The afternoon was blistering hot, the air heavy and thick enough to cut as it constantly threatened a rain that never seemed to come. Rossiath watched as random shoppers passed by, their faces pink and shiny from the sun that relentlessly beat down on their heads. An older couple stopped to look over her mother's pies, the woman fanning her face with a floppy hat.
“Walswith, do y' think we should get the apple or bilberry for y'r ma's visit?”
“Dunno dear. I 'magine any would suit.”
“One o' each then. An' one o' them strawberry tarts miss. I've a mind fer something sweet.”
Rossiath nodded and wrapped up the woman's order, then watched the couple head up to the butcher's stall as they discussed which meat to serve for supper. She shook her head and turned to put the sale into her mother's log, tossing the coins in the sale box as she wrote. She set the charcoal down and wiped her brow with the back of her hand, then looked up at the sky. A shadow fell over her as she pondered the possibility of rain, and she lowered her hand from her eyes to turn and greet the person. “Hello … oh Maliennde. How's your mother doing?”
The girl gave Rossiath a nod as she looked over the table. “Ma's doing well. Been keeping herself busy with the shop and Sleth's new baby.”
“Oh! I didn't know your brother's wife was expecting again! When did they arrive in town?”
“Just a couple of nights ago, and ma's so pleased.” Maliennde's mouth turns up in a smile. “She sent me over to pick up a couple of your ma's pies for supper this evening. One blueberry and one ...” the girl debates, looking over the selection, “One … I'm not sure. Maybe strawberry. Yes, definitely strawberry. And how's your folks? Any news on who broke into the house? It must have been frightening for you. I'd have been too scared to even move!”
“Nothing yet,” Rossiath replied as she wrapped Maliennde's pies up. “Though if there had been, I'm sure the town'd know it by now.” Rossiath counted out the coins that Maliennde gave her, then turned to fish her change from the sale box.
Maliennde nods as she nestles her purchases into a large market bag. “True enough. Still I wondered if … you know. If you'd been able to tell the watchmen anything. To know this miscreant is still out there. I can hardly sleep at night, for fear it might be my house next!”
“We're all worried about that,” Rossiath agreed, then shook her head. “And I'm afraid I wasn't much help at all. All I could tell before I climbed out my window was that it was a big fellow – whoever it was.”
“I still can't believe you did that! I'd heard, but ...” Maliennde's eyes took in in Rossiath's bandaged chin, as though seeing it for the first time. “But … nothing else?” she finished nervously.
“No. I wish I could have told them more. I'm afraid I was no help.” Rossiath turns to add the sale to the ledger.
Behind her, Maliennde nods. “At least you're okay,” she says, “though I, for one, won't feel safe until whoever it is rests safely in a cell at the local jailhouse.” The girl chews on her lip, then leans in and says in a conspiratorial whisper, “Some of the fellow's down at the tavern think …. oh, hello Gillis!”
Rossiath grimaces at the overly sweet greeting and schools her face into a smile before turning back. “Hello Gillis, come for another tart?” she asked.
Gillis scanned the surrounding area quickly, then shook his head. “No, I picked up enough earlier and extra to feed the men working on the house. I was just passing by when Maliennde said hello.” He shifted nervously from one foot to the other, staring past the stalls to the stream.
“Of course,” Rossiath nodded, having seen the purchase in the log. “I hope the men enjoyed them.”
“Indeed, they enjoy anything they're not cooking themselves. Disappeared faster than a …. yes Maliennde?” He turned to the girl.
“Ma's having a supper for my brother and his new baby. Why don't you come over?” Maliennde smiled up at him. “Then maybe after we could ….”
“I'm afraid I can't make it,” Gillis said, his eyes growing cool as he stepped back. “I've a lot of work still to do on the property and some business to tend tonight.” Again he scanned the crowd before turning to nod at Rossiath. “Tell your mother I'll be back tomorrow fo … no, better not. But I'll be back tomorrow for more of those pies, else the men will probably be using their hammers on me next.” With a final look between the two young women, he turned and strode away, quickly disappearing in the crowd of people moving the other way.
Rossiath shook her head after he faded from sight. “Must have been important for him to rush off like that”
Maliennde's lips were pursed in a thin line as she stared off in the direction that Gillis had gone, then nodded and turned back to Rossiath with a shrug. “No matter. The man's busy right? And I should get back to mother with these pies. If you do find out anything though ...”
“I will let you or Talleine know, of course.” Rossiath said and watched as Maliennde nodded and headed back towards her mother's shop.
