Chapter 11: Chapter 11
Flecks of golden sunshine danced around the few wispy clouds in the sky, the expanse of azure blue overhead showed no signs of rain, it was the perfect weather for going exploring in Talfen, the capital of Coldshore.
A small gust of wind blew past Andras' face in the carriage that was making its way down a worn stretch of road, whipping his hair around. The black-haired man stuck his head out of the carriage's open window and felt the rays of the sun beat down on his face, warming it up.
"Brightwater market," He murmured to himself as he stared at the bustling market outside the window which was drowning in a sea of people.
Wooden shacks and a wide variety of market stalls that sold sacks of nuts, dried fruits, powdered spices, meat, and other foodstuffs along with imported merchandise lined the road. Rich and unfamiliar scents hung heavy in the air, so heavy that he could almost taste it in his mouth.
Stall owners shouted out what they sold at the top of their voices to attract customers, while the customers tried to haggle for the best possible prices. Most of the patrons of the stalls were women who had scarves wrapped around their hair to shield themselves from the sun while others used hand fans, the stall owners who had spent a long time underneath the fiery sun had wide-brimmed hats on with colorful tassels.
The crowd had a life of its own, vibrant clothes shone in the morning sun and people moved like unseeing hands dragged them this way or that, pulling their eyes to one thing and then another. They flowed like river currents, smoothly walking past each other in confined spaces like an old well-practiced dance.
The carriage turned to a cobbled street, jostling its passengers in the process and making him almost hit his chin on the window sash. He pulled his head back into the carriage as he let out a sigh and after quite a while, the carriage came to a stop.
He had arrived at his destination; he grabbed the heavy box that was on the floor next to him before he opened the door and got down from the carriage. His black robes swayed in the morning breeze, his long black hair tied back to keep his hair out of his face.
There were no stalls and wooden shacks in this area, some of the buildings were made of stone and the rest were made of earth and timber. The streets weren't crowded since it was still quite early and no one was announcing their wares.
Attendants placed footstools in front of ornately decorated carriages to help their elegantly dressed masters and mistresses who were holding patterned hand fans get down while armed guards surveyed the surroundings on high alert.
He had arrived in the rich part of the capital.
Andras' mentor back home, Rolfe, had once lived in the capital of Coldshore. He had told Andras everything he knew about the capital but he had talked more about the Adler Helton, a place where he had once sold antiques. According to what his mentor told him, the Adler Helton was a large wooden building and the street in front of it always bustled with people.
'A lot of things have changed,' Andras thought as he walked around the carriage.
"Thank you for the ride," He said to the driver of the carriage and gave him a small wave.
Earlier in the day, he had been walking on the broad road leading to the capital with his box when the driver stopped his carriage next to him and asked where he was headed. The kind carriage owner then offered him a free ride after he told him his destination and the man he was looking for which Andras was grateful for as he didn't have any money.
"My pleasure, I'd gladly help anyone who knows Malcer," The driver grinned, showing that he was missing a tooth or two, and then pointed at the building behind Andras, making him turn around. "That is the Adler Helton. The man you're looking for, Malcer Wilton, should be in the first shop on your left right after you enter the building."
"Thank you again."
The driver waved Andras goodbye before driving off, leaving Andras to walk toward the large building behind him. People entered and exited the stone building but most of the people that exited had attendants that carried boxes in tow. The words 'Adler Helton' had been written with black paint on a board that hung above the entrance.
Andras remembered Rolfe told him that the words had been carved on the ground in front of the entrance. If he hadn't told the rider that brought him here who he was looking for which resulted in the man telling him where to go, he would have been worried that Malcer didn't own a shop in the Adler Helton anymore since quite a number of things had changed. But it seemed Malcer was popular because when Andras mentioned his name to the carriage driver, the man's eyes lit up in recognition.
The Adler Helton was now the most famous shop in the capital where antiques, figurines, jewelry, and expensive clothes were sold. The building was made out of stone and there was a public pavilion next to it where some children sat. They were oblivious to their surroundings as some of them excitedly talked among themselves while the maid attendants and guards pleaded with the ones who were running around to stop and sit down.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone