A MAZE OF GREED

After Alpha Wright's warning of the impending possible danger, it was decided that they would leave at night as it was already late afternoon. Mrs Wright wanted Lester and Elsie to stay more, but when her husband talked with her, she agreed.

The journey was long, and Mrs Wright was concerned about the night journey, but then with Edwin with them, she had nothing to worry about.

She made sure to spend the remaining time with her future daughter-in-law.

After the early dinner, the group was ready to bid their goodbyes to Bluemoon town and head in the direction of Vincardine. Promising Mrs Wright of another visit, they all climbed their respective carriages.

As they lurched forward on the roads of Bluemoon pack, they waved their goodbyes to the couple who came to see them off.

Edwin and Ruth were the only ones awake after about an hour into the journey. Those two souls longed for each other with different thoughts occupying their minds.

Ruth did not realise when she succumbed to sleep. But when she opened her eyes, she was not greeted by the face she had before. She was still in her carriage with Elsie.

Rees slept leaning his large head on her tiny shoulders. Ruth's body was strained by sitting in the same position for hours, but she did not want to disturb Rees's sleep so she decided to bear the uncomfortableness for some more time.

The Sun rose slowly, sparkling its lights on the world. Rees also woke up with a yawn. Ruth opened the window to peek outside. She was surprised to find a different way than the one they had taken the last time.

"Rees, this place does not look familiar." She said.

Rees's eyes shifted towards the window before he answered. "Yes. We are taking a different route because we have some work in the village on the way. Do not worry we will reach home before the night."

Ruth sat in silence after that. She did not feel like talking anyway.

A few minutes later, their carriage came to halt. The hustle and bustle outside told that they were in the village market.

Rees began to get ready to climb down so did Ruth.

"No. You are not getting down. Stay here." He warned in a stern voice.

Ruth's brows instantly pinched in the middle of her forehead in a reaction.

"Why? My body is strained after carrying your heavy head on my shoulder. I want to walk a little to lose my muscles."

"Ruth, this is not-"

"Rees, it is fine. I am here with her. You may go." Elsie interjected with a solution.

Rees was still hesitant, yet he agreed. They all got down from the carriage to see Edwin, Thea and Lester.

"Do not wander around!" Rees warned before leaving with Edwin and Lester.

Thea rolled her eyes at her sometimes annoying husband.

The three ladies stood observing around and pointing at anything they found interesting. Elsie noticed Ruth shifting uncomfortably on her feet.

"Ruth, do you want to take a short walk?" She asked.

"What happened?" Thea asked in concern.

Elsie had a teasing smile on her face when she said, "I think you should keep your husband tied with your dress Thea or he would one day crush poor Ruth into a flat bread."

Elsie and Ruth burst out laughing at Thea's shocked expressions. She began grumbling about his sleeping habits while spilling some of their bedroom secrets that she did not realise at that moment.

Ruth and Elsie enjoyed them while passing each other mischievous glances.

"Come on let's take a stroll around. It is not every day that we ladies get a chance of stepping out of Vincardine."Thea then said, changing the topic.

"But Thea..."

"We will not go far, do not worry Lady Elsie."

In the end, they could not hold the temptation of exploring this new place for long. After informing the coachmen, they headed to the section of the market that attracted more female attention.

Walking through the busy market, they kept mesmerizing at everything they saw. The market had many shops and stalls which sold anything and everything a person needs in life.

It was a humble village situated in the cradle of forest and mountain ranges. Due to the lack of an efficient transportation system, they had to create this market for themselves as well as for the nearby villages to provide the daily used commodities conveniently.

The three women explored the market shop by shop. They could see their carriages from where they were.

So that was not a problem.

"This one is a good fabric, isn't it Thea?" Lady Elsie asked.

"Yes. But for the people like us. You have much better fabrics in your dresses that this fabric cannot compete with it." Thea commented.

"Oh Please, Thea. When you say it like that, I get an impression that you are trying to guilt trapping me." Elsie said, rolling her eyes at her.

