The Blood Sigil (The Sigilord Chronicles Book 2) by Kevin Hoffman Page B
Authors: Kevin Hoffman
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need, just so he can do something nice for us?"
Cailix nodded.
"Well girl, I don't know what sorta game you're after, but you best be careful."
"I'll be all right," Cailix said.
"I ain't worried about you, dear, I'm worried about that poor boy," Orla said, walking away and shaking her head. She climbed into the seat next to her husband, and Cailix returned to her spot in the back of the wagon.
"Hyah!" Woss shouted, and the wagons lumbered up the gravel-coated road, heading northeast. It was the only road on that part of the island. Traveling on the damp, grassy plains with a laden wagon was just asking to get stuck, so a few roads were the only way to get burdened wagons filled with supplies anywhere on the island.
Just under two hours later they crested a hill overlooking the central valley that held the capital city of Aldsdowne island, a city by the same name. It was also pretty much the only city, as all the other clusters of buildings on the island could barely pass for small villages.
The fields approaching the western wall of the city were normally littered with farm animals, children playing field games, and whatever temporary activity had been set up. That day's activity was the grand market, and everyone on the island who had anything at all of value to sell had set up shop outside the wall. Hundreds of sailors and anybody else who happened to be on a ship moored around the island milled around in the market.
"Let's go make some money," Woss said, making a clucking noise and urging the horses down the hill.
The day passed as agonizingly slowly as Cailix expected it would: hawking their wares to every passerby, trying to convince every sailor who crossed their path that Jepps wool was softer and Jepps eggs were tastier than the products of the other twenty farmers also selling wool and eggs. Thankfully they also had a few dairy cattle, so they were one of the few families on the island who could produce milk and cheese, which sold out before they had even finished setting up their market tent.
As dusk approached and the torches illuminating the makeshift market streets were lit, Cailix couldn't stand the boredom any longer.
"Can I go walk around and see the other shops in the market?" she asked. "We've barely anything left to sell so you don't need my help."
"All right," Orla said, "But you be back here before the market starts closing up. Don't make me come looking for you."
"Yes, Momma," Cailix said, figuring it was the right time to use that word again. The breadth of Orla's smile told her she was right.
"Want some company?" Colin asked, able to overhear everything since the Denns' tent was adjacent to theirs.
Still within earshot of Orla, Cailix had to maintain the charade with Colin. "I suppose if you want to tag along."
They walked in a silence that probably felt awkward to Colin, meandering through the market streets. Most of it was as boring as her own tent—wool, supplies, tools, spices, fresh produce, salted meats, even a few farmers selling livestock to be butchered aboard ship once the buyers left port.
She hoped to see something, anything , that would take her out of the doldrums of life on the farm.
"Farmer Tyk's wife has been making jewelry recently, she's got a tent set up on the outskirts."
"That's nice," Cailix said, barely paying attention. She kept walking, Colin in tow like a lost puppy.
After another long walk, and a close call nearly stepping in a pile of manure, they found themselves on the far western edge of the market and near Miss Tyk's tent.
"See, I told you she was selling jewelry out here," Colin said, trying as casually as he could to steer her toward the display.
Grudgingly, Cailix let herself be guided in. She felt like a fish pretending to go after the bait, taunting the fisherman. Once she was sure Colin's affections were no longer useful, she needed to find a way to divert his attention to someone else.
"Hoy there, Colin, good to see you. I trust your pa's
Cailix nodded.
"Well girl, I don't know what sorta game you're after, but you best be careful."
"I'll be all right," Cailix said.
"I ain't worried about you, dear, I'm worried about that poor boy," Orla said, walking away and shaking her head. She climbed into the seat next to her husband, and Cailix returned to her spot in the back of the wagon.
"Hyah!" Woss shouted, and the wagons lumbered up the gravel-coated road, heading northeast. It was the only road on that part of the island. Traveling on the damp, grassy plains with a laden wagon was just asking to get stuck, so a few roads were the only way to get burdened wagons filled with supplies anywhere on the island.
Just under two hours later they crested a hill overlooking the central valley that held the capital city of Aldsdowne island, a city by the same name. It was also pretty much the only city, as all the other clusters of buildings on the island could barely pass for small villages.
The fields approaching the western wall of the city were normally littered with farm animals, children playing field games, and whatever temporary activity had been set up. That day's activity was the grand market, and everyone on the island who had anything at all of value to sell had set up shop outside the wall. Hundreds of sailors and anybody else who happened to be on a ship moored around the island milled around in the market.
"Let's go make some money," Woss said, making a clucking noise and urging the horses down the hill.
The day passed as agonizingly slowly as Cailix expected it would: hawking their wares to every passerby, trying to convince every sailor who crossed their path that Jepps wool was softer and Jepps eggs were tastier than the products of the other twenty farmers also selling wool and eggs. Thankfully they also had a few dairy cattle, so they were one of the few families on the island who could produce milk and cheese, which sold out before they had even finished setting up their market tent.
As dusk approached and the torches illuminating the makeshift market streets were lit, Cailix couldn't stand the boredom any longer.
"Can I go walk around and see the other shops in the market?" she asked. "We've barely anything left to sell so you don't need my help."
"All right," Orla said, "But you be back here before the market starts closing up. Don't make me come looking for you."
"Yes, Momma," Cailix said, figuring it was the right time to use that word again. The breadth of Orla's smile told her she was right.
"Want some company?" Colin asked, able to overhear everything since the Denns' tent was adjacent to theirs.
Still within earshot of Orla, Cailix had to maintain the charade with Colin. "I suppose if you want to tag along."
They walked in a silence that probably felt awkward to Colin, meandering through the market streets. Most of it was as boring as her own tent—wool, supplies, tools, spices, fresh produce, salted meats, even a few farmers selling livestock to be butchered aboard ship once the buyers left port.
She hoped to see something, anything , that would take her out of the doldrums of life on the farm.
"Farmer Tyk's wife has been making jewelry recently, she's got a tent set up on the outskirts."
"That's nice," Cailix said, barely paying attention. She kept walking, Colin in tow like a lost puppy.
After another long walk, and a close call nearly stepping in a pile of manure, they found themselves on the far western edge of the market and near Miss Tyk's tent.
"See, I told you she was selling jewelry out here," Colin said, trying as casually as he could to steer her toward the display.
Grudgingly, Cailix let herself be guided in. She felt like a fish pretending to go after the bait, taunting the fisherman. Once she was sure Colin's affections were no longer useful, she needed to find a way to divert his attention to someone else.
"Hoy there, Colin, good to see you. I trust your pa's
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