Chapter Text
Ari walked down the path, her steps muffled by the well packed dirt. The tree cover above gave her much needed relief from a sun that was starting to hang low in the sky. Thankfully, she would be arriving at her destination soon.
She shifted the pack on her back, filled with just a few items she was able to grab before quickly leaving the capital for good. Though she was unsure of where she would head to. Fortunately, as she reached the city gates, she had seen a small ad promising land and to anyone who was willing to help fix up Mistria, a small town hit by an earthquake about a year ago. She sent a letter to the town leader, Adeline, saying she was on the way if no one else had taken up the offer. Mistria was only a day away by cart, but on foot, it had taken her a few days.
Mistria was once a flourishing mining town known for its Mistrian gold that had been used in the Royal Drangonsworn armor almost a century ago. It was rumoured that the gold was magical and could imbue the wearer with special properties. However, the now ancient armour like the gold, were legendary myths.
Sure, there had once been actual gold, but the mine had dried up a mere twenty years after the first vein was found, but it held no special properties. It was just a show of wealth from the crown to intimidate any country that might have tried to start a war. Afterall, gold was terrible for armor, and if the crown could spend that type of wealth on decorative armor, what would the actual armor be capable of?
Even though this was common knowledge, it didn’t stop the rumors of Mistrian gold from resurfacing every once in a while, the most recent occurrence being just two years ago. Though she knew better than to believe it. Just like the one a decade before, the rumor died within the year. Right around when the earthquake hit, if she recalled correctly.
Still, seeing the ad had felt like fate, her father had talked about Mistria often and fondly, saying it was always a town he wanted to settle in once his career as a merchant finally ended. There has even been talks of setting up a vacation house there when she was younger so they could spend their summers in the country with the beach a short walk away.
Those plans halted when her mother got sick.
A small ache settled in her chest at the thought of her parents. After her mother passed she at least had her father to rely on. The grief eventually settled in her chest like a bruise, only painful if she accidentally pressed upon it. But even now the ache was familiar and rarely took her by surprise.
The fresh grief of her fathers passing hadn’t gotten any easier, though. Even though it would be a year since his passing in a few months. Maybe it was because she didn’t have anyone to share the grief with, or maybe she had been far too idle since his passing.
Stepping out of the cover of the trees she was greeted with the sight of a collapsed bridge in front of her and a small directional sign indicating Mistria was just ahead.
“Great,” she sighed, inspecting the collapsed bridge. There was no way she was crossing it alone.
A friendly voice called out to her, “Hello there!”
She looked across to see a man standing under the lamppost, flipping a coin. After shoving it in his pocket, he made his way to her, expertly crossing the rubble, leaping from stone to stone like this was part of his daily routine.
Ari got a good look at him once he was on her side of the riverbank. He had a pointed nose and strong jaw. His eyes were framed with dark lashes and brows, making his features look almost foxlike. His shoulder length dark purple hair contrasted her own long light lilac, and his gray silk shirk was tucked into his linen trousers. A thick belt around his waist held an even thicker coin purse. In fact, it was almost identical to the belt her father carried around when he had been working. Was he a local merchant?
She adjusted the bandana tied around her neck as he approached her. Once he was close enough, his mouth opened slightly and his brows drew together. Ari blinked and the confused look on his face was gone, instead replaced with a charming smile.
Definitely a merchant, she thought to herself.
“Didn't expect to see anyone else out this way,” he said. “The roads have been a real mess since the earthquake. I'm Balor, a traveling merchant. Pleased to meet you.” He extended his hand which Ari shook. He continued, “Let me guess, you're here at Lady Adeline's request? She mentioned someone had taken her up on her offer."
Word must travel fast here. Her letter couldn’t have arrived that far ahead of her. “There was something about free land and a house,” she gave him a smile, hoping the joke would land.
There was a beat of silence and Balor’s charming smile dipped before it was back in full force. A small pit grew in Ari’s stomach, she was failing this first impression.
“I’ve seen the area,” Balor said, smoothing over the awkward moment. “It’s a lovely spot, quite close to town. I’ll walk with you the rest of the way, if you don’t mind the company.”
“Uh…” Ari adjusted her backpack and eyed the collapsed bridge.
“Here, I’ll take that,” Balor extended his hand. “No wagons can get through since the bridge collapsed, so I've gotten quite skilled at carrying what I can on foot."
Ari held onto the straps around her shoulders, then looked at the collapsed bridge. Her eyes flicked to Balor. If he was the town merchant, building a relationship with him would be essential, and not accepting his help would make this already poor first impression worse. However, until she unpacked her backpack, holding onto it was also essential.
“I’ll help you across as we go,” Balor said, his smile reaching his eyes this time.
