The forum across the plaza from the North Oasis was not as gaudy as Gideon expected it to be. The street running through the forum was paved with the same ochre-colored marble tiling as the plaza, and a long line of lit glass chandeliers hung from the high stone roof overhead. But the exteriors of the shops and restaurants in the forum were fairly proprietous, in direct contradiction to the ostentatious businesses lining the main thoroughfares. A scattering of small fountains and a few marble sculptures seemed to be quite enough storefront decoration for the businesses that served Kenan’s upper crust.

Gideon quickly realized that he and Surelin were being given a wide berth by the trickle of wealthy pedestrians walking along the street. Upon noticing them, the Kenanites would maneuver out of their way and hold their gazes aloft until the two of them had passed, as if the problem would go away if they simply refused to acknowledge it.

Two patrolling policemen in crisp ceremonial uniforms passed them, walking in the opposite direction. They stared openly at Gideon as they walked by, and Gideon openly returned their stares. After a few moments, he looked over his shoulder and spotted them turning around. The policemen were now tailing them from about fifty feet back.

It seemed as though Surelin hadn't noticed the policemen yet. “You do understand that you can’t make up for everything just by feeding me, yes?”

“Come on. Do you really think I’m that stupid? Actually, nevermind, don’t answer that.”

She gave him a rueful smile.

“Nah, that’s not why I offered. I haven’t eaten all day, and you needed my help to get out of the lobby. Just leave now, if you want.”

Surelin was quiet for a while, considering it.

“No, I’ll come with you. If you’re willing to pay for the meal.”

“ ‘course.”

As far as he could tell, she had no money on her, or anything else, really. He wondered how she was going to deal with being in a city that was overtly hostile to Forelians, with no possessions to speak of and no-one to help her.

He shook his head. It’s not my problem.

That thought had been enough for most things in the past. Now it seemed hollow and unconvincing.

They continued through the forum, looking around at the well-off businesses as they walked. There were plenty of restaurants, and Surelin seemed to tacitly understand why Gideon continued past them. They wouldn’t be welcome in any of the businesses within this sector of the forum.

The policemen continued to tail the pair at a distance until they reached a poorer sector. When Gideon looked back to check on them, they were gone.

The further east they walked, the less affluent the businesses became. The people walking along the street gradually began to ignore Gideon and Surelin in the normal manner, and before long they were blending in with the crowd. Gideon felt relieved to see the people were more or less wearing the same desert robes he'd seen everywhere else in the city.

He stopped in front of a run down restaurant that looked more like a bawdy low-class saloon than a place to get a bite to eat. Surelin looked between the restaurant and Gideon several times.

“Here? This is where you want to eat?”

“Yeah. Something wrong?”

She scoffed. “It looks like you’re more likely to get stabbed in there than get a meal.”

Gideon bit his tongue. Relax. Don’t be a prick.

“I’m eating here. Come with me or don’t, I don’t really care.”

He walked past her and entered the restaurant. Surelin followed him in, despite her reservations.

It smelled like spilled ale inside. The interior was not much better off than the exterior, and a meaty middle-aged man stood by a grill behind the front counter. He looked up at Gideon and Surelin with surprise as they stepped inside.

A frumpy middle aged woman was sitting on a chair by the door. She stood up and waited on them wordlessly.

“Corner booth.”

She nodded and led them past rows of empty booths. When they reached the corner booth Gideon and Surelin sat down across from one another.

The old woman’s voice was gravely. “We serve two things here. Soup, and beer. Which is it?”

“Soup.”

Surelin raised an eyebrow. “I don’t suppose I’m allowed to ask what’s in the soup?”

“You can ask,” the old woman said, frowning.

“I see. Well then, what’s in the soup?”

“Chicken and vegetables.”

“I will have the soup. Thank you.”

The old woman looked irritated as she walked away. Surelin sniffed at the air and gave Gideon a sour look.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“This place smells bad.”

“Okay. What am I supposed to do about it?”

She glowered at him and leaned back, crossing her arms across her chest.

“Is it normal for places like this to be so empty in the evening?”

“Dunno. I’m not from here. Maybe the Kenanites eat dinner early.”

“Hmm.”

An awkward silence settled over them as they waited for the food to arrive. Surelin looked out the nearby window, watching the people pass by along the street.

Gideon scratched the side of his face. What do you talk about with a princess, anyway?

“What’s being a princess like?”

She continued to quietly look out the window for a few moments before she looked back at Gideon.

“Stressful. What’s being a mercenary like?”

“Boring.”

She sounded dubious. “Is that what you were in the arena? During the fight? Bored?”

“Fights are pretty rare. Mostly it’s just marching or waiting around.”

“I see. It must be nice to have the power to pick and choose your battles.”

“Uh…I guess? I never really thought of it that way.”

She uncrossed her arms and drummed her fingers on the table impatiently.

Definitely not an easy girl to talk to.

“What are you going to do now that you’re free?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “When is the food going to get here?”

“What’s the rush? Unless the lady gets lost along the way I think she’ll bring the soup eventually.”

“I’m not rushing. You just ask foolish questions.”

Gideon shrugged. “Alright. Sorry. I’m just trying to make conversation.”

“You—” a sigh exploded from her. “Yes, you’re right. I apologize for being rude.”

He shrugged again. “It’s no big deal.”

