Eporo - Itza
57th day of Banem, year 146, Era of Ke’larri
“Have you ever wished for strength or courage? For dashing good looks and luck in love? Have you ever wished to stave off illness or even death itself?” A voice called out dramatically over the crowded square.
A few curious market-goers glanced in the direction of the sound, but most continued at their various stalls and carts as they had before. However, at a sudden crack of sound, the crowd turned its attention to a covered blue cart, painted in gaudy gold and red designs. Over the top of the cart sat a large, golden cone that sparked to life, filling the square with lively music.
“Look no further!” The voice called again, “your wishes have been answered!”
At that, a young man leapt out from behind the cart in a dazzling blue and gold ensemble. His short, brown hair sat in glossy waves at the top of his head and a golden septum ring, set with turquoise stones, shone brilliantly in the sunlight. He waved towards the cart and two curtains quickly parted to reveal a multitude of colorful potions and baubles stacked neatly in rows. With another flourish, glowing blue energy burst from his fingertips and rained down over the cart, much to the amusement of the already excited crowd. The magic then parted to reveal a ridiculously decorated, slightly tattered sign that read: KADIR’S KURIOSITIES.
“You ma’am!” Kadir called, gesturing to a woman nearby, “did you know you smell awful?!”
The woman gave an offended huff as the crowd slowly made space around her. She scowled and quickly sniffed her clothes.
“Not to worry, not to worry my dear. I’ve got just the thing for it!” He said, plucking a bottle of glowing pink liquid from the front counter of the cart.
He swirled it around as he walked towards her. Once he was near, he uncorked the bottle and tossed the contents at her. Many in the crowd gasped in unison. As the liquid left the bottle, it turned to a soft pink haze, perfuming the woman and those around her with delightful scents of lavender and rose. The crowd burst into enthusiastic applause and Kadir crossed back to his cart, grabbing another vial of liquid - this one filled with a viscous, slow moving yellow potion. As he swirled it, the potion turned crimson and began to spark within the bottle.
“This elixir has the power to bring you closer to the one you desire,” he said seductively, raising his eyebrows towards the captive audience.
He raced to pick up another vial, this one much larger and filled with a fizzing green potion.
“This gives one the power of invisibility!” he called excitedly, “and all of these fine, handcrafted potions can be yours for the most reasonable prices found in Niveen!”
He gave a final flourish of his hands where blue and gold sparks once again began to emanate. The crowd cheered and many began to swarm with fists of copper and silver at the ready.
“Yiba!” Kadir called and, with a wave of his fingers, a small blue monkey dressed in a cropped shirt and golden patchwork pants shot from the sparks and landed on the edge of the cart. His glowing fur was nearly transparent and his image seemed, almost imperceptibly, to glow in and out of focus with Kadir’s attention.
They both began to scramble around, grabbing potions and exchanging coin with eager customers. Kadir felt giddy with relief as he excitedly collected silver and copper pieces, dropping them one by one into a large metal pot in the back of the cart. He had not expected such a reception and surely did not anticipate selling his wares so quickly.
Very lucky, he thought, eyeing two cloaked figures that had gathered for the spectacle. He recognized their fine gray robes and gave a gesture toward the crowd around him. Surely, they would respect him now.
The figures simply turned and left and Kadir was quickly swallowed back into the hoard of eager buyers.
Bouncing happily from one person to the next, he paused occasionally to wave the pooling sweat away from his garments. As his hands passed over each dark spot, they disappeared in an instant.
Kadir was unsure how much time had passed, but eventually the crowd thinned and the afternoon cooled with the sinking suns. The sky was still plenty bright, but without a mob of admirers, he found himself bored and ready to pack up for the day.
Just as he began gathering the curtains and various sheets of fabric used to secure the cart’s contents, a slightly older figure, dressed in a fine purple suit and draped in a satin green cloak, approached with his fist closed slightly in front of him. Between his knuckles, Kadir spotted the unmistakable glint of several gold pieces.