Ari exhaled to steady her nerves as she took the backpack off, handing it to Balor, who slid it over his shoulders. He extended his hand again to Ari, which she took, the contact easing her nerves even further. It would be much harder for him to run off with the contents of her bag if she was holding onto him.
Navigating the bridge was easier than expected, more than likely thanks to Balor’s many trips across it. With only one minor slip, in which the toe of one of her boots was now soaked through, they were across the bridge in minutes. Balor handed the backpack back to Ari, which she gratefully slid over her shoulders, her nerves easing completely now that she had a firm hold on the straps again.
“We should be able to make it before it gets dark,” Balor said, heading off in a direction south west. “Come on, we'll head straight to your new farmstead!"
Ari fell into step beside him, the setting sun causing her to pay extra close attention to where her feet were walking.
“So, how long have you had the rights to sell in Mistria?” She asked him.
A corner of his mouth twitched upwards, “I’ve been here for about two years. However I managed to gain exclusive rights, minus a few exceptions, about a year ago.”
So he came here for the gold, and must have gotten stuck here because of the earthquake, Ari thought to herself.
“Exclusive rights?” That piqued her curiosity. “So there are no other merchants in town?”
He shook his head, “I’m the only import and export source, Josephine and her husband, Hemlock, own an inn. Then Nora and her husband, Holt, own the general store. There’s also a few other local craftsmen that sell goods, those are the exceptions.”
Ari tilted her head as she continued to avoid getting the sun in her eyes. Why would he obtain exclusive rights to import and export after the gold myths were disbanded and an earthquake hit the town? Surely there wasn’t that much commerce in a barely populated ghost town.
“Adeline and her brother, Eiland, have been prepping the cottage for you all day,” Balor changed the subject and pulled Ari from her thoughts. She did her best to hide a sneer.
He means their servants have been prepping all day, she corrected him in her mind. There’s no way two nobles were doing anything more than pushing paperwork and ordering people around.
They crossed a wooden bridge and came to a bend in the road surrounded by trees, after another small bend, a large overgrown field came into view surrounded by a river. To Ari’s right was a small stone cottage, and a mailbox, on which a man with pastel pink hair, dressed in fine silk, leaned, looking off at a tree in the distance. She rolled her eyes, of course the noble was lazing about.
There was a tarp with a few items on it next to him, no doubt his servants were in the cottage getting things in order.
“Eiland! Look who I found out at the edge of the forest!" Balor called out.
Ari felt her chest tighten, Balor was certainly brave referring to a noble without their title. But to her surprise, Eiland turned to them and smiled. He straightened himself as they approached, and he gave both her and Balor a small bow.
“Ari, I presume! Welcome, welcome! I'm Eiland, it's wonderful to meet you!" His tone was warm though slightly elevated as he extended his hand, an elegant smile on his face. Ari placed hers in his and he kissed the back of it in greeting.
Balor cleared his throat, "You're in good hands, Ari. I'm off to the inn, it's been a long day
and I need a hot meal. I'll see you around!" With a toss of his hair, Balor headed back the way they just came.
“So what do you think?” Eiland asked. “Nice isn't it? You're right outside of town, plenty of space,” he turned to the cottage, “and look at this house! Four stout walls with a rich history! Let's go inside, shall we?"
Eiland walked up the steps to the front door and opened it, and the confusion in Ari grew. There was not a small hoard of servants inside, but a pink haired woman dressed in similar finery, frantically tidying the still very messy main room of the cottage. Her face flushing as she noticed the two of them standing there.
“J-Just a minute!” she said, before pushing both of them back out the door and shutting it quickly.
Eiland played with one of his tasseled earrings. “It, er, appears we're not quite ready for you. But not to worry! I'm sure she'll only need a moment.
“Should we go in and help?” Ari asked.
The pink haired woman rushed out the door and grabbed what looked like a comforter set off the tarp. “No need!” She said before going back inside and slamming the door behind her.
“You see,” Eiland said slowly as he looked at the door, “I tried helping earlier, but got kicked out and told to wait for you. My sister, Adeline, is a bit of a perfectionist and wanted everything to be perfect for your arrival.”
A crash sounded from inside.
"Ahaha,” Eiland forced a laugh.
Ari returned a just as awkward laugh as she tried to understand what must be the most un noble-like nobles she had ever met.
A few minutes later the door opened and the pink haired woman let out a sharp breath before flashing Ari a smile. “You must be Ari! I'm Adeline, thank you so much for answering my request! My brother and I are so excited to have someone here to help the town. I hope you like your new farm! It has a lot of potential, don't you think? Why don't you come inside?” She waved them in Eiland letting Ari go ahead of him.
Ari re-entered the small main room of the cottage. A set of doors were on either side leading to probably a bathroom and bedroom, and a modest kitchen was to her immediate right with a breakfast nook.
