The Grand Mistress

Chapter 26 - Festival

Soon, the two children reached a busy part of the village. There was a festival and so the ambiance then was lively. Hawk could see different colors, ranging from all the beautiful materials that were hung for sale to all the hand crafted goods displayed on the streets. There were also musicians playing local instruments while people flocked in front of them to listen and toss some coins. Even the people themselves were colorful as most of them wore traditional Somerset clothing that were all in bright pastel.

For a moment Hawk was lost in the crowd. His mouth gaped open upon the things he had seen. He had never gone to such a place before, more so wandering around the midst of people alone. As a young Monsanto, he rarely got out of their house and he wasn't allowed in adult parties that their mansion always held. He was practically hidden from everyone especially because their family had many business nemesis who would love to get a hold of him to be used to their own advantage. So all his life, he had never been in a crowd like such. ??

"Look at those things!" Hawk looked above as he adored the beautiful colored papers wrapped in a kite that was flying in the air. "They look marvelous! Looks like graffiti in the sky!"

"Those are kites," she said, not as awestruck as the boy. She was a Somerset girl and she had been to many of their festivals before so all the things that Hawk was seeing weren't new to her. However she was greatly amazed at how the boy was acting ignorant on all these things. Perhaps he was a very remote village, more remote than Somerset which doesn't have festivals? It was very obvious from his face that he had only known what a festival is like today.

"Kites," Hawk murmured with fascination. He let himself adore the view for minutes more until he realized the girl wasn't anymore by his side. He looked around wondering where she went and found her entering a store. He immediately ran to catch up on her.

"Hey Cat!" He called as he entered the same store where he had seen her. However the store was spacious and there were many racks of goods that blocked off his sight. He was having a hard time locating her.

"Cat!" he called again for her as he eased himself through different directions.

"Right here," Finally she answered and when Hawk followed her voice, he found her at the far end looking at something that was displayed on the racks.

"What are you looking at?" He asked with a frown as he approached her. When he followed her eyes, it landed on a metal ring. On top of it was a beautifully carved metal butterfly wing with little sparkles of green.

"Nothing," She says, although her eyes were greatly fixed at the tiny jewelry. She let go a regretful sigh and Hawk finally understood she wanted it that much.

"If you like it too much then we should buy it," Hawk suggested but the girl only shrugged at his suggestion.

"I don't have money for it," She honestly replied and looked at Hawk in the eyes, "So I'm just looking at it,"

"How much is it?" Hawk asked and pulled something in his pockets only to realize he himself didn't have money to buy her the ring. He wanted to so desperately buy it then knowing how much the girl adored it.

Instead of answering Hawk, the girl just walked away and left the store. Hawk hurriedly followed her, afraid that she'll feel utterly sad because she wasn't able to get what she wanted. However as soon as she started walking on the streets again, she displayed the same vibrant vibe she had previously when he first saw her.

"Hey!" He called on her again. Didn't he tell her he wanted to tag along? Why does it seem like the girl keeps leaving him? When he caught up on her, he asked immediately "Are you not sad?"

"Huh?" She asked as one of lush eyebrows curled up.

"I mean are you feeling bad that you were not able to buy it?"

"Why would I? I'll come back some other day to buy it," She simply answered not giving it much of the thought. Truth was when she left their house, she brought enough money to buy the ring but she gave them all to the beggars earlier. She had seen the ring a few days ago and was greatly attracted to it and so she promised to herself to buy it during the festival if only the beggars didn't come into the picture.

"I see," Hawk concluded and started pestering the girl again with another question. "Where are you headed next to?"

"On the wheel," She answered, this time slowing her pace because she could see that the boy was sweating already. She acknowledged the fact that she was taller than him and so her steps were far big for him to catch up.

Hawk knew the place she mentioned. The wheel was where all people gathered to get water and do their laundry. Most of the people in Somerset don't have their own water system on their houses and the wheel was their water resource.

"What are you gonna do there?"

"I'll wait for someone,"

"Someone?" Hawk got annoyed at the mention of another person who will be joining the girl sooner. Was he not enough of a company that she still needed someone else?

"Yes, we agreed we'll see each other in the wheel," She told him, unaware of the selfish thoughts running on Hawk's mind. "He will drop his horse there for a drink so I told him that is where we will meet,"

He.

Hawk definitely caught that and his annoyance only got worse knowing that she intended to meet another boy.

Who is this boy anyway that made her wait?

And why would they go to the festival together?

He was glad then he tagged along because he cannot mouth the fact that the girl was invited by another boy to the festival.