"Are we almost done?"

"We will be soon."

"My feet are hurting."

"We have been here for less than thirty minutes."

Aliana rolled her eyes and readjusted the vegetables in her arms. "You seem to have forgotten that we walked for an hour to get here.

"We will leave soon," she confirmed distractedly, her attention focused on the booth she was inspecting. "I still need to get you some warm clothes."

"It'll be dark soon," the princess whined. She began bouncing anxiously on the balls of her feet.

Iora rolled her eyes. "We still have a few more hours. We'll get back in time."

"Please just hurry. I'm cold."

She sighed and turned to face the princess. "You whine like a toddler. Calm down."

Aliana responded by raising an eyebrow and pursing her lips.

"You begged me to let you come into town and now you want to leave." She sighed once again. "Fine. That booth over there appears to have coats."

They made their way over to the stand, ducking behind an intimidating man carrying a rather large broadsword and a scowl on his face. The booth they stopped at was a rickety table burdened under the weight of numerous fur-lined vests and capes. Manning the stand was one of the few normal-looking people in the town, a pale, petite woman of about fifty with long brown hair in a thick with strands of gray threaded throughout. She did not seem intimidating like the men around or frightening like the hag selling the vegetables. This woman simply seemed tired.

Iora smiled amicably at her. "Hello, ma'am."

"Good day," the woman nodded back, friendly enough. "I take it ya two need some warm clothes? You obviously aren't from around here."

Aliana, still on edge, perked up at the woman's comment. "How did you know that?"

"Relax, child. It's obvious that you aren't comin' from up North, not dressed the way ya' are. Those clothes you're wearin' are more suited for the southern regions."

"Allan, relax," Iora said in a strained voice, gripping the princess' arm. Although she smiled, her eyes held a warning that seemed to shout Quit acting so paranoid! To the woman, she said conversationally, "You're right. My brother and I are on our way to visit relatives in the Frozen Lands. You can probably tell we've never been there before! The weather got so cold, so quick we were worried we wouldn't be able to get warm clothes before we froze to death."

The woman squinted her eyes at Aliana, slightly confused by her strange behavior. "You were smart to come here," she said tentatively. "This is the last town for a while where ya can buy provisions."

"Really?" Iora feigned surprised. She was acting as if she hadn't engraved the entire map of the kingdom into her brain weeks ago. "I'm glad we stopped here."

"So what exactly are ya looking for? Your brother's clothes clothes seem way too thin, so I recommend for him and new shirt and jacket. Some fur-lined boots wouldn't hurt either. As for you, I would just suggest a jacket or new cape."

"You can tell what we should wear just by looking at us?"

"Your brother is pale and looks frail. It's not hard to guess that the winter is going to take a toll on him. As for you, you're stronger looking and don't seem to be as bothered by the cold. It's not that hard to tell."

Iora nodded, impressed. "How much for a jacket and boots?"

The woman tapped her chin. "How much do you have?"

Aliana realized just how similar she sounded to the old hag selling vegetables. It seemed that Iora had been right when she said that people in the North were poor, and would take whatever money they could get their hands on. At the thought of this, she was instantly saddened. The Frozen Lands were part of her kingdom, and yet they were all much poorer than the other regions. It was unfair and, like many other things, she was determined to change it, although she was not sure how to accomplish that.

The princess could see wheels turning as Iora weighed in her mind the bit of money they had now, how much they would need in the near future, and the true worth of the clothes. She was certain Iora would have offered much more if she could, but that would be unwise even then as it would set the vultures upon them. The guard did not question the saleswoman for a price the way she had with the hag earlier. "Eleven dranyas," she offered.

The older woman nodded, seeming to understand Iora's thought process, there was not haggling or argument when she simply announced, "Done. Now, let's see what fits the best of what I have." She picked up a jacket and pair of boots, handing them over and gesturing for Aliana to try them on. Just as she had rightly estimated what they would need to survive the winter, she had perfectly picked out a jacket and boots for the princess.

Aliana's heart went out to the kindly woman as the warmth of the new clothes invigorated her. "Thank you," she said, hoping the woman did not see the tears of gratitude and charity threatening to well in her eyes.

"No problem." She adjusted the fur-lined cape so it settled comfortably over her petite shoulders. "These will definitely keep you from freezing."

"Thank you," Iora also said. She gladly handed over the coins. She made as if to walk away, but the woman stopped her.

"Here," she whispered, trying as discreetly as she could to slide over a fur-lined cape towards Iora. "For you."

The guard stared in disbelief. "What?"

"You will also freeze if you are not careful. I like you two and it would be an awful shame if you were to die."

"I can't take it." Iora tried to give it back to her. "Eleven dranyas was not even enough for what you gave my brother. Taking this would be theft."

The woman rolled her eyes and snorted. "You wouldn't believe how far even five dranyas would go out here. Besides, you two are some of the only people lately who have bought from me. Most folks that come out here already have all their warm clothes." She looked around briefly to make sure that no one was listening before lowering her voice. "Between you and me, my husband will be so overjoyed at the fact that I made a sale, that he won't question why I only made seven dranyas." She winked and once again handed the cloak to Iora, who wordlessly took it.

