“Let’s establish some ground rules first,” Noble said. Somehow, despite the measured tone his voice always held, he actually managed to sound authoritative.
“Ground rules?”
“Nothing too fancy- we’ve got a decent amount of money but not that much.”
“Understood- not that I was gonna get something fancy anyway,” Saila said, crossing out the thought of her picking up some of those gold bracelets to use as part of her dancing.
“You’re also gonna want something sturdy for traveling. What you’ve got is good in a pinch, but something that won’t tear if you take a tumble, suited for the terrain or harsh weather and the like should be a priority.”
“I got it, I got it.”
“And maybe get a poncho- could be good if there’s a dust storm and-”
“Sure thing Dad, I said I got it! You can calm down.”
Saila threw him a snickering smirk. Noble looked down on her.
At this angle his eyes were concealed by the glare on his mask’s lenses. But she had a feeling he was smiling too.
“Well, alright little lady. Just making sure.”
“I get it,” Saila repeated, shaking her head. Noble going out of his way to over-prepare for a simple shopping trip was amusing- even if it was a little grating. But as they made their way through Samudr-tat’s market, that was all replaced by the excitement it instilled.
The market area itself was a large, open series of streets that were twice over as colourful as the rest of the city, with silken banners and elaborate decorations to allure and entice. Produce was laid out in stands or carts, crates packed full of bound cloth and intricately carved statues. Open kitchens sizzled and boiled and fried, street food that had her mouthwatering at the sight of it- never mind that she was full, this was food you ate to ate, not to sustain.
The people looked as dressed up as their stores, elaborate gold and crystal jewelry displayed on themselves as much as their shop windows. The heady aroma of floral perfume wafted about the place, mixing with the spices and the herbs of the various eateries and grocers, each dancing atop the lingering smell of humanity on the move. A cloying one, graced by beauty.
The hustle and bustle of it all is what truly grabbed her though. The loud caws of customers haggling like desert birds, shop-owners barking out their wears and calling patrons to their stalls. Delhali had a market, of sorts, but it was a quiet one and the only store that ever really drew her interest was the import-shop. But Samudr-tat’s?
It called to her- in her heart she was a performer, so how could it not. It struck her that, if she could carve out a place for herself, not just a sudden side-show but a true performer along the market sprawl, she could make a killing. It wouldn’t even be out of turn; every so often she saw a bulky man juggling knives, a person as lean as their flute enticing snakes to dance, or a provocative fan dancer that seemed equal parts alluring as she was dangerous.
But Noble’s path was a straight and narrow one, even and measured. While hers was more a wavering, zig-zaggy one that carved a drifting path as she took in the sights and sounds and smells, she kept up with him none the less. As enticing as it all was, they had a goal today.
Still, she made a note for the next big city they went to all the same.
###
The eventual clothing store Noble settled on smelled of cardamom and cinnamon, and in the context of the outer marketplace was positively peaceful and quiet. A few other folks browsed the various silks and satin skirts and dresses, but kept their distance enough that Noble felt he could think at all. Shopping would be a quiet, simple thing, if he’d had his way.
“H- hey! Hey Noble! How about this one?!”
Of course, some noise was a given- and appreciated.
Saila dashed over to him, a bright smile on her face and an outfit draped over an arm. She displayed it proudly- a long navy-blue skirt with silk frills at the bottom. Attached to it by a copper wire-hanger intended to pair the two was a low-cut blouse with loose sleeves, matching frills at the hem, and a transparent sash that could be tied in any number of elaborate, fashionable ways.
“Looks fine enough- could catch and tear though.”
Saila gave him a pleading, promissory look that shouted ‘I’ll be careful, honest!’.
“Alright, put it on the pile. But keep in mind, you’re going to have to try this stuff on.”
“I know! That’s part of the fun!” Saila tossed the outfit at him- more specifically, the small pile she’d been building in his arms. There were skirts of varying lengths in silk and cotton, hardy trousers and velvety shorts, sleeveless button-ups and wrapped shirts, the occasional dress- though not as many as he expected- and once or twice a piece of clothing that he had a feeling she slipped in just to have the opportunity to try on in private that he made a point of not noticing.