The man had a wide chest and dramatic golden spike earrings that hung so low they touched his shoulders. His wrists were adorned with various bangles and his hair sat back, a bit of it tied up at the crown of his head with a long strand of beaded ribbon while the rest flew freely around his face and shoulders. The tip of his beard was corded with a similar beaded ribbon and seemed to glow periodically.
“Remarkable showmanship. Remarkable monkey,” the stranger said. His voice was rich and much deeper than anyone else Kadir had met.
“Ah, thank you, sir,” Kadir replied. He snapped a finger and Yiba appeared on his shoulder in a puff of smoke.
“Are you a sorcerer?” the man asked. His eyes were a soft seafoam green, but seemed to pierce through Kadir where he stood.
“I do not have the pleasure of formal study, no,” Kadir began, “I simply dabble in illusions and spells that...make life more entertaining.”
The man cracked a smile and lifted a finger towards Yiba. A small necklace with a golden teardrop pendant appeared suddenly and swirled around the monkey’s neck. Kadir laughed.
“Wonderful! Are you a sorcerer? I would make a mighty apprentice,” Kadir said, rushing over his words.
The man chuckled deeply and shook his head.
“My area of expertise is quite complicated and boring, I assure you,” he said, “I am actually interested in your wares as part of my work. Kadir, yes?”
The stranger gestured towards the garish sign.
“Indeed! And your name?” Kadir asked.
“Zavarre,” the stranger said. His tongue trilled over the last syllable and Kadir lingered on the sound of it.
“A strange name for Eporo. Perhaps you are Ekmarrian?” Kadir asked.
“Indeed! I was born to a noble house on the shores of the Iladas, under the light of Reulyr,” he replied excitedly, “And you?”
Kadir looked to the setting suns and felt a rush of anxiety. Halla expected at the Sunsnake down the road in a mere hour and he knew he could not be late again.
“Ah, my birth is not quite so remarkable. Let's find what you're looking for!” Kadir began. He moved closer to the shelves of potions, hoping to hurry the sale along, and Zavarre followed.
“Nonsense! Each birth is quite remarkable on it’s own. I would love to know,” Zavarre replied. He looked to Kadir expectantly.
Kadir shuffled uncomfortably under his gaze before replying.
“My twin sister, Kisma, and I were born in Giasi before the war. I am not sure what day, but we left when we were still very young,” he started.
Zavarre seemed to wait for him to say more, but he did not.
“I must apologize-,” Zavarre said.
“Giasi is lovely and I would return now that the war is over, but I have many responsibilities here in Itza that demand my attention. Kisma does well for herself in Althaes and I am a master of many professions here in this lovely city. If you have nothing better to do this evening, come see my show at the Sunsnake in just under an hour,” Kadir said, recovering his charming demeanor.
“Oh certainly. My apologies for keeping you,” Zavarre said, “I would like to purchase one of each of your items, so we’d best hurry.”
He emptied his fistful of gold on the counter and retrieved a large coin purse from his pocket where he plucked a few additional gold pieces.
“Will this cover it? And your precious time, of course?” he asked with a wink.
Kadir’s eyes widened at the sight of the gold pile and he nodded vigorously, struggling to find his words and attempting to mask his surprise. It was more than enough, but he was not one to turn away coin.
“Yes, this just covers it with a discount for a fellow Ekmarrian,” he said smoothly.
At that, he set to work with Yiba, gathering and labeling one of each potion and trinket he could find. He held up his few, single items to Zavarre who eagerly nodded at each one: a small bone comb that vibrated with arcane energy, a flashy garnet ring that he immediately placed on his pinky finger, and a jar of floating eyes that blinked occasionally. When it was done, the cart appeared barren and Kadir was slick with sweat, too tired to keep himself polished.
“Fine work,” Zavarre chuckled, clapping him on the back, “I shall keep you no longer.”
