3.2 Mylne Town: Art Market

Through the many forests that run around the province Dirtorain and along the Cagair Stream, a river that flows into the Lihyat Sea, we had reached the next spot where we’d spend the night. The next day, we were blessed with yet another dry walk, it hadn’t rained since the morning after I left the castle.

We made it through the Taffan mountains, where we had to put up a fight—one where we hardly broke a sweat—against Ballag Bats coming out of caves.

“So, where are the Taffan mountains?” she asked, right after we made it through the mountain range.

“…We’ve been walking through them all day.”

“I see.” She turned around, shooting a quick glance at what an East Twynnian would call hills. “Are these not hills?”

Just as I thought…

“West-Twynne is a lot flatter compared to the East, right? That’s why we call just about everything sticking above our heads mountains.”

“Right, got it.”

“This mountain range is pretty well known around these areas. Another reason they probably call it mountains is because of the myth of Taffar. Before this land was Twynne, tribes would bring offerings to Eirfinna, the goddess of mercy, begging for her forgiveness.”

“And what is the myth of Taffar?” Despite her ever-so cold tone and her unchanging expression, I’ve learned over these past few days that despite all that, she’s genuinely curious.

“A young boy, named Taffar, who took care of his family’s cattle in a small settlement got three of their four cows killed in an accident. He ran off with his last cow to the tip of the tallest mountain here. He prayed for Eirfinna’s forgiveness and pushed his last cow off the mountain as his offering. In tears, he made his way back down the mountain. At the bottom, he saw that not only his fourth cow was unharmed, five more cows were waiting for him.”

She slightly squinted her eyes and placed her fist over her chin. “So if I push you off the mountain, I could get myself a handful of Leiths…” She turned her eyes my way.

“Please don’t.”

As the days and nights went by, I had realised that even if it felt like these days would never come to an end, all of them would be days we’d eventually forget.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

“Anna, where are you headed?” A fellow merchant asked her.

They stood two streets away from Maganmur city’s centre, a distance from where you could already hear the fountain before it’s in sight—that is if it’s not busy. The merchant asked her, since Anna seemed to be headed the other way.

“Market’s openin’ right about now.”

“Hm? The wholesale market won’t be here for another two days. What market are you on about?”

“Art market. Needa hurry, it’s ‘bout to open!”

“Oh, I didn’t take you for one interested in art. There’s more to you than meets the eye, huh. As a fellow art connoisseur, I wish I could accompany you, but I have other business to attend to. Apologies.”

“The heck you yappin’ about? Imma buy what’s hot, sell it even hotter! See ya!”

The merchant sighed, “I guess money is the only thing on that girl’s mind… But I guess that’s what makes her the merchant she is…”

In an enthusiastic hurry, she ran through the streets headed to the main plaza, where every market in Maganmur is held. From a bird’s eye view it’s right behind the fountain, but you can’t enter the giant town hall from that side, you have to take the route around it. Some complain about it, others see it as an opportunity to take in the city’s beautiful architecture.

The buildings are less modern than most others in Eldiron, but that’s exactly what gives this city its historic, yet cozy look and feel. Not that that’s on Anna’s mind right now, she’s breezing through the streets so that she doesn’t miss out on any pieces that could earn her some money.

The first few vendors she came across drew and painted nature themed things such as the clear-watered lake right outside the Maganmur walls and the night sky behind the giant Uaigh Tree. One only Maganmur’s people would know by name.

The art was nice, but not anything that could sell for a lot more than what the vendors were asking for. Anna: not interested.

After spending quite a while at the market, she had doubts about this week’s spoils. The art market is bi-weekly, so she could stop by next time… but what if she misses out on the biggest piece of the year…

Right after deciding to stick around, she saw someone she was familiar with.

“…Aurora?”

She was kneeling down in front of a large painting, one that stuck a bit above her head. Anna slowly got closer to see what she was looking at.

Her eyes opened wide when she saw a painting of yet another familiar face.

“How much do you want for it?” Anna asked the vendor quite combatively.

“Such passion, I love it! It seems that a bidding war is about to unfold right in front of my eyes, how exciting!”

Anna looked at the one kneeled beside her. “How much are you offering?”

She fixed her glasses with both of her hands as she looked up. “I have not placed an offer. Still, I understand why you are interested in it. The sunset hugging the scene as Leigong’s statue dominates your field of view. The real brilliance of this piece, however, is this mysterious boy standing in front of the statue. Is it with admiration or frustration that the eyes, hidden from us, are looking at the statue one is ought to wonder. Don’t you think?” She rattled all those words without breaking eye contact, much less even blinking.

“You took the words right out of my mouth.” She couldn’t be pushy towards her. “So, how much do you want to pay for it?”

“I think I will let you have it. I was only admiring the art, I have no need for a collection of my own.”
The smile on Anna’s face spread from ear to ear. “Thank ya so much!” She turned to the vendor. “So, how much do ya want fer it?”

“Oh my… A piece made by me, the one and only Thiemo, deserves at least a hundred golden coins don’t you think?”

The glare in Anna’s eyes was enough for Thiemo to drop the act.

“Uh… how much are you willing to give?”

“If ya wanna take it there, I’ll start at copper coins!”

“Ten silvers.”

She opened her waist-pouch filled with golden coins. She threw him one, took the painting and yelled “Keep the change!”

The first thing she did was taking off her vest, place the painting sideways and cover the mysterious boy in the painting with her vest. Awkwardly holding the painting like that, she made a record breaking sprint towards her house.

Should I hide it… burn it… or should I—?