She brought her hands off the table and rested them in her lap. “To answer your question more thoroughly…I have no idea what to do. If any of my family is still alive, they’re a long way from here. And.…”

Another sigh left her. “I don’t know. I doubt there are any Kenanites who would risk the king’s wrath by offering me their help. I just…have no idea what to do.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You mentioned your family? Where are they?”

“They’re in Loso,” she said hesitantly. “Or at least, my grandmother is. She was there the last time I heard from her.”

“So? Go there. See if she can help you.”

Surelin looked and sounded miserable. “How can I do that? I don’t have any money, and I can’t just walk there.”

Gideon made a snap decision.

“I was thinking about going to Loso myself,” he said. “You’re welcome to tag along. Maybe when you get there you can find out what happened to the rest of your family. Who knows? Maybe they need your help more than you need theirs.”

Surelin blinked hard, and he was surprised to see her eyes welling up with tears.

“I can’t go to Loso. I can’t. What could I possibly do? I have no money, no weapons, no…skills. And no one can help me. Everything I had, everything I ever was, has been destroyed. I have nothing.”

Her gaze sank to the table, and a huge tear suddenly leapt from her eye, landing in her lap.

“I’m nothing, now.”

She wiped wetness from her eyes, then returned her gaze to the window.

Initially, Gideon wasn’t sure how to react. He'd felt nothing but aggravation towards her almost since the moment they first met. Beyond that, he didn't know who she was. He felt sorry for her, but what she'd just said was a lot to take in from a total stranger.

He spoke carefully. “Well, my offer still stands. I’m leaving in the morning. Come find me if you change your mind.”

She blinked hard again, but didn’t look away from the window.

They sat in silence until the old woman came with the bowls of soup. Gideon expected it to be bad, but it turned out to be delicious. He wolfed it down. Surelin ate slowly.

He noticed that she ate with her spoon in her left hand.

“You’re left handed?”

She nodded, but a frown spread across her face. “Yes, I know, it’s bad luck. You don’t have to tell me, I’ve heard it all before.”

“That’s not it. I was going to say lefties tend to make great fighters.”

Her eyes widened with surprise. “What? Really?”

“Yeah. Most people are right handed, so they get used to fighting other righties. Lefties fight from a completely different angle that people aren’t used to. It’s a big advantage.”

Her eyes passed over the spoon Gideon held in his right hand. “That’s…interesting. I didn’t know that.”

She looked down at her bowl with obvious frustration and resumed eating. He wondered if he’d said something wrong, but quickly let it go.

When they were finished, the old woman materialized before them.

“Finished? Ten coppers each.”

Gideon pulled out a denar and handed it to her. She looked taken aback as she stared at it in her hand.

“I want to buy some new clothes,” Gideon said. “And boots. The kind that can take a real beating. Know where I can get them around here?”

She nodded slowly. “Hierum Abraham is the best cobbler on the strip. He’s not cheap, though. Good clothes you can find almost anywhere.”

“Abraham. Where is he?”

“Down the strip aways. His name’s out front of his place.”

“Thanks.”

She sounded hopeful. “You sure you don’t want more soup?”

Gideon looked over at Surelin. She shook her head.

“We’re good. Hey, why’s this place so empty? The soup’s pretty good.”

The old woman looked startled. “Wha—huh? What’s that ‘sposed to mean?”

“I’m just curious.”

She frowned and quickly glanced at Surelin. “Is she your slave?”

“No, I’m not!” Surelin instantly shouted at her.

“Don’t you shout at me, little girl!” the old woman shouted back. “I’ve seen roaches more intimidating than you!”

Gideon lifted his hands up to placate them. “Alright, just stop! I take the question back.”

“No one’s here because I freed my slave,” the old woman said flatly.

Gideon and Surelin shared a surprised look.

“You did?” Surelin asked.

The old woman looked embarrassed. “Yes, I did. I freed him, and then I married him. So no one wants to come eat here anymore.”

Gideon turned and looked over his shoulder. The meaty man had clearly been listening to the exchange, and he gave Gideon a guarded look.

“Congratulations,” Surelin said awkwardly.

She thanked Surelin, sounding overly polite.

“I think I want another bowl after all,” Gideon said.

“Yes, so do I, actually,” Surelin added quickly.

The old woman gave them a crooked smile. “Comin’ right up.”

Gideon and Surelin shared a brief smile as the old woman walked away. When she brought them their seconds, Gideon handed her another denar. They ate until they were stuffed.

The old woman and the meaty man smiled and nodded at Gideon and Surelin as they walked out of the restaurant. They waved goodbye as they left, and Gideon stepped outside in a good mood.

They stood together on the restaurant’s front doorstep, watching the crowd pass along the street in front of them. Gideon stretched loudly, and looked over at Surelin.

“Well, I guess this is it.”

Her lips formed a tight line, and her eyes began to roam across his face.

“I’m heading out. I’ve got some shopping to do before I go get some sleep. Not that you care.”

She looked very much like she had something she wanted to say, but couldn’t say it.

Gideon frowned deeply at her. “Well, good luck, princess.”

He turned away and took about ten steps down the street before she shouted after him.

“Wait!”

His eyes rolled as he turned back around. Surelin ran up to him, her eyes darting across his face as she tried to find the right words.

“I want to go with you!" she shouted abruptly. "Tomorrow morning, when you go to Loso. I’ll go with you.”

He nodded slowly. “You’ll need better clothing for the trip. And better shoes. C’mon.”