Navigating Zynyx Market without defiance was proving to be quite a bit more inconvenient than Prae had realized. He’d never realized how often he’d relied on simply flying from one side of the river to the other until he wasn’t able to do it anymore.
Still, there was something nice about strolling through the market on foot, ambling down along the river. Especially when one had no urgent business to be on, as Prae had on this trial. The company was running fine, his companions were well settled, and Prae felt… Light. Living without his sparks was an adjustment to be sure, but he’d never realized just how heavily they’d influenced his thinking until they were gone.
He would miss defiance. He truly would. But he would make the same choice again in an instant if he had to.
“Think the shipments are pretty much settled, boss.” Syd appeared suddenly at Prae’s side, startling him out of his musings. “Just got one more to check on, fresh meat for the stewpot tonight.”
Prae nodded at that, perhaps a hair too eagerly. Even when he’d subsisted on embers instead of food, Syd’s cooking had always been something to look forwards to. “Where to, then?”
“Just inland a couple streets,” he said, starting to lead Praetorum through the bustling market. “Back to the keep afterwards?”
Prae considered that. “Might get a bite to eat before heading back,” he said. “You’re welcome to join if you like.”
“I’ll consider it. Got a pile of work to do, but I guess I can take a break every once in a while,” Syd decided, stopping before a butcher’s. “Here we are,” he said. “Won’t be two bits.”
Nodding, Prae moved to the side of the street, trying not to block anyone’s way with his bulk. It was a tough task, with how busy the streets were, and before long, Prae found himself backing into an alleyway so he wouldn’t bottleneck the crowd.
This was fine, he decided, toying idly with the tip of his tail, coiled around his waist. It was nice and quiet in the alleyway, and he had a good view of the street still so he’d be able to see when Syd came back out.
Settling against a wall, Prae let the sound of the market wash over him. The yellling of haggling customers, the laughter of passersby, the angry whisper shouting of someone from the other side of the wall...
Wait.
Prae glanced up at the building he’d been leaning against. The wall was stone, but there was a tiny window above Prae that was cracked open just a hair. And through that crack, Prae could hear the faint sounds of a hushed argument, clearly getting quite heated. It was quiet enough that most people would not have been able to hear a peep, but, well. Prae’s senses were quite finely honed by now.
The argument was getting aggressive enough that Prae was starting to worry he might have to step in or otherwise interfere. He could hear a woman vaguely speaking in a conciliatory voice, but he couldn’t make out a word she was saying over the others, growling about rafts and eggs and skiffs.
With how tense things were getting, Prae thought it best to get at a closer look at the situation. Just in case he needed to interfere before things got violent.
At his gesture, Aurien leaped up into the air, and flew to the second story window, peering in and relaying whatever he saw and heard to Praetorum. Meanwhile, Prae edged closer towards the street again, ready to walk into the building to break up a fight if need be.
Still, there was something nice about strolling through the market on foot, ambling down along the river. Especially when one had no urgent business to be on, as Prae had on this trial. The company was running fine, his companions were well settled, and Prae felt… Light. Living without his sparks was an adjustment to be sure, but he’d never realized just how heavily they’d influenced his thinking until they were gone.
He would miss defiance. He truly would. But he would make the same choice again in an instant if he had to.
“Think the shipments are pretty much settled, boss.” Syd appeared suddenly at Prae’s side, startling him out of his musings. “Just got one more to check on, fresh meat for the stewpot tonight.”
Prae nodded at that, perhaps a hair too eagerly. Even when he’d subsisted on embers instead of food, Syd’s cooking had always been something to look forwards to. “Where to, then?”
“Just inland a couple streets,” he said, starting to lead Praetorum through the bustling market. “Back to the keep afterwards?”
Prae considered that. “Might get a bite to eat before heading back,” he said. “You’re welcome to join if you like.”
“I’ll consider it. Got a pile of work to do, but I guess I can take a break every once in a while,” Syd decided, stopping before a butcher’s. “Here we are,” he said. “Won’t be two bits.”
Nodding, Prae moved to the side of the street, trying not to block anyone’s way with his bulk. It was a tough task, with how busy the streets were, and before long, Prae found himself backing into an alleyway so he wouldn’t bottleneck the crowd.
This was fine, he decided, toying idly with the tip of his tail, coiled around his waist. It was nice and quiet in the alleyway, and he had a good view of the street still so he’d be able to see when Syd came back out.
Settling against a wall, Prae let the sound of the market wash over him. The yellling of haggling customers, the laughter of passersby, the angry whisper shouting of someone from the other side of the wall...
Wait.
Prae glanced up at the building he’d been leaning against. The wall was stone, but there was a tiny window above Prae that was cracked open just a hair. And through that crack, Prae could hear the faint sounds of a hushed argument, clearly getting quite heated. It was quiet enough that most people would not have been able to hear a peep, but, well. Prae’s senses were quite finely honed by now.
The argument was getting aggressive enough that Prae was starting to worry he might have to step in or otherwise interfere. He could hear a woman vaguely speaking in a conciliatory voice, but he couldn’t make out a word she was saying over the others, growling about rafts and eggs and skiffs.
With how tense things were getting, Prae thought it best to get at a closer look at the situation. Just in case he needed to interfere before things got violent.
At his gesture, Aurien leaped up into the air, and flew to the second story window, peering in and relaying whatever he saw and heard to Praetorum. Meanwhile, Prae edged closer towards the street again, ready to walk into the building to break up a fight if need be.
