The Eyor Port was an important part of the daily life of Athea. Built on the shore of Lake Ucias and Eyor River, the Eyor Port was home to beggars, whores, bastards, criminals, sailors, or poor people. Taverns, brothels, shipyards, warehouses, the fish market, and other businesses took place in the port.
Ships bringing goods from far away continents docked in the port daily.
Jayden and Mina got out of the carriage close to the fish market. As they walked towards the tavern, Mina looked curiously at some clandestine food stalls. A man was selling some roasted meat on a stick.
"Probably rat," Jayden said, looking at the same man as Mina. "Not a fit meal for a Duchess."
Mina smiled. "With the right seasoning, they are not that bad." Jayden looked at her with shocked eyes. "Don't tell me you haven't been curious in your life."
Jayden looked at the man that was selling the meat. "Hungry. There had been times when I had to go in the city sewers and hunt rats myself."
It wasn't a surprise to Mina. She wondered what the Commander would say if he knew that she, Dutchess Mina Castex, had been in sewers. Many times. It was, of course, a secret that only she and the children she visited twice or three times a week knew. While in the sewers, Mina would dress as a man and hide her hair under a hat. Sometimes she would hunt rats with the children or teach them how to read or write. Many of the children were not only bastards but also orphans, while those that did have parents didn't have a better life.
"From rat hunter to Baron," Mina said. "Not too bad, Commander."
Jayden frowned. "Are you not going to say how sorry you are for the life I had as a child?"
"Would it change the life you had if I did say how sorry I am for the life you had as a bastard born?" Mina asked.
Jayden smiled. "You are not as I imagined," he said as they went down some stairs. At the bottom was a tavern. Mina recognized it—Oviella's tavern.
It was probably one of the most popular taverns in the port, and from time to time, even men from the high class ate or drank at Oviella.
Jayden opened the door, and Mina entered. It was around midday, and almost all the tables were occupied. Sailors, merchants, or travelers were busy eating or drinking. Many talked or laughed loudly.
Mina looked around, hoping she would see Hugo, but he was not in the tavern. She wondered where he was.
A wench wearing a dress with a low cleavage approached Mina and Jayden.
"Good day, Mina!" the young woman said. She looked at Jayden. "And who is this handsome fella?"
The Commander looked at the two women, confused. Mina tried not to smile; she bet Jayden didn't expect her to know a girl that worked in a tavern.
Mina smiled. "Good day to you too, Essy," Mina said. "This is Jayden." She looked at the Commander. "Jayden, this is Essy. She works here."
Essy put a hand on a hip. "But I am free during the night." She looked at his shirt and winked at him. "Did you kill someone? I love violent men."
Jayden put an arm around Mina's waist and pulled her close to him. "I am already taken by this gorgeous woman! My nights will be busy spending them with Mina. And I am not a violent man. At least not with women."
Essy gasped. "You got married? When? Why didn't you tell me?" She looked at a man that was behind the counter. She put her thumb and index in her mouth and whistled loudly. Several people looked at her. "Hey, Marty! Mina got married!"
Marty put a bottle on the counter. "I can finally open my rum bottle!"
"I am not married! Just engaged," Mina said. It sounded strange as if she didn't quite believe it.
Marty opened the bottle and poured some rum into a glass. He brought it to his mouth and was about to drink when Essy spoke again. "Marty, false alarm! She is still a maiden!"
More people looked at them.
Jayden blinked.
Marty muttered something under his breath and put the rum from the glass back in the bottle.
"Essy!" Mina hissed, "if you don't stop, I shall never return here!"
Essy sighed. "Fine. I suppose you are hungry. I have a free table."
The young woman led Mina and Jayden to the back of the tavern, where an empty table sat. Jayden pulled a chair and waited for Mina to sit.
"What is Oviella cooking today?" Mina asked once she was seated.
"Lamb stew, tomato soup, baked potatoes, roasted chicken, and garlic bread."
