I ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED A DUNGEON

Felix stood upright and saw the frightened look remaining on Leto’s face. "You need something?"

"Uh, yeah." Leto took his eyes off Dune, coughing a little. "I need to get a few things from the market. Presents for the kids back at home. You can help me, since I’m not from around here."

"Yeah, okay." Felix walked over to him, becoming excited just thinking about the market. "Anything particular you have in mind?"

"Not really. Just that they’re all under ten years old. I haven’t been very good at picking presents."

"No problem, it’s sorted out." Felix looked over towards Dune. "We’ll wait downstairs. Go change first."

Leto nodded quickly and left, looking very shaken up, while Felix followed closely behind.

Market bustled under afternoon sun, vendors yelling over each other, smell of roasting nuts wafting from one stall to another. Felix led the way, hands resting behind his head.

"Alright, first stop, toy stalls. Children will definitely like this."

Leto and Felix stopped at stall crowded with carved wooden figures; wooden warriors were in their swing position, animals caught mid-motion, a small wooden dragon wrapped in a loop of its tail.

Leto took a wooden knight and turned it around. "It looks like quality work."

"Old Terrence makes them." Felix pointed at the stall owner. "I think that he has been doing it for the last thirty years."

"How much do you want for four of them? Different models?"

The old man smiled. "Two silvers for each, or seven for all four."

"I’ll buy four." Leto counted the coins out.

"Next time try to negotiate a bit," Felix whispered, standing over Leto’s shoulder.

"I don’t mind paying fair price."

"That is the first mistake when dealing in this place." Felix grinned and continued walking to the next stall crowded with wooden shields painted with crude drawings of heroes; there was a drawing of knight killing a serpent, roaring lion and crest of sun burst.

"These will be a hit." Felix tapped a shield with a picture of the serpent. "Every child dreams of being a hero."

Leto examined the shields. "Including girls?"

"Girly men, let me tell you. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking differently." Felix picked one of the shields and made a swinging gesture. "My cousin used to beat me to a pulp with one of those."

"What kind of childhood did you have?"

"You have no idea." Felix put the shield back. "How many children again?"

"Four of them. Two boys, two girls."

"So, get those shields for all four. Universal attraction." Felix raised his two fingers at the vendor. "How much for four shields?"

"Three silvers for each."

"Two silvers for each, if he takes all four."

Vendor sighed. "Two-fifty for each, if he takes all four."

"Deal." Felix said before Leto could object. Leto only shrugged and paid.

They continued walking through the market, passing by the stall with cheap jewelry; there were colorful bracelets made of glass beads and soft copper rings with star and moon pendants.

"These are for older children?" Felix asked.

"She’s turning twelve this year," Leto picked through the array of bracelets. "She’ll like this kind of thing, I think."

"Take the blue one. Goes with everything."

"Aren’t you the expert on children’s jewelry considering you have no kids."

"I’m an expert on just about everything." Felix picked up a copper ring and examined it. "Four younger cousins. They learn fast what’ll shut them up."

Leto chuckled and paid for the bracelet, carefully placing it in his coat pocket.

The next stall arrested both men in their tracks, small gems spread on the dark cloth, each one shining faintly with various colors, some flickering like candlelight trapped inside them, others pulsing slowly and calmly.

"Elemental gems," the merchant said, noting their interest. "Low charges. They’re fine for children, won’t do anything else but glow and warm your hands up a little."

Felix picked up one, a pale blue gem shaped like a teardrop. "That’s cute."

"Fire, water, wind, earth." The vendor made a gesture across his goods. "At that level, all of them are harmless. Useful for teaching kids the basics before they’re ready for full-on Numen work."

Leto crouched down to look at a small orange gem shaped like a flame. "This one is perfect for my nephew. He’s fixated on fire, drives his mom crazy."

"Buy it." Felix grinned. "And maybe the water one too, balance him out a little."

"You always think of everything."

"No, I think of making the most of your money. It’s not the same thing." Felix grinned again and waved the vendor over.

