Maddox nodded to him, as if the two had reached some silent understanding. His hand trailed from my jaw to my neck. “We won’t leave your side.”
Both of them were touching me, their expressions gentle, though Briar’s was a bit apologetic. The backs of my eyes burned as emotion swelled in my chest. Did I understand my feelings? Not even a little. But maybe I didn’t need to understand them right then.
I just needed to let things unfold naturally, the pieces falling where they may.
“I’ll hold you both to that,” I said, my voice wobbly. “Can we go shopping now?” I hoped the change of subject would help me get my shit together. “This bag of coins is burning a hole in my pocket. I want to buy all the things.”
“Are you searching for anything in particular?” Briar asked, grazing his fingers along my lower back as we left the stable and walked down a short path.
“I’m not sure, but I’ll know it when I see it.”
The back of Maddox’s hand pressed to mine from my left side. “I must insist you refrain from purchasing anything sharp.”
I snorted. Being between them caused little tingles of excitement in my belly. We reached the main square of the marketplace. People strolled along, going about their day. Some tipped their heads to Maddox.
“Afternoon, Captain,” one woman greeted him with a bright smile.
He gave a subtle nod of his head before continuing on. Behind us, that same woman rushed over to another woman, speaking in excited whispers like the ones from the garden the other morning. The captain was popular with the ladies but paid them little mind. His attention was too focused on me. It thrilled me.
Merchants sold goods from stands along the street and called out like the carnies at carnivals who tried to get you to walk over, spend a fortune, and then leave with little to show for it. I stopped at one of their stands and admired a shiny necklace before moving on. Buildings stood wedged close together, housing a variety of shops. Jewelry, a weapons place, an apothecary, and more beyond that.
“There’s so much to see,” I said, taking in all the sights and smells. “I don’t think we’ll make it to everything today.”
“We can return another day,” Briar responded. “This isn’t the only time you’ll get to visit.”
Little did he know, my time was limited. Only a month left before I needed to make the most important decision of my life. Stay there with them or return to my own world.
I shoved that thought away and approached another stand.
“Fancy a sweetie, dear?” the older woman asked. Thesweetiein question looked like some type of hard caramel candy, and I needed it in my belly as soon as possible. One copper coin bought me a bag of them. Enough for us to share and take back to Thane too.
“Want one?” I held the bag toward Briar after popping one in my mouth. Smiling, he grabbed a piece. I then turned to Maddox and placed one in his hand. “Here.”
“I don’t eat sweets.” However, that didn’t stop him from putting it in his mouth anyway. Something about his grumpy face as he sucked on the candy made me grin. His eyes narrowed at me. “Why do you stare?”
“Because you’re kind of adorable,” I said, then quickly looked in the other direction to avoid what I was sure would be an unamused sneer. Which brought my focus to Briar.
He sucked on his candy and people-watched, oblivious of my attention on him. His eyes then found mine, and instantly, a smile blossomed on his lips. “Are you having fun?”
“Yeah.” My heart thumped harder in my chest. “I really am.”
More fun than I’d had in a long time. All thanks to them.
Some of the buildings reminded me of early nineteenth-century England, and others mirrored the establishments from fantasy movies. Bremloc was a melting pot of cultures and people, as well as having both semi-modern and historical architecture and conveniences.
“Make way!” a man exclaimed from behind us.
Maddox and Briar guided me to the edge of the lane as a group of men passed, pulling a rickety wooden cart carrying a massive animal.
“Is that… a boar?” I asked. Though, it didn’t look like the ones I knew from my world. It was ginormous. The tusks were probably two feet long, and its brown hide looked thick and leathery with a few patches of fur.
“Yes,” Maddox answered, seemingly impressed. “There are always bounties for them.”
“Bounties?”
“The adventurers’ guild.” He pointed to a building at the corner. “People accept jobs, such as hunting beasts, exploring caves, delivering items to another town, or sometimes simply gathering herbs. There are several ranks for an adventurer. The higher your rank, the better bounties you have access to, which means a greater reward if you complete it. Killing a wild boar is a guaranteed way to increase your ranking fast, but many usually die trying.”
“Wow.” I stared at the men pulling the cart. They stopped in front of the guild headquarters, and one went inside. It was just like every fantasy anime I’d ever watched. “So people can make a living like this? Going on quests and stuff.”
