"Your eyes have their own voice, never forget."
_
Dana, in her seventeen years of existence, had never seen a gold coin, let alone touch one—until now. She stared at it hard, baffled she tried to look at the man, but her eyes were quickly drawn back to her palm. She couldn't believe it!
Almost reverently she held it between her thumb and index finger. Her lips quivered slightly, then she bit it gingerly. Dana knew it had something to do with authenticity but she really didn't know what traders supposed to feel.. or taste. She still did it though since that was what her father said and she was selling something, she figured she might as well look the part.
The man was looking at her keenly, if he noticed her trembling hands—which Dana was sure he did—he was kind enough to keep his thoughts to himself. Unfortunately, the same thing couldn't be said about her little brother.
This irritating child gave her a funny look, with a pompous voice he said, "You're biting it wrong, Dee." All the while shaking his head. Dana exasperated quickly tried and gave him a look, pleading him to shut up, she then slid her eyes to the buyer for emphasis.
They would be easy marks if people knew they weren't from the capital, it was common knowledge, but of course Khal, her nine-year-old brother would not know. He mistook the look as admission and was instead encouraged to speak his mind even more.
"You do it like this Dee.. you put it in the corner—see? You don't bite coins with your front teeth! And why bit so gently, you aren't biting a bread—stop looking at me like that you know I make sense. There! look at that merchant--"
Dana was aware of how limited her knowledge with regards to things outside her world—which comprised only of their home and the forest that surrounds it—but she was determined not to give themselves away. Hapless though her stupid bite exposed them and her brother's brash mouth wasn't helping either.
Her thoughts were cut off by a hearty laugh, "From North?" asked the man seconds after.
They spent 6 silvers for their attire, just to pull the badly off city-bred look, with that amount their family could buy a fat sheep for winter and Abba would not need to go out hunting for hours then silently endure the pain from his limp all night long.
The man's gaze was warm enough but Dana wasn't planning to drop the pretense anytime soon. She smiled, "I wish sometimes.. sadly born and raised here." she managed to give him a little shrug before looking away.
The palm that wasn't holding the coin suddenly felt clammy, thoughtlessly she wiped it on her side. This, of course, did not pass the man's eyes unnoticed so he tried to smile even more kindly.
"This place is not as bad as you think lass. You passed through the Ibstra's gate, did you not? Checkpoints are stricter now, need certain papers you know what I mean? Armed guards everywhere I'm sure you noticed eh? There used to be none, lucky if you found one patrolling in daylight believe me. Things have changed missy. You do trouble here, you trouble yourself."
Their buyer was a heavy-looking man and appeared to be at the same age as their father. He had a balding head, wide nose, and bushy brows. There was also a very noticeable scar—awful was Dana's first thought—that ran diagonally across his face, right under his left eye down to the right side of his upper lip.
He was not very pleasant to look at, she decided, but he certainly had a pleasant personality. He was trying to ease her, and it was welcome, more so, needed. Finally, she decided to return his smile, genuinely this time.
"We came from Nedava," she admitted, "small village up north, just below the border." The man was clearly pleased that she confided. Her brother scoffed then scrunched his nose--again. She ignored him.
"I had a hunch, " he replied with a chuckle. Dana was surprised, of course, she was particularly careful not to show a hint of Northern accent. She waited for him to continue.
"An acquaintance of mine also has that mark engraved on the back of his hand." he elaborated. As soon as the word 'mark' left his mouth, her eyes immediately moved to his brother's hand, which to her horror, was ungloved. She audibly gasped.
"K-Khal! You rascal have you gone mad--put it back on! What were you thinking?! I told you! I told you, didn't I!? Father would have--" her outburst caused nearby folks to turn their heads, but Dana paid them no heed, her focus was pointed only at her brother. She continued to berate him, her coin and customer completely forgotten.
"I-I was hot Dee, I wanted to take it off--" he glanced upward and met her sister's reprimanding eyes, "but only briefly I swear! I thought I--" he bowed and took a breath, "I forgot to put it back on, I'm sorry." he finished in a low voice. Dana then realized she was holding her breath, she exhaled, this simple action helped her steady herself.
