Author's note: This is the first section of the town that I've put up. It has a completely different feel then the manor and I've tried my best to put that into this cute and informative scene. Happy reading!
Fixed on the 7th
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Entering the quiet town lined with nice cottages and brick walkways, people waved to Victoria and always said, “Good day,” or “So nice to see you again, Lady Victoria.” Walking down the roads lined with beautiful cottages and a few tiny shops marked with wooden signs. The warm scent of freshly made bread and confectionery treats guided Avalon and Victoria into the Rose Bakery. Opening the oak door and stepping into the candle lit room, Victoria called out, “Hello? Satori? Mati? Barhite?”
From upstairs a young woman called out, “Lady Victoria!”
“Satori!” cried out Victoria. A beautiful woman descended the stairs quickly. Wearing a blue and white dress similar to Victoria's dress, but made of cotton instead. With long flowing black hair and a soft small yellowish face, she was a merchant from far to the east.
Satori hugged Victoria tight and said, “So good to see you again! Looks like you brought company with you.”
Victoria smiled and introduced Avalon, “This is our guest, Avalon.”
Satori's face lit up as she looked at Avalon's soft face and long hair. Grinning she whispered to Victoria, “Nice catch!”
Victoria whispered back, alerting Avalon that they were talking about him, causing him to lean forward in an attempt to listen, “Its not like that!”
Resting her back against the wall, Satori sighed and wrapped her arms over her small chest, “Just when I thought you finally grown into a woman, you go straight back to childhood.”
Avalon took a step closer and Victoria's growl immediately made him stay back, “You are one to speak!”
As the two girls leaned closer to each other exchanging, “Oh yeah!?”'s at each other it appeared more and more like a fight, until the two were inches apart staring angrily into each others eyes. Satori sticked out her tongue and the two broke out in laughter.
“Oh! I'll make some tea for us.” gasped Satori as she ran down the corridor and into the spacious kitchen of their bakery.
Victoria sat down on the ground and looked at Avalon, suggesting him to sit down. Avalon cast a look around for chairs before finally sitting down on the wood floor and looking over to Victoria, “Where are the chairs?”
Victoria shook her head, “Spoiled alre-”
“Victoria! How do you want your tea?” called out Satori from the kitchen.
“Two sugars!” Victoria yelled back, before giving Avalon a soft smile and adding, “Avalon needs five sugars.”
“FIVE!?” cried out Satori before she nervously replied, “Alright.”
Carrying the tea on a small tray, Satori came back into the room and gave out the cups before sitting down on the floor between Victoria and Avalon. With backs pressed against the wall and knees tucked into her chest, Satori drank before asking, “Any word from the Council?”
Sighing softly, Victoria shook her head, “They are dodging the matter while out of session.”
Satori gasped, “During a war, those old codgers are on vacation?”
Victoria's soft nod filled Satori with disgust as she grumbled, “The blockade is really starting to hamper our business. Even if its not a war with us, we suffer.”
“The decisive battle is set to take place. After the festival, I'll be traveling to Narani to order a ceasefire-”
“Do your best. The season of war is upon us again.”
“Season of war?” asked Avalon, holding the cup of tea in his hands, staring into the tea blankly.
“The period during late spring to early fall. Between the main planting and harvesting cycles. Its an old term that defines the futility of war.” sighed Satori, “Coined from my home, it is the endless global struggle of power.”
Drinking their tea in silence the awkward moment was shattered by Satori's younger sister, Mati. Bursting through the door, the tomboyish girl wearing a dirty green tunic and cotton slacks suddenly shouted, “Victoria!”
Quickly taken up in Mati's strong, but tiny arms, Victoria fought against the hug restricting her breathing. Mati's pale eyes settled over to Avalon, releasing Victoria from her grip, she lunged for Avalon with open arms, “Hello!”
Embraced tightly, Avalon went limp in the girl's arms, blushing red as Mati gave him a little kiss on the cheek. A menacing stare from Victoria freed Avalon from Mati's embrace. Feinting innocence, she brushing back her short black hair, “When did you get here, Victoria?”
“Airhead!” growled Satori as she pointed at Mati, “Get some self control!”