He doubted much of them would get past the ‘try on’ stage- and a few that might he doubted would endure every-day traveling- but seeing her flit around, ooing and awing at the outfits was an enjoyable experience.
His heart beat a gentle even pulse as the minor weight of the clothes pulled at his arms, and it reminded him of older days.
“Oh, this! A- and… maybe thiiis, and-”
“Okay, I think that’s enough Saila, I-”
“Wa- wait! Wait!! I…”
Saila shot over to one last outfit- a red and gold one that Noble didn’t quite catch, and grabbed snatched the pile from him.
“There we go! Okay, time to try these on!”
She waddled off, top-heavy with the pile hoisted over her, leaning back to balance it. It looked just about comical, and a few of the patrons- not to mention the staff- who had been inevitably drawn to the display laughed.
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He laughed with them- and found a few eyes trained on him as well.
Damned if he knew why though.
###
Outfit by outfit, Saila popped in and out of the changing room. The first was a simple look; hardy work trousers and a low-cut kurti, both pretty basic but clearly good for traveling. Noble dismissed it out of hand, which she’d appreciated- denying the most practical outfit right out the gate left things open.
Second was this lovely silk waistcoat in light blue over a more traditional Trestarian cotton dress with long sleeves, dyed a pleasant sandy-orange that she felt suited her amber tone. She liked how it felt and looked- even if it wasn’t the pink Felisian dress on her box of matches- but after some discussion they both figured it was too fragile for the desert- definitely worth keeping on hand for sleepwear though, if they had the money. The gaggle of ladies that had started gathering around Noble agreed, like a chorus of chittering desert gerbils.
The third was a sort of sturdy-yet-silken emerald top that hung loose on the shoulders with a form-fitting layered skirt that only covered one leg, the other half being exposed. It had an alluring bikini piece to go with the skirt, but after trying it on and getting terribly embarrassed looking at herself- god look at you you look like a dancer from one of those novels it cuts so close you look so pretty you look- you uh, look h- hot! I- I oh my gosh oh gosh- she replaced it with the safer option of a nice pair of dark-blue cotton pants.
Sadly, Noble pointed out the skirt would absolutely get in the way of any sort of movement other than dancing. Saila agreed- just walking out of the change-room had told her that much, but the onlookers seemed disappointed for her, and in him. He tried to explain himself in that calm and measured tone of his, and Saila just snickered to herself as she returned for her fourth; the dark blue number with the frills he warned could get caught on something. She was a professional, Saila told herself, there was no way she’d get caught up on that- and it looked good to boot. She didn’t quite know how to tie the attached sari but figured she could work it out after showing it off.
The instant she exited, the frills of the skirt caught on the door and she fell over, and that was the death-knell of that particular outfit. The ladies who were talking with Noble helped her up, exchanging laughing tales of them having similar or worse experiences, and that was something she appreciated.
Knowing other women had gone through this sort of stuff, and could relate it to her in turn, made her heart swell.
Her fifth outfit was a pale red, almost pink sleeveless top with tassel-like string-sleeves ending in yellow bead-rings- not quite the gold jewelry she was interested in, but close. The matching bottom was a lopsided skirt that went above the knee on one side, and below it on the other- not quite so severe as the green outfit, but not quite so flowing as to get caught, and made of a sturdy fabric that would hold against rough terrain. She added the dark-blue cotton pants to round it out- partly because there was no bottom to go with it other than the skirt, and partly because honestly, they matched her usual shorts and she liked how they looked.
Embroidered all along the edges in gold-coloured thread were elaborate curly patterns in the shape of salamander paws and tails. The long side of the skirt and the back of the top held a full image of an adorable, stylized salamander in much the same.
The instant she saw the outfit, she knew- hoped, it would be hers.
The irony was not lost on her.
But when she left the change-room and saw the bright-eyed response from the ladies- and the implication of the same from Noble giving her a solitary nod- she knew this was the perfect choice.
Blessed by the salamander, huh… Saila thought to herself, a wide smile on her face.
“Well, suppose we ought to get that paid for S-”
“Wait wait wait.” Her smile narrowed to a smirk. With a single quick motion, she hopped up, snatching Noble’s hat from his head to let his wiry blond hair flop out.
