Adalynn was finishing packing her things when someone knocked on the door. “Come in,” she called. The door creaked open and Seth entered, a grin on his face.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked, grabbing her pack.

He just grinned wider. 

“What are you smiling for?”

“Okay,” he said, taking her bag and setting it down. “I know you want to move on, but hear me out.” He leaned against the wall. “You’ve never been to a trade fair, have you?”

She rolled her eyes. “Seth, you can’t seriously be thinking-”

“Have you?”

She sighed and shook her head. 

“Well neither have I. This is a really great opportunity, Adalynn. We should relax a little and have some fun. I promise that afterwards, we’ll head out, but this festival is a big deal around here, and it could be just what we need.”

Adalynn hesitated. “I don’t know, Seth,” she admitted. “I mean, we don’t even know if we’re still being followed. We have a plan; we should just stick with it. Make it to Summerbalt. And besides, we don’t have a lot of money we can spare.”

“We can buy some stuff to sell for more down the road. What do you think?”

She didn’t answer.

“Adalynn, come on. You’ve been on edge basically since we met.”

She shot him a look. “I was being hunted, in case you forgot.”

Seth grimaced. “Right.” He took a deep breath. “I want you to be able to have some fun for a change. We haven’t really had time for it. One day, that’s it.”

Adalynn was quiet. He was right that they hadn’t relaxed much since going on the run. She was definitely on edge. She considered it. “Fine. One day.” She dug through her bag and pulled out her coin purse. 

Seth fist-pumped. “Yes! Okay, come on.” He led her downstairs and outside. They were greeted by a view of the expansive beach and waterfront. She gasped. She’d seen the fair being set up when they arrived last night, but she never would have guessed it to be like this.

Colorful booths lined the raised road of the waterfront, extending back down the streets of Spallock. Large flags blew in the breeze, and more stalls had been set up along the beach and docks. Adalynn could hear music coming from somewhere in the mix, and the smells of exotic foods and goods filled the air. 

“Wow,” she said. “This is amazing!”

Seth grinned. “Shall we?” He scanned the fair. “It looks like the booths down by the water are selling goods; I think the food and games will be up on the road here and in the town. What do you want to do first?”

“I’m following you,” she replied, wide-eyed. “I don’t have the slightest clue.”

He laughed. “Let’s start in the town and work our way down.”

She nodded and followed him into the fair.

✦✦✦

The town square was bustling more than ever. A group of musicians had set up by the fountain and were playing a light-hearted tune. The sounds of flutes, violins, and drums rang through the square. Colorful stands and tables were running all kinds of games, and all sorts of delicious smells from various food carts drifted through the air.

“Wow!” Adalynn pointed to a booth where visitors could throw bean bags and attempt to land them in a small basket. “Think you’d be good at that?”

Seth grinned. “Is that a legitimate question?”

They made their way over and Seth paid the one coin fee. They were each handed three bean bags; red for Adalynn and green for Seth. “Whoever makes the most throws is the winner,” the man running the game said.

Adalynn tossed her first bag and came up short. She groaned when Seth chuckled. “I’d like to see you do better,” she said.

“Gladly.” He pulled his arm back and tossed his bag; it bounced off the rim and into the dirt. She shot him a look. “Closer than you got,” he defended.

Adalynn just barely made her second throw. She grinned. 

The final score was two to one, with Seth securing the win.

“That last one was a lucky shot,” Adalynn insisted as they moved on.

“Well even if it was, I still won.”

They wandered past a cart, and Adalynn stopped. “What is that?” She read the sign on the cart. “Lemon water?”

The woman behind the cart smiled. When she spoke, she had a very distinct accent. Braecian, Adalynn realized. “Oh yes, we have nice, cool water, and then I just squeeze some of this lemon juice in it, see? And now I add a little bit of sugar. These lemons were picked right before they were shipped out. And this is fine sugar, too.”

Adalynn felt a hand on her shoulder. “Do you want to try some?” Seth asked. 

“I only charge one coin per glass,” the woman said. “There’s another vendor down by the water with the same stuff, but he charges two.”

“I can pay for this one,” Adalynn said. “We’ll take two, please.”

Seth protested when she tried to pay, but she insisted. Finally, he gave in. She took a sip of the glass that was handed to her and smiled. It was very tart, but the sugar added a nice sweetness to the drink. It was very refreshing. She told the woman as much.

“Oh thank you!” she said. “I hope you two have a wonderful time today.”

They thanked the woman and Seth led Adalynn to another booth, this one featuring a ring toss game. Adalynn was determined to win this time.

