It has been a while! Hope you guys enjoy, and happy Halloween :)
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It was late in the day and the market was busy. Sabina had sold most of her produce, red apples, and was eyeing her final customer with wary suspicion.
The man had conveniently waited until money changed hands before scrutinising the product. "This apple is bruised," he drawled, holding it out to her.
He was middle-aged, with coarse tanned skin and seedy blue eyes. He dressed pretentiously in low-quality clothes with an air of arrogance that suggested Sabina should be flattered by his attention.
Sabina turned the fruit in her hands, ignoring his lecherous stare. The apple was flawless. "You can have your money back."
"You could offer a new price," he smirked.
"I don't haggle," Sabina retorted, disgusted by him. The man wasn't the first to proposition her.
Sabina was wholesomely beautiful, with light-brown hair that fell to her waist and deep blue eyes. She dressed plainly for market, a loose, grey dress that reached close to her neck. Even so, men glanced to the hidden curves of her breasts, as though they might see through the material.
Her customer had done the same, then settled for staring at her face. His lusty admiration turned resentful as she rebuffed him. "I have friends in the region," he leered. "Your business could suffer."
Sabina was unimpressed by the threat. She normally sold out long before closing.
"My name is Irah," the man introduced himself.
Sabina maintained her silent hostility.
"Perhaps if you accompany me after your last sale," Irah added. "I could treat you to a meal at-"
"I thank you, no," Sabina said shortly, dropping his money onto the counter. "You were my last sale."
Irah gripped the basket before she could withdraw it. "I purchased this."
"You can keep the apples for the price agreed, or return them for your money," Sabina shot back. "Either way, I won't bed you, Irah."
Irah seized the front of Sabina's grey dress, half dragging her across the small counter. "Do I look like a man to be
refused?"
"Did you just call yourself a
man?"
she sneered.
Furious, Irah went to slap her, and a terrible pain shot up his arm. He flinched, glaring up at the newcomer before turning pale. "W-Who are you?"
Standing a full head taller than Irah, the newcomer wore an impressive black uniform. Sabina did not know the markings, but they were distinctively military and not low-ranking.
The stranger was also quite handsome, despite his foreboding face, with shoulder-length blonde hair secured in a tie and intelligent, dark brown eyes. "What is your name?" he asked in a tone that made Sabina step back.
"I-Irah Samuels," Irah stuttered.
The man leaned close. "Get out of here."
"Y-Yes, my Lord," Irah nodded, standing transfixed by the other man's glare, nodding a few seconds longer before remembering to leave.
"Thank you," Sabina said, straightening the ruffled front of her dress.
About to speak, the man turned with surprise when someone pushed into him.
"Sabina, I'm sorry," wheezed Graham, another stall owner who had sprinted from across the path. "I saw that brute. Did he hurt you?"
"She is fine," the stranger said impatiently.
"Sabina?" Graham queried.
Sabina pulled herself together. "I'm fine, thank you, Graham," she smiled. "Go back before your goods are stolen."
They watched Graham navigate his way, then the visitor turned to Sabrina, his eyes touching on the display apples artfully arranged across the bench, before settling on her face. "What have you left?"
"What?" Sabina said stupidly, before realising what he meant. "Two baskets," she said. "With one apple apparently blemished," she muttered sarcastically.
"Apparently?" the man echoed, humour softening his face. "I'll take both baskets." Without asking the price, he held out a thick, gold coin.
Sabina paused with surprise, then shook her head at the large piece. Gold and silver were rarely used at market.
"That is too much, my Lord. Have you anything smaller?"
"You're concerned about being overpaid?" he mused, still offering the gold. "Singular."
"I only engage in honest dealings," she said pointedly.
The man considered her a moment, then swapped the gold for two silver pieces. "Will this suffice?"
Sabina looked discomfited, and the man took away one silver piece.
"What about now?" he grinned.
"It still surpasses their value," Sabina said, taken aback by the way he was smiling at her. "But I'll accept it."
The last thing she needed was for her mother to find out she bargained a better deal for the customer.
"Your village fares well during the All Hallow's Eve season," the man said conversationally, glancing around the bustling market, his face severe again.
Sabina smiled sceptically. "The same as any other. I don't heed myth."
"It is not the same as any other," the man said, his stern gaze directed at her. "The Black Eve is two nights away. Don't go out in the evening."
Sabina indignantly opened her mouth, then took notice of his rich attire and changed her mind. Knowing her luck, he was probably related to the King, and she didn't need that kind of trouble.
"As my Lord says," she shrugged.
The man observed her pout with a smile. He inclined his head, then walked off with the apple baskets.
After watching his tall figure vanish into the crowd, Sabina began to gather up the scattered display apples, stacking them into a smaller basket. Turning, she came face to face with Corbett.
Of a stocky build, blonde hair and green eyes, Corbett was passably handsome and utterly full of himself. From a wealthy family, he'd pursued Sabina since her beauty caught his eye. She evaded him whenever possible.
"Corbett," Sabina said with dismay.
Corbett was usually impeccably dressed, but today was sweating and panting with less dignity than usual, as if he'd run a long distance.
