Belladonna almost lost her mind when Alaris had told her that the place he had taken them to wasn't where they would get the sunflower but the Village of Nakunriver, the land of water.
It was the sixth village of Ignas, with more water than land, so much that houses had to be built on it with strong wooden foundations to keep them afloat. Their transport, their source of livelihood, their customs, and many things were all centered around the water that surrounded them.
"Take me where I can get the Thanatos' sunflower immediately," Belladonna demanded, her anger toward him almost consuming, as she stood on the wooden deck of the bridge and stared at the boats and ships on the sea, the lights from the lanterns attached to them, illuminating the dark waters as goosebumps pebbled on her skin from the cold.
By Ignas, she should have worn something with long sleeves.
How dare the Bride Thief mess with her plans? This just wasn't the time for anything that wasn't going to get her that Thanatos' sunflower.
"No," Alaris had hardly said anything more before she turned to the empty space beside her.
"No? You made a BloodOath. Now I'm not sure entirely sure of the consequences but I'm sure they are dire."
There was a squeak somewhere and Belladonna's attention turned in that direction. There was a boat in front of her, a woman and a boy on the deck beside her, all of them with their questioning gazes on her.
"She is crazy," a boy on the boat said and a man quickly put his hand over the boy's mouth, scolding him.
After that, they all turned to their businesses, ignoring her.
Belladonna let out a sigh of relief on the realization that their language wasn't so different from the one she spoke, although their words seemed to be spoken with a thicker accent, which would take her a little longer to understand but that was alright.
Not wanting to draw any more attention to herself, Belladonna turned towards a place she presumed to be a market.
A seafood market because it seemed like that was all they sold.
She could pretend to be a buyer, she had coins.
"Ala---"
"The sunflower is our last mission and after that, I'll never be able to go through your mind and see places. You know I've never asked this of you."
"Maybe because you have no right---" Belladonna's gaze was so intense on the little fashion railings made to the entrance of the market.
It wasn't an enclosed market, so the presence of the entrance felt funny.
She used it anyways, just like everyone else. Their weaved strawhats didn't let her see their faces though, and she felt a little out because she didn't have one on.
Almost everyone was wearing one.
She pulled the high collar of her gown up, covering her mouth. She should have done that before.
"Pl." There was a pause.
"What did you say?"
"Ease."
It took her a second to get what that was, it fanned an Alaris-ego-destroying feeling in her and she folded her arms across each other as she passed by other busy people in the market.
"You will have to repeat yourself, joining the words together this time."
She had never seen him before but she could imagine him with a pissed-off look. If he begged her to let them stay, then this place must mean a lot to him. Alaris had too much ego to do---
"Please."
Wow.
"I'm not even sure if you will rescue me or if it will work. So, I believe I deserve this, for all we know this might be my last chance of feeling and being alive before the one I'm attached to dies."
Belladonna frowned.
Those were too many words with too much pressure, that involved too much thinking.
She would ignore them.
For now.
"Since you begged me," Belladonna cut him off sharply. "I'll let this slide and we can get the sunflower tomorrow. No more stunts like this."
"Fine."
"It should be thank you."
There was a pause.
"The words burn my mouth."
"Say it anyways, or I'll change my mind."
"You can't just go back on an agreement---"
"What agreement? Show me."
"You little ---fineeeee."
It was difficult not to laugh at this point.
"Ank-you." They stumbled out of his mouth, he missed some words.
That still really felt satisfying though, she couldn't even hide her grin, so she would let it slide.
Besides, she needed a break. Aniktaki was far from the Capital, it would take some time for Lady Kestra to get there and come back, about three days if she journeyed all day and night without rest.
So, she could rest tonight and get that Sunflower tomorrow, then never dream again till she would kill Lady Kestra.
Tonight, the Bride Thief could have what he wanted.
Belladonna seemed to have moved from the sea life market because now all she could see were clothes.
Wait--- was that one of her dresses?
"They were made from the best hands. The Bride herself!" The seller advertised her wares and some people picked it up, inspecting it as they haggled the price.
It brought a smile to her face.
Thank you, Nadia.
Belladonna was tempted to go there and do the same, so she started approaching the stall.
The warriors Eli had sent to different villages were still around and that gave her a sense of safety, even though she knew no one could recognize her.
"She is still alive?" One asked, taking the gown from the owner of the goods.
"Yes. I hope she lasts."
"And not end up like our Moria."
"It's still a shock that her Father is dead."
"Look, a child's death can have such effect."
Belladonna stopped slowly in her stead.
"She had such a bright future and the King took that from her."
"A fate worse than Death."
"I hope, by Ignas that he dies."
"And suffers greatly while at it."
"Maybe his dragon should kill him. Wicked king. Taking from us like we are a farm, slaughtering our daughters as food."
She turned away abruptly, the words slamming into her.
"His death will bring us all freedom." She overhead one of the men she almost bumped into as he spoke to the other men he was walking with.
"Every night like this I regret not going ahead to marry Sash when I hear the chance."
"I should have been a better father to protect my family."
"Death to the King."
Too much.
It seem everywhere she turned, they were all talking about the ritual and it suddenly didn't feel good standing. She had to find somewhere to sit and think.
She needed air.