I didn't recognize you

“Tenac, nice to see you” a young man said smiling toward Tenac. Then he looked at Mary, he looked surprised and then he smiled even bigger. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” the rider said.

“Jontak, it’s nice to see you as well. This is Mary, sir Teeran’s daughter. Mary, this is Jontak a grey rider in my company” Tenac introduced Mary.

“Nice to meet you” Mary said as the young rider watch her in disbelief before he recovered and put on a smile again.

“It’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance. I was not aware sir Teeran had a daughter. But as beautiful as you are, I’m not surprised he has hidden you away” he said with a wink at Mary. She felt herself blush.

“Jontak” Tenac said with an irritated voice.

As Jontak raised his hands as if to surrender the other riders came closer, wondering what was going on.

“Sinhera, how nice to see you again” Mary exclaimed as she saw the rider, she had spent time with during the journey.

“Mary? I almost didn’t recognize you. You look like a native” Sinhera said smiling.

“Thank you” Mary smiled back.

“You two know each other?” Jontak asked, sounding almost jealous.

“Mary helped me on the way back from Domne” Sinhera said. “What are you doing here, does sir Teeran and the Lady know you are here alone?” she continued.

“She’s not here alone” Tenac objected. “She’s here with me, I am to teach her about the city”. Mary nodded as to confirm what he said.

“Man, you get all the nice assignments” Jontak whined, earning a disapproving look from Tenac.

“I wouldn’t mind tagging along on your next trip” Sinhera said. “I can show you some great places, I still owe you for helping me.”

“That would be nice, but you don’t owe me. I was just happy to help” Mary told her.

“Tenac, let me know when you are taking Mary out next time and I will see if I can’t come along” the female rider said. Tenac didn’t seem too happy about it but he nodded.

“I need to get Mary home, her parents will be worried if she isn’t home by supper” he said.

“Bye” Mary said as she felt him tugging her arm to move toward the booth to get her knife.

“Bye Mary, it was nice meeting you” Jontak said.

“Bye Mary, see you soon” Sinhera added.

Mary got her knife back and hung it at its proper place. Before them leaving.

“Do you want to take the same way home, or do you want to take a different route?” Tenac asked her.

“Can we take the same one? I want to see it from this way, so I don’t get confused if I have to walk it” Mary said.

“Of course” he said as he guided her down the street. “So, what did you help Sinhera with, she usually doesn’t accept help?” he asked curiously.

Mary told him about the waggon and how she and Sinhera had loaded and unloaded it. That lead him to ask about other things about their journey. Before she knew it, they were standing outside her house.

“Thank you for taking me to the marketplace Tenac, I had fun” she said honest.

“It was my pleasure Mary, I had fun to. I’m busy tomorrow and the day after that. But can I come by on Thursday after breakfast? I have the day off so we can spend the whole day at the market if you want”

“That sounds nice. I don’t have anything planed so I will accept” she said with a smile.

“Good bye then, please be safe on your way home” she said which made him smile.

“Good bye Mary” he said.

After taking two steps towards the house, she turned around again, raising an eyebrow as she saw him standing there watching her.

“Kopa will kill me is something happens to you. I will leave once your safe inside” he explained, causing her to laugh. It seemed to have caught him off guard and he gave her a look she couldn’t interpret.

“Bye Tenac” she laughed and walked inside.

“Is that you Mary?” Bettina called from the kitchen as she closed the front door.

“Yes, I’m home” Mary answered taking her cloak of and enjoying the smell of dinner.

“Did you have fun?” Bettina asked as she came walking into the living room.

“I did, the marketplace is amazing. I got some things I needed and Tenac introduced me to coffee, and I meet Sinhera, a rider I got to know on the way here” Mary said as she put her cloak away. “I’ll just go up stairs to put the things I bought out of the way. Thank you for giving me some money”

Mary handed the money pouch to Bettina.

“No, that is yours. You will be needing some spending money if you and Tenac are walking around. Tell me or Kopa when you are running low. Don’t skimp, we have enough to go around and then some” Bettina said with a smile.

“Thank you, Bettina.”

“Don’t mention it. Now put your things away and wash up. We’ll eat as soon as Kopa comes home.”

During dinner Mary was thoroughly questioned about her afternoon by both Bettina and Kopa. To Marys amusement the two of them had distinct difference in questions. Bettina wanted to know what she had seen, what she thought about the things she had experienced.

Kopa on the other hand was more interested in if Tenac had taken good care of her, if they had run into troubles or if she had been scared or uneasy.

After answering all their questions Mary and Kopa washed the dishes to let Bettina have some time to relax. Mary told Kopa that Tenac would be picking her up in a couple of days again.

“He seems like a good guy” she said as the finished up.

“He is” Kopa agreed.

“So why are you hard on him? It seems as you don’t trust him”

Kopa let out a sigh and took a sideway glance at her.

“He’s an honourable man and one of the best riders I know. But he’s a man and I know how men are, especially young ones, especially when beautiful woman are around.” he looked uncomfortable talking about it.

“No mater how much I trust him, I don’t trust him around you. I don’t trust anyone around you really” he confessed. That made Mary smile.

“You can rest easy Kopa, I think you have scared him enough to make him behave” she laughed and patted his arm.

“Really?” he looked happier at that statement.

“Really, and for our next trip to the marketplace Sinhera is joining us”

“I like her, she’s a good rider” Kopa nodded.