✦✦✦

They played a few more games and tried a few snacks that were offered, then they began to work their way down to the beach. “This looks like where most of the trading takes place,” Seth commented as they reached the boardwalk. “Where to first?”

Adalynn’s gaze swept the scene, popping the last of a Goscan pastry into her mouth. There were so many booths, she hardly knew where to start. “You go first,” she said. 

He looked around, squinting in the sun. “Ooh, that one looks cool,” he said, taking her hand. The action surprised her, and she felt herself blush slightly, but she didn’t pull away.

She followed him to a stand near the front. A canvas awning had been strung up over the stand, and the hand-painted sign advertised Atharen metalworking. 

“Interested in a new knife?” the merchant asked, his voice gruff. 

Seth leaned down to inspect one of the blades on display. “Possibly,” he muttered. He gestured to it. “May I?”

The merchant nodded, and Seth carefully picked up the knife. Adalynn looked over his shoulder, extremely aware that he was still holding her hand. The hilt was sturdy, and the blade looked razor-sharp. It was simple, but appeared functional. It was actually quite beautiful. 

“This was made in Athar, from Atharen metal,” Seth told her. “They have some of the best metalsmiths in the world.” He glanced up at the merchant. “How much?”

When he heard the price, he whistled. “Well, this is definitely worth that price. Unfortunately, I can’t afford it.” He set it down. “Beautiful knife, though.”

They continued down the row of stands. Adalynn saw a couple selling woven tapestries, and went over to admire their work. The tapestries were beautifully detailed, the threads seeming to shine as they caught the light, and she complemented the couple on their wares. As she turned back, another stand caught her eye, and she went to look at it. The man there was selling small glass trinkets, and the sign informed her that they were from Nesharia. One in particular caught her eye, and she leaned closer. 

The necklace was laid out on the table. She carefully picked it up and studied the charm. A tiny disk of clear glass encased a single, perfect cherry blossom, a tiny leaf still attached. She glanced up at the man. “This is amazing!” she said. 

He smiled in thanks. “The necklaces always get lots of attention. That one is my favorite, personally.”

“It’s very beautiful.” The small flower brought back childhood memories of the cherry tree in the garden of the castle, the one she used to climb every summer, much to Lester’s dismay. He would always worry she would fall. She smiled.

Suddenly, a voice called her name, and she shot a glance behind her to see that Seth had gotten ahead of her. She gently set the necklace down and excused herself, jogging to catch up. She found Seth at a booth selling leather goods. Peering over his shoulder, she saw the horse halter he was interested in. 

“Oh that’s perfect!” she said, remembering how his old one was on the verge of breaking.

“That’s what I was thinking.” He reached into his pocket and paid the merchant, who wrapped the halter in a cloth bag for him. He thanked the merchant, and they continued on.

Adalynn stopped at the next stand. Bunches of dried plants had been hung from the framework, and shelves in the back were lined with vials, bowls and jars. The vendor running the stand was a tan, dark-haired girl who looked no older than fifteen. She had her feet propped up on one of the tables.

“Can I help you?” the girl asked, sounding bored. 

“What is it that you’re selling?”

“Medicine,” the girl responded, like it should have been obvious. “I’m a healer.”

Adalynn hummed to herself. She scanned the stall. She recognized a few of the plants, but everything else looked foreign to her. A lot of them probably were.

“Looking for anything specific?”

She considered. “Do you have anything that can help with muscle soreness?” she asked. That had been an issue while travelling; if there was something this girl had that could ease their travelling pains, Adalynn wanted to know.

The girl stood from the wooden chair she’d been lounging in. “I’ve got a salve made from rosemary and chickweed. It can help muscle pain.”

“How do you recommend using it?”

The girl shrugged. “Not too often, and not as a preventative measure. You only need a little bit, but it’s a topical ointment.”

Adalynn nodded thoughtfully. Pulling out her coin purse, she told the girl she’d like a small supply.

The girl reached over and took a small jar from the shelf. 

Adalynn paid for it, and the girl wrapped it in a light cloth. She thanked her and caught up with Seth.

“Get distracted again?” he teased lightly.

She held up the jar and told him what it was.

“That’ll come in handy.” He glanced around at the vendors. “Are you hungry? I hear that there’s some pretty good lunch options here.”

“I am, actually. I saw a few food carts back there.” 

He grinned. “I’ll follow you, then. Whatever looks good.”

She wove through the crowd back towards the food vendors. The one at the end of the row was selling bowls of rice and beans from Swace, and she took a closer look. There was some sort of sauce on the rice, and it smelled delicious. “What about this one?”

