Throughout the journey to Central Saion, Kaizan and Olivia were silent and the silence between them was awkward as each was embroiled in their thoughts of the previous night or what was about to come next. And Olivia knew that if she opened her mouth, only butterflies would come out of it. So, she focused on Butterfly's rolling gait and looked at the tiny houses or business establishments of Silver Vales as snow crunched beneath the hooves of the horse and morning sunlight spread its golden petals in the skies.
There were not many people out this early in the morning but whoever was there, their gazes were fixed on the horse that carried their General and his wife. Olivia thought that this wasn't the right way of being introduced because she could feel their baleful glares at her. She shifted in her place, but Kaizan's arms around her waist became tighter. He pulled her closer to his chest and let them all see it.
When they reached the market square, the air smelled crisp, mingled with smells of fruits and oils and vegetables. Sprawled over a vast space, Central Saion was bustling with activity. Ramshackle huts stood on the fringes and lined the serpentine paths that snaked inside the market to dark alleys and places even Kaizan didn't want to visit. One could find every shop in the Central Saion, right from that of a vendor selling smuggled parrots to exotic mushrooms to jewels, both real and fake.
Kaizan turned to look at Finn and said, "Take the wagons to Gaia's shop. She must be waiting for my harvest." Saying that he dismounted the horse and helped Olivia get down. He gave his horse's reins to a servant who took him to the area where all other horses were tied. Kaizan had made it a rule not to bring personal mounts inside the market unless they were given a special pass. Only wagons with loads were allowed in.
As Finn guided the wagons inside the narrow streets of the market, people leapt out of their way, intimidated by his lethal expression and Kaizan's presence. The main road ended into yet another open square that was surrounded with more stalls, tents and a milling crowd.
Kaizan shouted to Finn over the noise, "Take Olivia to Vesta's shop where she can buy more fabric for her dresses. I will take the wagons to Gaia's shop. I am going to meet you in an hour at the bouillon shop in the common area." Then he dug in his jacket's inner pocket and gave him twenty silver coins and ten gold coins. Olivia looked at him with trepidation on her face.
As if he had understood her thoughts, he leaned over her and whispered, "Don't worry, I will come see and Finn will make sure that you are protected."
Any remaining nervousness quickly evaporated and Olivia smiled at him. And Kaizan felt like he was going to get drawn in by her contagious smile and end her fucking on the street if he didn't leave her. His throat bobbed and a frown appeared on his forehead. "Don't leave his side, okay?"
Kaizan mounted the seat beside the wagon driver and took the reins in his hands. He slapped the reins and the wagon rolled past them. She watched them leaving with a sigh.
"M'lady, let us go to Vesta's stall. If we get any late, it will be crowded," said Finn. She nodded.
Olivia was both surprised and enthralled by the merchandise that was sold in the Central Market in the capital of Silver Vales. It was a popular name amongst her people in the Whiteclaw pack. Those who had the chance to visit it had praised it. Stalls with exquisite silks and cottons from Aztec were on full display. Colorful birds chirped in gilded cages. Food merchants roasted various types of meats in clay and iron barbeques. Olivia couldn't resist the mouthwatering smell of the charred meat and Finn bought her a piece with a grin. By the time they reached Vesta's place, Olivia was lost in the maze called Central Saion. Vesta had a fine collection that she said was imported from Vilinski. And Olivia couldn't take her eyes off from any of it. But she was too shy to use Kaizan's money for herself so blatantly, so she ended up buying just two rolls of silk fabric. When she came out, she was so parched that Finn bought her a crushed strawberry drink from a canopied food stall, and while she was having it, he walked to the neighboring stall that sold daggers.
"Oh my god!" a male voice from behind made her jump.
Olivia spun on her heels to see the person. And when she saw the man standing there, she hoped for the earth to crack where she stood in order to disappear. One of the most handsome men in the Whiteclaw pack, with thick straight black hair till his shoulders and whose beauty was enough for men and women to stop and admire him, was looking at her with those eyes like obsidian. There was a grin on his face as he looked at her with wide eyes. He had a face which Olivia swooned about three years back. But she had grown mature since then. She had become wiser and realized that this gorgeous man in front of her was in fact nothing more than an empty vessel.
"Hello Lucas."
She spoke very coldly to him yet he was very excited. He held her hand and squeezed it. Olivia removed her hands quickly out of him, feeling the repulsion. Lucas was a man who was his father's helping hand at their tavern in the Whiteclaw pack. He wasn't happy there and so he had run away from there to make it big in the world. No one heard about him after that and Olivia was surprised to see him here. She could tell that he hadn't succeeded in his ventures.
"You look just the same, Olivia," he said with a flirtatious smile, sizing her up.