The inn was quiet. It was past breakfast, and not quite lunch yet, so the little restaurant on the first floor was empty but for a few stragglers at the bar. When Cricket walked in, Madam Shen saw him immediately and raced to him.
"Your Highness!" She curtsied lowly.
Cricket bowed his head, offering her a dimpled smile. "You have a knight from Helio staying with you. Has he been in for his midday meal yet?"
"No, sir." She rose, cheeks a little flushed from the motion. "Can I get you a table?"
"Yes, please."
"Our private room is—"
"Oh no, that won't be necessary. It's just me, and I'd hate to take up too much space. Just a spot back in the corner will do nicely, and a pot of tea. Thank you." He waited for her to argue, but she merely nodded and led him to the back before scuttling off to get his tea.
Cricket sat, sipping his tea, and waited.
It wasn't much longer before Yoshi appeared, and took a seat at the table where he'd been when they first met. Cricket smiled a little, vowing to do better this time. He sat down payment for his drink, and went over to the chair opposite Yoshi's.
"Sir White Knight," Cricket said, bowing his head a little, a playful twitch at his lips.
Yoshi lifted his eyes to glare at the mocking tone. They widened just a fraction, just enough for Cricket to know that he'd registered the long braid, and the Lunette crest emblazoned onto the navy-blue tunic that he'd hidden under an oversized scarf the first day. "Prince Cricket."
"See, now isn't that a pity?" Cricket clicked his tongue, sitting across from Yoshi and somehow managing to not miss the seat (small mercies), still smiling. "You know my name, but I don't know yours."
"Yoshi." Curt. Direct. Clipped.
"Yoshi." Cricket repeated, ignoring the itching in his palm for his sword. This man had nearly bested him just the day before, and Cricket wanted a rematch for no other reason than to prove he wouldn't be outdone by some pompous knight from across the border. No other reason. "What, may I ask, is a knight from Helio doing in Lunette?"
Yoshi's shoulders pulled back, sitting up straighter. "Help."
"Are you asking for it, or looking to give it?" Cricket knew the answer, but he needed to get Yoshi to say it. They couldn't talk about this if he didn't say it.
"Give it."
"Ah. I see." Cricket nodded, tapping the side of his nose. "Well, if it's Tochtli you were intending to help, don't bother. The problem here has been dealt with."
Yoshi's brows lifted just a little, but he didn't speak. Then he rose from his chair and headed for the door.
"Here we go again," Cricket muttered to himself, racing after him. "I said it's been handled."
"I will see for myself."
"Can't take the word of a prince?" They were out in the street now, and drawing attention. Cricket didn't like it. He didn't want bystanders getting in the way of the fight that seemed inevitable. But he wasn't going to get a choice.
Yoshi spun, sword already drawn, and pointed the tip at Cricket's face. "Stay out of the way."
Cricket laughed, throwing his head back, hair dangling dangerously close to the ground with the motion.
"Stay. Out. Of. The. Way." Yoshi repeated, pressing the tip to the soft palette under Cricket's chin.
"So that's how it'll be then?" Cricket stepped back, unsheathing his sword and settling comfortably into his stance. "The boy you're after, is under my protection."
"He is dangerous." Yoshi fell into his own stance, lunging for Cricket. Cricket parried quickly, spinning away from the blade with a grin. He'd already fought this fight once; he had a one up on Yoshi.
"He's a child." Cricket felt like he'd said that a million times in just the span of twenty-four hours, and maybe he had. He'd lost count by that point. He pressed forward, cutting through Yoshi's defenses.
"He has cursed people." Yoshi stepped back, blocking his blow.
"He has made mistakes. He is a child." Cricket repeated, sweeping low to swipe for Yoshi's ankles. Yoshi's sword caught his, flinging it backward and Cricket with it for a moment. But he was quick to recover.
"And you would solve it how?"
"I have solved it, by speaking with him." Cricket grunted, locking his sword with Yoshi's to keep from taking the brunt of another blow to his arm. He really didn't want to have to treat another wound, and Ignacia would kill him if he came back hacked to death.
"Show me." Yoshi demanded, flinging Cricket backward onto his bottom in the dirt. Cricket winced at the impact of bone meeting cobblestone.
"You win this one." He wagged a finger at Yoshi, ignoring the pleased tilt of the knight's eyes. "But next time..."
"There will not be a next time." Yoshi breathed, grabbing the hand Cricket had extended, and yanking him to his feet. "Show me."
Cricket nodded, swallowing sandpaper and dust. Then he grabbed Yoshi's wrist, and dragged the knight behind him. It wasn't long to find Abner and Ignacia. They were sitting at the fountain, laughing with another boy about Abner's age.
"There? See? No danger. Just a child."
Yoshi's eyes narrowed, and he made to step over to them, but Cricket steeled his grip and held him back.
"He had an amplifying brooch. He used it to curse a couple of bullies. We think he was just lonely. So, Ignacia dragged him out to make some friends. It looks like she did all right as far as that goes." Cricket grinned, proud.
"And the brooch?"
Cricket dropped Yoshi's wrist to dig into his satchel, pull out the pouch and drop it into Yoshi's hand. "He handed it over without much of a fight after lifting the curses. You can ask around. The mothers in town will be able to tell you that everything is well now."
Yoshi pulled out the brooch, turning it over in his fingers carefully.
"So, you see, no bloodshed needed."
Yoshi nodded, putting the offending piece of tacky jewelry back into the pouch, and holding it out to Cricket. Cricket took it and stuffed it in with everything else. "I will take my leave."
"You don't want to come say hi, at least? The kid is pretty nice. Bit of a brat, but that's most thirteen-year-olds." Cricket grinned at him.
Yoshi shook his head, and before Cricket could argue, he'd turned to leave, disappearing around a corner and down an alley.
"Well. Goodbye to you too." Cricket huffed.
"So that's it then?" Ignacia asked, suddenly right behind him.
Cricket yelped, clutching his chest.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" He straightened his tunic, running his fingers over his hair. "What's what then?"
"You and him. He's just going to disappear after making our job harder."
"That seems to be the measure of it." Cricket shook his head, smiling a little to himself. "We'll see him again, I think."
"You mean you hope we will."
"You said he was handsome too!"
Ignacia snorted.
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