Of the Sea (Travels Of Kerriya)

in which we eat breakfast

Mae awoke the next day with a start. Sunlight shone through the paper doors on her left with a stunning brightness, despite it still being early dawn. She remembered all at once that she had spent the previous night eating drylander food in a tavern on land—all on a new pair of legs. She turned to look at Aelsiq, who was still snoring. Now that she was refreshed, she started to worry that she had made the wrong choice—that these people had some sort of ulterior motive to helping her. Maybe they planned to bring her and Aelsiq somewhere remote and rob them. But they said they hadn't known about her money—and they'd already taken her scales. Perhaps they'd already abandoned Mae and Aelsiq and taken off with them? The thought was unpleasant, but not unrealistic... She threw off her covers and started attempting to get up when the door slid open.

Hayun peeked through the gap. "Are you two awake?"

Mae sighed with relief. They hadn't disappeared with the scales. "I am," she replied. "But Aelsiq is a late sleeper."

Hayun looked at her and chuckled. "Well, she'll have to get used to waking up early once we get going—but at least today, she can sleep in." She entered the room and closed the door. "I wanted to ask if you wanted help buying some clothes for yourself today. I can't exactly lend you mine forever."

"Oh!" said Mae. "That's right! I didn't get the chance to say thank you for the ones you've lent already—Thank you."

"No worries," said Hayun. "I know how it feels to be wanting for clothing. It's only right to help." She smiled. "I'll let you change out of your sleepwear. Meet me at the entrance when you're ready—we'll get breakfast while we're out." She left with a friendly wave.

Mae decided that, even if it wasn't the most cautious decision, she would trust these people. At least for now.

It took awhile for her to remember how walking worked, and another while to remember the way to the front of the inn, but eventually Mae found her way there. When she emerged, she saw Hayun and Fenn, chatting as they waited for her.

"Hi," she said, somewhat nervous. Meeting them after all the chaos of the night before felt like meeting strangers again.

"Hey," said Hayun. "Fenn will be coming with us, too."

"What about Perrin?" asked Mae, giving Fenn an awkward wave.

"He mentioned something about looking for a lead," replied Fenn. "I didn't really hear anything else because he said it while I was still half-asleep—he left at an ungodly hour."

Hayun laughed. "That's just Perrin as usual. Once he gets going, he's gone." She patted Fenn on the back. "Shall we get going as well? If you need to," she continued to Mae, "don't hesitate to grab my arm. I have enough balance for the both of us."

Mae thanked Hayun, but managed to balance without holding onto her.

Hayun led her and Fenn through the streets of the harbor town, away from the nightlife focused area with bars and taverns and inns like the one they were staying in, and into the market square. Mae gaped at the marketplace—though it was still early in the morning, it hustled and bustled with the murmurs and shouts of shoppers and sellers. There were stalls with bunches of dried peppers and garlic hung in garlands, with heaping baskets of dried roots dominating the ground; there were shops with row upon row of bags filled with dried beans, fruits, teas, and spices; there were even shops that had wide pots filled with live sea creatures—octopus, eel, crab. And then there were the food stalls. Even over the overpowering smell of the herbal medicine shop nearby, Mae's mouth watered at the smell of the street food—rolls of rice and filling wrapped in dried seaweed, rice cakes and fish cakes in a spicy-smelling red sauce, and clear brown noodles tossed with vegetables. Hayun named them for her as they passed—gimbap, ddeokbokki, and japchae. Mae wanted to eat them all.