Goraldia: The Element Wielders

10: Matholm

We approach the entrance to the city, although it looks more like a back entrance. Max had been playing with her fire, but I asked her to stop when we got close enough. She hid amidst what I assume to be garbage. I say goodbye, "But I will be back." I turn to face the city entrance and sigh. Here I go, I think uneasily. I look back at Max once more before walking into Matholm. 

The main streets are filled with merchants. People scuttle about on the main roads, so I take side routes as best I can. I try to listen to what people are yelling, listening for women's clothes. Looking around, I see miscellaneous stands for simple weapons, jewelry, maps, foods, and a million other things. I see full shops, too: weapon smiths, mills and granaries, tailors. It was all very overwhelming. 

"DRESSES! WOMEN'S APPAREL!" I hear from a stand. I stop where I am and head towards the voice. Pushing through the crowd, I finally get to the stand. I look at the dresses available. They all look either very uncomfortable or not at all battle ready. The hope on my face turns to annoyance. I can't give one of these to Max. I give up my search at the stand and continue forward. She'll have to settle for mens. I look around and listen once more. after another twenty minutes of searching, I finally find a men's clothing stand. The ware here was a lot more comfortable looking, and was fit for battle. I buy a set I think would fit her.

"That'll be thirteen ild," the merchant tells me.

"Ok," I respond with a smile, then look in the pouch. Oh god, I think as I see the different colored coins. I look up at the merchant with a smile, as if to say, hold on a second. There are four colors of coins in here, confusing me in every way. I pick up a silver coin and three bronze coins and set them down. I smile confidently, showing I know what I'm doing, which I clearly do not. The merchant looks down at the coins and back up to me. 

"Look, buddy, I don't know how you managed to acquire that money, but you obviously don't know how to use it. Here," he says as he rips the pouch out of my hand. I was reluctant to give it to him. "This set here is thirteen ild." he had set a dark green coin down with three silvers. "What you was bout to give me was several times more than you're worth, I reckon. You's lucky I ain't a thief." 

"Well, thank you sir," I tell him. I collect my other coins and grab the clothing. I had a lot to learn about this world. I turn back, remembering something. "Uh, excuse me, sir?" I ask. he grumbles at me. "Would you know where I could find a man named Frominon?"

"You mean that psychotic, free willed scientist? Yeah I know where he is. His lab's the top of one o the tallest buildings here. But you don't want to meet that freak. He's notorious for making people disappear."

"Thank you. Will do."

I walk off with the newly acquired clothing. That was a train wreck. On my way back to Max I ask people about which building. "Excuse me-" "Which building has a lab-" "Sir can you help me-" "Where is Frominon's lab-" It was hard to get people's attention. I did get answers though. "It's the one with the dome. Yeah, the glass." "That building over there." I thanked those who took a few seconds to give me any information.

I finally get back to the entrance and wait for the small group of people to leave the area. Once it was clear of witnesses I call out to Max. She came out of the rubble and I give her the clothes. "That should give you enough cover, but I'll just... turn around and watch the gate," I say to her. After a few minutes, she comes up next to me. "I know which building Frominon is in. We'll be headed for that tall building with the glass dome on top. Also, you might get some weird looks. I got you guys clothes..."

"Wait, you got me guy clothes?" 

"Well... it was that or dresses. You don't really look like a dresses kind of gal."