Town is as bustling as the day I arrived, only Hael and I are at South End where we actually fit in. There are no townhouses, only small time housing complexes for local shop owners and families of workers of the estate. Commoners walk about either to pick up everyday items for mansions of their lords and ladies, or those like us enjoying their time off. As Hael said, the stores are within our price bracket, ranging from bookstores to eateries to small town plays.

I’ve never seen a play so upon spotting the posters plastered around town, I’m ecstatic even if I can’t read a word of it. I just see a stage, lots of colors, and people on the poster.

Somehow I convince Hael to sit and watch the play with me. A stage is set in South End square that isn’t a square but a circle so I never get why it’s called a “square.” Either way, the white cobblestone path sits among the shops with a fountain of Goddess Aena at the center. Her long hair is carved into stone, billowing behind her while her hand is outstretched towards the sky, water dripping from her hand to cascade into the pool below. The stage is set up nearby. There are wooden benches, enough to sit at least a hundred with even more crowded about. The show hasn’t started yet, so the crowd is chattering away. When I hear the name “Makai,” my head turns slightly to peer over my shoulder at the women behind us.

“I heard there’s been another death on that wretched monsters estate,” hisses one of the women. “My sister works there, said a body was carried out yesterday.”

The second gasps. “What? How disgusting!”

“He can get away with murder. I wish the Knights and Priests of Aena would get rid of him already.”

“They’ve been trying for centuries, even His Royal Majesty has set up new laws in hopes to keep the beast’s power in check.”

“Yet the Makai name is everywhere and he owns almost everything.” The first woman turns her chin up. “What a hindrance to our great kingdom, a mockery to our great Goddess Aena. If I were him, I’d just lock myself away out of humiliation.”

“How can your sister even work there?” The second woman asks with a shiver. “I’d be terrified. What if he were to drain me dry?”

“Perhaps the workers there are lucky then. He got his meal from the dead man so their lives are spared for a bit longer, but my sister doesn’t talk about her job when she visits. She’s frightened, as she should be.”

“But of course, he’s a monster. The world would be a better place without him.”

This is uncomfortable to listen to. There’s almost a part of me that wants to defend Lord Makai, but I bite my tongue.

“Oh! The play is about to start!”

I face the stage just in time to watch the curtains being pulled back and out walks the actors in a story of our great king, Rufus Baylor, and how he defeated the Treddin army 14 years ago. If I had known that was what it was going to be about, I wouldn’t have come.

The Treddin army comes running into the small city of Chandri. They take the village to use as their primary camp with the villagers becoming hostages and slaves. Gasps of horror and despair ripple through the crowd, some even shout in anger and frustration until King Baylor steps on stage.

The crowd claps and cheers with delight when the battle scenes begin and, in the end, King Baylor impales the evil King Treddin, whose features are grossly exaggerated. His hair is a mess and there’s a giant mole on the side of his clearly fake bulbous nose. Even his clothes don’t match, he looks a mess, a complete joke, while Baylor is pristine and bright. It’s kind of ridiculous, but the crowd loves it when all come out to take their bow at the end of the performance.

I feel sick after watching it.

“They have that same show every year,” Hael sighs afterwards, leading me to the local bookstore. “I don’t understand how they still make money.”

“People love an epic.”

Even if it’s filled with lies, not that anyone would listen to a lowly commoner such as myself.

“Sounds like you didn’t like it much?”

“Huh?” I hum, looking to Hael with a smile. “Oh no, it was a lot of fun! I’ve never seen a play before.”

“Didn’t have any in your hometown?”

“No, I lived out in the country so even when I went to the market it was for work. There was no time to watch.”

“Ah, good we came then, but they do it every year so watch out. Sometimes they change the title, probably to trick those like myself that wish to see something new.”

I snicker. “Thanks, I’ll remember that.”

We step into the bookstore seconds later. The shop owner smiles at us, more specifically Hael. He is obviously a regular because she knows his name and then tells him about some new arrivals he may be interested in. While they chat, I tiptoe around the shop that I can’t really enjoy other than the picture books or admiring the covers.

As a kid, I desperately wished to learn to read. But seeing my mom work herself to the bone on the farm while my dad switched between farm work and small time military duties made me set aside such dreams. I worked with mom to put food on the table and take a load off her shoulders, seeing her smile and knowing she got more rest made it worth it. Although, now part of me wonders if I can save up to pay for a small time tutor or maybe even ask Hael. I’d love to read a book, especially when I see how into them Hael is.

“See anything you like?” Hael calls to which I shake my head. He nods then we’re off to eat and walk around town some more until it’s nearly dark.

I’d be fine with staying out late but Hael is quick to say, “We best head back before it’s dark.”

“Oh, is there curfew?”

He shakes his head. “No, the road isn’t as safe at night.”

“The road to the estate? Why not?”

“You saw what happened yesterday, there’s always someone wanting to make an attempt at His Grace. Sometimes a poor servant may catch a glimpse and—” Hael runs his finger over his throat.

I gape. “You’re joking.”

“No, it’s happened before. A girl was killed just last year when some assassins were on their way to attack Lord Makai. I heard he had a dog once too, and it was killed.”

Someone killed his dog?! Ok, I hope that bastard had their throat ripped out. They deserve it!

“It doesn’t happen often, but I feel more comfortable traveling during the day,” says Hael.

“But why?”

“Huh?”

“Why so many attempts? We all know he’s immortal.”

“So they say,” Hael answers with a shrug. “But everyone wants him gone. The Priests of Aena say a vampire’s presence is a great calamity that will only give the God Tethros more power, thus bringing further destruction in the future. If you ask me—” Hael looks about to make sure no one is listening then leans in to whisper, “The royals are the ones always sending assassins. No one really knows the true power Lord Makai has so King Baylor is scared.”

“Of what?”

“An attempt to take over. Think about it, an army can’t even stop a creature like that, and the money he has seems to be endless as well as the fact that he has a claim to the throne. He’s of royal blood, condemned or not. If he wanted the throne, he could take it on his own or build his own militia. He’s a threat.”

“So the royals are trying everything they can to get rid of him, hoping just once for a lucky shot?”

Hael nods, his eyes stating that he, too, thinks it’s ridiculous. “Perhaps. We’ll never really know. Lord Makai never lets the assassins live so I’m certain he is aware and not that worried about it.”

I don’t know if I’m impressed or worried to hear that. If assassins were constantly out for my head, I’d be frightened all the time. Then again, I have no idea what it’s like to be immortal. Thinking about it honestly doesn’t sound that great. Even if life is fleeting, I don’t know if I like the idea of eternity.

“It’s all hearsay or personal opinions though,” Hael says, bringing me back from my thoughts. “There’s no telling what he truly feels.”

“There surely isn’t.” I shrug the sudden sorrowful feeling off. “Let’s hurry back then. I definitely don’t want to be out after dark now.”

Hael nods and we’re on our way back a moment later.

The sun is setting and by the time we reach the mansion it’s dark, which has me sighing in relief. We made it in one piece and are welcomed back by those we pass on the return to our room. Our day out went well, more than well. Other than what happened yesterday, my time here has been better than expected. It’s then I realize I need to thank my cousin except I have no way to contact him other than mail.

While back home I had a friend in town write and read the letters for me since I couldn’t do it myself. Here, I haven’t told anyone yet that I’m not able to do it. Looking to Hael, I wonder if I can ask or if he’d think differently of me. Most of the workers here have been well off enough in their lives to learn. I don’t want to come across as...what? An idiot?

I’m nervous, so I don’t tell. Not yet anyway. I’ll reach Matthias another time.

♱♱♱