Of all the trials, challenges and dangers that Nyiko thought the spell would ever send him through, a shopping trip was not one of them. For some reason he found the person who had suggested the trip equally strange and confusing. Drella had suggested that she and Hectre visit the city's market to look for exotic herbs for Hectre's medicine and poison lessons and Hectre just so happened to also want to visit the market.
So now he, Hectare and Drella were walking down the clean, pristine stone streets of the city surrounded by retinue of the keep's guards, The familiar faces of Pike and Hagh followed behind the trio, while an unfamiliar awakened took the lead and led the party through the streets. Nyiko wondered if it would not be better to have most of them ride in a carriage to the market instead of drawing attention to themselves with their armored squadron, but whenever he looked over to Hectre seemed excited to be out on the streets. He thought it better to not to bring up the issue, even if his feet protested stroll in these sandals.
It would be better if he dwelled on more pressing things, like the note Drella had given him two nights ago:
Don't be complacent, break your chains Sage Scholar!
He glanced over to the amber haired beauty as the translated runes replayed in his head. What did she mean by that? What did she actually expect him to do? He couldn't fight back against anyone in this nightmare lest he be killed on the spot, all he could do was endure. He just had to endure the beatings from Pike, the ridicule spoken through whispers and glances of the other guards and non-slave servants, the sorrow he felt during the night and the awful smell that came from his mangled loins just a little longer. If he did that and encouraged Hectre to leave this place, he'd be free and this nightmare would be over.
"Hey, relax a little, otherwise you're going to draw the attention of those two bastards behind you"
Nyiko let out a quiet sigh in an attempt to relax before focusing his eyes on his surroundings. The city looked as he saw it when he had first entered it, stone cottages placed methodically in between clean measured alleyways. He did see what he presumed to be slaves that belonged to the city itself carrying all sorts of banners, paints and other accoutrements up and down the street… strange but he didn't pay any mind to it. Other than that, the only other difference between the two walks, besides their origin, were how the people behaved, bowing or waving before the retinue of the city's heir.
Soon their path opened into a large, bustling open market of the Fourth Frontier. Nyiko had been to "farmer"' markets in the waking world, they were glorified food styled in the bohemian fashions, but the open market was a very different place. The square spanned far and wide, roads that could fit three or four wagons filled with goods. Stalls were huddled together tightly, at least the ones at the entrance they had come from, bundled together selling the same thing. As they walked around, he noticed the incidental order the sellers had made with the positioning of their stalls, those that sold food produce stuck together, those who sold tools stayed close to themselves and around the workshops.
They started of course with the closet stall that sold herbs. Drella took charge and Hectre attentively followed beside her while Nyiko hanged back a little. Drella would point at a herb, describe its origins and uses before moving onto the medicinal plant. Hectare took note of everything the follower of Heart said and bought each herb they came across, probably to be used in the brewing lessons that would come. This process continued many more times, it seemed Drella required any and all alchemical ingredients the market could muster. Nyiko did not know why Drella would go for so much effort to get all these things for Hectre, but it seemed she was determined to teach the city's heir all she knew about positions. Shortly some of the guards were forced to carry sacks filled with herbs, roots and the pickled organs of both creatures both familiar and uncanny. Nyiko could've sworn he saw a fist sized frog heart in a jar somewhere in their haul. Once Drella was sure that she had all she wanted she positioned herself behind Hectre and let her guide the retinue. Drella glanced over at Nyiko as he came to walk beside him but did not address him otherwise.
"Alright folks, listen up…" Hectre started, her voice raised so she could be heard over the hustle and bustle of the busy market.
"...It is time I put the skills my sisters taught me to the test. Though the merchants here have not charged me much for their wares due to my status, but where we are going my status will not be of any help. For the men we face are tainted by the spirit of greed, their very souls containing the vile corruption and their minds filled with the madness that is avarice," she passed for dramatic effect.
"We face the most wicked of vendors, cosmetics salesmen!" Her tone was so serious that it actually tricked Nyiko into thinking the situation was more serious than it was, though it seemed he was the only one to fall for Hectre's show.
And so off they went, circling the market's centre where a marble temple stood. Reaching an entrance that led into the inner city where Nyiko presumed the richer people stayed since, from what he could see, the homes looked larger and grander than the ones he'd seen previously. That was probably where the city's lesser nobles and wealthy merchant families lived.
This part of the market seemed to try to differentiate themselves from the rest of the market with the aesthetic of the district, as if to say they did not belong with the peasant rabble for they were born into the caste above them. Instead of stalls they conducted under large vibrant tents, here the merchants did not hawk but had their assistants draw customers in with their alluring smiles and they displayed their wears on open stands and mannequins that caught the light of the sun in their metallic and bright surfaces.
