Amelia twirled again, making the sundress and cloak flair out. The dress was sage green and complemented her sky-blue cloak well. And it had pockets! Good pockets, too, not the little micro things most dresses had, if they had any at all. True to the shop's name, the burgundy sun sleeves she'd purchased also had pockets. As well as retractable mittens. The left sleeve covered up Lord Twinkles since the bracelet hated being in the sun so much.

"It all fit?" asked Vieno, the dwarf admiring her own garment, a ruggedly unholy combination of a boilersuit and cargo kilt in scarlet red. It had loops and snaps everywhere. Most of its pockets had pockets.

"Yep! Got the hoodie, trousers, and shirt all stowed, no problem. They don't even bulge or anything! These things are amazing! Pockets of holding for the win, yay! You?"

"Same! Now we have to find you new shoes, though."

"Why?" Amelia asked, looking down at her scuffed and worn heavy work boots. She'd rolled down her socks just above the high tops, so they didn't look so out of place. She thought the boots were rather fetching. The dress and cape showed her fun-loving, carefree side, while the footwear announced she was practical and down to earth, too. She suddenly felt brave and daring in the outfit, instead of nondescript and unmemorable like in her usual fashion.

"Um, okay, never mind. Where to, next?"

Amelia glanced around to find Beige and Blue, who'd been shooed away as the two girls changed. They were perched up on one of the strings of lights that were draped overhead, ready to light up the bazaar when night fell. Beige nodded at her to indicate they were keeping an eye on things from above.

"Right. Uh, those booths over there look like gardening stuff. I wanna see if I can find a present for Briar."

"Sure thing. Can we find the brewing section, next? And toys or something. Maybe I can get something for Dad and the twins."

"Got it. Quest accepted! Let's go!"

They threaded their way through the crowd down the arm of the market Amelia had spotted. It was certainly an agricultural section, with potted plants, booths with seedlings, gardening tools, and the like everywhere. The market wasn't deliberately organized, but merchants with similar wares frequently ended up clumping together since it was easier to compete for customers that way.

"Best seed selection in the market! Right this way!"

"Magic seeds! Better'n you'll find anywhere else!"

"Saplings, cuttings, sprigs, and sprouts! Get 'em here!"

The girls ignored the hawkers, wandering from booth to stall, stall to booth, pausing to inspect the wares before moving on. There were vendors wearing portable displays, bumping through the crowds and accosting anyone who looked their way. Customers browsed and dickered.

"Boo!" yelled a voice, making them both jump. A scarecrow composed of sticks and detritus was lurking next to a bench, where a small gnome appeared to be assembling another one.

"See? Works, doesn't it? Want it?" asked the tiny seller with a surprisingly deep voice.

"Um, what's it for, exactly?" Amelia asked, looking at the animated creature.

"I'm a scarecrow, duh! For scaring crows. I also do pigeons, blue jays, eagles, vultures, rocs, you name it! I'm versatile. A real professional!" said the scarecrow matter-of-factly.

"Don't encourage 'em. Not really alive, just made to act that way." The gnome didn't even raise her head, just glanced up to see if Amelia and Vieno had moved on yet.

"Horse hocky! I'm as alive as you, you cack-handed ninny!"

"Um, they're pretty convincing. You sure they aren't alive?" Amelia asked, blinking and focusing on the moving assemblage of sticks and castoffs. It glowed dimly except for a bright glob located in what would generously be called its chest. It definitely looked like an animated thing, just like some of the toys Olavi had made.

"They aren't." said the gnome, voice flat.

"Am too! More alive 'n you, anyways, you stick selling huckster!"

"Not."

"Am!"

Amelia looked the creature up and down. "Do you like dirty jokes? Know any good ones?"

"Ahem! There were these two ..."

"Never mind! Just asking!" She interrupted. "You interested in working in a nice garden? Time off and puddings included?"

"Anything to get away from this dodo. No sense of humour. Grumpy, too." responded the scarecrow.

Amelia nodded, turning to Vieno. "I like him! Think Briar will?"

The dwarf nodded, palming her face as the seller looked up with greed in her eyes.

"Top of the line model! Gonna be hard to let this one go, like a child to me, really!" she said, shaking her head in ill-feigned sorrow.

Amelia dug out her 'pocket money' bag, then pulled out a single small gem. She showed it to Vieno, who shook her head no. So she put it back, then dug around for a different one. After a few iterations, the dwarf nodded yes.

"Will you take this for them?" She said, showing the jewel to the merchant.

The gnome reached out and plucked the stone from Amelia's palm with two fingers, holding it up to the sun and twisting it around.

"Sold! Your problem now. Hah! Extra charge for the chains and leash, though."

"What? No! No way! None of that." Amelia responded, offended.

"Suit yourself. No refunds when it runs away. Here's your ownership chit." The merchant just shrugged, stuffing the gem into a pocket. They tossed a wooden token towards Amelia, then returned to their work.

Amelia looked at the scarecrow again. "I don't know if you're really alive or not, but I don't believe in owning people. So here you go--you own yourself now!" She handed the creature the token.

