The market was one of the busiest places in Athea, and one could buy anything they needed, from rare spices brought from the far Southern Islands close to the Uzhor Continent, or magic ore weapons forged in the Hammer Clan in the cold Kingdom of Nordmar, to rare pearls found by mermen on the bottom of the Endless Sea, or the best silk on Aylarra made by the terrible Yirri spiders from the wild Ilvisar continent. It had been Mina’s father who first brought her to the market when she was about seven years old. He bought her a bird-shaped caramelized sugar candy on a small stick and an expensive porcelain doll, which Rosalyn broke on the same day her parents died.
With Aksel trotting after her like his life depended on it, Mina had been looking at fabrics for some time. She didn’t want to buy simple cotton or linen, but some rare bamboo cotton she had heard was very soft to the touch. If she found a good price for mulberry silk cotton fabric, she would purchase some to have shirts made for Jayden as well.
As Mina looked around the market, the smell of spices beckoned her. It had been a long time since she had purchased spices to make gypsies dishes. As Mina smelled some bay leaves and tasted some pepper, she thought of the dinner she would prepare for Jayden. She would make a traditional rabbit or lamb stew, stuffed peppers, and pirogo for dessert. Once she purchased different spices used not only by gypsies but also by the Nodorians and the other ingredients, she went to the butcher, bought enough meat to feed eight men and seven wolves, and had an errand boy take everything home.
Mina looked inside her coin purse; she was glad she listened to Jayden and took some gold coins from his nightstand. She still had more than enough money to purchase the fabrics and eat down at the port, at Oviella’s tavern, together with the children. Since the last time she had eaten with Jayden at Oviella’s, around a week ago, she hadn’t visited Essy and Marty. Mina looked at the sky; it was already late afternoon.
“Come, Aksel. We still have to purchase the fabrics, send them to the tailor, and make two more stops before returning home, and it is already late,” Mina said, lifted her skirts, and started walking faster.
After looking around the market for another half an hour and not finding what she wanted, Mina decided to go to a boutique that sold the best fabrics in Athea. Many high ladies preferred to buy from there.
The Marquess Zelis and the Viscountesses Betina and Flora were touching some fabrics when Mina entered the shop together with Aksel. Mina noticed the three women but thought it was best to ignore them. They were not only Rosalyn’s friends but some of the high ladies that loved nothing more than to gossip about Mina any chance they got.
“Isn’t that Mina?” Marquess Zelis asked the Viscountesses loud enough for Mina to hear while she was inspecting some fabrics. The two sisters, Betina and Flora, responded, but their tones were too low for Mina to understand them. “I wonder what she is doing here. Is that a rabid dog she has with her?”
Mina tried to ignore them as she found some fabrics she liked in the colors Jayden and the ocxoas usually preferred: white, black, or brown. Aksel growled. “She is the rabid one,” Mina said in a low tone to Aksel and winked at him. The wolf seemed to agree with Mina because he bared his teeth like he was smiling. She grinned before inspecting other fabrics.
“I heard her parents left her no money, and that’s why no one wants to marry her,” Betina spoke next.
Mina gritted her teeth. If men knew she was one of the wealthiest women in Athea, how many would have wanted to marry her? During the first years after her parents’ death, there had been rumors about how much money her parents left her with, but except for her uncle and the lawyer, no one knew the exact amount. Not even her.
When her uncle kept her wealth secret, rumors started to die away, and the high ladies started saying Mina had no dowry. They had been right in the end. Mina only had some old dresses and a few silver coins she managed to save by making embroidered articles for wealthy high ladies’ dowries on the day she married Jayden.
Flora, Betina’s younger sister, spoke next. “It is not about the money. No one wants her because of her sk—”
Aksel growled, and Mina turned on her heels and glared at the three women. She had had enough of their gossip.
“Mina, darling, we didn’t even notice you here. How have you been?” Zelis’s sarcastic tone mocked Mina. Her eyes fell on Aksel, and she gasped. “Is that a mutt you found on the street? You should not let it around you. What if he has some disease, and he bites you?”
Mina debated between rolling her eyes or telling Zelis how uneducated she was. It was quite obvious Aksel was a wolf.
Mina flicked her left wrist at Aksel, but before she could speak, Betina gasped loudly and approached her. “Then it is true! Count Dickman wants to marry you!” she said, grabbing Mina’s left hand. Some women turned their heads and looked at Mina and the bracelet Jayden had bought for her.
Aksel bared his long canines while Mina snatched her hand back, and Betina went back to where her sister and Zelis stood and pointed at Aksel. “The mutt has rabies! Did you hear the sounds it makes?”
A few more women turned their heads to look at Mina and Aksel before whispering among themselves.
