Melody made her way to the carts and found Bastian tuning a guitar. She stood silently for a moment, so as not to interrupt the sudden tune he was playing on those strings. It was a very beautiful song. However, as always, she stumbled and the melody was interrupted.
"I'm sorry, brother, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just came to give you today's earnings. You know I was going to give you the coins later, but I'd rather do it now," she said, somewhat embarrassed.
"It's okay, Mel, don't worry," replied Bastian, receiving the small cloth bag with the coins. "You look very pretty, sister, you're going to shine tonight, eh," he added, making Melody blush.
"You think so, brother? Clara did my hair and makeup tonight. To be honest, I like how I look. Clara is great," Melody admitted, feeling different and more confident.
"Yes, Mel, Clara is great. Look, she worked a miracle on you," he began to laugh out loud. "Making you look pretty is quite a feat."
Bastian continued to laugh out loud.
"Bastian, you're an idiot, a rude guy! Show some respect, can't you see I'm your sister and you owe me respect?" said Melody, giving him a bump on the head for being bold and rude.
"Oh, Mel, it was just a joke! Sister, how could you think what I said was true? Well, it's true that Clara is great and very thoughtful, but you're not that ugly... Oh, wait a minute, that's not what I was going to say, sister!" Bastian was nervous, and instead of clarifying, he made things worse.
"Bastian, you'd better shut up and let's go to the tavern before I give you another bump on your empty head," said Melody, annoyed.
"As you say, princess," replied Bastian, unable to hold back his laughter. Teasing his sister was great fun, and he hadn't done it for days. It was about time he did.
They arrived at the tavern and went straight to some cellars that the owner had set up for the gypsies to organize themselves. The place would be packed that night, and the gypsy community, which needed it so badly, would take full advantage of it.
The atmosphere in the tavern was vibrant and lively. The lights from the oil lamps illuminated the space with a warm and welcoming glow. Laughter and conversation filled the air, mingling with the sound of musicians tuning their instruments and dancers practicing their steps. The aroma of spices and freshly cooked food wafted through the air, transporting everyone to a world of tradition and joy.
Melody looked around her, feeling part of something bigger. The night promised to be memorable, and with the support of her brother and friends, she was determined to give her best and honor the legacy of her sister Melibeth.
⋯ ❈ ⋯
Not far from the tavern, certain slave hunters and their two henchmen were plotting how to capture their next prey. The night was quiet, and the moons illuminated the landscape, creating shadows among the trees and buildings. The sounds from the tavern, full of laughter and music, could be heard in the distance, contrasting with the whispering voices of the slave hunters.
"Langrys, it would be best to catch more than one prey. That way we'll get more money. We'll take the chick the duke wants along with two others and sell them outside Aldremir, in the province of Frassia. There's a brothel there that has already paid us well for bringing them good meat. There are also many landowners there who would pay well," said one of Langrys's henchmen, the slave trader. "They'd give good money for a gypsy woman, boss."
"Oh! My dear Riven, you're not such an idiot. Sometimes you have good ideas," Langrys flattered one of his henchmen. "Jacob, have you already thought about how to get into the tavern?"
"Yes, sir. It's best to go straight to the cellars. That's where the women are, there's not much security, and with all the commotion, no one will know what happened," Jacob agreed.
"By the gods, my boys are very attentive today! What did they have for breakfast?" Langrys said mockingly.
The atmosphere around them was gloomy and tense, as if the night itself warned of the danger looming over the tavern. The slave hunters remained hidden in the shadows, planning each move with precision. The cold night wind blew gently, carrying with it the conspiratorial murmurs of the men.
"Well, it's best to wait for the show to begin. When the place is full, that's when we'll act," concluded Langrys, as the three prepared to execute their sinister plan.
The lights of the tavern glowed in the distance, and the bustle of the celebration contrasted with the threat lurking in the darkness. The slave hunters waited for the right moment, like predators stalking their prey.
