Visitors and merchants for the festival arrived while the group visited Lindsor Patch. New stalls lined the market and folks packed into the space to see what they offered. 

Queen Farida and Lady Cur excitedly explored with their guards. Lady Sylvia and Gyla stayed at a slower pace and wandered the packed streets with an air of caution. Sylvia’s shoulder still ached and Gyla’s head had not begun to pound yet, but it would soon. 

Guards were stationed at every other corner to watch the crowds. Aveka remained a peaceful town but with the influx of people, anything could happen. Duke Dominis made such preparations for his people’s safety. 

“I think I shall head back,” Lady Sylvia said after a few hours at the market. “Will you stay longer?”

“I will. There are some jewels up ahead I want to see.” Gyla kissed her cheek and merged into the crowd with her guards. 

Gyla pondered over the many options of the stalls. All lined with beautiful gems and fine craftsmanship. She tried on a few rings but ultimately, decided on nothing. 

A rouge gust of wind shot through the streets and trembled the flaps of tents and flags. One stall caved under the sudden onslaught and the merchant shouted out as the tent flap fell on his head. 

“Phlad!” Gyla called out and her guard left her to attend to the man. 

Hopefully, the poor man would be alright. 

Gyla waited with Ajax, off to the side of the flow of people, for Phlad to return. As they did she noticed a woman trying to haul a box of vegetables up to her apartment above a small shop. 

“Ajax, would you help her please?” Ajax frowned at her. “I will wait right here, I promise.” 

Ajax sighed. 

“Yes, my lady.” And off he went. 

Gyla leaned against the wall and chatted with the merchant next to her. A kind man with an overflowing belly and little knick knacks for sale. 

“Oh?” Gyla came to check out little bags hanging from the top of his stall. “What are these?” 

“My daughter loves to make them. They’re just colorful little pouches to store anything really.” He continued on about his daughter being pregnant and needing to be off her feet. His wife was a seamstress about two day’s ride from here. He promised to sell the goods during the festival. 

“I think I shall take this one and… this one.” Gyla plucked one red and yellow pouch for Naomi and a gray and yellow one for herself. 

“Of course, my lady.” They exchanged and Gyla continued on towards Phlad. 

“Gyla, where are your guards?” Duke Dominis glowered from behind her, two of his guards trailing behind. 

“Phlad is right there and I sent Ajax to help the poor woman by the shop.” Gyla hardly glanced back at him and continued to sidestep down the stalls to Phlad. 

“They should be guarding you,” his tone was a bit too stern for her liking. 

Gyla blamed her headache for her souring mood. 

“My guards will do as I bid them to do, Your Grace.” She turned from the pretty seashells to face the duke. “I also do not appreciate your tone.”

“I understand that Bellesea might be safe for you to wander alone, but this Aveka and we are in the middle of a festival,” he breathed out through his nose harshly and ground his teeth. 

“I am within both their eyesight.” Gyla could see Ajax rejoin her from the corner of her eye. Before the duke could open his mouth, his displeasure pointed to Ajax, she cut him short, “Your Grace, you may order your guards around as you please but you are not to reprimand mine.”

Duke Dominis snapped his jaw shut. 

Phlad joined them at last, very confsed by the tension in the air. 

“I expect your guards to remain with you at all times or I will assign you my own. I have very clear orders to not let anything happen to you. Orders given by the king himself.” And that stung in a way it shouldn’t have. It might have been his tone, low and harsh against her eardrums or it might have been the fact that his concern for her safety bore out of an order of the king’s.

“Is everything alright? Did you find something of interest, my dove?” Queen Farida peered over Duke Dominis’ shoulder and he straightened at her appearance. 

“I find the duke is in poor temperament, Your Majesty.” Gyla could hardly focus on her manners as her stomach began to bubble with something foul. 

“Gyla?” 

“My lady?” 

Gyla turned and grabbed Ajax’s arm. 

“I need to return to the castle. I am afraid my head has worsened.” 

“Oh, dear,” she could hear the queen murmur, before loudly instructing Ajax to return Gyla to the castle and fetch the physician. She turned to the duke with a frown, “My good duke, please try not to upset my ladies, they still ache after the ferry.” 

Gyla tuned them out as Ajax tucked her into his side and Phlad forced the people to part for them. Phlad cut an impressive figure almost anywhere and divided the crowds like a knife to butter. 

Gyla refused to return to her rooms and decided to reside in the study the duke showed her a lifetime ago. His bird collection surrounded her and it brought a smile to her face as she studied the detailed drawings on the wall. The physician offered medicine for her nausea and Naomi sat with her until she felt better. 

“I bought you a little something.” Gyla fetched the silk pouch from Ajax and gave it to her maid. 

“Oh! Thank you, my lady!” The pouch would be a kind reminder of their visit. “Did you get yourself one?”

“I did.” Gyla showed her the colors she chose and ignored the knowing smile sent her way. 

“The duke was right,” Ajax broke the peaceful silence, “we should not have left your side.” 

“I am not arguing when I was in Phlad’s line of sight the entire time. Another guard stationed just outside the shop you were in.” Gyla groaned and rested her head back to stare at the ceiling. “I understand the dangers, Ajax. I am armed myself.” 

Nothing like Ajax and Phlad, but enough for defense. 

“Someone could have got you when you turned nauseous,” Ajax argued. 

“I would have thrown up all over them. Problem solved.” Phlad snorted at her crass attitude. 

Gyla remained in the bird room for a while longer before Naomi assisted her back to her rooms.