'I wonder how they prevent someone from stealing that stuff?'
He hadn't heard about any crime occurring in the city, why would he anyway he had been confined in the lord's keep for months. Still, the Fourth Frontier was a large city and those tended to breed crime.
Hectare began window shopping, which may not have been the right term. It was more of a shopping tour of each and every shop. The retinue entered one shop after another, perusing the many items on offer while Hectre bartered and battled for whatever she believed she could get a good price for, as if she needed to save money for her boundless budget. Past noon, Nyiko found himself having enough freedom from his wardens to stand around in his lonesome. Of course, Pike and Hagh still kept their eyes on him and were ready to tackle him if he made some foolish attempt to run, as if he was stupid enough to do that with two awakened around. He tentatively browsed the wares of the current tent shop they were in, clothes that had come from far off lands apparently. He made sure to keep his hands visible in anyone's eye line and kept his distance from the displays, not wanting to be accused of any theft or vandalism. That's when a specific piece caught his eye, a white dress that flowed down like a waterfall of silk, thin and layered but what stood out was the woolen shawl that wrapped around the mannequin's torso beautifully. Its sprawling, black geometric patterns that mesmerized. The Yellow background just enhanced that effect, making the patterns stand out more. Nyiko imagined that within those patterns there was a story, one that even the spell couldn't translate. "Hey Nyiko!"
He straightened as Hectre called his name, bringing back into 'reality' as she made her way towards him. She held a short, cylindrical tub in her hand as she walked over to him.
"Have you by any chance studied skin care before? I could really use some input on this powder I have. Supposedly they should help with concealing these scars of mine"
Nyiko shook his head in regret.
"No, but why cover them? They look great on you, uh, in my opinion"
Hectare scoffed in response. "Of course, you'd think that with those unsightly things on your face"
She stepped over to stand next to him, staring at the same dress and shawl that he was looking at.
"What is this that has caught the eye of my friend?" She questioned
"Thinking of putting it on? I guess that would be the next natural step for you, wouldn't it?"
"No, I just… never mind. Hey wait, what did you mean by that?"
She giggled before tucking the strange elixir away. A glimmer of mirth shone in her eyes as her hands dug in her satchel, lips failing to not turn into a mischievous grin.
"Never mind that, close your eyes for a moment. I have something for you!"
Nyiko gave her a dubious look, but he followed her instructions. She hadn't done him wrong, she hadn't abused her power over him and was the only one who didn't treat him less than human, so he saw no reason to distrust her. He felt something cool and weighty settle on where his neck met his clavicle, then he felt the bumpy surface of the object wrap itself around his neck in a comfortable embrace. He felt the object connect and its weight settle on the notch of his jugular.
"Ok, you may open your eyes"
Eyes opened, he tried to look at what he was wearing on his neck.
"Nyiko, you're supposed to look at it in a mirror. What were you expecting to see doing that?" She questioned with her hand hiding her smile and her voice sounded strangled thanks to the laugh she was struggling to stifle.
"Oh right, I mean of course. I just… wanted to see if I could tuck my chin in while wearing it"
That broke her, she held her stomach as she cackled and howled and snorted between the two when she tried to force some air into her lungs before it started all over again. It was the strangest laugh he had ever heard, and it was the most infectious thing he'd ever experienced.
He found himself laughing along with her, a quieter laugh that harmonized with hers. Eventually Hectre got some composure back and held onto Nyiko as she brought him over to the mirror. His eyes widened as he looked at his reflection, ignoring the awful state of his spirit and letting himself be stunned by what he wore on his neck.
It was a choker, its layered beaded chain fit his neck well and its sunglow gold color complimented his skin perfectly. At the chokers centre was a brilliant, fiery opal, its color a lovely mixture of bright reds and deep oranges. His hand hesitantly reached to feel the choker, unsure whether to feel the chain itself or the opal centerpiece of the accessory. The choker was beautiful, one of the prettiest things he had ever worn, and it felt so right for him to wear.
"You look great in it, you know, just like I thought it would. In fact, dare I say it's perfect for you" She told him, as if to affirm his thoughts or to convince him of something. She was holding onto his shoulders, her head next to his, her cheeks close to touching his.
A slight frown found its place on his face when she said that, because he didn't. The necklace was too beautiful for him, but he didn't have the guts to tell her that. Instead, his response was to change the subject, slipping out of Hectre's gentle hold he turned to face her.
"Hectre, this is an incredible gift, but you really didn't have to do this. I…"
"Of course I did! Did you really think I'd let you accompany me to the ball without any ornaments? Please! We have to be the best duo dressed there!"
Nyiko's mouth hung open for a moment with his head tilted slightly to the side in confusion, trying to find the right word. "I'm sorry, what ball?"