"You can't ... No! That ... but ..." spluttered the gnome in shock.

Amelia ignored her. "You're still welcome to come live with us and work in the garden if you want. Got a friend there you should meet. Or whatever, your choice. So, what's your name?"

It stared at the wooden object, then smiled as it looked up at Amelia. "Haven't got one. Only made today, you know!"

"Pick one, quick! Before she does. She's terrible at naming things!" Vieno blurted out to the scarecrow.

"Hey! Am not! I pick good names!"

"Jam Spreader and Lord Twinkles, exhibits A and B. I rest my case!"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Those are good names! Descriptive, too! Well, ironic for Lord Twinkles--get it?--but it likes it, I think!"

The dwarf shook her head, then draped an arm around their new shambling acquaintance. "Trust me, come up with something quick, or you'll be Woody or the Junk-meister or something, I'm not kidding!"

"Oooh ...."

"No! NO! Amelia, we'll let him ... her ... them decide!" Vieno interrupted.

"Aww! But I liked Woody! And Junk-meister! Those are good names!" complained the caretaker.

"How about Rakish?" asked the scarecrow.

Both girls turned to look at the creature, who just pointed to the sign on a nearby booth. It read 'Rakishly Handsome: Garden Tools and Supplies, Rakes and Hoes a specialty!'.

"Beats some of the other ... options ..., I suppose," admitted Vieno. She studiously avoided looking at the ones with even racier innuendoes.

"All right! Yeah! I like it! Rakish! Good name!" proclaimed Amelia, patting their new friend on what she hoped was their back.

Rakish posed proudly, then squawked as Beige and Blue landed on it. The birds peered at it curiously.

"Um, are all the birds like this where you guys come from? 'Cause if so, I think I'd rather take my chances with the gnome ..."

"Nah. That's Beige and Blue, my friends. They do the scaring, not the other way 'round. Don't worry!"

Rakish tried to eye each bird at the same time, which was impossible as they were each on a 'shoulder'. There was a slight tremble to its step as it kept walking. The birds nestled down and made themselves comfortable, ignoring their new mount's abject terror.

The party ambled through the market, browsing here and there. They knew it would be impossible to see everything, so they didn't even bother trying. They just let their feet guide them and looked at whatever happened to catch their eye. The merchandise on offer was fascinating, but the sellers and buyers were equally interesting. Whenever a particularly compelling sight hove into view, they'd nudge each other and gawk, before moving on. Rakish was starting to get used to his avian passengers, and relaxed a bit, enjoying the shopping along with the two girls.

One particular vendor caught Amelia's eye and she dragged the rest over. The hand-painted banner over the tiny booth read 'Fortunate Sun', and had an amateurish rendering of a flaming orb with coins raining from it, all framed by what was probably intended to be a crystal ball.

"Let's get our fortunes told! V! I'll bet he can tell us who you'll marry! And where you'll meet!" Amelia teased, taking a seat at the table as Vieno rolled her eyes.

"Greetings, seekers! I knew you would come! I am the Great Predictor, teller of fortunes and fate! No, no need to tell me your names, I already know them! Place that blue gem you have, no, the other one, and I'll tell you the future!" The man bombastically announced, pointing at Amelia. She thought at first he was human until she realized he was a centaur or something, the rest of his body covered by a ragged blanket.

The dwarf's eye roll was nearly audible this time. "C'mon, Amelia. Don't waste time with this nonsense."

"But he knew we'd come! It'll be fun!" She dug into her pouch, putting back the first blue stone she found, then handing the man the second she pulled out.

"Wonderful! Just gaze into the crystal ball with me, and we will see ... the future!"

Amelia looked at the shabby glass sphere resting on the table, and couldn't detect anything out of the ordinary, even using her true sight. She began to think Vieno was right, in spite of the gem thing.

The fortune-teller bent his head down to peer at the ball, sweeping one of the scarves wrapped around his head out of the way. "Yes, yes! Interesting! Do you see what I see? Peer deep into the ball!"

"Uh, I don't see anything ..."

"Peer deep! Focus! Look into the ball, and see what will come. [Suspension of Disbelief]!"

[Security override. Passive defenses engaged.]

Amelia jerked back, surprised by the announcement from Donald. Vieno and Rakish both bent over to stare longingly into the glass ball. Beige and Blue, however, glared daggers at the man. She could feel their murderous intent.

"Hey! Don't do that! Drop the spell on my friends. Now! You really don't want to annoy those two! " She scolded the fortune-teller, pointing at the two birds.

The man didn't respond as his eyes rolled back in his head, his body jerking in a seizure. His mouth flapped awkwardly, fishlike and slack. With a final shudder, he steadied, both arms raised above his head like his wrists were pulled by strings.

"Darkness! Darkness! All is Darkness! The Lady of Shadows has come! She commands the gloom, she rules the umbra! All will bow before her terrible might, the Light torn asunder! Hail she of the Murk, Ruler of Realms, and Commander of the Night Host! Bow and tremble!" He yelled in a voice unlike what he had used before. The words resonated and echoed, heads turning to look.

