Chapter 69: Fun

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Fun

"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." — Victor Borge

The high mountain pass eventually flattened into the verdant, mist shrouded foothills of the northern frontier.

After three days of frozen shale, thin air, and blood, the change felt almost unreal.

Ahead of them stretched Oakhaven.

The sprawling settlement sat just outside the true borders of the Elven Forest, serving as a crossroads for merchants, adventurers, craftsmen, and travelers from across the northern territories.

Unlike the harsh frontier towns Riven was used to, Oakhaven was alive with color.

Glowing plants grew along the streets, their soft light illuminating wooden buildings and stone walkways. Warm paper lanterns hung between rooftops, swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Elves walked beside humans.

Dwarves argued with merchants.

Adventurers crowded around taverns.

For the first time in several days, Riven could almost forget that people were hunting Lyra.

Almost.

He pulled his hood lower as they entered the town.

His gloved hand rested casually near the hilt of Garreth’s blade.

Nyx had wrapped herself around his neck, her dark body resembling an oversized obsidian collar. Her violet eyes darted constantly from one side of the street to the other.

She seemed far more interested in the food stalls than the people.

Riven could not blame her.

The smell of roasted meat filled the street.

Fresh bread.

Spiced vegetables.

Sweet fruit.

After weeks of traveling through hostile territory, the market almost felt peaceful.

Almost.

Riven glanced beside him.

Lyra looked completely different.

Her eyes were wide.

She kept looking at everything.

The lanterns.

The stalls.

The people.

The food.

Riven had spent the last several days watching her maintain the composure expected of an elven princess.

Now that they had reached a place where nobody knew who she was, that composure seemed to be disappearing by the second.

Then she grabbed his sleeve.

"Riven, look at those."

He looked down at her hand.

Then toward the stall she was pointing at.

A small wooden cart was stacked with crystal berries covered in a thin layer of sugar.

The berries glowed faintly beneath the lantern light.

"Are those sweet?"

Riven looked back at Lyra.

She looked like a child seeing a market for the first time.

Which, in a way, she probably was.

He almost smiled.

"Only one way to find out."

He walked toward the vendor.

The elderly merchant looked up.

"Two copper for a cone."

Riven dropped a silver coin onto the counter.

The merchant stared at it.

"Keep the change."

Riven grabbed a paper cone filled with crystal berries and handed it to Lyra.

She stared at it.

Then at him.

"You bought them?"

"You were staring at them."

"I was only curious."

"Then satisfy your curiosity."

Lyra smiled.

She picked up one of the berries and bit into it.

The expression on her face changed immediately.

Her eyes widened.

A burst of sweet, tart juice filled her mouth.

"Oh."

Riven watched her carefully.

She chewed.

Then smiled.

"These are incredible."

She immediately picked up another.

"Here. Try one."

Riven raised an eyebrow.

"I already know what fruit tastes like."

"You have not tried this fruit."

Before he could respond, Lyra held the berry toward him.

Riven leaned away.

She followed.

"Lyra."

"Try it."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because your treating me like a dog"

"That is generally how people feed someone."

"I can feed myself."

"Then open your mouth."

Riven stared at her.

Lyra grinned.

He should have walked away.

Instead, he sighed.

She popped the berry into his mouth.

Riven froze for half a second.

Then he chewed.

Sweet.

Tart.

Actually good.

He gave Lyra a completely flat expression.

"Satisfied?"

"Extremely."

She laughed.

Riven shook his head and continued walking.

Lyra POV

Lyra could not stop smiling.

She had expected the journey north to be miserable.

She had expected cold mountains, dangerous roads, and endless walking.

She had not expected Oakhaven.

More importantly, she had not expected Riven.

She looked at him as they walked through the crowded market.

He was still wearing his hood.

Still hiding behind his mask.

Still watching every corner and every passing stranger.

Yet somehow, he had just bought her sweets without hesitation.

