The Midnight Market Extract

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:: Tales from Carnia

Talan didn't know when he first became aware that someone was watching him, it just seemed that suddenly he could feel eyes burning into his skin, watching him. Lifting his head he saw a boy standing across from him beneath a tree hung all over with lanterns. The boy was about Talan's age, sixteen years old, or so, and thin, almost delicate. He was dressed in simple clothes, breeches and a tunic, and he didn't seem to be aware of the cold winter's air even though Talan knew he was freezing despite having his fur-lined cloak wrapped around his shoulders. The boy's face was cast heavily in shadow, but Talan could see enough of it to know that he was somehow familiar.

“Why are you staring at me?” Talan shouted across at him, earning a few odd looks from the merchants and shoppers nearby. “Do you want something?” The boy didn't answer so Talan got to his feet, tucking the bag of chestnuts safely away in his breech pocket, and walked toward him.

The boy turned and ran away, pushing through the crowd, heading towards the middle of the market.

Without hesitation, Talan ran after him.

The other boy was fast. He weaved his way in and out of the shoppers and market stalls as though they weren't there, while Talan found himself slowed down by the throng of people, yet the boy never got far enough ahead for Talan to loose sight of him and Talan knew, somehow, that he was actually waiting for him to catch up.

Finally the boy stopped at the mouth of a small alleyway that led off from the main market street and disappeared between two houses. Now that they were standing so close to each other, Talan could see him better. He was very handsome, with short blond tousled hair and large blue eyes. He had a half smile on his face and a nervous look in his eyes and there was something about that expression that seemed very familiar to Talan, although he couldn't say how. All he could do was stand in the mouth of the alley staring, in confusion and half remembered recognition, at the boy who stood staring back.

Then the blond youth turned and started to walk down the alleyway. Without another thought Talan started to follow him, but a large hand closed around his shoulder and spun him roughly around.

Talan stared up into his father's furious brown eyes and swallowed. “I'm . . . I'm sorry,” he said. It was the only thing he could think of to say.

Davin's strong hand closed around his arm. “You will be,” he replied simply.

As Davin started to drag him back through the crowded market, towards their home, Talan turned to look behind him, back towards the alleyway, but there was no sign of the boy. He had gone.

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