She huffed out a long breath and slightly glared at me. So, In an attempt to finally switch topic to something lighter, I suggested: "Do you want to go eat something now?" She immideantly calmed down, grinned and nodded while muttering something about how she could eat a whole horse. "How about we get fried cricket skewers at Jaswyn's market stall?" I know she loves them so it was always the first thing I suggested, even when they tasted like mud to me. There is this shine in her eyes whenever I suggest to get them that I love to see, she deserves to be happy. Of course, like every time, she answers "If you want to" because she doesn't want to admit just how much she loves them but the tone in her voice and the look in her eyes immediately show her true emotions, she's always been an open book to me.
About ten minutes later we stood in front of Jaswyn's market stand and Eloria was humming in delight as she took a bit of one of the two cricket skewers she was currently holding. "Tasty?" I asked grinning, already knowing the answer. She just made an acknowledging sound, too busy with her food to answer me. The smell of the skewers makes me a feel a bit sick but to see her happy face, I would probably eat a whole mountain of them even though I hate them as much as I do. My gaze wanders to my surroundings to let her enjoy her favourite food without getting interrupted. As I look down one of the alleyways my eyes collide with something interesting: A pair of eyes, yes, that alone wouldn't be suspicious but it's the colour of them that unsettled me, I've never seen eyes so strangely coloured, one eye blue and the other one a deep...purple...? They were clearly looking my way when I spotted them but the moment our eyes met the other person quickly averted their gaze and disappeared into the crowd. "What the...?" "What's going on?", Eloria asked, giving me her attention back because she finished her skewers. "I just thought I saw something...strange, but forget about it, it's fine." I wasn't even sure if I imagined the colour and it was surely just a coincidence our eyes met so I shouldn't tell her, she would just worry over nothing. "Hey kids, everything alright?", Jaswyn asked from behind her side of the counter.
We come here at least once a week, so we formed a friendship with her over the years despite our age difference, she was also the one who taught me most of my sword skills. Until a few years ago she was one of the best royal knights the kingdom has ever seen but due to a heavy injury she received in the battle of talvamari she became unable to fight and had to leave the knights. After that she wanted to have a calm, peaceful life in a smaller townand moved here from the capital of the kingdom, well, too bad, I kept annoying her until she agreed to train me - I was a very stubborn child - so she still picks up her sword now and then when she's needed.
"Yeah, it's nothing, I was just daydreaming, no need to worry." I quickly explained, it's not that I'm uncomfortable with her or anything, no, she's my mentor and role model, but she's still quite intimidating. 'Maybe that's why she has practically no costomers', I thought to myself. Jaswyn is very different from other women. She's really huge and muscular. When we were younger Eloria and I always made up stories about how she's half bear and honestly, it's a good comparison, she could probably crush windpipes with just one hand if she needed to. Her greying hair is always in warrior braids, letting her rather dark skin and brown eyes stand out even more.
She always looks ready for a fight even though she doesn't get involved in fights often anymore and that's part of why I like her so much, if necessary she wouldn't just fight to protect herself, I know she would enjoy crushing the person that dared to challenge her. With us she really is more like a mother bear though. "Okay then. Have you both eaten enough? You can't just always eat cricket skewers, Eloria, they are too little to be counted as a real meal and you two are still growing!" Jaswyn said as she looked us up and down with worried eyes. "We are seventeen years old, we are practically adults, I don't think we will grow anymore.", I countered, she really does worry to much about us, we will be just fine.
" You are both still toddlers in comparison to me, at least in size, I really hope the both of you grow up a bit more, then I wouldn't have to worry so much about the two of you, especially you, Eloria. And even if you don't, your body needs the nutrients for other things too. Like your sword practice, Khestri. Promise me that you two will eat more when you get home." Jaswyn demanded of us and her look made it clear that she's not going to accept a 'no'. I smiled up at her, "Promise." And after Eloria promised it too we said our goodbyes, split up and started walking towards our homes. But even though I promised, I'm not even sure we have anything edible at home.
My mother died in the great battle of talvamari like many other warriors and after her death my father drank himself to his grave too, he just loved her too much and her loss broke him. Lovesick fool. I'm never going to become like him.