They were about to leave when an old gypsy woman with more wrinkles than Mina's years and a crooked nose stepped out of one of the vardos. Her hair was hidden beneath a red scarf. "How about you help an old blind woman prepare some tea," she spoke looking at Mina. Her eyes were cloudy, a white membrane covering her irises. "And maybe keep me company."
"You are talking to me?" asked Mina.
"Who else? Those two, while hardworking, are deaf. Now, will you join me, or will I have to look for someone else to help me?"
"Of course," said Mina.
When the woman entered the vardo, Mina and Talya followed her.
A small cooking stove was in front of a window, and next to it was a table with a few plates covered with towels. Cups and baskets with dried leaves were on a shelf above the table. A kettle with boiling water was on the stove.
Opposite the stove was a single-person bed. Gems and rocks hung from strings above it.
The old woman sat at the table.
"Make three cups of tea," she asked Mina. "It had been a long time since I had visitors. Especially someone who is part gypsy."
"For a woman who claims to be blind, you can see pretty well," Mina observed.
"Blood calls to blood. I don't need sight to know you are kin." The woman pulled an ottoman from beneath the chair and patted it. "Child, come join me," she said while removing the towels from the plate, revealing dried fruits, cookies, jerky and other food.
Mina put the cups on the table. After the woman put different leaves in the cups, Mina filled them with water.
"How about you tell me your story while we eat," said the woman when Mina sat next to Talya.
Mina picked up a cookie. "Well," she started and told the woman what had happened to her since she met Jayden but left out many details. She didn't want Talya to hear how Count Dickman beat her with a belt, or how Rosalyn and her uncle treated her. As for Jayden, while she was honored to be his mate, she wanted to keep part of their story only for herself.
When Mina finished talking, the woman lifted the cup from which Mina had drunk tea. She studied the leaves for a minute or two before placing the cup back on the table. "What is lost is lost forever. Do not fear what is to come, for your story is only beginning, Queen Mina, Princess of the Desert." She took Talya's cup next and studied it for a long time. "At the foot of the mountain, your destiny awaits. The spiders will stand guard, but the sword given to you by the Mercenary King will kill the Urzupartor."
Mina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Are you sure you are blind?"
The gypsy woman stood. "To read someone's future, I don't only need my sight, but some magic as well. It is getting late, and tomorrow will be a long day for you," she said before going to the bed and lying in it. "There are blankets and pillows under the bed."
Mina tidied the vardo before Talya and she slept.
In the morning, after breaking their fast, Mina and Talya thanked the gypsy woman for letting them spend the night in her vardo. After being introduced to the other gypsy from the caravan and receiving clean clothes, shoes, and a few silver coins, Mina and Talya left.
They spent the rest of the morning looking for jewelry shops and showing the necklace to master jewelers. When no one could tell her anything about it, she took Talya to a tavern to eat. While the food was served, Mina talked to the owner and asked him if there was a spare room Talya and she could use in exchange for her to work there during the evenings. The owner kindly explained he didn't need any help, but he indicated an antique shop that was looking for an apprentice. Mina thanked the man, and after lunch, Talya and she went to the address provided by him.
Zeyn's antique shop was at the end of a busy street. Mina knocked on the door before entering. Shelves full of all kinds of objects, from old rings and bracelets to weapons and manuscripts that were written thousands of years ago, were all over the shop, making it difficult to move inside.
Behind a haberdashery counter was an Elf. He was examining twin daggers and a sword. The handles were made from lapis lazuli, and the acanthus leaves were engraved on the pommels.
"I am looking for Zeyn," Mina said. "I heard he was looking for help with the shop."
Without taking his eyes off the weapons, the Elf said, "I am Zeyn." He lifted one of the daggers and showed it to Mina. "What do you think?"
While Mina had little experience with weapons, she could recognize a blade made by the seelie and unseelie fae twins, Castor and Pollux. They made many legendary weapons before dying many generations ago. "Made from a star that fell on Aylarra many, many years ago and meant to be a gift for the Shanac who brought the head of the dragon who killed the queen of the Draco Empire. Despite the Shanacs's best efforts, the dragon was never found, and the weapons were lost. Or maybe forgotten in the king's treasury."