She plopped the hat down on her own head. “Your turn to look around, soldier-man.”
There were a few cries of excitement from the ladies, so smitten by this gruff wandering stranger with a soft voice and gentle demeanor and oh god that scruffy, tired look to his hair, that they were sure to lend a helping hand- and a dollar or two, here and there.
Even through his gas mask Saila could see the blank-eyed confusion writ plain across Noble’s face.
I am going to have FUN with this…
###
Of course, there wasn’t as many clothes that fit Noble as Saila expected. This was a more feminine oriented place after all, and what they did find was in short supply for a man his height- a long, patterned kurta with work trousers, a surprisingly elegant shalwar kameez dyed a deep crimson that matched her own outfit, and a finely-tailored Felisian suit one of the clerks took out from storage.
The last one was enticing enough that Saila was able to snatch a fair few dollars from the ladies- as thanks for making their morning shopping so exciting, after all.
In the end, Noble decided on a short, simple, brown vest that covered his suspenders, and a change of shirt and pants to cut a little distance between him and the Exovan military look. He also got a fancy sand-brown cloak with a colourful triangle pattern along the edge… which he promptly packed up- alongside the additional clothing Saila had picked up thanks to the oh so generous donations she’d gotten her hands on- with a promise to wear it when they were in a town or city, since it seemed such a shame to give up his tattered old one.
Saila let that slide and used the last of their clothes-shopping money to buy one for herself as well- mostly to keep the cash from burning a hole in their pockets.
“So, where we off to next?” Saila asked, once they finally made their way back out into the busy air of the market.
“Well,” Noble said, hefting the cotton bag their purchases were folded away into. “I did some talking while you were changing-”
“Hell yeah you did- you are a spectacle, Noble.”
“- and I learned some stuff. Sad to say, he likely left before we got here.”
“Damn,” Saila sighed. “I was hoping to try that fish dish again. Did he risk boat travel or something?”
“Not quite. He’s headed north that’s much for sure, making his way to Zarrhdad.”
“Won’t that get him I trouble? According to the map, north of Samudr-tat is… the Anarkali Sand Sea. Seems risky to go that way- I read that sand seas are these really like, wind-blasted areas that are completely barren, for miles. Heard there are sinkholes in the sand and stuff too.”
“More or less,” Noble said simply.
“And to get to Zarrhdad, he’d need to cross the whole thing! The closest stop would be Al-Rimal, and it’d take weeks to get there.”
“You memorized that map pretty quick, little lady.”
“W- hey, someone had to. But, thanks. So, what’s the plan… I don’t think we’ve got enough money to keep us going through a sand sea… and if we don’t, he certainly doesn’t. Are you sure he wouldn’t take a trade rode?”
“I’m sure. The Felisian army’s likely using those, after all.”
“Ah, right. So… he’d really risk going through a desert like that?”
Noble stopped and turned to her, taking a moment to step into the shade of a nearby eatery.
“He would if he had to- but I don’t think he did. Like I said, I did some talking; one of those fine ladies mentioned hearing something through the grapevine. About a mysterious, smooth-talking stranger that needed help traveling north.”
Saila wiped the sweat from her brow as she joined him in the shade. “And what happened?”
“Well, she told him a thing or two- like how there’s a path through about half or so of the Anarkali. Believe it’s called-”
“Ah!! Thueban Alghisi! It’s some kinda rocky pass that leads to the Anarkali. Name means the uh, the… cheating snake?
Noble gave her his typical curt laugh. “Impressive. Turns out, it’s connected to a cave system of sorts- it’ll take us straight through the Anarkali to just a day or two out from Al-Rimal, so the stories go. Heard a few fine folks have chased their desires through that pass, eloping or some such.”
“Hell yeah! That sounds perfect. You know the way?”
“More or less. They explained it well enough- a couple even offered to take us, for some damn reason.”
At that Saila burst out laughing. Noble just looked at her through ovoid lenses.
“Man, you got a lot to learn yourself, Noble. Now let’s get somethin’ to eat before we get going!”
“Sounds good to me, little lady.”
Still laughing, Saila made her way into the eatery proper, stomach hungry for adventure as much as food.
######