| When it was time for them to leave, Isabella wanted to go with them. She had made friends with their youngest daughter, Lorena and wanted to see the world and have adventures too. Of course, her parents stopped her and she had to say goodbye to her dear friend but occasionally Lorena would send her long letters accompanied with some exotic souvenir. Even now, Isabella could still picture Lorena’s dark, pretty face and blue eyes. Isabella greeted her mother with a smile. Her mother stopped a moment to smile back before she began to move about again. Isabella laughed quietly and shook her head as she served herself breakfast. “Oh, Isabella dear.” “Yes mother.” “Have you seen Gabriel this morning?” “Last time I saw him he was fighting with the newcomer outside.” “Oh no. He’s still arguing? Can you go and see if you can get him away? I’d hate to have him scare away a customer.” Isabella laughed. “Yes mother. I’ll do that right now.” “Thank you darling child.” Isabella abandoned her food and went outside where, sure enough, Gabriel was arguing with the stranger. She sighed as she saw him. His black hair was all messy and his green eyes were dark with anger. She too had black hair like his but she had deep violet eyes, a rare trait among the family. Her father had told her that she was marked by the faeries and that is what she liked to believe. Leisurely, she strolled over to the two gentlemen. “Is there something wrong, Gabriel?” she asked concerned. “This man here is trying to con me!” Gabriel yelled. “I assure you, sir, that I am being perfectly fair.” The stranger replied calmly. “May I inquire as to what started this argument?” Isabella queried. “He asked for a room at the inn and when I gave it to him he tried to give me these funny looking coins! He’s trying to get out of paying real money!” Gabriel glared at the man. “They are not ‘funny looking coins’, as you so eloquently put it. They are the currency of my realm and that’s all I have.” “Let me see one of those coins.” Isabella requested. “Here.” Gabriel shoved one of the disks into Isabella’s palm. Isabella examined the coin. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. It was oval and had strange symbols carved. Holding it up to the light, she saw that it was real gold, something that is worth much in these parts. |