Irene M. V. Williams

Chapter 16

The king and his charge made their way deftly through a crowd of brightly clothed Hungarian mages.

Irene tried her best to keep her expressions to the minimum and not allow any to slip through the black mask upon her face. The mages of Hungary dressed in heavy textiles of crimson, beryl, gold, and black. Was unlike that of the purebloods back in Wizarding Britain, these mages were proud of their heritage from the country of their birth. They showed it from their expressions and from the top of their heads that had the traditional tribal striped fedoras to the tips of their shiny black shoes. Heavy custom threaded brocade that told the mage's family story went down either side of their heavy cloaks, the brim of their hats low upon their masked features.

It was like Irene had stepped into a whole new world and it was extremely fascinating to her.

The king directed her down one of the alleys of the market that had tapestry-like cloth billowing above their heads.

"Ragnuk mentioned the shop we are looking for is well hidden down this alley."

"So it has a hidden entrance?"

Irene tipped her own fedora covered head up at His Majesty, who looked both strange and vaguely threatening in his undercover Hungarian wear.

"Indeed."

Humming beneath her breath, tightening her grip upon her king's arm; Irene held out her hand and brushed the stucco and stone walls that they passed. Her eyes drifted closed as she recalled all the books she had read on trap doors and hidden passageways.

Opening her eyes once more she peered down the deserted alleyway, taking a deep breath through her nose and then another through her mouth. Her sense of smell picked up the distinct smell of wet earth and the bitter smell of bay leaves, upon her tongue she tasted the sweet peppery taste of marjoram. Stopping abruptly she turned her head and raised it to look at the peaked roofs at the top of the buildings. One particular one had a turret-like tower that rose from it, but she knew that there was no door to it. At least not one that could be seen, picking up her pace she walked over to the wall that led up to the tower-like structure and noted how the stucco-like material was nowhere to be seen on the wall instead it looked like solid stone.

Jareth watched his charge curiously as she began to almost caress the wall in front of her, before letting out a laugh as her magic found the entry point.

A deep voice seemed to bellow out in Hungarian, "Ki megy oda?" [Who goes there?]

With a quick grin back at the king, who nodded in return, the girl stepped forward, "Azért jöttünk ide, hogy megnézhesd a finom áruidat. Hallottunk kincseinkről, és kérjük, hogy mutassuk meg őket." [We come here to see you're fine wares. We have heard of your treasures, and ask that we may peruse them.]

The deep voice inquired further, "Hány a cégnél?" [How many in your company?]

"Két." [Two]

"Írja be most." [Enter now.]

A crack came down the stone wall in front of them, and one final warning came from the voice before they entered.

"Ha mások követnek, akkor elégetik őket." [If any others follow, they will be incinerated.]

Held herself back from gulping nervously, Irene put her hand upon the crook of the king's elbow and allowed him to lead her into the dark hole in the wall.

The mysterious shop ended up being much brighter inside than she would have expected. Many lamps from numerous cultures lit the space, from Venetian lamps with their mosaic-like pieces of glass to Moroccan lamps in numerous colors. The lamps caused the air to sparkle with little pieces of light bouncing about like fairy lights and colors shifting across the stone walls of the shop. Furniture from all varying times of history lined the hallways with ornate pillows upon them. Ornate tapestries depicting from the fantastical tales a child would adore to the gory sort of tales that would keep even adults wide awake at night.