Elias walked through the market, looking at the wares that were mostly different kinds of pots and similar foods sold at different places. There was a stand that was different than all the others. This stand was the only one that had weapons and jewelry to be sold. He walked up to the stall and saw a very muscled man standing there, ready to service customers.
The man smiled and said to Elias in a kind voice, "Take a look and see what you like. I give discounts to kids for smaller jewelry." The man tried his best not to notice the large white wolf that seemed to follow the boy.
Elias first looked at the daggers the stand sold. He notices quickly that all of them were of inferior quality to the ones his father had shown him. Rapidly losing interest in those deadlier weapons, Elias began to look at the jewelry. Elias noticed that there was a large selection of shackles but ignored it deciding he would ask his father about it later. As Elias looked around, one ring, in particular, caught his eye. The ring looked like a serpentine creature wrapped into a ring.
Elias excitedly asked, "how much is this one," The man hesitated before taking a glance at the wolf.
"You can have it for free," the man said thinking that the ring did not cost very much to make and it would better to have good favor with a boy that could train a wolf at such a young age.
Elias gave the stall manager a weird look but then looked at his wolf and understood. Elias decided to provide him with three silver coins saying to him, "You really don't know how to sell wares."
Causing the manager to be slightly disgruntled, but he took the coin and then ignored the boy's existence.
Elias looked outside the stall and left with Sin in the direction of where father and Ansel were still having their talks. As Elias was heading back, he saw someone familar, A woman with blonde hair pale and a small figure was arguing fiercely over the price of something oblivious to his existence.
Elias walked toward the woman; the woman turned away from the stall and looked at him. She was slightly surprised but not at the appearance of Elias. It was the wolf that had surprised her. She had known Elias was coming to this village. She wondered how he found a wolf that looked exactly like the one that had taken care of him as a baby.
Overcoming her surprise, Esther looked at the boy she had rescued from the fidged cold all those years ago. She was happy with what she saw. He looked tall for his age, but his features were very sharp and angular. He wasn't as bulky as the typical Viking child. He was more beautiful than any of her children that were for sure, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. His platinum hair and eyes made him stand out. People don't like what they don't understand.
lost in thought, Esther seemed to be staring at Elias.
Elias creeped out by Esther looking at him for so long, spoke up, "Hi, your name is Esther right."
Esther waking up from her thoughts, looked at Elias, and let loose her warmest smile, "Yes, I'm a friend of your mother."
Elias seeing her warm smile made a smile himself which made Esthers own much more genuine. Elias curious about his mother's relationship with Esther asked, "How did you become friends."
Elias and Esther talked to each other for a long time after finding a place to sit. They spoke about his mother, and what she was like when she was younger it turned out Esther knew Alva very well. Elias was so focused on the conversation, he lost track of time, and before he knew it, it was already night time.
Esther was also noticing the time looked out into the empty streets and knew she had to get Elias back to his father. Elias and Esther walked back to the Tent where Erik and Ansel were having their talks. At the same time, A worried Erik Arrived seeing Elias he had a sense of relief and a bit of anger, "where have you bin I looked everywhere and couldn't find you."
Just as Elias was going to explain Esther stepped in, "it was my fault."
The Chief looked at the witch and then grunted, "I guess it's fine as long as he was with you."
The Chief then looked at his son and told him it was time to go. Before they could leave Esther told them she had a gift for Elias. Esther handed Elias the same ring he had bought at the store and which after giving her a weird look Elias thanked her for it.
Elias put the ring on his index finger where it fit his finger perfectly as if custom made for him. Elias and Erik follow Esther with their eyes as she leaves into the dark of night moving away from the torchlight.
Esther headed off into the forest. There Ansel was waiting for her. This forest clearing had been their meeting spot every year for the last seven years. Esther hugged Ansel, and then they kissed. They talked for a long time under the light of the moon. They talked about everything that had happened to them in the last year. Esther brought up the ring she had enchanted for Elias to provide him protection though ancestorial magic.
Ansel surprised her by thanking her for taking care of the boy. Ansel knew something was special about Elias; he just did not know what yet. Ansel was also glad to have such a compassionate lover. Only Esther could care so much about someone she barely knew.