Rochelle L. Sharpe

Chapter Eleven: A Trip To The Market.

After breakfast the next morning, Ashlyn and I decide to go to the outdoor market beyond the next village. We need to buy a gift for Lyndaria and Hemlin for their wedding, and Christmas gifts for the others. The outdoor market is closer to the woods and the mountains so there will be less people, and since Ashlyn doesn’t want anyone to know she is here, it’s our safest bet. I’m happy to go wherever she wants.

Olen pulls the sleigh up at the edge of the market. Ashlyn winds her scarf around her face and pulls her knitted cap low.

“I need you to stay with the sleigh,” she tells Olen as she climbs out.

He nods.

I follow her and I’m not happy when Poplyn jumps down from where he’d been sitting.  I was hoping he wouldn’t be joining us while we shopped.

“I’ll be watching,” he says, and disappears.

At least he won’t be hovering next to us.

“Here.” Ashlyn hands me a pouch full of coins.

I frown at it. I need money to buy people gifts, but if it’s not my money it doesn’t feel like it is a gift from me. I guess I have no other choice though. I’ll buy gifts for everyone else, but I don’t want to buy Ashlyn a gift with her own money. I’m still hopeful I can work something out.

The markets are loud and full of people, probably more than Ashlyn was hoping. The ground is covered in muddy snow. The majority of stall owners have just a table for their wares, while others have wooden booths with cloth roofs. Each person we pass calls out, trying to get us to buy whatever they are selling. I pause when I see a table of books with Ashlyn’s name on them. I pick one up and realise it’s a biography. Curiosity rises in me and I’m tempted to buy it. Would Ashlyn want me reading this? Probably not.

I place it down and catch up to Ashlyn.

“You could have bought it if you really wanted,” Ashlyn says, keeping her head down.

I arch a brow, surprised that she wouldn’t mind me buying it. “You’d really be fine with me reading it?”

She shrugs. “I’ve told you the most important stuff, but I guess if you want to know even more you can.”

I fiddle with my cap, avoiding her gaze. “I don’t know, it would be strange reading it.”

“That’s why I never have, though Lyndaria assures me it’s accurate.”

“It’s fine,” I say. “I don’t need to read it.” Though I can’t help wondering if the prince is in there and what it says about them being together. But then again, I’d feel super awkward if Ashlyn read about my past relationships, so I squash any temptation I have.

Ashlyn moves through the stalls like a woman on a mission. Not having a clue what to buy anyone, I’m happy to follow her lead.

She stops at a stall with an impressive array of daggers and knives. Ashlyn buys a jewelled dagger for Lyndaria and matching knife for Hemlin. She uses a strange accent to haggle with the stall owner; I’m guessing to disguise herself more.

When we pass a stall with letter writing sets, Ashlyn suggests it would be a good gift for Lyndaria. She makes me choose the design since the gift is supposed to be from me. I choose one decorated with green flowers because that’s the colour Lyndaria has worn most since I arrived.

Ashlyn moves on to a tea stand. “Lyndaria suggested an exotic tea for Hemlin.”

I choose ‘spiced nettles’ and am ensured by the merchant that I’ve made an excellent choice, and the recipient will be pleased. I hope so.

There is a commotion in the middle of the market. Ashlyn spins around to see what it is, and I follow, half standing in front of her in case there’s danger.

A tall man stands on the seat of his cart. He is wearing a worn purple suit with a top hat, which he removes and waves in the air.

“Attention! Attention!” he cries, his breath coming out in a white puff.

A hush falls over the crowd. Ashlyn tenses beside me.

“This is your blessed day! What makes a better gift this cold winter than a warm teacup dragon?”

All around kids squeal with excitement and run up to the cart, trying to peer over the back, though most aren’t tall enough.

“I have two freshly hatched, and three eggs ready to hatch soon. Get one before you lose your chance!”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Does he mean real dragons?” I ask Ashlyn, not taking my eyes off the man.

“Yes. Miniature ones that don’t grow bigger than a cat. They are an approved pet here. Though they are expensive. Most people at this market wouldn’t be able to afford one.”

I’d love to see a real live dragon, but with Ashlyn trying to keep a low profile I won’t get the chance.

She takes a step forward and I think I might get to see one after all, but she doesn’t go further. “I’ve always wanted a dragon. We had one that lived at the castle, a normal dragon, large and ferocious, but it wasn’t mine. And now I live on Earth I guess it will have to remain a dream.”

I hear the longing in her voice. This would be the perfect gift for her, and I wish I could buy her one, but as she said, she lives on Earth and dragons don’t belong there.

“Come on,” she says, turning from the spectacle. “Let’s get the boys something.”

We pass a toy stall, and I see a wooden puzzle game I think Olen would like.

Ashlyn stops at a stall that sells sweets. She buys some chocolate for Olen and two candied apples for Poplyn. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t buy the little biter a gift, but Ashlyn says I have to, so I buy Poplyn some caramel candies.  

We take what we have to the sleigh and place them in the storage box at the back. Ashlyn gives Olen a warm drink she had purchased for him and he gratefully drinks it.

“I guess that just leaves a gift for me and you,” Ashlyn says. “How about we split up and meet back here when we’re done?”

I nod my agreement and head back into the market, curiosity leading me straight to the dragons.

(Stay tuned for Chapter Twelve)

© Rochelle L. Sharpe, 2026.