“Oh, if anyone could pull that jacket off, Miss, it’s you.” Their tone made my heart flutter. I turned to see a young woman, not much older than myself, standing in the curtained doorway. She stood tall and confident, her olive-skinned body draped in layers of a sheer, green fabric. Delicate jewelry made of gold adorned her neck and wrists. I’d never seen clothing like hers before. It was much bolder than the modest dresses the women of the village preferred. This woman definitely came from somewhere much farther than any of the cities around Blackridge. Her lips stretched into a wide and charming smile as her dark eyes scanned me head to toe. There was a curious hunger in her eyes, and I wondered if it wasn’t clothing she was measuring me for. I held my head a little higher and smiled, enjoying the attention. “I couldn’t agree more. How much is it?” I tried to sound confident, letting my fingers gently caress the jacket’s soft collar. “Depends on the fabric you choose...and looking at your skin...and your eyes…I think I have the perfect one already picked out.” The woman closed the gap between us and linked her arm with mine. A shiver raced up my spine. She led me toward the stall’s entrance and pulled the curtain aside, motioning for me to enter. I swallowed hard and tried not to get too excited about what might be in store for me.

“Oh, if anyone could pull that jacket off, Miss, it’s you.” Their tone made my heart flutter. I turned to see a young woman, not much older than myself, standing in the curtained doorway. She stood tall and confident, her olive-skinned body draped in layers of a sheer, green fabric. Delicate jewelry made of gold adorned her neck and wrists. I’d never seen clothing like hers before. It was much bolder than the modest dresses the women of the village preferred. This woman definitely came from somewhere much farther than any of the cities around Blackridge. Her lips stretched into a wide and charming smile as her dark eyes scanned me head to toe. There was a curious hunger in her eyes, and I wondered if it wasn’t clothing she was measuring me for. I held my head a little higher and smiled, enjoying the attention. “I couldn’t agree more. How much is it?” I tried to sound confident, letting my fingers gently caress the jacket’s soft collar. “Depends on the fabric you choose...and looking at your skin...and your eyes…I think I have the perfect one already picked out.” The woman closed the gap between us and linked her arm with mine. A shiver raced up my spine. She led me toward the stall’s entrance and pulled the curtain aside, motioning for me to enter. I swallowed hard and tried not to get too excited about what might be in store for me.

“Eleanor Payne! Can’t you be respectful for once in your life?” she whispered harshly. I glared in return, trying my best to keep my composure as I rubbed my side. She was the one who had dragged me from the comfort of my bed this morning! And for what? To stand here all day, baking in the blazing sun while being reminded of the time their precious Goddess of light destroyed my family. “It wasn’t so very long ago that our Everlasting Light cast down the Great Betrayer, pulling our world up from the depths of famine and despair and wrapping it in Her warm and loving glow. Every day since, She has shown us abundance—” While your crops fail, I thought to myself. “and mercy—” Not to me. “and love.” I groaned. I couldn’t help it.

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“Eleanor Payne! Can’t you be respectful for once in your life?” she whispered harshly. I glared in return, trying my best to keep my composure as I rubbed my side. She was the one who had dragged me from the comfort of my bed this morning! And for what? To stand here all day, baking in the blazing sun while being reminded of the time their precious Goddess of light destroyed my family. “It wasn’t so very long ago that our Everlasting Light cast down the Great Betrayer, pulling our world up from the depths of famine and despair and wrapping it in Her warm and loving glow. Every day since, She has shown us abundance—” While your crops fail, I thought to myself. “and mercy—” Not to me. “and love.” I groaned. I couldn’t help it.