Page 9 of Cage of Destiny
“Well, Jarak,” she drawled,attempting to be friendly. “I don’t suppose you have somethingother than fish?” She forced her smile to remain in place so hewouldn’t suspect her of treachery.
He crossed his arms, eyeing her. “Whydo you ask?”
“I can smell citrus. Ithought maybe I could buy a tangerine to ward off the awful smellof fish stinking up my clothes. If I don’t arrive home with mychores done, my mum will wallop my arse, and I smell so bad I can’tgo on like this.”
The other customer left. The oldestboy, Krek, said, “She giving you trouble, Jarak?”
Larek laughed. “Of course she is. Thepretty ones always give him trouble. Since he’s the youngest, he’sthe easiest to dupe.”
Allyssa’s eyes narrowed. Larekappeared to be her age, and Krek a year or two older than that.“Are you boys allowed to man the cart? You look a little young tohandle the responsibility. After all, how do I know that once Ihand over my money, you’ll be able to give me the correct amount ofchange?”
Jarak snorted and elbowedLarek.
“What do you want?” Krekasked.
“I want to buy atangerine.”
Jarak pulled out a tangerine from abasket below the cart. “Your nose led you to the right place. Weuse them on the fish. Gives it a nice flavor.”
Larek hit his brother on the head.“Don’t go waving that around.”
“Why not?” Allyssaasked.
All three boys looked at her as if shewere a daft cow. Glancing behind her, she noticed the street waspacked with people.
Jarak furrowed his brows. “Sincetangerines are expensive, my brother is afraid someone is going tosteal them. Only our richest customers can afford them.”
Oh. Well then. How was she going tosteal them? Three sets of eyes watched her. She didn’t have asingle coin on her body and was at a loss for words. If Grevik werehere, he’d cause a distraction so she could steal them. Maybe shecould manufacture a distraction of her own.
The oldest boy’s cheeks were tingedwith red. How had she missed this before? Batting her eyelashes,she took a step to her right, closer to him. “Have I seen youbefore?” she asked, attempting to flirt. Bloody hell, she sucked atthis.
“Um,” he stammered. “Idon’t know.”
Even though she knew little about thecity due to her mother’s aversion to it, she knew all children wereencouraged to attend school. “You look old enough to have chosen aprofession.”
His cheeks turned even redder. “I’mapprenticing to take over for my father. He owns thiscart.”
Another customer approached, and Larekslapped Krek on the back. He then proceeded to help the man,allowing Allyssa and Krek to resume talking.
She sidled around the side of thecart, closer to Krek. Below the cart, there was a single basketfilled with tangerines. Nathenek had told her to steal six.Carrying that many would be difficult.
“I am also apprenticing formy father,” she said. “He owns a bakery.” Reaching up, she madesure the undershirt below her tunic was tucked into herpants.
“Oh? Which one?”
Blimey.She should have thought of a name before she saidthat. “I… I need to buy some fish and return home to my mum. Um,how much for that one there?” She pointed at a white filet, havingno idea what type it was. When Krek leaned forward to see which oneshe meant, she kicked the basket so it toppled over, spilling thetangerines. They rolled all over the place.
“Blasted!” He knelt andstarted frantically picking them up.
Allyssa bent down to help him. “I haveto get going. How about I clean up while you wrap the fish forme?”
“Yeah, okay. Make sure youget them all. My dad will be furious if any are lost orstolen.”
“I’ll be careful to getthem all.” Guilt washed over her. She couldn’t even look Krek inthe eyes. When he stood, she shoved one down her shirt, her handsshaking. Picking up more, she put them in the basket. What was shedoing? She didn’t even have money for the fish. How would she getout of this mess? Putting a tangerine under her chin, she picked uphalf a dozen more, placing them in the crook of her arm. As she putthem in the basket, she slid another one down her shirt. She didthe same thing again and again, hoping no one realized what she wasdoing. Nathenek said she needed six. So far, she’d managed to getfour into her shirt. She reached under the cart formore.
Jarak bent down to help her. “Getthose ones over there,” Allyssa said, pointing behind him. When heturned around, she slid the last two down her shirt. He plopped thetangerines in the basket. She reached for the last one, grabbing itbefore Larek accidentally stepped on it, and put it in thebasket.
“I think that’s all ofthem,” Jarak said, standing. He reached a hand down to help herup.
