The shop keeper at Rabbits and Rouge Jewelry shop seemed to be rather curious as she watched two people enter her domain . A little girl and her mother seemed very interested in the trinkets and jewels on the shelves . They were chattering away, but even under her watchful eyes never touched a piece .

The older woman did did eventually pick up a pretty blue necklace, and hold it near the little girl's eyes . The pair giggled girlishly in delight as a comment was made . They were both dressed so well, they could only be n.o.bles, not that it surprised her . All her clients were wealthy . She made sure of that .

"Isn't that the Princess?" a patron nearby asked her sister .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"but who's the woman?" another woman asked .

Listening to the chatter, the Shop Keep was surprised to see them place the necklace back on the counter . They did not seem to intend to buy it . After such a good laugh at her hard work too . She walked over as if inspecting pieces . She would show them…

Kyera set the pendant back on the table . "It is a good option . If your dress is the right shade, we can come back for it . " she offered and Raina glowed excitedly

"Yes! It is very pretty . " Raina agreed obviously enjoying every moment of this trip . Kyera's knowledge of stones and metals gave the trip more substance . just then another piece caught the little girl's eyes . The shopkeeper was cleaning the stone of a very pretty necklace . The setting was made if polished silver, but the stone was captivating . It was black as the midnight sky deep in the forest . Yet there were small crimson circles that seemed to s.h.i.+mmer like red diamonds in the black stone . The diamonds seemed to be set into the stone and yet it looked like one piece .

The shopkeeper saw Raina's interest and offered it before her to look at . The little girl took the stone gently between her hands . She looked it over carefully, feeling its warmth and marveling at its color and creation . Kyera looked as well, but her eyes darkened .

'What do you mean in handing a child a stone like this?" Kyera asked taking the necklace from a rather confused Raina . The Shopkeeper glared at Kyera . How dare she speak in such a tone .

"I see no reason a Princess should not see the best I have to offer . " the woman responded warmly . However, Kyera hardly cared . She set the jewel on the table .

"If this is the best you offer, we have no business here . " Kyera replied firmly but the princess frowned .

"It was really pretty . I can see how it was her best piece . Is there something wrong with how it's made?" Raina asked, oblivious to the reason Kyera suddenly seemed dangerous . There was a ice in the air that replaced that motherly warmth, but it seemed to flow around Raina rather than through her .

Kyera's anger turned on the child for a split second before remembering those innocent eyes had never seen the blood of a battlefield . She had a childhood that wasn't bathed in blood and dressed in fear . "Princess, that is called a blood stone . " Kyera began to teach but the shopkeeper scoffed .

"It is called a honor stone . Given this name in honor of those who fought back the scourge . " The Shopkeeper replied snorting . Raina frowned completely lost by the woman's comment .

"Scourge?" Raina asked trying to clarify .

"The half human beasts that roamed the land . Mutts and half breeds without honor or feeling . Barely even monsters . " The woman replied "They should have been wiped out, face their fate with honor . Yet the cowards ran . " and Kyera felt the glow of hatred deep in her soul . Everything inside her wanted to kill . Taste this woman's blood and send her onto the judgement, but Kyera knew better .

"She means s.h.i.+fters, Raina . " Kyera whispered seeing the child was still lost . Raina's little brows furrowed as she thought this over . "Though she speaks with a ignorance far below her years . "

"I see . I don't like you . " Raina said looking up at the woman whose face suddenly looked shocked . She couldn't believe the clear cut way the child had responded to her . There was a honesty that made the other women snicker .