Aliana couldn't help but look at the woman with nothing but happiness in her heart. She was so touched by her charity that the day's previous troubles completely left her mind. Clutching her warm cloak to her chest and digging her toes into her boats, she smiled graciously and muttered, with all the gratitude in her heart, "Thank you so much."

She gave a knowing nod. "Your welcome. Good luck visiting your relatives."

"Come, Allan." Iora placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Let's get some warm food from the tavern before we head off."

"Right over yonder," the woman pointed down the street and over a ways. "The only tavern in town. The food is edible, but chew slowly."

"Thank you again," Iora responded before the two women walked away.

"She sure was so kind," Aliana said in a low voice that she hoped only Iora could hear. "She even gave you a cloak."

"Maybe. But if I had offered her any less, I doubt that would have been the case, she was fingering a knife under her stall the entire time. Besides, these clothes are cheaply made, and worth as much as I paid for."

Aliana was astonished. It had never occurred the woman was doing such a thing, and she wondered how Iora knew, but did not ask. She could not blame the woman for having a knife at-the-ready in such a place. She was still contemplating this town and its people when they walked into the tavern and sat down. It was so obvious this pair did not belong that no set of eyes was not upon them for at least a moment or two. The two youths, one a pale female and the other appearing to most as a scraggly male, were out of place among the buff, muscled men and tough-looking women.

"Two bowls of fish stew," Iora ordered when she caught the attention of the tavern maiden who simply nodded and walked away.

Another tavern maiden, resembling more of a wench, with far too much makeup and barely anything on, approached the princess. Without a word, she slid into the booth and draped her arms around Aliana. While running her fingers through the disguised woman's hair, she said to Iora, "I hope you do mind I borrow this cutie for a while."

"Get off me!" Aliana yelled jumping to her feet and trying to shove the maiden away.

Iora rose partially from her seat, her hand flying to her concealed sword. A flash of anger darted through her blue eyes.

All eyes turned to the scene as the tavern maiden brushed herself off, erected herself proudly, and brushed her tangled auburn hair aside. With a huff that betrayed her wounded pride, she sauntered away, off to find her next victim.

The patrons all whistled and whispered at the scene.

"Well, I never...."

"What's wrong with the lad....?"

"Ain't ever seen that happen..."

"Who do these folks think they are?"

As conversation after conversation ensued, the tavern patrons gossiping like old women around a hearth, the poor princess stood in shock and awe. She trembled slightly, not able to shake the feeling of the tavern maid. Iora had to pull her back down to her seat.

"Just ignore them," Iora whispered barely audibly. "This crowd has no morals and doesn't understand those who do."

Aliana receded into her coat. "I just want to eat and then go."

"I know." Iora reached her hand across the table. Aliana took it, grateful for the warmth it provided and how it calmed her nerves. They sat it silence, trying to ignore the whispered conversations around them.

A few minutes later, after much of the gossip had thankfully died off, they were quietly sipping away at their stew. Aliana kept making faces suggesting she found the meal disgusting, but knew she could not afford to be picky. The vile flavor of the stew was building up in her system to the point where she could almost not tolerate it at all, but still had almost half of it to down. In attempt to hide the smell and taste, she pinched her nose with her next bite.

"That does it!" the tavern owner yelled from across the room, slamming his towel down on the counter. "First ya reject my maiden who offers ya nothin' but comfort, then ya insult my cooking. I suppose we just aren't good enough for ya are we?" He strode his tall, fat body over to where the women ate, gathering all the intimidation he could muster along the way. The patrons looking on anticipatorily. "Get out!" he spat at them when at the edge of their table while pointing his chubby fingers toward the door. "Get out now, and never return!" he repeated when they did not respond.

Aliana, unintimidated but not wanting to break her cover, moved to stand, bracing herself upon the table, but Iora held her hand tight and arose quickly, making sure her sword was visible. "Of course we will leave," she said in a terse, commanding voice. "But first we will finish our meal. You want your pay, don't you? If we leave now, you get nothing."

The man held his place, deciding how he wanted to play the game. He wanted the money, needed the money, but this woman was carrying a sword and seemed to mean business. Of course, most of the people that came her carried swords. And these two looked weak enough to be easily overcome.

Aliana held her breath in the uncertainty of the moment. The tavern owner turned his body, and she released her breath, certain he was going to leave them alone. She pinched her nose and downed another bite while his back was turned while simultaneously hearing him announce in his low, grumbling voice, "It's playtime, boys!"

The princess barely had time to swallow before Iora jumped up, sword drawn and two or three men from each corner made their way toward the couple.

What should I do? she thought to herself in a panic, hacking up the soup she was trying to swallow. She didn't know how to defend herself! she had been training to cater events and to learn to rule, but not to defend herself; sword fighting lessons were supposed to have begun next year. Yet she was getting in one violent situation after another and Iora had to get her out each time. What if there were a time Iora was not around? And ten or twelve to one? The tavern owner alone was two or three times Iora's size. And she was unarmed.

Prospects looked grim as the women became surrounded.