As soon as he finished speaking, the man collapsed bonelessly, smacking his head onto the table before flopping to the ground.

"Huh. Okay, kinda dramatic, don't you think? Mister? Mister? You okay?" Amelia leaned down and poked him, but the man didn't respond. There was a red mark already forming on his forehead.

"Uh ... did ... did we miss something?" Vieno asked, shaking her head to clear it.

"Whoa! My thinky bits hurt!" stammered Rakish.

Blue poked Beige with his wing, looking smug. Beige just looked pleased.

"Well, that was a waste! Didn't learn a thing about the future! I guess we'll just leave him to his nap, then." Amelia said, standing up to peer over the table at the collapsed form. "He's probably okay, I suppose. Look over there! They have street games! Let's go play!"

The group followed her as she rushed several booths over, the girl completely failing to notice the stares that followed her.

----------------------------------------

"What a bust! I think we went down the wrong alley. First that fake seer, and then all these stupid games. I'm hungry. Let's go find some snacks! Then we can find stuff for your family."

Amelia again managed to miss the glares and dirty looks shot her way. Her true sight had made a mockery of the various three-card monty and shell games, and after the Nth time pointing out the unlikely location of the pea or card--say, behind an ear, or in a box three stalls down, etc--she had given up. The toughs who'd oozed in to break her 'lucky streak' had backed off post-haste at a single look from the birds, so she didn't notice the havoc she'd caused the crooked games runners.

It was still a bit too early for lunch, but there were plenty of tempting foods on offer to snack on. They found something that resembled taffy, sold by the spool, which they shared. Rakish managed to get bits stuck all in their straw stuffing but appeared to enjoy it immensely. Even Beige and Blue tried some, snipping through the sticky stuff with their razor-sharp beaks effortlessly.

They kept a lookout for anything that would be suitable gifts, which meant they stopped at almost every shop they passed. Blue was the one who pointed out the winner when they found a merchant selling magic paints. They watched as the peddler used a brush to paint a stick figure in the air. Once the brush was pulled away, the figure animated, walking around and doing tricks as the artist directed with the brush and his hands.

"Lumi and Pasi will love this! They'll make such a mess!" Vieno raved, pocketing the tubes of pigment she'd purchased. She'd gotten several different colors, along with several bottles of ink to give to the print goblins. It'd be interesting to see what they were able to do with the stuff.

Her siblings taken care of, they started searching for something that Tuuka would like. Amelia knew she missed her friend, and could only guess at how much V and the twins missed their father. He and Picker had been gone for weeks now, and she could only hope they were okay. They had said they'd send anyone who was interested on ahead of them, but so far nobody had arrived. She wasn't sure what to make of that but hoped it didn't mean anything bad had befallen the pair.

The heady aroma of alcohol announced they'd finally found the distilling and brewing area. There were all kinds of liquid goods on offer there, as well as the means of creating the same. Amelia followed Vieno since she had no idea what any of it was. At least the dwarf knew a little of the craft, carefully examining various implements, ingredients, and additives with a critical eye. The girl turned up her nose at most of it, proclaiming that none of it was as good as they had in the liquids lab back home. That earned her a few sour looks from the vendors, but none objected too strenuously.

Neither of the girls noticed the flurry of chatter that spread around the market, rippling out from the epicenter of the fortune-teller. They caught snippets of conversation but paid no heed. Beige and Blue noticed, though, and nudged and bumped each other at each new piece of gossip they heard.

"... raids started ..."

"... took a dungeon! All the ways sealed! Completely closed ..."

" ... crones! And monsters! Saw 'em myself! ..."

"... heard all slain, to the last ..."

"... forces gathering ... here in the market? No! ... "

It was starting to get close to lunchtime when Amelia saw a familiar face out of the corner of her eye, only realizing after she'd taken several steps. She turned back and looked around, trying to remember who she'd seen, and where she knew them from. As usual, there were throngs of beings of all shapes and sizes around, but she didn't recognize any of them.

"What's up?" Vieno asked once she saw Amelia had stopped.

"I saw somebody I think I knew, but now I don't know ..." She kept looking around, even using her true sight to try to spot the person.

"There! Over there! Where do I know that guy from?"

"Uh, the antelope-headed kid? How would I know?" the dwarf answered, directing her gaze to where Amelia was pointing. There was a gaggle of bedraggled people, filthy and exhausted looking. Their clothes looked well slept in, and a few had bandages or blood stains on them.

Amelia was sure she recognized the child but had no idea where from. Maybe the Starlight Dance? It wasn't much more recent than that, she was sure. She realized she was staring rudely and looked away.

Her eye landed on someone else. She was bent almost double, rooting through a bin not too far from the group the boy was in, ankle-length dress muddy and crusted with debris. There was a cry of success as the lady stood up, proudly waving a crust of bread she'd dug out. He'd dug out, she corrected herself, when she realized it was a male faun, in long robes. Young, with pointy ears and a short, shaggy beard.

Amelia charged towards the group, Vieno, and Rakish trailing after her in confusion.

"Pola!"