He pulled another bag from his pocket and stretched the mouth of it open. Kadir watched in awe as, one by one, he dropped item after item in, but the bag never expanded in size. Glass bottles made no sound where he might have expected to hear them clink against one another. Zavarre noticed his expression and laughed.
“A bag for hoarding, of my own creation,” he said, grinning.
Kadir opened his mouth to ask how he enchanted the bag just as another voice called out.
“Kadir! Adur-ahanla my friend!” Maumbe shouted as he approached from the other end of the street, accompanied by Adalwa and Poja.
Maumbe lifted his arms to Kadir while Adalwa sighed at the sight of the cart.
“You keep company with the noble Adalwa Fisa?” Zavarre asked. His expression was unreadable, but he bowed deeply as she approached.
“Not in the sl-” Adalwa began.
“Oh yes! One of my dearest and oldest friends! Come Adalwa!” Kadir shouted over her, rushing to her side and pulling her into a hug.
At his touch, Poja gave a sudden growl and Kadir stumbled back.
“What scam are you pulling this time?” Adalwa asked bluntly. Zavarre raised his eyebrows.
“You are simply hilarious!” Kadir shouted. He forced a laugh and waved her away.
“I am sure you have much business to attend to, my lady-” he added. Adalwa’s eyes flashed at the words.
Before she could reply, he sent Yiba scurrying in front of Poja who immediately pounced on him. Yiba disappeared in blue smoke and reappeared in front of the panther, wiggling his tail before darting off. In a blur of black fur, Poja was gone, chasing the monkey down the now-empty street.
Adalwa scowled.
“I’d like an evening free of both of you,” she said, looking to Maumbe, “I don’t want to hear a single word about any antics tonight.”
She walked off after Poja, leaving Maumbe behind. Kadir turned to Zavarre to find that he was already gone, the gold pile still left gleaming on the counter.
“You’ve really done it, haven’t you?” Kadir grumbled.
“Done what?” Maumbe asked, oblivious.
Kadir sighed and moved to secure the cart once again.
“It doesn’t matter. Help me finish here so we can make it to the Sunsnake. Halla is going to have my head."
***
The evening air was cool and held the strong scent of meats and ale as Kadir and Maumbe arrived at the Sunsnake. A rowdy crowd had already formed and Halla waited at the door with a wooden ladle. She was a large woman with tan skin and a mane of frizzy tawny hair that draped down her back. At the sight of the two young men, she tore from the steps shouting at them.
“Kadir, you scoundrel! Late again!” She howled, striking him on the thigh with the ladle.
He tried to hide his face from onlookers, cheeks hot with embarrassment. From his waist pocket, he pulled three of Zavarre's gold pieces and offered them to her.
“For good reason,” he said, avoiding her gaze, “I have a cart in the market. Did very well today. My apologies.”
She snatched the coins and huffed a bit before rolling her eyes.
“Fine. Fine!” she said, “but you start the show now. These people came for music!”
Kadir nodded and rushed into the tavern, Maumbe at his side. He shuffled through the tables and chairs, already drunk patrons, and a cloud of pipe smoke to a small room off the kitchen hallway. There, he grabbed his lute, threw a shaker at Maumbe, and jogged back out to the main room where he promptly jumped onto the bar.
Many patrons immediately began to clap with excitement and he gave a deep bow. In the corner, he saw a flash of beaded hair and green satin. With a deep breath and a strum of his lute, he burst into song.
Across the mighty, windy sea,
The Oceanmother calls to me:
“Come home sweet child of the reef,
Come home to rain, to spotted leaf,
To lands that sing a song of time,
And drink the melt of Katib’s rime,”
Her voice fades under crashing waves,
My hopeless heart, my fears, she laves,
In searing heat, my longing grows,
For forest, breeze, and winter snows,
With lonely song I give reply,
“Before my dying day, I’ll try.”
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