Elica opened the door to her street, voices from the nearby market already disrupting Riorna's peace. She nibbled on her bread as she headed towards the thoroughfare, spouting off in her head the names of the wild flowers she passed along the road that her mother had taught her.

Shortly before arriving at the thoroughfare, a hummingbird patrolling a batch of pimpernels caught her eyes. She had always like the small flowers, but her mother considered them weeds and never permitted her to keep even one blossom as a child. She waited shortly until the hummingbird flew off before she continued on her way, wondering if she would see her flower later.

Shortly after getting onto the thoroughfare, Elica entered the market. She loved wandering around its many stalls to listen to the gossip of the merchants and the stories of far traveling traders.

"The old lord hasn't long to live!"

Elica quickly scanned around looking for the owner of the voice, curious to learn the news on the towns lord. Her eyes landed on an old woman in a nearby stall. 

She was leaning over towards an old man in her neighboring stall, his head nodding as if to affirm the outburst. "I'm afraid that seems so," he replied to the gray woman.

"Excuse me," Elica said as she quickly approached. "May I interrupt you for a moment," she asked, looking at the two.

"Oh, of course dear, what can we help you with," the old woman asked with a gentle smile.

"I overheard you talking about lord Rene and was curious is all."

"I see, but he has all the information," she said while motioning to the old man. "I still have some things to set up in my stall, so I'll give you two some privacy."

Elica turned towards the man, his stall filled with various plants. "Is what I heard true? Is lord Rene unwell?"

"I'm afraid so," the man said as he grabbed a small kettle that had been sitting over a small fire behind him.

"Are you positive this isn't just unfounded nonsense," Elica asked as she curiously watched the man.

He dropped some dried flowers into a small cup and poured in the steaming water as he talked. "Some medicine men just left a bit ago. They said they would pay anything for herbs to relieve pain. I had some lavender and rosemary, so I gave them that, but they asked me to find more herbs for them to buy later."

"How does that prove anything?"

"well, I suppose that alone doesn't," he said as he took a sip of the yellow liquid, it's flowery aroma reaching Elica on the soft breeze. "But they headed off towards Treue Manor afterwards."

"Well, I guess that may be so, but the woman over there said he didn't have long left, how can you be so sure of that," she asked, determined to find a flaw in the old mans reasoning.

The gray man gently put down his cup before continuing, "I know it may be hard to accept, but nobody that's willing to pay any amount would normally resort to just relieving pain, would they?"

Elica took a step back as she processed the information. "But wait, what's to happen if he passes? I've never heard of him having any heirs, who is going to become the head of the Treue Household?"

"While your concern isn't wholly misplaced miss, Lord Rene does, in fact, have in heir, the young lord Valafar. He is often in the capital, so you don't hear much of hi--"

"Elica! What are you doing here dawdling about!"

Elica turned mechanically towards the voice, "H-hello madam, I'm afraid you must have the wrong person."

The dainty girl stood up on her carriage, the sun behind her framing the snow white hair and copper skin that distinguished her from the rest of the people in the kingdom. 

"Cut it out," she snapped back, "You're almost as easy to recognize as me with that hair of yours."

"Oh come on Aeres," Elica pouted. "Surely that's not the only reason you recognize me."

"Well, you're also rather large for a girl... and your obnoxious! How about that? Now get up here so we can make it to the dyery," she said, motioning to the empty seat beside her as she sat back down.

"okay," the red haired girl replied sheepishly, her face turning red as she climbed aboard.

"We'll be taking our leave now sir, my apologies for my rude interruption, and if my friend here caused you any grief," Aeres said, bowing her head to the old vendor as she encouraged the horse on again.

"It was no bother young lady, always a pleasure to talk to the young ones," the old man called after the two as they drove off.