Zeyn smiled. "I see you know about weapons."
Mina shrugged. "My father used to tell me stories when I was growing up. The one about Clash of Swords King was his favorite."
Zeyn looked at Mina and then at Talya before putting the weapons in two boxes made from hardwood, one for the twin daggers and the other for the sword. "I usually manage the shop alone, but my wife has been sick lately, and not even the Fire Mages can tell what is wrong with her. I would need someone to attend to customers when I am not here. I can't pay you very much, but there is a room in the back you and the girl can use."
Mina put her arm around Talya's shoulders. "Thank you. As for Talya, she is very quiet. No one will notice she is in the shop."
Zeyn nodded before showing Mina around and a list of clients and what they usually bought and a catalog of the objects he had for sale, and how much they cost.
Mina started helping Zeyn that same day. When the shop closed, she took Talya to eat at a tavern Zeyn had recommended. After that, they went to one of the bathhouses in the city to bathe before going to sleep.
The next morning Talya and Mina continued to look for more jewelers and ask them about the necklace. Unfortunately, no one could tell her who made it or if it was purchased from one of the jewelry shops in Ora Dorei. After lunch, she went to help Zeyn.
Mina continued to ask around about her necklace until, one week after she started working for Zeyn, she realized she had visited all the jewelers in the city, but she still hadn't found out the name of her father-in-law.
"If we don't find my father-in-law by next week, I don't know what we will do," said Mina one afternoon to Talya while they were dusting some old vases behind some shelves. "Zeyn's wife is already feeling better and soon, he won't need my help anymore. I still have to return to Athea, but I have to find a family for you first."
"Talya stay with Mina."
Mina sighed. "It will only be for a short while. Until I can get my cousin and my friends out of Athea. Once they are safe, I will return for you."
Talya didn't appear to be content with what Mina told her and was on the verge of crying when the door of the shop opened, and a man followed by a young woman entered.
Mina went behind the haberdashery counter, leaving Talya to finish dusting the vases.
"I am looking for Zeyn," the man said but stopped in his tracks when he saw Mina. He had blue eyes and his salt adn pepper hair reached his shoulders. Despite being in his late forty or early fifties, he was still handsome. "Minerva?" he asked.
The young woman accompanying him had long blond hair and brown eyes and was very beautiful.
"Mina," she corrected him.
"Is this her?" the young woman asked, and the man nodded. "She is stunning." She walked behind the counter, and before Mina could register what was happening, the young woman was hugging her. "So happy to finally meet you," she said as she let go of Mina and took a step back.
Mina didn't know what to make of the situation.
The man looked familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had met him before. "Do I know you?" Mina asked them.
The man laughed before turning serious. "You don't remember me?" Mina shook her head. "I was a friend of your parents."
"I seems to have forgotten you," Mina confessed.
The man walked up to the counter. "I don't blame you for not remembering me. You were six when I last saw you. I am the Archduke Le Doux, and this is my daughter, Jade. I assume you don't remember her either. You were only four when you last played with Jade."
Mina's eyebrows inched up. She used to play with the Archduke's daughter? But when?
"You are the Archduke?" The man nodded, and Mina gave him and his daughter a bow. "I had no idea. Pardon my lack of manner."
"Mina, you do not need to bow before me. When did you arrive in Ora Dorei, and what are you doing in Zeyn's shop?" the Archduke asked, confused.
Mina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Around eight days ago. As for Zeyn, he had been kind enough to offer me a job."
The Archduke blinked. "Why didn't you come to me from the moment you set foot in the city? Do you know how worried I and everyone else were went you went missing? I had sent people out there to search for you."
Mina tilted her head. "Why were you searching for me?"
Jade frowned. "You mean you don't know?"
"I don't think she does," said the Archduke while studying Mina’s facial expression. Still looking at Mina, he added, "I promise it will make sense once I explain it to you. Would you accept an invitation to have dinner with my daughter and me?"