Faustine the Sensible

Chapter 8. The Watcher

"So, I begin as we sit down , "where is the best market place to shop around here."

"Oh! Are you shopping today?"

"Yeah, for food that is. I need to fill my cold crate. It was sadly depleted."

"Your cottage even came with a cold crate?! Wow, you're a patron really included everything."

Cold crates were cooling boxes for the purposes of preserving produce and perishable foods. Being that they were fueled by ice pixie magic, I had never seen one until now.

"They are very accommodating indeed. I've never had one myself due to their mystical nature and so on."

"oh, right! Well, they are pretty much a standard household item in the enchanted kingdoms. I can't remember a time before them, but I'm only 17 years old."

"Really? So am I. When is your birthday?"

"September 24. When is yours?"

"October 15."

"That's nice," she said, "We will both still be having birthdays this year as the summertime is only just now beginning."

"oh! It would be wonderful to have a birthday here of all places! Just imagine," I said wistfully, caught up in thoughts of what could be.

"Truly remarkable, I'd venture to guess. Just thinking of the Lunar Festival last night and how whimsical it was. I can only imagine what a birthday would be like," she replied.

The two of us went on bantering back-and-forth over the subject. As it turned out, the open market was just passed the main square and Celeste and I could stop by quickly after breakfast. We finished a meal and left happily.

As I stepped out into the morning sun I felt a familiar feeling yet again. The watcher. I began scanning the trees. It would be easier to spot them now that it was daylight. And then, I saw it... Them rather. I figure among trees, over shadowed by the foliage. Definitely there and definitely human... But just far away enough in the distance that I could not make out who it was, nor could I see them clearly. Had she found me? I had to know.

Without much thought I began to move in the direction of the watcher, but as soon as they realized I was onto them they ran off. I watched as the figure managed to hop from tree to tree, swinging on vines as they slowly disappeared deep into the woods.

"Whatever have you gone off to?" Celeste asked as she followed behind me.

"Someone was watching us from the trees."

"Really? Did you get a good look at them?"

"Hardly. They ran off through the trees before I could see."

"That's odd. A little unnerving too, but they're gone now right?"

"Yeah, they left."

"OK, let's head to the market then."

All right," I agreed and we began walking down the road once more. The market place was a fairly quick trip and before I knew it we had acquired all that we needed and were on our way back to the cottage. Enjoying the entire walk back, I could feel it again. The watcher. This time, regardless of how many times I looked over my shoulder or watched my back I saw nothing. Nothing among the trees, and nothing on the land, but it was there. I decided that if they would not reveal themselves to me, I would simply have to entice them out into the open.

In the meantime, Celeste and I got straight to work as we got back in. I brought my staff out from my bed chamber and placed it down on the kitchen table.