30th, Spring, 515 AV
Kate really couldn't say the reason she found herself down in the Bazaar today was for some fresh air--because it was in the basement of the castle. Stretching her legs didn't fit either. The squire had plenty of opportunity to do that. No, she simply wanted a change of scenery, and to finally explore the city a little more. She'd decided that the busy belly of Stormhold was a good a place as any to start.
As she was swallowed up by the throng of shoppers though, she began to doubt her decision. It was impossible at first to do anything but follow the flow of the crowd, moving along like cattle and all shouting over one another. Several stalls she passed caught her eye, but before she could disengage from the writhing mass of shoppers, she was swept away with them.
The squire made an entire circuit around the bazaar before she finally found her stride, and as one of the stalls from earlier approached one more, she shoved her way past milling bodies. There was no other way to do it. Head down, arms at the ready--she felt like a boxer. As soon as she was free of the mass, Katelyn felt instant relief. She could breathe again.
The merchant at the stall she'd disengaged to browse regarded her with a smile, arms folded over his chest. He was swathed in sumptuous robes, and everything smelled like spices. Strangely enough, she couldn't place reason for the odor. All she saw on his tables were beautiful pots, cups, and every manner of cooking utensil possible.
She knew that her window shopping was rather pointless because she couldn't cook to save her life, but the wares had caught her eye and she'd been unable to shake the desire for a closer look.
"See anything you like?" The man spoke perfect Common but looked like a foreigner. He had bronze skin and no hair, with several delicate piercings that looked more for a woman than a man of his girth. Several large, jeweled rings crowded his chunky fingers, and a heavy golden pendant with some kind of strange stone rested heavy against his colorfully clothed chest. He was mesmerizing.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to put any of this to use. I'm a useless cook, and have nowhere to entertain," she admitted, but instead of becoming frustrated that he wouldn't be making a sale, he simply nodded.
"No worries my dear. I'm here often. Perhaps one day you'll have business with me after all."
Katelyn smiled at his generous assumption. He must have no problems with business if he was open to simple browsers. After she looked at everything she could on his tables and they exchanged a kind goodbye, the squire shuffled down the row past a few more stalls selling sewing supplies. Large, colorful bolts of fabrics, all manner of threads and embroidery supplies, and even a small loom. She was even more useless with fabric than she was with food.
Past those vibrant stands there was suddenly a gap, and Kate found herself looking at a small pen. A old man sat on a stool beside it, and a dog lay at his feet watching the crowd go by. When he spotted her hesitation to move on, he was on her before she could escape.
"You! Got a chime?" Katelyn stood frozen in place, half-turned to move on, but unable to make herself go. The old man stood from his seat and beckoned her over. Reluctantly the squire joined him by the pen, and when she peered inside saw something she wasn't expecting.
A litter of small pups were all in different states of rest and unrest. Some playing and wrestling, others sitting idle or simply sleeping. A few were solid red in color, but the majority of them were black with tan markings. Katelyn felt a smile spread across her face, and she instinctively reached down to offer them her hand. When she looked at the old man again he was smiling triumphantly. He had her hook, line, and sinker.
Shyke.