He nodded. “Looks great.” He gestured to the small line of people. “Would you hold us a spot? I’m going to go look at something, but I’ll be right back.”

She nodded, and he disappeared into the crowd. She glanced up at the sun. It was shortly after noon; the first part of the day had flown by. 

They were next in line when Seth returned. Adalynn shot him a questioning look. He just shrugged and slipped the small package he was holding into his pocket. 

They each bought a bowl of rice and beans, and Seth led her to one of the benches overlooking the docks. She took a bite and started in surprise. The sauce was warm and spicy. She mixed it into the rice and took another bite. It was delicious!

They ate in silence. Adalynn reflected on the day so far, from the games to the shops. She was glad she’d agreed to this. She remembered seeing a stage the next block over; some sort of free show. She was about to mention it to Seth when he started coughing.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded and cleared his throat. “I’m fine.” 

“Okay,” she said skeptically. “So-”

She broke off as he coughed again, harder this time.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked again. “Let me get you some water-”

“No, I’m fine,” he insisted, but barely finished before another bout of coughing shook him. 

“You’re not fine,” Adalynn said, setting her half-empty bowl aside and standing. She could feel concern start to take hold of her. “Come on, let’s find you some water.”

When Seth didn’t stand up and instead doubled over coughing, Adalynn began to really worry. She looked around for anything or anyone who could help. 

They were starting to get odd looks from the people around them, but no one stopped. Seth took her hand. “I’m okay,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Really.”

She raised an eyebrow as she sat next to him. “Are you sure?”

He nodded, but Adalynn still wasn’t buying it. He tried to take a deep breath, but it was shaky and sounded painful. “Can you swallow water?” she asked.

He shrugged, but couldn’t say anything as he cleared his throat again.

Adi’s worry grew as his breathing got more raspy. She stood back up and looked around desperately as another bout of coughing shook him. She was about to stop the first person that passed when she saw a familiar and friendly face. “Owen! Over here!”

Their friend grinned when he saw her. “Adi! How are you-” he frowned in concern when he saw Seth. “Is he okay?”

Adalynn shook her head, suppressing panic. “I don’t know if he choked or what, but-” She was cut off by Seth having another coughing fit.

“I think I know someone who can help,” Owen said, taking Seth’s arm. 

“No. I’m oka-” Seth coughed again, pulling his arm out of Owen’s grasp.

 Adalynn flinched in worry when she saw that his face was red from coughing. “Seth,” she said firmly. “I don’t care if you think you’re fine, we’re getting help.” She turned to Owen. “Lead the way.” 

They followed him as he quickly left the boardwalk and headed for the merchant stalls. They weaved among shoppers and traders, receiving curious looks as they went. Adalynn kept a loose grip on Seth’s elbow.

Owen stopped in front of a stall. “Sandra, we need your help,” he said, slapping the table.

Adalynn realized they were at the healer’s stall; the bored teenage girl Adalynn had bought from earlier. She frowned in surprise. Owen knew her?

The healer- Sandra- took her feet off the table and rolled her eyes. “What now, Owen?” Her expression changed when she saw Seth. “What happened to him?” she asked, her tone less harsh and more business-like. 

Adalynn shrugged. “He can’t stop coughing,” she said in concern. “We were having lunch and-”

Sandra came around to the front of her stall and cut Adi off. “Bring him back,” she said. Seth seemed to have resigned to seeing a healer, but he didn’t look happy about it. Thankfully, he didn’t try to speak. They crowded into her stall and Sandra dropped the curtain.

“What were you having for lunch?” Sandra asked as she scanned her shelves.

“We got some rice and beans from one of the vendors on the street,” Adalynn answered, unsure of what that had to do with Seth’s condition. 

“Did it have spicy or seasoned sauce?”

Adi nodded. “How did you-”

Sandra grabbed a few jars and a covered bowl. “Most likely thing is that he’s having a reaction to something that was in your food. It’s not uncommon, but it can be dangerous. I had some of the same stuff earlier, and it has mustard seed in it. That's probably what caused it.” She turned to Seth. “Symptoms?” she asked.

“Coughing, my throat and mouth are burning,” he answered, his voice low and scratchy. “Hard time breathing.”

Sandra nodded. “Does it feel like you can’t breathe or just that it’s hard to?”

He shook his head. “Just hard.”

Sandra immediately began measuring and mixing the contents of the supplies she’d grabbed into a smaller bowl. “How long ago did this start?” She directed the question at Adalynn.

“About ten minutes,” she answered, giving it her best guess.

