Erivale Festival
Nolen slowly licked at the dribble of elderberry juice that was trickling out of his pocket pie. Both he and Celyn were better at cooking potions than food and something as tasty as this was a rare treat. Sucking at the juicy pie, his eyes drank in everything around him - the dancers in the village square, the colorful ribbons hung on the stalls, the cluster of men shouting and wrestling for sport and the nearby women cheering (or scolding). As he bit through the flaky crust and walked to the edge of the dancers, he heard a rather shrill laugh to his left. There appeared to be a bit of a commotion. A young lady with curly black hair and striking green eyes was sitting, head turned away from a powerful-looking man who stood close by. The gentleman - for his clothes were clearly those of the landed gentry, if not higher rank - stood with his hand grasping something at his belt. Nolen was about to shrug and walk away when he realized the object in the man's hand was the hilt of a knife.
Surely, he's not going to hurt someone! the boy thought, now caught between confusion and interest. If there was to be a real brawl, he wanted to at least stay and watch. He moved around a stall to see whom the man was facing. His face showed disappointment and scorn when it turned out to be another girl, also in rich clothes.
'Tis but a lover's quarrel, he yawned mentally. Of course, it couldn't be a real fight in the middle of the festival. Nolen turned away and gulped down the last bite of pie. He noticed a tavern sign not far from the square and remembering that he needed a flask of bitter ale for a spell he was attempting make, he began walking towards the door. He heard angry words hurled behind him from the gentry couple, but he ignored it. What cause have the nobles to parade their lives in front of everyone? He thought the scene over once more, and realized why he had thought something might have been truly wrong. It was the face of the green-eyed woman; she looked ill. He dismissed the thought. It was only the heat, he reasoned, and anyway, girls could take care of themselves.