Leto bought both gems, carefully placing them beside the bracelet, the little collection of presents growing increasingly heavy in his coat pockets.

"We’re set with children now, I think." Leto looked down at his purchases. "Knights, shields, jewelry, and gems that glow. Should hold them off for a while."

"Should give you a week without their constant pestering." Felix gave a grin. "Frankly, that’s the real present here."

They went further into the market beyond a stall covered with piles of bolts of dyed fabrics, and Dune paused without saying anything, her eyes settling on a bolt of pale green cloth hung over the counter.

A little further in, Felix saw her. "Dune?"

There was no reply as she touched the end of the cloth with her fingers, feeling its weight.

Leto stopped and followed her gaze. "You like that color?"

"Yes." She spoke softly, still looking at it.

"You want it?" Felix walked back towards her.

"No." Dune pulled her hand back and kept walking.

Leto followed her a step, then looked at the vendor. "How much is that?"

"Four silvers, sir."

"I’ll take it."

Felix raised an eyebrow. "It is not necessary."

"I want to." Leto handed the vendor the coins before he could say anything more, carefully folding the fabric over his arm. "Dune."

She turned around.

"Take this." He gave the fabric to her. "For you."

She stared at it for a while, then took it slowly, running her fingers along it. "Thank you."

"It is the least I can do for all that you have put your husband through today."

They continued, and after a few stalls, she stopped again in front of a collection of hair pins, some of which were simple in design, but there was one that had the shape of a crescent moon.

"Do you want any of these too?" Felix reached for his coin pouch without saying anything.

"No." There was a hesitation in her eyes as she turned around.

Leto noticed it and quietly picked up the crescent moon hair pin, paying the vendor even before they did anything, and gave it to her as they kept walking.

"You really don’t have to do that." Felix smiled, part amusement and part surprise at the easy way the coin slipped from Leto’s pocket.

"I don’t mind." The softness was still there in his tone, but there was something else too, deeper than the words would suggest. "It feels good, actually. Buying something and seeing the person enjoying it."

Dune twisted the pin between her fingers, examining the tiny curve of it. "I will wear this."

"Good." His smile was an easy one, this time. "It looks good on you."

Felix looked back and forth between them, not saying anything for once, only watching Dune fold the material against herself and tucking the pin into her hair.

Leto stopped in front of a stall where rolls of parchment were neatly arranged in bundles, their white surfaces with silver lines etched into them.

"Numen scrolls," he commented, picking up one roll to examine its surface. "Grade one but good quality."

"Do you need them for anything?" Felix inquired.

"For work, mostly. Never hurts to have a few spares around."

Leto counted ten scrolls, paid a small pouch of silver for them without any arguments, and moved on. Felix winced sympathetically but didn’t say anything.

They started walking to the stalls selling food, and the smells of roasted meat made Felix’s steps faster than usual.

"Alright, we’re going shopping now." He reached for a woven basket that lay by the entrance. "Meat, herbs, anything else that looks fresh, and you’ll be paying for dinner today."

"Didn’t know that we had such an arrangement."

"Right now you do."

They started to look through the stalls, and Felix managed to buy cheaper cut of meat while Leto silently put in the basket dried herbs, a jar of honey, a bunch of salt.

"You cook a lot at home?" Felix asked, observing his friend’s actions in the seasoning stall.

"Did. Haven’t done that for ages now. It feels nice to get into it again, at least in terms of ingredients selection."

"Well, this evening you’ll be helping me in cooking. Free labor is always welcome."

"I guess I’m the one who agreed to it."

They finally visited the last stall and added rice and fresh vegetables to their basket, which Felix hefted on one shoulder.

"That’s all," he turned to look back at Dune who was walking right behind them, carrying a piece of green fabric over one arm and a crescent pin sparkling in her hair. "You okay?"

"Yes."

Leto observed her thoughtfully for a few seconds before looking away as if afraid that she would notice him. "It’s better to head home while it’s still light."

"Alright, lead the way, kind sponsor," Felix smiled.

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