“Welcome to your new home!” Adeline said with a flourish. She gestured to the door on the left, “Over there is the bedroom, with a bed and a dresser, and over there,” she gestured to the door on the right, “is the bathroom. We scrounged up all the furniture we could, sorry it’s pretty bare bones, though.” She fiddled with the gemstone brooch on her collar.
Ari looked around the room again, there was a kitchen table, pots and pans on the stove, a small couch, and a rug.
Ari gave a small shrug. “It’s more than I could have hoped for. It’s cozy, I like it.”
The smile returned to Adeline’s face, “I’m so glad you think so!” She set a stack of papers on the kitchen table. “This is our rental contract for the land.”
Ari stiffened, “I thought the land was free in exchange for helping the town?”
“Oh it is, in a way,” Adeline said, retrieving a pen. “The land is still owned by our parents, the Baron and Baroness, but this transfers rights of amendment of the land to you. So you’ll be able to do house additions, build barns, raise animals, till the fields, et cetera without having to file a permit every time you want to make a small change. Basically, the land is free, and yours to do whatever you want with it, except selling it.”
Ari looked over the contract, which spelled out exactly what Adeline had described but in more official terms. She signed and dated the line at the bottom. “Why would anyone come here just to sell the land?” She asked as she handed the contract back to Adeline.
The siblings shared a look.
Eiland cleared his throat and handed Ari a small container of something warm. “We thought you might be hungry when you got here, so we stopped by the inn and picked up a bowl of their famous Vegetable Soup.”
“This is for you too,” Adeline handed a flip phone to Ari, “The earthquake wiped out the cell towers in the surrounding area, so you can’t contact anyone outside of town. But it’s somewhat reliable coverage for calls and texts locally. Though, for really important things we still rely on letters and the post system.”
“Thank you,” Ari murmured tiredly as she held the items in her hands.
“I can also guess you're worn out from your long day, so we won't keep you up,” Eiland looked at his sister and tilted his head to the door.
Adeline gave Ari a gentle squeeze on the arm as she headed towards the door, “Welcome to Mistria, Ari. We're so glad to have you. Let's meet up tomorrow so we can start discussing our plans for the town restoration.”
Ari gave a nod, and with that, the siblings headed out of the cottage, closing the door behind them. She set down her pack and stood at the kitchen window to watch them as they headed towards the entrance of her new farm. Adeline laughed as she said something to Eiland, which caused him to shove her slightly off the path. Ari shook her head. If she didn’t know any better she never would have guessed they were nobles. They disappeared out of sight and her stomach growled.
She picked up the container of soup and her backpack and headed towards the bedroom. It was modestly furnished like the rest of the cottage, with a bed, nightstand, and dresser with a mirror on top.
She opened the dresser to unpack the few clothing items she had brought with her and paused. Inside was a pair of overalls. She took them out and held them up. They were definitely too long for her but the craftsmanship on them was impeccable. They would hold up better than anything she brought when it came to working on the farm. She set them aside, surely Lady Adeline and Lord Eiland wouldn’t have left them here if they didn’t want her to use them, right?
She unpacked the rest of her clothes while eating the soup. Once finished, she shut the dresser drawers and grabbed a small glass case and an envelope from her backpack.
She sat on the bed admiring the small red gemstone in the case, “Well Dad, turns out I get to hold onto this a little longer than I thought.”
She pulled on the drawer of the nightstand, which opened with a horrible squeak, and she set the gemstone and envelope in the back of the drawer, but as she set them down, her hand brushed against something metal.
She pulled the drawer out further, inciting another horrible squeak. Her heart thudded as she picked up to examine a ring sitting at the back of the drawer.
Like the overalls, the ring was much too large for her, with easily an extra quarter inch or so of space when she placed it on her thumb. A feeling spread through her chest as she looked it over. This wasn’t left here intentionally, maybe it was forgotten by the last resident? She inspected the ring carefully, the filigree looked similar to some of the patterns she had seen on commissioned pieces in the capital. She looked it over for a maker's mark but found none.
However, stranger than a missing maker's mark was the material. This ring was gold.
“Mistrian Gold,” she whispered to herself, then immediately shook her head. “What a stupid thought Ari” she chastised herself. Mistrian gold didn’t exist outside of antique decorative armour, it certainly wasn’t being melted down and made into a ring that had to have been forged less than 5 years ago if the now popular filigree patterns told her anything.
But still, she looked at the ring, a feeling growing in her stomach that she should keep this a secret, just like the other items in the nightstand. She set the ring back in the drawer and closed it, the loud squeak filling the air again.
She changed into a set of pajamas, turned off the lights, and got into bed. Exhausted from her travels, sleep overtook her before she could sigh into the soft cotton sheets.