After Mina and Jayden had ordered, Essy left to bring them their food.
Jayden put his elbows on the table and looked at Mina. "I wonder how a young woman, such as you, from a good family, frequents a place like this."
Mina put her hair behind her ear. "I must remind you that you are the one that brought me here." Jayden stared at her. "This tavern is very popular. Even in the rich part of the town, men talk about it." She shrugged, "So one day, out of curiosity, I entered."
"What other things did you do out of curiosity?" Jayden asked.
Mina smiled a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. "Oh, a bit of this and that. Nothing scandalous, of course."
"Of course," Jayden said. "Because the family name is so important."
Essy returned with the food, a bottle of mead, and two glasses.
"If you need anything else, shout," Essy said before leaving.
Mina drank some before looking at Jayden. "When you live like me, in the middle of the wolves, you either become one of them or get eaten."
Jayden grinned; his canines were sharper and longer than most humans. Like those of the Elves. "You are a lamb, not a wolf. When the times come, little lamb, you better run real fast; otherwise, a real wolf might get you," he said, his eyes turning gold for a moment.
Mina ate some soup. "You mean Aksel? I thought he was tame."
"Ah, little lamb, a wolf is anything but tame. Especially Aksel. But he will never dare chase you. Not if he knows what's good for him."
Mina kept eating while she looked at Jayden. Only a day ago, he appeared in her house and seemed ready to let the entire Athea know that Rosalin was his. But hours later, he claimed Mina as his. She accepted his proposal mostly because she was afraid of what he would have done if she would have said no. But as she stood in the tavern, Mina couldn't deny that she did enjoy his company. He was easy to talk to. She didn't regret saying yes.
"We should go buy that bracelet, little lamb," Jayden said when they finished eating. He put two silver coins on the table.
Mina and Jayden left the tavern and went to catch a carriage. They walked close, and their clothes brushed from time to time. Mina had seen couples walking around before; the woman usually put her hand in the crook of the man's elbow. She wasn't sure if she wanted to do it or if Jayden would like it, so she kept her hands down.
They were close to the carriage when Mina looked at the Commander. "I need to return to my uncle's house."
"You are not going back there! Ever!" Jayden growled.
Mina sighed. "I have all my things there. I don't have money to purchase new ones. Hugo lives there, and he is not only my cousin but also a dear friend. Also, I would like to work."
His eyebrows went up. "So poor you think I am that you want to work?"
"It has nothing to do with you," Mina said.
Jayden opened the door to a carriage. "I will send someone to retrieve your things. You can send a message to Hugo with my man. But you are not going to work. I shall give you everything you need. Once the Manor is ready, won't you be busy inviting friends over for tea or hosting balls? Decorate as you see fit?"
Mina entered the carriage. "So I can have the entire high society come to your Manor and gossip about our life. As for female friends, I only have Ivy, but she spends her life between Ora Dorei and Athea."
"Ours," Jayden told Mina as he sat next to her. She looked confused at him. "You said my Manor. Once we get married, what's mine is yours. As for balls and gossiping, won't the rich families talk about us once they find out you are marrying a bastard?"
Mina hadn't thought about it, but Jayden was right. People would talk about her—the half-gypsy Dutchess marrying the bastard born hero.
"You do realize who you are, don't you, Commander?" Mina asked. "You are the savior of the Kingdom. People will talk because you choose to marry me."
"Is there something the matter with you?" Jayden asked.
Mina put her hand next to his and looked at them. "My skin color, for starters. Next is my hair and eyes color. Also, I am not as pretty as Rosalyn."
"Are you done, little lamb?" Jayden asked.
Mina looked at the Commander. "I suppose I am."
"Good. Your skin is beautiful and soft," Jayden said while he ran a finger on her cheek. "Your hair," he twirled a strand of hair around his finger, "smells like apples. But do you know what I love the most about you?" She shook her head. Jayden lowered his head and whispered into her ear. "Your eyes. They are the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. So big and green. Remind me of forest and freedom. You are more beautiful than Rosalyn."