Mina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Aksel is a wolf, not a dog, and he is perfectly healthy!” She turned her attention to Aksel. “Am I right, Aksel?” The wolf huffed. “See?” Mina asked the three women.
Looking at Aksel, Flora spoke next. “But you shouldn’t bring it here!”
Mina rolled her eyes. “Him, not it!”
Zelis snorted. “Calling a beast, him? What can you expect from someone like Mina? I think the rumors that Count Dickman wants to marry her are false. Who would want to have a wife that is a half—?”
Aksel growled louder than before, gaining the attention of more women inside the boutique, and took a step towards the Marquese. Someone clapped her hands before speaking. “The three vipers!” Mina recognized Ivy’s voice before seeing her and a big smile appeared on Mina’s face. She had missed her friend more than she could say. “Where’s the Queen Viper?” Ivy asked before standing next to Mina and Aksel and looking around. When Ivy didn’t find the one she was looking for, she hugged Mina while the wolf sniffed her. “I’ve missed you!” Ivy said to Mina before trying to stroke Aksel’s head. “Be a good boy, and let me pet you!” she cooed in a sweet tone when Aksel growled at her. “I will give you a big juicy bone if you let me pet you!” she cooed some more. The wolf huffed before moving closer to Mina. Ivy narrowed her eyes at him before realizing Mina, and several more women were staring at her. “What?” Ivy asked. “I like animals!” she shrugged before looking at Mina’s left hand and starting shrieking. “It is so beautiful! Why didn’t you wait for me to return from Ora Dorei? I won’t forgive you for getting married before me! What kind of a friend are you?”
Mina smiled. Ivy had always been a bit dramatic, but she was a good friend; even if she was the only child of a wealthy Earl, she had only looked at Mina with kind eyes. Ivy was already twenty-four, and so far, she had no luck finding a husband. Mina never understood why Ivy hadn’t found a good match. She was considered one of the most beautiful women in Athea, with long silky blond hair, big blue eyes, and not to mention the generous dowry that made her one of the most desired bachelorettes of Athea.
Mina believed Ivy frequently went to Ora Dorei in the hopes of finding someone to marry.
Marquess Zelis gasped. “You already married Count Dickman? But why haven’t we heard anything about a wedding?”
Ivy snorted before speaking in a loud tone. “That old toad? Who would want to marry him? No, Mina married the most important man in the Kingdom—Commander Jayden!”
Mina felt everyone staring at her. She hated drawing attention to herself. “Ivy!” she hissed.
Zelis folded her arms. “I almost believed you. Why would the man that saved us marry Mina? Besides, he is not even in Athea. The King’s main forces are yet to reach the capital, so there is no way Mina is married to the Commander! Stop lying! And Commander Jayden is not the most important man in the Kingdom. Prince Liam is!”
“He would have been if he would had accompanied his soldiers to the war, but instead, he stayed in his Palace because the Queen Viper said so,” Ivy muttered in a low tone. Aksel made a sound similar to a laugh. “Commander Jayden is already in Athea and married Mina because he is a man that recognizes a good woman when he sees her. Not to talk about her beauty!” Zelis and the two sisters laughed, and Ivy grabbed Mina by her hand. “Let’s go! This boutique is a nest of vipers! I can find what I need in another place!”
“Wait! I need to purchase some fabrics!” Mina said and turned her attention back to the fabrics she was looking at earlier. “How did you know about Jayden?” she asked Ivy in a low tone. “And weren’t you supposed to stay a week longer in Ora Dorei? When did you return? How did you know I was here?”
Ivy shrugged while inspecting the fabrics. “That’s a lot of questions! I got bored in Ora Dorei without you and wanted to hear the latest gossip from Athea. I came back a few hours ago and met with Hugo when he came to see my cousin and told me about Jayden and you! I shall never forgive you for getting married before me!” Ivy said in a dramatic tone, and Mina smiled. “I came to the boutique to look for some fabrics for a dress. The Yeltane Festival is only nine days away, and I want to look fabulous! What do you need the fabric for? To make some revealing undergarments for when you are with the Commander?” she asked and fluttered her eyelashes. Mina choked on the air, and the wolf shook his head. Ivy got closer to Mina and whispered to her, “What happens in the bedroom after you get married? Does it really hurt?”
Mina turned red from head to toe before choosing some fabrics. “Stuff happens when you are married! And it does not hurt; Jayden has treated me with care,” she replied as low as she could while fanning herself with a hand before looking for someone to help her measure and cut the fabrics.
Her eyes fell on some gold and red silk fabrics. Should she buy some and have some nightgowns made? When Mina was sure Ivy wasn’t looking, she purchased some silk for herself.
“I will need more details!” Ivy said. “Why are you purchasing so much fabric?” she asked once Mina had the fabrics ready.
“Jayden has seven men with him, and they need some new attire,” Mina explained to Ivy.