Whining and finally taking a seat next to her older sister, Mati stole the unfinished cup of tea from Satori and drank it down, “Still no ships today. The blockade is blocking the river on both sides, so even going upstream won't work now.”
Victoria sighed, “Wonderful, father is ready for war. Learning of this will plunge everyone into another war.”
Mati tilted her head, trying to understand Victoria's comment, but Satori cheerfully replied, “Don't be too hasty, it won't last for long. Krieg was ordered to bust the blockade. Maybe that Kirtner knows something?”
“Really!?” gasped Victoria.
“Really! Caelin came bursting in the other day and shouted all about how Krieg's fleet was spotted off the coast of Pamui heading back towards Narani.”
Mati inched over to Avalon while Satori and Victoria talked, too involved in their own discussion to miss Mati's whispering into his ear, “Want to have lunch?” Avalon and Mati disappeared into the kitchen quietly without being spotted.
Mati pulled a long loaf of bread from a rack and moved over to a cutting board, pulling out a long knife she slowly cut four thick slices of fresh bread before asking, “Want a steak or roast ham?”
“Both sound delicious!” Avalon said, watching Mati's closely as she prepared a thick slab of steak for the both of them. Placing it between the two pieces of bread, she handed him the sandwich.
Together they took a bite into the sandwich and both said happily, “So good!” Fresh baked bread and delicious cured steak was a better meal that Avalon got to finally enjoy.
Between mouthfuls, Mati rested her back against the brick oven and asked, “So they finally set you free from that dusty manor?”
Avalon nodded and finished swallowing before replying, “Victoria is taking me shopping, its supposed to be fun.”
“Eh!? You don't remember anything do you?” she seriously asked.
Avalon softly shook his head and took another bite into his rapidly disappearing sandwich. Mati him on the shoulder, “It'll come back. Its not everyday someone floats ashore, beaten to a pulp and-”
The pained expression on Avalon's face silenced Mati with a soft, “I'm sorry, that was rude of me.”
“I am fine. This is a really good meal!” he said, breaking the awkward silence by taking the last bite of the sandwich.
Mati blushed very faintly, “Thanks. What are you going to do when you get your memory back?”
Swallowing the last mouthful, Avalon said, “Probably return home. I do not belong here.”
Mati shook her head furiously, “You are home anywhere you make it. We started up the Rose Bakery after Barhite got sick, but have lived here for five years. This is our home now.”
Victoria appeared at the threshold to the kitchen, overhearing Mati's words she smiled at Avalon and said, “You could stay with us if you want.”
Avalon headed over to Victoria, “Thank you for the meal, Mati.”
Mati smiled warmly at Avalon and called out, “Are you two going to the festival? Or is he still being a stick in the mud?”
“Father finally accepted and gave me my mother's pendent.” she said, pointing to the pendant that hung so naturally off of her that it already seemed to be a part of her everyday appearance.
“It looks pretty, but I didn't want to be rude. See you at the festival, I'll be cheering you on.” Mati replied.
Leaving the Rose Bakery, Avalon was knocked to the ground by a small boy as soon as he stepped onto the street. The street urchin in tattered baggy clothes stood up and yelled, “Watch were your going, jackass!”
Avalon coughed and struggled to get up, visibly aching from the impact, Victoria moved out into the street to help him up, “Hunlaf! Watch were you are going!”
The dirty young boy tilted his head to Victoria as she helped Avalon and gasped, “Oh! Sorry, Vicky! Katie wanted me to run down to Morgan's shop to pick up her dress.”
“Excuses! Apologize right now!” scolded Victoria as she stood up over the twelve year old, her finger pointing at his face threateningly.
Hunlaf stood up straight and bowed to Avalon, “I humbly beg your forgiveness, sir!”
“Thank you, I am fine now,” Avalon said, still shaken from the sudden impact.
Hunlaf made a slight detour around Avalon and Victoria before starting to sprint down the streets again at full speed towards the far end of town. “Vicky...” growled Victoria as she realized her mutilated name still went unpunished.
“Vicky?” repeated Avalon, staring at the boy dashing out of sight in the distance, but Victoria's growling only increased as she surged with anger.
“Come on, Avalon! We are going.” Victoria growled as she started off towards the shop without him.
I still don't understand where you get all these names??? Isn't the name Vicky just a shorter version of Victoria?
