True to their word, they had no issues at customs when they finally were issued a docking space to land on. They exchanged the document with their visitation permits, and without any fuss or bother the two of them were on their way into the city.
“Make sure you keep your rifle wrapped, they get all fidgety if its not,” Minera reminded Tiana.
“But your rapier is no concern,” Tiana grunted.
“Not until its stuck in someone it’s not,” Minera laughed. She straightened her worn tricorn hat, fixing a grin on her face as she surveyed the sprawling market. It opened up before them, dozens of isles and hundreds of merchants shouting their wares to passersby.
“Where too first?” Tiana inquired.
“I need a new set of boots, after that we should see about getting some clockwork parts. How many do you think the ship can hold?” Minera looked around, trying to remember where her favorite leather-worker resided.
“We can safely stash a few hundred before we run out of good hiding spots. If we pick up some cover material we can start filling in the hull as well,” Tiana recalled.
“Mm, I know, lets grab a few Dolls, that’s practically hiding them in plain sight,” Minera suggested, motioning for her companion to follow her as she started down the crowded street. Vendors hollered at them, begging, demanding, insisting that they stop and view their wares. Their eyes were filled with visions of fine clothes, exotic foods and rare curiosities from parts rarely traveled by those with more pedestrian interests. The scent of unknown spices and strange foods mixed with the sweat of the people around them, as their ears were assaulted with the dull roar of the crowd.
“Fine blankets, hand woven! The best you’ll find within the city!”
“Fresh fruit! Exotics imported from The Narl and beyond!”
“Amazing devices! Technicals, Clockworks, and Think Engines!”
None of them were particularly fascinating. Minera had seen the amazing offerings the city held a dozen times over, and there never were any truly fascinating wares to be viewed in the open market. Anything that was really worth seeing was going to be in a little known store that was frequented only by people who specialized in exactly what it offered. That was the lure of Edora, the largest city outside of Narlyocria, and the largest city in all the free realms. It teemed with hidden stalls, private shops, and exclusive locales.
“I know exactly where we’re going,” Minera grinned.
“Hrm?” Tiana frowned up at her.
“He’ll have plenty of what we need, and if I remember, he’ll be more than willing to help us out,” Minera winked.
“That would be a welcome change,” Tiana nodded.
“Leave it to me,” Minera changed her direction, moving them away from the market and towards the industrial district under the looming cloud of steam and billowing smoke. The pungent scent of the market changed to the stifling reek of industry in short order.
“They say that you have to wear a filter-mask in the morning if you are traveling for more than a few minutes through the bowels of this place,” Tiana coughed in the haze that filled the air. The roads had thinned out, merchants being replaced by soot and filth covered workers carrying tools, parts, scrap and whatever else they were charged with as they moved between jobs.
“I don’t doubt… By the ever-bitter teats of Arkuros, are those Narlyocrian Soldiers?” Minera pulled Tiana off the main road and over to the edge of an alleyway as she spotted the distinctive grey, black and sickly purple of the Narlyocrian fatigues on a group marching towards them. They were led by an imposing figure, his heavy armor obscured by a thick black cape and hood, lined with its purple trim. One of the soldiers in his company was reading a report to him as they waked through the streets. The two privateers were not the only people to clear out of their path with haste as workers and businessmen vanished away from them.
“Holy Gods alive, that’s one of their commanders,” Tiana whispered as they peered around the corner at them.
“What in the world is a squad of Narlyo’s doing in Ecidia, much less walking around in Edora without a company of homeland guardians escorting them?” Minera cursed, cutting her voice down to a whisper as the menacing group past by them.
“…they’ve assured us that they will not interfere if it reaches them.”
“They wouldn’t dare.”
“Yes, commander. Of course, sir.”
Minera strained to hear more of their conversation, but it was lost in the background noise of churning machinery and industry.
“Consider my curiosity piqued,” Minera grunted, she looked at the group as they slowly made their way towards the market.
“Wherever they are going isn’t here. That’s all we should be concerned with. They are terrifying enough in the Narl,” Tiana stepped back out onto the street, shaking her head at her captain’s insistent staring.
“Nah, they’re not going to do anything here. They won’t use their particular brand of finger wiggling and curse muttering in a place where they can shield themselves behind their own laws,” Minera said. She stretched in place, yawning slightly as she felt the excitement of the day fade, revealing the mundane bustle of industry once again. They resumed their trek into the very heart of the industrial sector, weaving their way through the twisted alleys in an effort to dodge the carts and carriages that tore through the streets hauling materials and wares to and from the factories.
