So Shiny!

“Ah, yes. A rare find.” The man’s eyes gleam with the prospect of a buyer. “That there came from,” the man pauses and looks around as if checking to see if anyone is eavesdropping. “from beyond the waters of the East.”  His face is so close to Owen’s that their noses nearly touch. Owen leans backwards and glances over at me, giving me a look that clearly says this guy is crazy.

“Right. Um, I’m just going to put this back. I probably wouldn’t be able to afford it considering it comes from beyond the waters of the East.” Owen mocks the man’s voice, and I slap a hand over my mouth, trying to hide my giggles and grin. The man gives Owen the most deadly glare I have ever seen, which he proceeds to shoot at me as well as my giggles turn into outright bursts of laughter. Owen grabs my arm and pulls me away from the table as quickly as possible, snickers of laughter threatening to escape from his tightly sealed lips.

“That was so rude, Owen!” I try to keep a straight face as I scold him for mocking the man, but my smile breaks through. As much as I think that was uncalled for, I still have to laugh at Owen. The man was definitely crazy, and Owen’s mockery sent it over the edge to hilarity.

“What did I do wrong?” Owen plays the innocent card, and I punch him in the arm whilst glaring at him.

“Come on let’s just check out another table.” I grab his hand and drag him over to another seller. The lady behind the stall that catches my eye is tall, and lean. Her hair is a deep red and flows in waves down her back. She wears a headpiece of jewellery that sweeps down onto her forehead, and then back up just above her ears, going around the back of her head. Her dress looks of lavender silk, and loosely clings to her figure. She smiles lazily as Owen and I approach.

Gazing down, I look at all the intricate pieces of gold and silver jewellery on the table in front of me. My fingers hover above each piece, teasing me, tempting me to pick it up and try it on.

“Why, hello there, beautiful.” I look up to see Owen leaning on the table, his eyes locked on to the lady behind the stall, a grin on his face. I roll my eyes at him, but then continue to gaze at the shiny objects on the table.

Oooh Nicknacks!

We walk in silence for some time, our breathing the only sound around us. The snow is deep, but the closer we get to the City Centre, the more travel worn our path becomes which allows us to increase our walking pace and makes for easier travelling. We round the last corner of winding streets that form the maze of houses from Owen’s place to the City Centre. The space before us immediately opens up to a very large circle. The center of the city is an opening where at one time, before it was impossible to grow plants, there used to be a garden and rows of green houses. Now, the City Centre has been formed into a giant market. Rows upon rows of stalls are set up that are selling things from all over the world. Each week these stalls change, with new and rare items to be discovered.

A few people mill about moving from stall to stall, the early risers looking for good trades and rare finds. I grab Owen’s hand and tug him towards the nearest stalls. I move between the rows, browsing the stalls waiting for something to catch my eye. Owen follows suit, his eyes also focused on the items up for sale. A table sitting in the shade of a nearby building catches Owen’s eye, and he taps me on the shoulder, motioning towards the table. We shuffle through the packed snow and rows of stalls to the table. I smile at the man behind it and he nods his head in return.

“Something catch your eye, sir?” the man says to Owen.

“Not really sure.” He replies, “What exactly am I looking at?” Owen picks up a peculiar piece of wood and metal. Gears and rods of all shapes and sizes stick out of an egg-like center. Owen turns it around in his hands, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Ah, yes. A rare find.” The man’s eyes gleam with the prospect of a buyer. “That there came from,” the man pauses and looks around as if checking to see if anyone is eavesdropping. “from beyond the waters of the East.”