"Ow! You bald lump, watch where you are stepping!"
A commotion at the end of the crowd caught Athusa's attention. With a look traded with Carlene, she went towards the noise, the people parting way for her. It was a boy of about fourteen perhaps, he was quite cute and dressed very plainly, if perhaps a little heavier than expected for this time of the year. A clear mark of someone who was not native to the duchy: his choice of garments was not too dissimilar from some of the caravan merchants, some of whom were beginning to swelter a bit from the more intense midday summer sun beneath their far too many layers of fur.
The boy had an angelic appearance with his heart-shaped face but he certainly had a foul mouth. The mouth was presently informing the one that had stepped on him if he foolishly thought short people did not have rights of their own. Athusa watched as the man engaging with the boy clenched fists tight.
With a nervous cough, she cleared her throat before things escalated, and both stopped to look at her. The older man sighed, before moving away.
"Hello." Smiled Athusa at the boy. "I haven't seen you around here before, I believe."
"Ah…" The child paused for a moment, seeming to be thinking quickly, before beaming disarmingly at her. "I came to visit relatives, big sister. My first time up here."
"That's good," said Athusa. "I hope you like Eastgate."
The boy's stomach grumbled then, making itself known, and he blushed a deep shade of crimson. He muttered darkly beneath his breath and Athusa tilted her head a little, wondering if she misheard him say something about working overtime. But as the child sadly patted his unhappy belly, Athusa brought a hand before her lips, veiling the smile she could not help.
"It is indeed about lunchtime." She paused for a moment, wondering where Eucemon had slipped off to. Did perhaps some shop catch his eye?
Slowly, she shook her head. He'll be fine.
"Would you like to come with me and Carlene to eat?"
The series of fast nods this time did make her laugh.
The boy's name was Astana, she learned, as they walked. He had quite an appetite, seemingly thrilled to try every vendor he could see.
"It's nice." Mumbled the boy through a mouthful of food. "Looks almost like the cities down south. Maybe a little smaller but is great, the food is way better here, I could stay here forever big sis..."
"Of course," she replied. "Hunts are brought in fresh. Oh… you really like these I see."
The boy inhaled another few kebabs.
"Ah- don't eat too much of these. The seasonings will make you really thirsty afterwards. Let's go eat at a proper place. Ok?"
As they walked, Carlene struggling a little beside them with the armful of gifts, Athusa curiously watched the boy. He seemed to be looking back every once a while, expression gradually becoming more serious.
The longer they walked, the less at ease he seemed to be.
"Ugh." Grumbled the boy. "Sorry."
With that, stepping around behind, Astana pushed Athusa harshly back, her losing her balance, only to be steadied by Carlene who dropped the townspeople's gifts to catch her.
This child was far stronger than he appeared. But more so where she had been moments before a silvery needle bounced off the pavement. A dart. Likely poisoned.
Astana's free arm flicked, he had thrown something back, a knife: the first glittering blade deflected quickly by the clang of an assailant's sword, while a second homed for the neck as the first was sent spinning to the ground.
The assassin cursed, he had barely dodged the concealed blow, the knife having scraped by the carotid in the hasty shifting of his head. But that brief time was enough for the boy to close the distance to lay claim to the assassin's shortsword. Astana took a half-pace back, before falling in for the offensive.
"So. Very. Annoying." Complained the boy with grunts each impact as he rained a flurry of blows with swift grace. Until at last, the assassin crumpled to the ground, several targeted areas of muscles in the arms and around the knees severed despite the layered leather armor.
"He's going to be so annoying about this."
With a scowl, the boy grinded his boot into the side of the half-masked face before leaning down, and pulling the assassin up by the back of his hair. He sliced the black cloth off with the tip of his sword.
"Hey. Stop acting, bastard. I know I didn't kill you. Look at who you were trying to kill in the eye."
He made sure the assailant meets Athusa's eyes.
"You brat-" Snarled the assassin, struggling. "Using cheap poison-"
"Rick?" Athusa whispered, stunned to see the face of her father's personal knight.
"You're the son of a Count." Came Carlene's trembling voice. "How … how could you?"
"Huh? This guy's a noble?" Astana angled his sword. "Bold to complain I used poison, when he did too. If I cut off his feet so he can't run, it'll be fine, right?"
"Don't." Athusa regained her composure. "The Count's estate would pay handsomely for their son's safe return."
Aside, they must question him, and Rick was likely to have more information than the one currently in the castle dungeons.
Astana's sharp eyes sees the assailant's jaw move.
"Oh. Nope." He clenched a fist and struck the assassin behind the neck, forcing the man to cough out a black pill. "I don't think so."
With that he bashed the other's head into the pavement, knocking the older man out cold.
"You're not getting out that easily."
…
It was past midday when they finally all reunited. Astana had insisted to eat at the local inn.
Athusa knew why now.
"This is Gilraine. Head of my personal guard. Gilraine's been with me since I was a child."
The prince's even tone introduced the red-haired knight.
"Freya here is of the Von Einz baron house. She's been with me for six years."
Athusa nodded, smiling, as Eucemon continued.
"This… is Astana, as you already know. He has been with me for three years."
Athusa nodded again, maintaining an unchangingly pleasant smile.
"Un," said Freya, "I don't think Lady Randall is very happy." It was true the princess had not touched her food at all.
At that, Athusa's eyes curved shut in a smile.
"I sure hope Your Highness will inform honestly now: how many you have brought."