She had never seen anyone like him.

At the royal court, every gift came with expectations.

A necklace meant political interest.

A flower meant courtship.

A meal meant someone wanted something.

Riven had simply seen her looking at something and bought it.

There had been no hidden meaning.

At least, she did not think there was.

That made the gesture feel strangely special.

"Riven."

He glanced toward her.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

He shrugged.

"You were annoying me."

Lyra smiled.

"I was?"

"You were staring."

"Then I suppose I should stare more often."

He gave her a sideways glance.

She laughed.

They continued deeper into the market.

For the first time in her life, Lyra walked through a crowded town without guards surrounding her.

Nobody bowed.

Nobody whispered about her title.

Nobody cared who she was.

She could simply exist.

The feeling was almost intoxicating.

They passed an open air workshop where a dwarf sat behind a small forge.

He was shaping pieces of mana glass into jewelry and decorative trinkets.

Lyra slowed.

One piece immediately caught her attention.

A delicate silver wired pendant rested near the edge of the display.

A small blue crystal sat in its center, pulsing with a soft aquatic glow.

Lyra reached toward it.

Then stopped.

She glanced at the price.

Too expensive.

She withdrew her hand.

"It’s beautiful."

Riven had already noticed.

Before Lyra could say anything else, he stepped toward the counter.

"How much?"

The dwarf named his price.

Riven dropped the required coins onto the counter.

Lyra blinked.

"Riven..."

He picked up the pendant and tossed it gently toward her.

She caught it against her chest.

For several seconds, she simply stared at him.

"You bought it."

"You liked it."

"You did not even ask me."

"You would have said no."

Lyra looked down at the pendant.

Then back at him.

"You really are strange."

"So I have been told."

She carefully fastened the pendant around her neck.

The blue crystal rested against her chest.

For some reason, the simple gift meant more to her than all of the jewelry she had received from the royal court.

She touched it gently.

"Thank you."

Riven only nodded.

Riven POV

They spent the next hour wandering through Oakhaven.

It was not part of the plan.

Riven had intended to find a reliable inn, gather information about the road into the Elven Forest, and determine whether the bandits had already sent word ahead.

Instead, Lyra kept finding things she wanted to see.

A weaponsmith demonstrating enchanted blades.

A baker selling cinnamon bread.

A stall displaying small magical creatures.

A group of musicians playing near a fountain.

Riven should have been irritated.

He was not.

For once, there were no contracts.

No targets.

No blood.

No corpses.

Just a crowded street and a girl who seemed determined to experience everything she had been denied.

Eventually, dusk settled over Oakhaven.

The glowing plants beneath the canopy became brighter as the natural light faded, bathing the streets in shades of green, blue, and violet.

Riven and Lyra eventually settled at a quiet outdoor table beside a street side tavern.

A pair of cups filled with warm spiced cider rested between them.

Nyx sat beneath the table, happily picking at a small plate of roasted river fish.

Riven leaned back in his chair.

For the first time that day, he relaxed.

Not completely.

Never completely.

But enough.

Across the table, Lyra rested her chin in her hands.

She had been staring at him for nearly a minute.

Riven raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Her smile softened.

"You’re actually a lot softer than you pretend to be, Riven."

He took another sip of cider.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

A teasing smirk appeared beneath his mask.

"Careful, Your Highness."

He leaned forward slightly.

"Keep saying things like that, and people might start thinking you actually like me."

Lyra POV

Lyra’s cheeks immediately warmed.

She had not expected him to say that.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then she smiled.

She could hear her heartbeat.

It was fast.

Far too fast.

But she did not look away.

"Maybe I do."

She said teasingly back.

Riven went quiet.

For once, Lyra had managed to surprise him.

She smiled into her cup.

The glowing plants above them swayed gently in the evening breeze.

And for the first time since leaving the elven court, Lyra felt like she was exactly where she wanted to be.