Eilon can't quite say what possessed him. He only knows that he has to see the fiery red headed woman once again. Helena. Her name even tastes good on his lips, curled around his tongue. He wants to speak it everyday, preferably to her.

That's how Eilon finds himself outside her candle shop the next day. Well, it likely isn't her candle shop, since he doubts she'd sell very many of the candles she makes. Just the thought of her display succeeds in bringing a smile to his face.

The bell chimes as he walks inside, his eyes scanning the rows upon rows of candles available. They are of every size and color. A smirk twitches at his lips as two in particular catches his eye.

The green candles he eyes during the candle festival every year. Eilon walks over to them, picking them up with a slight shake of his head. If he was one to believe in fate or destiny, he would be thinking that's exactly what this is. He decides he will purchase these candles, if for no other reason than the beautiful coincidence they pose.

He moves over to the counter where a white-haired man is sitting, a black candle in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, his glasses nearly falling off his nose. This must be the real owner of the store. Eilon places the candles on the counter and the man slowly lifts his warm brown eyes to Eilon. He blinks twice as he recognizes who is standing in front of him. Eilon suppresses the urge to sigh.

He really doesn't like being associated with his family.

"Prince Eilon," the man greets, almost startled by the information. Curiously, Eilon doesn't appear to be able to hear the man's thoughts. Now that poses an interesting development.

Eilon forces a friendly grin onto his face, hiding his curiosity. "Good afternoon. I'd like to purchase these candles," he says, gesturing at the green candles on the counter.

The man pushes his glasses back into a less precarious position. "Of course," he says, putting his paintbrush aside with the candle to be worked on later. He lifts the green candles, a small wry smile on his lips. "You're sure you would like these two? They've been on my shelves for ages."

Eilon returns his smile. "And I have been eyeing them for ages."

The candle maker tilts his head, seemingly perplexed. "Forgive me, your majesty, but I didn't think your family took part in the traditions of the candle festival."

Eilon shrugs easily. "They don't. And please, my name is Eilon, not 'your majesty'. Leave the formalities to my pompous family." He grins easily. There is something in the candle maker's dark eyes that piques Eilon's interest. How frustrating not being able to hear his thoughts. It's a mystery he definitely plans on exploring later.

"As you wish. They'll be twenty lapillus," he says, boredly, as if he can't quite be bothered by the conversation.

Eilon represses that sigh again, and pulls out the money to give him. He's used to people not liking him merely for being a Prince. It gets no less weary. The candle maker makes quick work of wrapping the candles in a gauzy white fabric before putting them into a bag for Eilon.

"Thank you," Eilon says as the candle maker hands him the bag.

The man nods his head in acknowledgment. "Will that be all?" he asks.

Well, Eilon had hoped to run into Helena when he came here. But he tells himself he's not desperate enough to see her that he'll ask the candle maker where he can find her.

He debates this with himself for a good ten seconds, going over all the pros and cons. For the first time in a very long time, Eilon will actually have to ask for information he desires. He can't decide if it's frustrating or intriguing.

So many interesting people in this little candle shop...

Eilon wonders for another second whether or not the candle maker will disclose Helena's location if Eilon asks, despite his obvious wariness of Eilon's heritage.

Perhaps Eilon could share his own dislike for it. It'll give them something to bond over.

By the time he finally comes to a decision, only fifteen seconds have passed. "Actually, there was one more thing," Eilon says, and immediately wants to kick himself. It's not like he's impatient, like he can't come back tomorrow and get the information from her himself.

He's not desperate enough to ask after Helena. He can always come back tomorrow. He should just come back tomorrow, blast it.

"Yes?" the candle maker inquires, his tone polite, though Eilon can sense the quiet watchfulness around the edges that the man is actually rather good at hiding.

"I ran into a woman here last night, and I have something that belongs to her," Eilon says before he can stop himself. "I was wondering if you can tell me where I might find her to return it to her." The lie is so effortless that the candle maker has no choice to believe him. Eilon has always been very skilled at making lies seem like the truth. Only Malikar was ever able to see past them.

"Of course, did you catch a name?" The man asks, still disinterested.

"She said her name is Helena. She has long red hair...?" Eilon suggests.

A very bright, true grin spreads across the man's face. It's very obvious that the man is fond of Helena, even though there is no realm of possibilty in which he can think that the woman has any talent when it comes to making candles.

Curious indeed. Eilon wonders why a candle maker of his talent keeps her around when she obviously isn't contributing anything to the shop.

The candle maker nods. "She works here, perhaps you can give me the item to give to her?"

The thought is not tempting, considering Eilon doesn't actually have anything to give Helena. Except well, his presence. He doubts the candle maker will direct him to Helena if he says that, however.

"It's not that important, and I was hoping to see her myself. I had quite the interesting chat with her," Eilon says instead, smiling easily.

The candle maker chuckles, nodding his head as if he understands perfectly.

Eilon wishes he could hear the man's thoughts and almost frowns because for some reason he can't. But he keeps the expression from his face to quell suspicion. No one outside of the Mi'antiae family knows about his ability, and he'd rather keep it that way.

Well, that, and his father wouldn't be all that happy if he finds out Eilon has told anyone who doesn't need to know. Eilon, is after all, still supposed to be a secret weapon, even though he knows his father is disappointed that his ability isn't nearly as extensive as Malikar's had been. If Malik was still alive, the king likely would have found a reason to get rid of Eilon by now. He doesn't need to be in his father's head to know that.

Nomandiar only cares about power, and gathering as many unique abilities as he possibly can. He doesn't like anything he considers useless. And while Malik was still alive, Eilon had been useless.

He wishes he can go back to being useless. At least that way he can have his brother back -- the only one of his twenty one brothers that he actually considered one.

"It's her day off today," the candle maker says, pulling Eilon from his thoughts. "But I can direct you to her house."

Eilon hides his surprise swiftly, covering it with a grin. He honestly didn't expect the candle maker to give up that information so easily. "That would be wonderful, thank you."

The candle maker grins in return, nothing friendly about the action. There is quiet contemplation in it, a knowing tilt to the sides, as if he thinks Eilon is in over his head.

Clearly the man underestimates Eilon and his determination and perseverance.

The candle maker scribbles down an address on a piece of paper and hands it to Eilon. "This is where she lives. Enjoy." He makes it sound like Eilon won't enjoy the encounter.

"I will, thank you," Eilon says, completely at ease. He doesn't doubt for a second that he will in fact enjoy seeing Helena again, even if she decides to slap him a second time. So few women in the Lescaean realm have the guts to do that to him. It's rather refreshing to see someone who is completely unaffected by him -- his looks, his title, his position, him.

The candle maker returns to his work, shaking his head and muttering how Eilon is an idiot for thinking he even has a chance with Helena. Eilon chooses to ignore him and turns to leave the shop.

"When she slams the door in your face, don't say I didn't warn you," the man calls after him, his tone thick with amusement.

Eilon shoots him a grin over his shoulder. "I think you are underestimating how charming I can be."

"And you don't know Helena at all," the candle maker responds with a wry grin. "I'm looking forward to seeing your broken nose from where the door is going to hit you."