The night was peaceful and uneventful.
The next morning, the neighbors' rooster crowed:Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!
Liz awoke with a groan, rubbing her eyes as she squinted at the sunlight slipping through a hole in the ceiling. A sudden gust blew through the cracks, making her shiver. She glanced at Doctor Sue, who bundled himself against the sudden wind snugly in his hay, snoring peacefully . He looked as if he expected the world to wait on him. She rolled her eyes.
"Wake up, sleepyhead! We still have to find an inn!" Her voice echoed in the quiet barn.
Doctor Sue jolted awake, blinking in confusion. Sitting up with a grunt, he winced and rubbed his ear. "Lisette!" he grumbled, sounding horrified. "Must you be so loud? Some of us enjoy a little grace in the morning."
Liz crossed her arms with a smirk. "Grace, huh? So that's what you call sleeping in the hay?"
He frowned, flicking bits of straw off his coat, his tone defensive. "The body needs rest, especially a mind like mine. I was, after all, top of my class abroad." He glanced around at the barn and sighed. "Although…this isn't exactly the accommodation I'm accustomed to."
Liz only scoffed, heading outside.
" let's go! We still need to find that inn you keep dreaming of."
---
In the crowded streets, the two were soon turned away from every inn, each one packed to the brim and the rest unfortunately would not accommodate them.They wandered into the market square, where hawkers shouted prices, and people bustled past, negotiating and haggling. Doctor Sue walked with his chin held high, even as he carefully avoided stepping in mud puddles and ducking out of the way of carts.
"Can't believe we're still looking for a place to sleep," Liz muttered, wrinkling her nose at the noise.
Doctor Sue merely shrugged. "The wise know to be patient." Then he added with a smirk, "It's called strategy, something you learn with age."
She gave him a look. "Speaking of 'strategy,' how much money do we have left?"
Without much concern, he casually answered, "Exactly one silver, one small silver, three large bronze, and two small bronze." He folded his arms behind his head as they walked, looking more amused than worried.
Liz blinked, feeling her stomach drop. *Is this what poor feels like?* She could hardly believe it.
Doctor Sue noticed her expression and chuckled in amusement. "You call that poor? Try working all day to earn a single bronze, then figuring out how to pay rent, eat, and save." He shook his head with a wry grin, though a flash of something more deep crossed his face.
"Rent", a bewildered look passed fleetingly by in Liz's head as she followed behind Doctor Sue with his big strides closely . That's a new word, her stray thoughts perfectly captured that of an ignorant young lady.
The festival was still at its encore but it's guests a bit more subdued from the night before. Those who had just arrived at the gate are like those 'two' as they searched for a place to rest. While, the majority, whether they are single or not, are waiting for the main festival during the night. For now, families and those with children enjoyed eachother's company under their own traditional clan rituals. People flood the streets with a smiles ear to ear. Liz payed them some heed and whenever she saw a family passing by, she couldn't help but look at them a second time.
.....
Circling for the 4th time today.
Liz have had it!
And,by now she was panting. She wasn't a knight nor a maid in the first place. Her physique had always been a bit more tamer than a scholarly man. She was about to turn to Doctor Sue to ask for some water when, as they walked, this is what happened:
Doctor Sue kept a watchful eye on the crowd, and that's when a shadow slipped by him, he turned sharply—but only caught a glimpse as it vanished.
Liz saw more and gasped.
"Thief!", She hollered for the first time in her life.
They quickly chased after him. The bustling crowd inbetween them. They tried their even apologizing a lot .Still, The thief was faster and more experienced. He took them through the weave of interlacing streets.
Confusing them with his tactics and the terrain.
It was hard to see his face and the color of his hair changes with hue of the light and shadows. His skin maybe just a bit sunburnt,or shadowed or just tan. It was hard to confirm, except for his voice, that implied he was really a he rather than a girl with a snipped hair all the way to his neck.
The thief laughed,"You'll never catch me".
He strung a rope of hanging clothes and jumped leaving a trail of flying garments at his wake. His boisterous laughter leaving them disgruntled, they roughly waved the clothes away ready to chase when the owner shrieked at Doctor Sue.
"My clothes!"
Doctor Sue knew he was introuble, his gait stopped and he turned to face the healthy middle-aged lady. He tried his best to sound apologetically but his smile just puts him a bit awry as he steps back from the the middle-aged lady who was coming off strong.
Meanwhile, Lisette still chased nimbly with undergarments on her head, she tumbled and rolled at things that the thief used to get them off his trail. Lisette had never looked so embarrassed and furious at the same time. Her previous composed facade had long been long lost , trampled and stepped on by that thief. And, that thief?
The thief had dashed left from the nearest corner he could find. When, Lisette dashed to that same place, that thief had already planned his next route and before turning at next corner. Lisette followed closely only to be beaten to the punch. He didn't forget to be smug about it , too. He kept snickering so Liz was able to find him again fast but He had already crossed the wall. She tried to follow him again but she was too weak.
Behind, Doctor Sue was still caught by the same woman. This time in a rough, strong, relentless grip. He was explaining hard the whole time that he wasn't the one who caused this whole ordeal while pointing at the thief who got away. But, the woman was having none of it, finally Doctor Sue just helped the woman pick up her laundry fresh from the ground. Before, giving a lame excuse and running to Liz before the woman could catch him and make him wash her laundry, too.
Finally, he could leave. He breathed a sigh of relief as he panted breathlessly from the owner that still kept hollering back there. Doctor Sue couldn't care less about that old woman, she made him late. Now, he had to scour the alleyways for Lizette.
Hopefully, she doesn't get mad at him, he thought.