⋯ ❈ ⋯
The place filled up quickly. Not only did people from lower social classes attend, but also those from wealthy backgrounds. Just by looking at their clothing, you could tell the difference; some women exuded elegance, while the men drank as if there were no tomorrow. However, what attracted the most attention was the gypsy entertainment. Women lined up to have their fortunes told; some wanted to know about love, others wanted to know if their future husband would be rich, and a few wanted to know how many children they would have. Gambling was also a must, as the gypsies had quick hands and many unsuspecting people emptied their pockets at the gambling tables.
Some gypsy women, including Melody, handed out masks to make the evening even more mysterious than it already was. Melody wore a blue mask in the shape of butterfly wings, decorated with many sparkling stones that made her green eyes stand out.
A young man attending the joyful party was approached by one of the gypsy women, who offered him a simple black cloth mask with no decoration. He put it on, thinking that the more mysterious the night, the more fun it would be. Perhaps some gypsy girl would be affectionate with him that night, and with that idea in mind, he ventured further into the tavern, eager for a drink. His gaze wandered to some women dressed in very daring outfits.
"Things are looking good tonight," he commented aloud.
"Look who we have here, our sly fox. What are you doing so far from the palace walls, Your Highness?" asked a familiar voice.
"C-Captain Andreas, what are you doing here?" asked the prince, somewhat nervous at being discovered.
"I asked first, Your Highness, but I will gladly answer your question. It's my day off, and I came here as just another Alkaryo to celebrate the good harvest. Now, if you don't mind, could you tell me what you're doing so far from the palace?" Andreas replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, Captain, like you, I came to celebrate the good harvest with my people," said Prince Damien with a smile from ear to ear.
"Damien, it's dangerous for you to be here, and you know it. Go back to the palace; it's for the best. You sly fox, I know you very well," said the blond captain in an older brotherly tone.
"Come on, Andreas, don't be a killjoy. Look, I'm behaving myself; nothing will happen. Besides, my friend, you're here; nothing bad will happen. What's more, we're going to have a great time," said the prince, raising and lowering his eyebrows suggestively, although his mischievous gesture was not noticeable under his mask.
"You're persistent, little fox. Tell me, did no one see you leave?" asked Andreas, worried.
"No, my dear friend. Their soldiers do their job well, but modesty aside, I am very cunning. You know that, Captain," replied Damien in a mocking tone.
The captain and the prince had been friends for a long time. Andreas was the son of a very wealthy military family from Alkarya and was much loved by the kings. To the captain, Prince Damien was like a younger brother, rebellious and wild. He knew about the prince's curse, which was why he was nicknamed "little fox."
The atmosphere in the tavern was vibrant and lively. The lights from the oil lamps illuminated the space with a warm and welcoming glow. Laughter and conversation filled the air, mingling with the sound of musicians tuning their instruments and dancers practicing their steps. The aroma of spices and freshly cooked food wafted through the air, transporting everyone to a world of tradition and joy. The tension between the prince and the captain slowly dissolved as they both immersed themselves in the celebration and gypsy camaraderie.
━━ ༺ ⚜ 🦊 ⚜ ༻ ━━
Walking exhausted after training with his father, Captain Rutden, young Andreas just wanted to go straight to bed.
He left the horse in its stable, after giving it some oats in gratitude, and was about to leave, but some noises caught his attention. He went deeper into the stables and in the last cubicle, he saw the prince crying. The boy was trembling with fear and looked terrified at his hands covered in blood, although what really caught Andreas's attention were the hairy ears on top of Prince Damien's red head.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?" asked the blond man, kneeling in front of the child.
"I'm not well, Rutden, and if you don't want anything to happen to you, I suggest you leave," growled the little boy in a thin voice.
"I won't leave you here in this state. Are you crazy?" said Andreas, ignoring the redhead's request. "Tell me something, Damien. Whose blood is this, and why do you look like an animal...?" asked the blond man worriedly.
He looked at his hands, remembering the claw mark he had given his mother, and tears began to flow freely again. "The blood is my mother's. An ugly woman left me like this. I felt a lot of pain, and when I opened my eyes, I already had these ugly ears on my head and a furry tail on..."
"It's okay, Your Highness, I understand. You're not ugly. You look like a fox cub," added the blond man to calm the tormented little redhead a little.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" asked Damien, looking up at the young man in front of him.