Mina's heart drummed in her chest. It felt like a trapped bird that wanted to escape. It was the second time in less than a day that he managed to make her heart beat fast.
They sat in silence until they reached Artisans Street.
The most important and respected craftsmen had their shops on Artisans Street—from jewelers to bakers and from armorers to tailors,
Jayden opened to door of a jewelry shop, and Mina entered. The jeweler sent dirty looks in Mina and the Commander's way.
"If my money is not good enough for you, then I will go to a place interested in doing business with me," Jayden said.
The jeweler looked at Jayden's shirt. "I doubt you have enough money to purchase even the cheapest jewelry I have here."
Jayden took out his coin pouch and opened it. "Would this be enough?" The jeweler opened his mouth to say something, but Jayde took another pouch full of coins. "How about now?"
"Yes, of course!" the man said fast.
Jayden put back the pouches in his pockets. "Why should I purchase anything from here when you looked at my fiancée as if she wasn't worthy of your shop?"
Both Mina and the jeweler looked surprised at Jayden.
"I—" the man said.
"Let's go, Mina," Jayden said. "I am sure there are other shops that will treat you as the Dutchess you are."
Jayden took Mina to other shops, but he ended up not buying anything from them—in some shops because Jayden didn't like how the jewelers treated Mina, while in others, he didn't found anything fitted for Mina. They were still walking around when Mina stopped.
"Look, I appreciate you wanting to give me a bracelet, I do, but it is not necessary. I already agreed to marry you, and I won't take my word back."
Jayden lifted her left hand and rubbed her fingertips. "I will buy you a bracelet so that when men look at you, they will know you are mine. I know you are tired, but let's enter one more shop."
"Alright," Mina said.
Jayden looked around for a few minutes. "Let's try that one," he said, pointing at a small shop between two big ones.
They entered the small jewelry, and an elderly woman greeted them. "Welcome," she said in a calm tone.
Jayden inhaled deeply. "You are—?" He didn't finish his question. The woman nodded.
She studied Jayden and Mina with kind eyes. "Looking for a bracelet for your fiancée?"
"How did you know?" Jayden asked.
The woman smiled. "There's only one reason to come to my shop—to purchase the perfect bracelet for your love."
"We are not—" Mina said.
"Do you have the perfect bracelet for my m—? Fiancée." Jayden said.
"Let's see," the woman said. She took out several bracelets. "Come here," she said to Mina. She put some jewelry next to her arm. "I think a bracelet made from rose gold would look lovely with your nice skin color." The woman put several pieces of jewelry made from rose gold on the counter. "Which one do you like?" she asked Mina.
Mina studied the bracelets for a few moments. "They are all lovely..."
"But?" the woman asked. "You want something more special?"
"Less expensive," Mina said.
Jayden grabbed her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. "You deserve the best." His eyes feel on the bracelets. "I want to see that one," he said to the woman, gesturing to a bracelet about half an inch wide made from pink and yellow gold on the borders. The bracelet appeared to be made from knots, and an emerald was in the middle. The woman gave him the bracelet. "This is perfect for you, little lamb. The emerald matched your lovely eyes. Give me your left hand."
Mina licked her lips. "Jayden, this is too much! Can't we get a simple one? One made from silver?"
Something dark appeared in his eyes. "Never from silver! Your hand, Mina!"
Mina lifted her left hand, and Jayden put on the bracelet. He smiled. "It looks perfect," he said, kissing the top of her hand. "Like you, little lamb."
Jayden paid for the bracelet, and they were about to leave when the woman spoke again. "May the Lyra bird bless you!"
"Thank you, my kin," Jayden said.
It was late afternoon when Mina and Jayden got out of the shop.
"Why did you call her your kin?" Mina asked.
Jayden didn't look at her as he spoke. "One day, you will know. Let's find a tailor before I take you home. I want to purchase clothes for you."