I sat under the shade of a parasol, enjoying the view of my lover dancing with a blade. Even though I had a pen in hand, book open in front of me, and an array of breakfast. My mind was drifting back to life when everything wasn’t so complicated.

Well, it was until Cathy smiled at me, sweat covered.

Then I stopped acting and went back to writing a tale of two lovers, a noble girl and fallen noblewoman assassin. I assume you are catching who is who at this point.

My ears pricked and I glanced to the side. The Head maid walked over with heavy steps.

“My lady, there is a young lady wanting to see you. She calls herself, Miss Elena Fowler.”

I put down my pen.

“Please invite her in. You can bring her straight here.”

The maid bowed and left.

I stabbed a sliced strawberry with my fork, bringing it to my mouth. Enjoying the sweet taste, even with the stifling weather.

The little thief walked out the house looking like an abused puppy. Her fingers were gift wrap and her cheeks still had stains of purple and brownish bruising.

“Thanks for the rescue but I have to ask, did you use me?”

She abruptly sat down like this was her own home. I plucked another sliced strawberry up and ate it, enjoying both the visage of Cathy’s tiring and the negative emotions brewing in the thief.

“I did not use you. I used the opportunity you provided by being such a lousy thief.”

She stared at me for a while before turning to stare at Cathy walking over with the long sword held with a blade pointed behind her.

I tossed a wet towel, which was soaking in an ice bowl, at her. She grunted in relief, wiping her face, then just holding it across her face.

A servant held out a bin for the towel, stopping Cathy from passing it back.

Cathy kissed my cheek before sitting down beside me. Resting her damp palm on my thigh, well the fabric of my dress.

The thief's eyes widened but she was smart enough to not say something that would piss off the brute who was swinging a sword in this weather.

The thief tossed a heavy bag onto the table. Just from the light clinking, I knew it had more than forty rounds inside.

“I acquired the money. So how about teaching me now?”

I smiled before waving over a guard. Cathy grabbed the bag and spread the gold out onto the table. She clicked her tongue and grabbed bacon without utensil.

She caught me staring and wiped her hand on her napkin. Picking up a fork and giving it another go.

I winked with a dimpled smile blooming.

“Excuse me, if I gave you twenty-five gold rounds. Would you teach this little thief how to defend herself?”

The female knight looked at the thief with appraising eyes before shrugging.

“I don’t think she will be very good but I can teach her how to properly use the dagger she carries. Maybe a crossbow.”

The thief opened her mouth but Cathy glare shut her up.

“You can accept it or not, there is no haggling. This is not a street stall.”

I approved but focused on my writing. It was not polite to smile at someone else's misery. Elena cleared her throat.

“How about we go out? I can show off my best friend.”

I wrinkled my nose before agreeing. It would be a great time to get a layout of the town.

“After my morning class, we can go out sight see.”

Elena shrugged and acted even more boorish than Cathy, piling a plate of food with her unclean hand. I sigh, getting up.

I guess it was time to prepare for my morning class.

***

I decided to wear a blue summer dress with calf high blue boots. Both Cathy and Elena wore breeches and tunic, I guess they didn’t want to be women of taste.

The first place they took me to was, of course, a street stall. The owner was grilling these decent smelling meats on a stick. Caramelized outer corners or where it touched the grilled. Cath bought one and pulled the meat off onto this circular bread that was made from slapping this white fluffy material onto the side of an oven wall.

I don’t even want to discuss the health hazard of the fact that he did it with his bare hands without dipping them in water once.

Let’s not talk about the fact she uses a dipper to place some kind of thick sauce across the meat, from a bowl open to the air. Spread greenery on it from another bowl, open to the air. Then rolled it all up before offering me my first bite.

Hey, ten ways to get poison, food bug, or die of savage death all starts from food at the wayside.

She stared at me with expectation but I don’t think the look of disgust I had on my face was enough to convince her, no. No, I was most definitely not biting into that thing.

Sadly, you can lean back as much as you want. You can scrunched up your nose, even curl up your lips while holding up your hands, but some people are just really that stupid.

She took a bite, then pushed it directly into my mouth.

I had no choice but to bite and reach for the life saving handkerchief in which I thereupon, spit that shit out. With so much theatrical flair, that I thought for a second, I was going to be signed by an agent.

“Do that again and I’ll flog you personally.”

Cath didn’t even look a tad bit deflated. She looked as if she just had an amusing time, while chewing on that thing. I checked my dress before sending a grateful smile to the Knight who had the handkerchief prepared.

Elena was snickering behind her hand.

“How about we go into this shop?” She pointed and I frowned.

Following them in with more dread than I care to admit. Even when I lived with my father and we traveled around between commissions, we didn’t eat this shit.

The store was surprisingly clean for its location. The tables were adequately decorated and light fragrances changed the strong odor. The woman behind the counter looks homey enough to be well liked.

I glanced at the display of the products and pointed at what looked like a strawberry cake.”

Elena was quicked to offer alternatives.

“The crepe is casual, I’m sure you ate a bunch of them at your house. How about trying a specialty product like this right here. Which is chocolate ice cream baked with crushed honey bread and coated with tasty syrup that I have no name for.

I glanced at the clerk who was still smiling with that Noble friendly smile. Which was only a blend of fear and politeness.

Cath pointed at one she instantly liked.

“How about we try this one? See who has better taste, huh?”

I looked at both of them and could see the metaphysical sparks flying. I sighed and turned to the clerk lady.

“All three, please.”