"Me?" he pointed to himself. "Afraid of you? You look like a scared puppy. Come on, let's get some help," replied Andreas, taking the prince by the hand to lead him out of the stables.
━━ ༺ ⚜ 🦊 ⚜ ༻ ━━
"I see, little prince, don't take off that mask all night and we won't have any problems," he said, patting the prince on the shoulder. "I'm serious, Damien," Andreas asserted.
"Yes, whatever you say. Now stop being hysterical and have a drink with me, friend. What do you say?"
The prince offered him a glass and then poured him some of the liquor he was drinking.
"Hey, little prince, don't drink so fast! I don't want to deal with your royal hangover, much less drag you back to the palace," joked Captain Rutden.
"Yeah, right, as if that were going to happen. Don't forget, who was it who got drunk when we went to Euldor as emissaries from Alkarya...?"
While the two young people reminisced about past anecdotes, elsewhere on a small stage, drums and guitars could be heard, signaling that the first dance number was about to begin.
"Bastian, in ten minutes, the first act begins. The musicians are calling you," she said, somewhat excited and anxious at the same time. There were many more people than she had expected.
"Mel, are you okay?" Bastian noticed that his sister was a little anxious, and he understood her to some extent, as he had felt the same way when he left the village for the first time. "Mel, you'll be fine. You'll steal the show, don't worry, sister," he said to calm her down.
Bastian nodded with a smile, trying to reassure his sister.
"You're right. Everything will be fine. Now get going, because it's almost time and they need you on stage. I have to go on stage too, hurry up."
Clara and Sarah, each on either side of Melody, were standing on a beam at the top of the stage. They would descend from colorful fabrics at the signal of the musicians. The three were dressed similarly, although Melody wore a blue ribbon that distinguished her. The music began to play, and the singers' voices added the perfect touch to the moment. Sarah, Clara, and Melody began to descend and perform some pirouettes to the rhythm of the music until they reached the floor.
Once down, the girls began to dance with some of the audience. One of the boys quickly took Melody by the waist to dance with her. She was greatly surprised to hear the voice that had bothered her so much over the last two days. Although she preferred to pretend not to notice, hoping that the fool would not recognize her, she could not help but feel a certain uneasiness at meeting him again since she had given him the mask.
"You have beautiful eyes, miss," the young man complimented the gypsy girl in his arms.
"Oh, really? Thank you very much, young man. You are very kind," Melody replied, trying to change her voice so as not to be discovered.
Some thornless roses and petals began to fall from the ceiling as part of the show. The young man turned around and picked up a rose, placing it delicately between his teeth. Then he turned back to face her. Seeing his turquoise eyes made Melody feel many emotions, although she couldn't identify many of them. She only knew that she couldn't stop looking into his eyes.
In one movement, the young man lifted her into the air and then pressed her against his chest. Without warning, the daring boy took the rose from between her teeth and placed it between her breasts. Another turn caused Melody to wrap one of her legs around his hip to hold on, while the other leg remained straight. They turned once more before tilting her to the point where her head almost touched the ground. As he lifted her up, the daring boy, without hesitation, ended the dance with a kiss on her lips, fleeting but passionate. It was her second kiss, and the worst part was that it had been stolen by the same idiot. For a moment, Melody stared into the eyes of the boy she had bumped into twice. Both were breathing heavily from the dance. Finally, the young man broke the silence.
"It was a pleasure to meet such a beautiful butterfly. What is your name, my dear?"
"My name is not important. If you'll excuse me, I must go," she replied, freeing herself from his grip on her waist. The boy was quick.
"Oh, wait! Where are you going? The night is still young," the redhead followed the mysterious young woman with emerald eyes.
"Sorry, handsome, but you're the one who came here to have fun, sweetheart. I'm here for work," said Melody, playfully placing a finger on his chest to keep him at a distance.
Without giving him a chance to follow her, Melody slipped away into the crowd. Some went to the city to dance and entertain the Almedrinos; others slept with men for coins, one of the most lucrative activities among the gypsies when they went to the city. That was why Bastian was keeping her away from that tavern. Melody arrived at the cellars that some gypsies used as dressing rooms. She needed something to drink.