Thea liked one particular silver coloured dress, and she instantly bought it for her. Elsie was hesitant at first to think about her sister. Eloise never liked the things that the commoners could afford. And she did not let Elsie use them no matter how much Elsie loved them.

But now, she did not need to care about what her sister thought. Elsie realised that they had called a long way apart, and now she did not need to let their previous bond dictate her life.

As an act of rebellion against Eloise's influence on her and her life, Elsie bought two dresses that she liked for herself.

Coming out of that shop, they glanced to where their rides were waiting for them, but there was no clue of the three men they were waiting for.

So they decided to continue their stroll.

"Oh look there. Come on."

Thea dragged Ruth and Elsie to a shop that was overflowing with the women accessories like earrings, bracelets, hairpins, necklaces and whatnot. The small place shone by the light of glitter and stones. Something that always fascinated Thea.

They began rummaging through the hundreds of available things by trying the ones they liked.

One particular earring with blue stones reminded Ruth of the precious piece of jewellery she had. But the recent events made her doubt if it still held its significance.

Her eyes stung, thinking about the man who was hurting her with his actions and reservations. To hide the pain on her face from her friends, she turned her head to the other side.

Ruth blinked twice, and when her vision cleared, she saw a shop that sold wooden articles. Curious, her eyes observed carefully, and she found something that she wanted to buy for days.

She saw her friends were busy with their shopping and would probably take time to finish it. So Ruth decided to go there by herself, besides it was not far but was within sight.

Ruth left her friends behind and went to that shop.

"Excuse me." She called the shop owner to get his attention.

"Good morning, Miss. How may I help you?" He asked while correcting the glasses on his nose.

"Good morning!" She replied with a polite smile.

"I want to buy a wooden stick for my elderly aunt. Her knees complain a lot these days and I do not want her to fall and hurt herself. If I get a good stick for her then it will be great." she explained.

The man nodded his head in understanding. "Of course, Miss. We have exactly what you want." The man said while pulling out a set of wooden sticks of different sizes and forms from behind the wooden miniature cart set he had set on the display.

"Please take a look. This one has an intricate design on its handle. This one has a curved handle which is very convenient for old people." He began showing the sticks one by one while explaining their characteristic features.

Amongst them, Ruth finally got one of her likings. "I think I will take this one." She told the shopkeeper.

"That is a very nice choice, Miss."

After paying the price, the man packed the stick in a bag for her.

"I am sure your aunt will like it too. Please visit again!" He waved at her.

Ruth was very happy that she finally got something that would help Mrs Payne. She was planning to buy it for some days but did not find a chance.

Ruth was smiling herself while watching the bag in her hand that she did not notice a person walking in her way. They bumped into each other, and her bag fell out of her hand.

"Oh, my apologies, Mister. I was a little lost." She apologised quickly while bending to pick up her bag.

But before she could, the man picked it up for her. When their eyes met, Ruth was taken aback by his handsome features.

His red lips stretched in such a charming smile showing his pearly white teeth that made Ruth mesmerised for a moment.

She suddenly became conscious of herself.

"It alright, Miss. Take care!"

Even his voice sounded like a sweet melody to her ears. She forced a smile while gazing up into his dark eyes.

"Thank you and apologies again!" She said while taking the bag from his hand.

The tips of their fingers accidentally brushed against each other that startled Ruth. She observed his smile faltering for a split second before he stretched it back.

Nodding at her, he walked away, and Ruth also walked towards the carriages waiting for her.

By that time the men had also returned. They all climbed up their rides and were instantly on their way.

Here, on the other hand, the dark-eyed man who had bumped into Ruth slowed down his pace as something bugged his mind. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to remember where he had met her before.

Something about her felt familiar to him. After five minutes of persistent thinking, it struck him like a rumble of thunder.

He ran back to search for that hazel-eyed woman, but she was lost in the crowd, gone away from him.

He figured out what felt familiar about that beautiful young woman.

Darius recalled that he had smelled her scent on Edwin's dirty clothes that he found in Lester's room at the swearing ceremony of Ripon!