It had only been a few moments after when Timaeus and the Princess parted ways when he had been ambushed by the Athenian and Egyptian had abandoned earlier. "So, how did it go?" Sokari, the latter, asked, wasting no time as he slung an arm around his comrade's shoulder.
Timaeus chuckled at the persistence of the man. Though he didn't blame him. If it had been him in his shoes, he too would be eager to learn all that had happened with the pretty little thing who had somehow managed to miss the Adonises that were this misfit band of musketeers; Timaeus, Adrestus and Sokari. Or at least that's what they all thought of themselves. Whether or not that was actually true was yet to be seen, after all, many people said that Adrestus had a nose too large for his head.
"Later," He said plainly to the other men as he shook his head, making it unclear to them what had actually happened.
Wandering through the stalls again, the three young men continued to make light of the wares as they kept an eye out for the nearest cheap glass of wine. It was an easy thing to do with the varying skills of craftsmanship. Some of the more exquisite statues that were clearly carved by skilled hands, wishing to honor the gods, were spared. Everything else though? It was fair game for the boys who were taking pleasure in the simple things that the festival had to offer. In no time at all, Tim's sides hurt from laughing at the poses Adre and Soki struck as they imitated the ridiculous movements the objects were trapped forever in. They ambled along with no clear path in mind and no desire to spend the money that was burning in his pocket...
That was until Timaeus noticed the necklace.
It shimmered in the afternoon sun, catching his eye from a stall or two away. Moving away from the two other men who were far too occupied with who had a more similar likeness to a figurine of Heracles, Timaeus walked over to investigate. As he got closer he could see that what had caught his eye was a bright and shiny diamond, probably from a Colchian mine if Timaeus's hunch was correct. It had just been a glimmer of light, probably placed by the merchant to draw curious blokes to his stand. Well, it had worked, based on how Timaeus lingered for a moment, letting his eyes pass over the other pieces of jewelry the sleazeball had for sale.
It was beautifully set. A small maroon gemstone took center stage as it was carefully cradled by two thin wires of gold, curled delicately around a thin golden bead that three times the size of the gem. This sat on a beautifully delicate golden chain. Any woman would be lucky to have such an eye-catching piece. However, as Timaeus looked it over, he wasn't thinking of any woman. Instead, he was thinking of a girl. A girl that made his heart pang with just a hint of homesickness as her image popped into his mind.
For some reason, the piece reminded him of his young cousin Roxana.
Now you would never find the girl on any house registry and many people in Eubocris did not know her name, but that was for a good reason. Roxana was the illegitimate daughter of Tim's aunt Isidora. The whole affair had been shrouded in a cloak of shameful mystery and the details of how the young girl came to be eluded her older, doting cousin. That didn't matter though, she was just as much a part of the family as his brothers were. She was the daughter his mother never had and spoiled as a result. Or at least she did when Timaeus had last seen them. That had been several years ago, so the girl might have changed, but when Tim had last been home, she was sweet and empathetic to all creatures of the Gorge, regardless if they were human or animal. She easily was a light in all of their lives and made the miserable life that Timaeus was convinced that he lived a little more bearable.
In fact, if she had been awake when Tim had left, perhaps she might have been the only one to convince him to stay.
She had been eight at the time. Now she was nearly thirteen and Timaeus had little doubt that she was now beginning to think and behave like a lady of the court that she'll never be a part of. Surely she would appreciate a little gift like this to show that Timaeus was still thinking of his family across the Aegean sea as he continued his travels.
So, he reached out to grab it but was suddenly beaten to it by another set of hands, faster and more nimble than he.
Timaeus turned to face whoever had swiped it out of his grasp and was surprised to find himself face to face with another girl, just barely older than the cousin he dearly missed. She was finely dressed, indicating an upper status. Surely she should know better than to do something like that, Timaeus silently thought with a sour look on his face.
"That was rather rude," He said simply, clearly annoyed by the girl's actions. Hopefully, with the push of his stern words would be enough to show the girl the error of her ways so he could buy the necklace and return to his merry adventures.
