Soulless Swordsman-Chapter 54: Trinket

Trinket was right where Fergio said he’d be.

The town of Port Tabara was in a rush, as everyone sought to seek shelter before curfew.

But the young elf boy was in no hurry.

He, along with some other notable fellows, worked to assume a bit of order in the ever-growing chaos and panic that began to consume the streets.

"The rest of you can move to my dad’s shelter house if you currently don’t have a home due to the Greitor attacks. As for you—"

Trinket slammed the stall table of another elf like him, although this one middle-aged.

"The trades can still open tomorrow. You need to seek some shelter, now." He said in a frantic voice.

"This is my only source of income and you want me to abandon it? I have children to feed. I just need one more trade then I can close up." The merchant responded desperately.

Trinket raised his arms in the air in frustration. All around, people darted about like homeless rats. A man pushed passed Trinket, shoving him as if he weren’t there. Another little girl tripped over her untied shoes. A woman by the side screamed of something dangerous, her words lacking any sense.

It seemed Lila was right. The people of this town were more unhinged than Kion could’ve ever imagined.

And it seemed that it was an infectious trait, as he could notice Trinket’s left eye twitch as he glared at the stubborn merchant through all the chaos.

It was a huge burden.

"You want one more trade?" Kion approached the merchant.

"Here." He slammed a silver coin on his table. "I’ll have a dried fish and some cinnamon and paprika. Keep the change, if any."

The merchant’s eyes bulged. He quickly began gathering what was left of his foodstuff and assembled them in bags, just the way Kion had requested.

"Thank you so much, kind sir. The gods must have sent you. Praise be to them." The merchant said in a reverent manner.

In the matter of seconds, he had closed down his shop, running and almost tripping over his own feet in his bid to get home.

You see, what he had given Kion wouldnt have been worth more than twenty bronze coins, and Kion had given him a silver coin, which was equivalent to a hundred bronze coins.

The change was quite excess, and Kion had instructed him to keep it all to himself.

In doing so, he had aided the merchant a little bit more with his trade by gifting him a lot extra. He had also successfully taken care of Trinket’s situation.

So why was the elf boy still glaring at him?

"You think that’s how you’ll gain their trust? By gifting them your money? Let me tell you something..." Trinket said as he approached slowly.

"The people in this town are like hyenas. They only feed off the scraps we give to them. If you give them too much, they’ll take it with the same hunger and greed, and still come back for more, until there’s nothing left."

"I suppose that’s why you take back from them, so they won’t have too much." Kion clapped back, and Trinkets steady gaze wavered for a few moments.

"Precisely." He steadied again, "and that’s how it is around here. That’s how it’s been for the past three years at least. You don’t come here to change that, understood?"

Kion returned his stern gaze for what seemed to be forever. Penelope felt her heart flutter. It seemed the tension between these two was even more than what currently abided in the town.

"As much as I would enjoy to leave you and your neighbours to your mediocre lives, I have a mission to complete." Kion clapped back boldly.

"And I will do what I must to complete my mission." Kion continued. "You either stick with me, or stay out of my way."

The duo stared at each other for another long period. Just when Penelope was thinking that she may have to step in to disguise things, Trinket laughed.

"I knew you weren’t just another spineless royal who would rather hide behind his knights and guards than face his problems like a real man." He said as he extended his arm out for a handshake, one that was well received by Kion.

"I know what you’re here for. Master Fergio had already given me the directive to take you to the manor. I appreciate what you did for me but I’ll let you know I had it covered. And I still stand right by what I said. Don’t give these people too much, it may get you killed."

"That’s not something I’m very familiar with." Kion said with a coy smile.

"What? Giving strangers coin, or dying?" Trinket asked.

"Both actually. You’ll find that I’m not easy to convince, or kill."

"I trust you on that." Trinket chided. He glanced behind Kion to the rest of the group that were waiting on his escort.

"Alright then. You all should follow me. That manor is further inland."

***

Lord Fergio’s manor was huge.

With its sturdy brick walls and soft golden lights glowing from its windows, it looked as though it were a grand sight. A stronghold fit for even a king.

But taking a closer look would’ve revealed the uglier details.

Windows were smashed in at several spots within the building, the stone walls were heavily eroded—tiny weeds sprouting from their many cracks—and the roof that multiple holes punched through its terracotta surface.

Trinket escorted the group to their separate corners. Rooms were limited, so they could only manage to occupy only two. Kai and his knight, Sir Gaius would stay in one, while the other would be for Kion and Penelope, his personal maid.

"I know it’s not a castle, but please manage. It’s the best we can do for now." Trinket said as he slammed the door to Kion’s room shut, leaving him and Penelope to settle down.

The rooms were adequate, not too worn down but also nothing near fancy either. With its cracked flooring and blemished walls, Kion’s room had the same touch and feel as the rest of the huge manor.

You could tell that they were both very magnificent in their days.

"My, this place must’ve been really beautiful, my lord." Penelope said in awe.

Her eyes roamed every bit of the room, from the worn down paintings to the broken pieces of furniture, before landing on Kion’s bare chest.

"I didn’t realise you’d changed already." She looked away as Kion sank down into the bed, his tiredness basically oozing from his person.

"You haven’t laid eyes on a man without a shirt before?" Kion asked in a tired voice.

"Well, I have, of course. Just not in this, erm, manner." She muttered through closed lips, trying to mask her increasing breathlessness and reddening cheeks.

"In what manner?" Kion laughed. "I’m not in the mood for your teasing, Pen. I’m much too tired to put up with it now. I need to get some sleep, and I suggest you do the same."

The young prince’s eyes were already closing.

"Sleep? Shouldn’t I keep watch, my lord?"

"Oh don’t be silly, Pen. Get some rest." He mumbled.

"But, where do I sleep then? There is only your bed, my lord."

Kion chuckled once more. "You’re too funny," he mused, "where else would you sleep then? Unless you can somehow float while you sleep then I suggest you get comfortable. I left some space for you."

Penelope’s heart fluttered so fast she stuttered. "Ummm, okay."

She lay right next to Kion, observing the grooves and muscles that adorned his back. She made sure to give him good enough space as well.

"Good night, Pen." Kion mumbled. It seemed as though he would go to sleep any moment.

Meanwhile, Penelope’s heart burned with somethung unexplainable. Something she could not put into words. She wasn’t sure what she would say if she told him, but she knew that she had to.

"Umm, my lord? Kion?" She said after a moment’s hesitation.

"What is it?" Kion groaned. He was just a whisker away from the land of dreams.

"I wanted to tell you that I—"

Penelope’s eyes flashed to the window. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Just outside, beyond and into the darkness, she could swear that she saw a shadow flash by.