The municipal square bustled with merchants selling regional spices, woven shawls, and roasted sugar nuts to cheerful crowds at dusk.
Merchants passed paper-wrapped nuts and shawls across the stalls while Eirwen threaded through the evening crowd and searched for the promised meeting place.
Eirwen walked along the central promenade, having left her royal diplomatic correspondence with the chancellery clerks at the embassy.
Beside her walked Hajin, his hands casually tucked into his coat pockets as he observed the colorful stalls.
"It feels strange walking through the square without carrying three dozen diplomatic treaties," she murmured with a faint smile.
"You spent four solid days negotiating trade tariffs... you earned a night away from embassy records," he replied.
"Besides, you promised to show me whatever rare curiosity caught your eye this afternoon."
"Follow me, summoner," she said, taking his wrist and guiding him toward a colorful stall draped in silk banners.