Oh, little did he know what he had just gotten himself into...
Timaeus chuckled at the persistence of the man. Though he didn't blame him. If it had been him in his shoes, he too would be eager to learn all that had happened with the pretty little thing who had somehow managed to miss the Adonises that were this misfit band of musketeers; Timaeus, Adrestus and Sokari. Or at least that's what they all thought of themselves. Whether or not that was actually true was yet to be seen, after all, many people said that Adrestus had a nose too large for his head.
"Later," He said plainly to the other men as he shook his head, making it unclear to them what had actually happened.
Wandering through the stalls again, the three young men continued to make light of the wares as they kept an eye out for the nearest cheap glass of wine. It was an easy thing to do with the varying skills of craftsmanship. Some of the more exquisite statues that were clearly carved by skilled hands, wishing to honor the gods, were spared. Everything else though? It was fair game for the boys who were taking pleasure in the simple things that the festival had to offer. In no time at all, Tim's sides hurt from laughing at the poses Adre and Soki struck as they imitated the ridiculous movements the objects were trapped forever in. They ambled along with no clear path in mind and no desire to spend the money that was burning in his pocket...
That was until Timaeus noticed the necklace.
It shimmered in the afternoon sun, catching his eye from a stall or two away. Moving away from the two other men who were far too occupied with who had a more similar likeness to a figurine of Heracles, Timaeus walked over to investigate. As he got closer he could see that what had caught his eye was a bright and shiny diamond, probably from a Colchian mine if Timaeus's hunch was correct. It had just been a glimmer of light, probably placed by the merchant to draw curious blokes to his stand. Well, it had worked, based on how Timaeus lingered for a moment, letting his eyes pass over the other pieces of jewelry the sleazeball had for sale.
It was beautifully set. A small maroon gemstone took center stage as it was carefully cradled by two thin wires of gold, curled delicately around a thin golden bead that three times the size of the gem. This sat on a beautifully delicate golden chain. Any woman would be lucky to have such an eye-catching piece. However, as Timaeus looked it over, he wasn't thinking of any woman. Instead, he was thinking of a girl. A girl that made his heart pang with just a hint of homesickness as her image popped into his mind.
For some reason, the piece reminded him of his young cousin Roxana.
Now you would never find the girl on any house registry and many people in Eubocris did not know her name, but that was for a good reason. Roxana was the illegitimate daughter of Tim's aunt Isidora. The whole affair had been shrouded in a cloak of shameful mystery and the details of how the young girl came to be eluded her older, doting cousin. That didn't matter though, she was just as much a part of the family as his brothers were. She was the daughter his mother never had and spoiled as a result. Or at least she did when Timaeus had last seen them. That had been several years ago, so the girl might have changed, but when Tim had last been home, she was sweet and empathetic to all creatures of the Gorge, regardless if they were human or animal. She easily was a light in all of their lives and made the miserable life that Timaeus was convinced that he lived a little more bearable.
In fact, if she had been awake when Tim had left, perhaps she might have been the only one to convince him to stay.
She had been eight at the time. Now she was nearly thirteen and Timaeus had little doubt that she was now beginning to think and behave like a lady of the court that she'll never be a part of. Surely she would appreciate a little gift like this to show that Timaeus was still thinking of his family across the Aegean sea as he continued his travels.
So, he reached out to grab it but was suddenly beaten to it by another set of hands, faster and more nimble than he.
Timaeus turned to face whoever had swiped it out of his grasp and was surprised to find himself face to face with another girl, just barely older than the cousin he dearly missed. She was finely dressed, indicating an upper status. Surely she should know better than to do something like that, Timaeus silently thought with a sour look on his face.
"That was rather rude," He said simply, clearly annoyed by the girl's actions. Hopefully, with the push of his stern words would be enough to show the girl the error of her ways so he could buy the necklace and return to his merry adventures.
Oh, little did he know what he had just gotten himself into...