create a spectacle. The lavender lady is still cursing your name, by the way. Very creative language.”

“It wasn't intentional,” Kai grumbled, moving away from the stall. He lowered his voice. “You know how it gets sometimes.”

Briar snorted, a sound oddly deep for her tiny frame. “Oh, I know. I just enjoy watching you squirm.” She peered at his face, her violet eyes narrowing. “You've got that look.”

“What look?”

“That 'I've found something interesting and I'm about to do something stupid' look. I know it well. It's my favorite of your looks.”

Kai rolled his eyes. “I don't have a look.”

“You absolutely do.” Briar flitted from his shoulder to hover in front of his face, wings a blur of motion. “So who is he?”

“Who's who?”

“The very pretty, very serious man who pulled you into the alley. Don't play dumb, it doesn't suit you.”

Sometimes having a constant companion who could turn invisible at will was decidedly inconvenient. “Just someone who was helping me avoid an angry mob.”

“Mmhmm.” She landed back on his shoulder, her tiny fingers playing with a strand of his hair. “And I'm just a harmless butterfly. Come on, details! Was he human? He didn't smell human.”

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