I nod in agreement.
It seems the Pyrenese do indeed hide full cities within their mountains.
“It’s no Hidden City,” I look up at him, “but it does have a certain bravado to it, doesn’t it?”
“It’s nothing close to our Hidden City,” he smiles proudly, “but yes, this is certainly magnificent.”
“I’m assuming you haven’t taken this route before?” I ask as we catch up to the group. The Prince and Princess purchase something from a vendor up ahead, Clair pointing back at us and counting the full our party.
“I haven’t,” Keane affirms, “we’re inside the mountain, so this is all as new to me as it is to you. The last time I saw the library was from the town below the fortress. We rode past the entrance from outside.”
Ancients.
This library might be the biggest I’ve come across.
The thought makes me frown just as Holis turns and passes three mugs filled with a brown drink to Cal, Keane and I.
“It’s warm,” I hold the mug in curiosity.
“Spiced brown ale,” Princess Clair walks over to us with a grin, “heated to greet the morning chill.”
I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm and take a hefty sip of the ale. It’s a delicious blend of warmth and spice that tastes of apples, truly perfect for the morning chill as she mentioned. I take another drink and catch Cal’s eyes in the process, the two of us nodding over our mugs and enjoying the drink immensely.
“It’s delicious,” I smile at Clair.
The Princess’ grin goes wide.
“I would have never thought to heat the drink but the sensation is amazing. Perfect for the morning.”
“It is,” she smiles as Prince McQuoid passes a few small plates around the group. Each of them host a fluffy slice of bread with berries on top.
“Berry bread,” Clair smiles at her husband, taking a bite. We all follow suit and try the new food that tastes of sweet sugar, walnuts, and berries.
The Prince and Princess lead us farther down the road after we’ve all had our breakfast, both of them occasionally stopping to greet the people of the city at different intervals. Clair’s friendliness extends to nearly everyone she meets, while McQuoid stands regal at her side and looks on with a reserved smile. Naturally, I linger in front of the shops and stores as long as I can to take in everything around me. I watch the people of Pyre enjoying their lifestyle within the mountain and marvel at how they interact with such warmth and life despite the major lack of natural sunlight. It’s fascinating, but it’s not for me.
At one point a man without flames steps out of the door of his shop. He walks through the small courtyard and squats to the ground with a smile, extending his hand to a young girl with curly red hair before he drops a pouch in her palm.
“Is this what I think it is?” she flings her hands around his neck, “thank you, Papa!”
I watch the exchange with a curious smile, wondering what could possibly be in the pouch that makes the girl so happy. She releases her fatherfrom the hug and upends the bag onto the ground, the sight of small red and grey balls rolling across the ground making her squeal in excitement.
Marbles.
I immediately look at the sign above the man’s store with a grin. It’s a toy shop. I quickly push through the courtyard gate and walk towards the entrance, smiling when the man notices me and rushes to open the front door.
“Lady,” he bows me inside.
“Thank you. I saw you with your daughter in the courtyard. I’m actually looking for a new marble set. Might you have any extra?”
He beams and looks over my shoulder before replying, “of course!”
I follow the man to the back of his shop and peer into the glass container filled with smaller toys. At the far end of the display sits three different sets of marbles, each of them hosting different colors and swirls within. I smile, wanting to get Willem a set that is unlike anything he can find in Disce, and settle on a vibrant red and maroon ensemble with the main playing marble a sparkling crystal that matches the gems of the city.
The man smiles and bags them in a small pouch, announcing that it’ll cost three pyes. I look back at him frantically, completely forgetting that I’d need to exchange my cinerin here.
I’m about to barter with my foreign coin when a tanned hand snakes around me and drops three pyes on the counter.
I look back at Keane in surprise.