Sandra nodded as she finished the mix. She handed the tiny bowl and a matching spoon to Seth. “Turmeric, chamomile, and honey. Take it all,” she instructed.

As Seth complied, Sandra pulled Adalynn and Owen aside. “It’s not fatal, and he should be back to normal in about an hour.”

Adalynn sighed in relief, and Owen grinned. “Thanks, Sandra. You’re the best.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s my job, Owen.” Then, under her breath, “try-hard. I swear, this boy…” 

She continued to mutter as she cleaned up. “Did she call you a try-hard?” Adi asked quietly.

Owen nodded, his grin unwavering. “Yeah.” Seeing her puzzled expression, he elaborated. “We grew up in the same village. Apparently I annoyed her a lot. Actually, she’s also pretty irritating, now that I think about it- anyway, it’s a whole big thing.”

“Uh-huh…” she shook her head to clear it and turned to him. “We owe you again, Owen,” she said. “Thanks for your help. We could have had bigger problems if it wasn't for you.”

Owen shrugged. “Ah, no problem.”

Adalynn turned to Seth. “How are you feeling?”

He shrugged. “Don’t think I’m gonna start coughing again.”

“You should stay here for about an hour so I can keep an eye on your symptoms,” Sandra called to him. “There’s a few chairs behind the booth; I have to stay inside to keep it running, but you two can stay in the back. Tell me if something happens.”

Adalynn nodded and led Seth behind the booth. As she did, she could hear Owen chuckle. “What, I can’t stay?”

Sandra barked a laugh. “No. I have a job to do, remember? You should probably get back to your ship, Sailor Boy.” Adalynn could practically hear her rolling her eyes.

A moment later, Owen stuck his head around back to say goodbye. “We’re staying with the ship for the next few days if you ever need me again,” he said. “Then we all head home for the season. Feel free to stop by if you’re ever in Newart.”

Adalynn smiled in thanks. “Take care, Owen.”

He grinned and waved, then disappeared. 

Adalynn turned to Seth, who was beginning to breathe easier. “Is that stuff working?”

“I think so.” He rubbed his face. “I’m sorry, Adi. I was hoping this would be a nice break.”

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just happy you’re not dying.” A twinge of guilt hit her. “I should have picked a different cart.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “You couldn't have known either. Like you said, I’m not going to die.” He gave her a small smile.

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the fair around them. Adalynn tried to calm her nerves, and even though it seemed like the danger had passed, it was hard. What just happened- it had scared her. And while she’d said it in a joking manner, the thought of Seth actually dying was- wait, when did that possibility become so scary?

She shook her head to clear it and focused on the music drifting through the fair, mingling with the clamor of people. The noise was actually quite relaxing. Someone had stopped at Sandra’s table, and she could make out a few phrases of their conversation. Something about yarrow, she thought. 

Seth dozed off, and Adalynn let him sleep. She picked up a stick off the ground and began sketching in the dirt. She didn’t pay much mind to what she was drawing, and absent-mindedly scratched away.

She thought about the rest of their day. When Sandra cleared them to go, they’d probably just return to the inn. No sense in risking another medical emergency. The trick would be convincing Seth.

Sandra came back a while later and woke him. “How are you feeling now?”

His color had returned to normal and his voice sounded much better, though still a little hoarse. “Good, actually. Normal.” He grinned. “Thank you. How much do we owe you?”

Sandra shrugged. “Nothing. I owed Owen a favor. We’re even now, so I won’t charge. Just stay away from that spice sauce from now on.”

He nodded. “I will definitely do that. Am I cleared?”

“Yes.”

He stood up. “All right, then. Well, thanks again, Sandra.” They said their goodbyes and returned to the street.

“All right, let’s get back to the inn,” Adalynn said as they walked between the stands. 

Seth immediately shook his head. “We still have a few hours of daylight left!”

“And you just had a medical emergency!” she retorted.

“I’m fine,” he insisted. “If I start to feel bad again, we can go back. This is still a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Adi.”

“I know, but what if-”

He caught her eye. “I’m okay. I promise. Besides, we don’t really have anything else to do. No point in leaving town this late in the day, right?”

She groaned, knowing she wouldn’t win this one. “Okay. Fine. But take it easy.” 

He took a drink from the canteen Sandra had given him and looked around. “Now what?”

Adalynn remembered the free show she’d been about to mention earlier. She told him about it.

“That sounds like fun,” he said. “Lead the way.” 

✦✦✦

“That was great!” Adalynn laughed as the performers took a bow. The show had been a comedy, and a good one. The actors overdramatized everything to the point where the audience was howling with laughter. 