She knew her brother so she waited expectantly. Khal apologizes when it's due, but always he would reason, to try to lessen his misdeed, so he can assuage some guilt. For now, he lacks the self-awareness to realize this, understandably so since he's still a child and Dana could only be patient.
She watched as Khal's eyebrows slowly furrowed, then he looked up defiantly, "But it wasn't even that long. I only pulled it when we ate at Barbs. It's hot in there Dee. And that place was packed, you said so yourself! I'm sure no one looked. Besides, if Abba's here he'd let me take it off because he knows wearing this gets itchy!" he ranted while still pointing at the tavern they have chosen to eat their midday meal. "I know Father, he would," he added, nodding with conviction, then crossed his arms.
"Yes I forgot but it's also your fault because you didn't notice too. And you're older, you're supposed to oversee." he finished, satisfied with his reasoning. Dana was ready to give him a piece of her mind, but their customer beat her out of it.
"Di, is it? It's fine, it's fine, don't fuss over it. People usually have businesses of their own, I doubt they'd pay the boy attention." Dana opened her lips to disagree but the man is now looking at her brother. He touched Khal's head affectionately. "And you lad should have asked Di before taking that off, I don't know what that mark meant—my friend doesn't give much ado about his, but you were ordered by your sister. Overseers are normally obeyed, wouldn't you agree?"
Dana was sure he's referring to a very different kind of mark but decided not to point that out. Her brother regarded the man silently—long enough to make their situation uncomfortable. Their affable customer was clearly expecting some sort of response, and her little brother decided to settle for a hard stare. "Go away. I don't like you." he deadpanned, straight to the man's eyes.
The man blinked twice, then laughed loudly, apparently amused that a boy his age can sound this serious. Khal didn't share his mirth though, at his laugh, the boy's face contorted in irritation, clearly insulted. Back home his friends always take him seriously--even Patar who is 4 years older, listens to him. He was thinking how easily he could wipe that annoying grin off his ugly face--if only he was taller. He clenched his fist, he may not be able to punch him but he can knock some sense to her sister why they shouldn't act so cordial towards this man.
"He stinks Dee!" he whined like a little boy--which he is apparently.
"He stinks!!" he insisted, louder this time as if this was enough to explain his displeasure to the man. Dana was looking at him thoughtfully now, but since she didn't respond the way he wanted her to, he grew more frustrated.
He faced him angrily, "Your voice sounds pleasant and you smile a lot but you reek old man!! I know your smel--" Dana put a hand on her bother's shoulder, then casually squeezed it.
"You stink too little monkey, you haven't had a good bath since we left Ne--no stop it Khal, look at me--this man right here... he's generous and kind, it will do you well if you learn to show some respect, then maybe someday you'd grow up like him." her brother was fuming.
Dana could see it all on his face. He thought she was thinking he disrespected the man because he cannot accept the admonishment and was upset by his lack of serious regard. Dana knew that the latter was most likely true but his 9-year-old ego would not let her brother admit this to himself. Khal felt misunderstood and it frustrated him. For the ninth time, he wished Abba was with them and Dana could only wish the same.
"I see.. not the type who easily accepts counsel, this one," the man said with a patient smile, he gave Dana a look that said, he too understood, as if he found Khal's increasing frustration a mere child's tantrum.
"You said people here have their businesses to attend, the trade is done, yet you're still here wasting your time." her brother voiced.
"And not very fond of me too! Well, smart boy here did say he doesn't like me eh?--wait a second... but maybe, this might change his mind?" said the man to Dana while wiggling his brows suggestively. He then brought out his heavy purse, pulled one gold coin, then another, and another. He reached for her brother's hand, then opened them encouragingly.
Dana barely followed what happened next, her eyes were planted at Khal's enclosed fist, mind still processing. Three gold coins! Not one, but three--no, four in total actually. Four gold coins!! Abba would dance on both feet--with his cane and all. She allowed herself a wide smile, when she looked up, the man was gone.