Testing the Sands

Leilah had indeed gone to the marketplace because this entire place intrigued her beyond words. To her, it was so weird to live in such a wet world without a desert at your back door. Sands beckoning you to venture in, explore, get lost and come home good and tired and fulfilled. She had her armed guard at her side, she wasn't allowed to leave home without them (and so far, she was the only woman allowed out of her family's home in Bordelaix at this time to boot), and they kept their wary and suspicious eyes plastered to anyone who even glanced in her direction. To which the young Rohari lady would hold up a simple hand as her reassurance she felt no threat and the guard would relax, for about 10 seconds. It seemed trivial, but she knew their loyalty knew no bounds to the al-Khalid and so she was grateful for their watchful eye as she let her eyes wander.

There were many stalls in which she wanted to stop. Clothing, jewelry, even delicacies of the region that she had been dying to try. She made her way towards one, engravings and pendants hanging from golden chains and rings and things too. Her eyes danced across each piece, finding herself particularly fond of an azure pendant, deep as the sea. Her fingers went up to clasp it, in awe of its beauty, and moments later it was hers, dangling from her neck beneath her golden veil. She wore the traditional clothing of her culture, and though to most it seemed barbaric to hide her face and cover her body, to her it was not only normal but quite appreciated. It kept her hidden from the world and though it brought stares, many of them were of intrigue rather than resentment if she showed her face. Funny how that worked out. But she couldn't deny how amazing it felt to take the usual garb off and be free of it too.

Leilah had been very much aware of the woman following her and her guard, but she had, in a sense, ignored her. Ignored because she had hoped the woman would find a way to coerce the guards into letting her through, because Leilah was quite intrigued by her efforts and wondered often what she wanted. After a moment Leilah moved to another stand, of sweets and treats, and approached. She looked over the wares, wonderingly (as majority were as foreign to her as the sands were to people here) and she spoke. "What exactly is a 'sticky bun'?" She asked, turning her face and eyes towards the woman behind them and waving her hand swiftly, her guard moving over just slightly to allow her to come closer. "Because they smell delightful."



Aneira Trevelyan

The guard watched her carefully as she moved inward, seeing the nod and they each seemed to let their gaze drift up and ahead of them then. They stayed stoic, occasionally each one at a time gazing over the pair, and then going back. Leilah too watched her as she approached, but more so for the information the girl could give her rather than to make sure she wasn't armed and dangerous. Leilah nodded, turning her gaze back to the sticky bun as Aneira explained what they were and asked if she would like to try one. It seemed highly sweet, which Leilah rather loved whenever she could get her hands on sweets, and nodded. "I do, actually." She said, nodding to the artisan behind the table and handed over the currency and received the sweet treat. She broke off a small piece and put it in her mouth, chewing quite happily and her eyes beamed with excitement. "Oh my, that is quite delectable." She said, holding it out to offer some to Aneira. She chuckled, and backed away from the table, looking over to the girl. "My name is Leilah. What's yours?" She asked, nodding with her head to walk with her and she began meandering through the craft stalls and jewelry stands once more. She was attentive as she walked, listening to every word that would come out of her guest's mouth, because today was proving to be eventful, as she didn't expect to have company!


Aneira Trevelyan