Seth grinned. “It was definitely a good idea.” 

“Rematch at the bean bag toss?” she asked as they left the stage.

“You’re on.”

✦✦✦

Adalynn lost again. “How are you so good at that?” she demanded. 

Seth just laughed. “Practice.”

She pointed her finger at him. “I will win eventually.”

“If you say so.” They walked past the small group of musicians by the fountain, who had just started another tune. Seth led her to a table by a shop front. “Wait here,” he said. “Since we never finished lunch.”

She frowned slightly but complied. She listened to the music as Seth headed to a vendor across the plaza and purchased two… whatever they were selling. He had a massive grin on his face as he brought them back to the table. She smiled at his excitement.

“Dessert!” he said, setting the plates down. 

She gasped. “I love cheesecake!” Chef Amos made some every year for the Winter Banquet. She thanked Seth and took a bite. This was better than Amos’s, she was shocked to realize. It was rich and creamy, and the crust was crumbly and buttery. It was amazing.

They talked and laughed as they ate. Adalynn felt the knot of worry in her stomach loosen; she was quite relieved that Seth really did seem fine. Or mostly, anyway. She couldn’t help but notice he was more fidgety than normal, and kept messing with something in his pocket. She figured he was just recovering, but he seemed almost nervous about something. She briefly debated asking him, then decided against it; she didn’t want to pry. She just hoped everything was okay.

They spent the rest of the day wandering the streets and looking at all the fair had to offer. Seth bought some olive oil and coffee beans that they could either use or sell, depending on the need. Adalynn picked out a few small pieces of cloth to use for patching. 

Once, they passed by the glass seller’s table again. Adalynn scanned the table as they passed, and saw that the cherry blossom necklace was gone. Her shoulders dropped a little, even though she knew it was silly.

“You okay?” Seth asked, turning around. 

“Hmm? Oh! Yeah.” She shook her head to clear it and they moved on. 

✦✦✦

They made it back to the inn just as the sun was beginning to set. “I can feed the horses,” Adalynn said as they entered the yard. “You look tired.”

Seth was about to protest, then paused. “Alright. Thank you.” He grinned. “In spite of the fact that I almost died,” he joked, “I had fun today.”

She smiled back. “Me too. Thanks for talking me into going.”

“Thanks for agreeing. Glad you had a good time.” 

They were both quiet for a few moments, and Adi felt herself blush slightly. She dropped her gaze to her feet.

Seth cleared his throat. “Well, good night, I guess.” He pulled open the door and disappeared inside.

Adalynn stood in the yard for a moment. The town was beginning to quiet down; she could hear the faint clatter of stalls closing for the night and the waves in the harbor. It was very peaceful. She entered the small stable at the back and smiled when Millie nickered. “Heya, girl,” she said, fondly stroking her horse’s nose. She refilled their water troughs from the small well outside, and scooped a little grain into their bins. All three of Seth’s horses were well trained, but she still checked their stall gates, just to be safe. Once she was satisfied, she replaced the lantern at the door and went inside. 

The inn was quiet as she climbed the stairs and found her room. She pulled her light jacket off and hung it on the peg as she entered, opening one shutter a crack as she passed the window. As she turned to the bed, she paused. Something was slightly different; not bad, but the room wasn’t as she’d left it. She glanced around and something on the nightstand caught her eye. A small bundle of cloth with a slip of parchment underneath. 

With a mix of curiosity and caution, she moved the bundle and picked up the note.

Stopped by the glass merchant’s table earlier, and thought you might like this.

She cocked her head as she recognized Seth’s handwriting and unwrapped the parcel. He didn’t really-

He did. She carefully picked up the cherry blossom necklace from the cloth, laughing in surprise. There was no way he’d overheard her conversation with the merchant; the fair had been quite noisy. She smiled. He was right, though. She did like it. It was beautiful.

She sat on the edge of her bed as she admired the piece. The sign for the necklace collection had said the man had used real flowers, not fabric, and she marveled at how something so delicate could be preserved so perfectly in glass. 

She’d always loved cherry blossoms. He must have remembered her silly story of the cherry tree. She didn’t think he’d been paying much attention, if she was being honest. She was touched that he would do this for her. 

She held the pendant up to the light; the blossom inside seemed to glow. She hardly registered her smile widening as she set the necklace on top of its packaging on her nightstand. Quickly getting ready for bed, she blew out the lantern and laid down. 

She wasn’t completely sure she wasn’t blushing as the sound of crickets and low voices from the tavern lulled her to sleep a while later.