The nexus, the hub; the focal point of trade in the Western Kingdom focused here. Faces from all over the world intermingled in this place. Lives, hopes, dreams; it all flowed as fluidly as the bustling throng of bodies could carry them. Here the people flowed like water, filling every crevice, boiling over every stand. Each looking for something in the hopes that it might be found.
Space along the Avenue in Kings Court was expensive, for it was that road, that single hundred-yard stretch of earthen pack that has made this quarter so famous. Competition between dealers tended to be brutal, if not deadly. Street thugs hide in every crack, and pickpockets from the Poor Quarter wait for the right opportunity. The unguarded never last long in this place. But it was the way of business in the kingdom, as it always had been here.
The ground was sodden hard beneath the tireless trample of thousands of feet. No face was too unusual for this place, especially for the merchants who have seen it all. These men are masters of diplomacy. Storefronts several homes in size lean over the broad color-speckled river of bustling throng within it. One must shout if they wish to be heard; but being heard will mean the attention of thousands.
Long slender banners of gold, crimson, silver and white twirled over the heads of the people within, each longer than the one before it. The Merchants changed them daily; always planning one that will better catch the eye of a passerby. The storefronts are pointed like triangles towards the center of the street. When viewed from above, it seems as if huge jaws of teeth are closing in over the flow of people traveling within.
Shops remained opened and those souls who chose to ignore the current state of King's Court continued their day to day business.
Under his arms were two books: A Cookbook and a list of Alchemical Reagents. There weren't actually many instructions in the latter at all, it was more of an encyclopedia of what different herbs, powders, oils and fluids did individually. The rest he'd have to find out on his own. Mikail had learned to make a few potions by exploring different combinations based on mundane properties of ingredients, but he usually failed. This book would hopefully help him conduct more organized experiments, and would help him find a lot more possibilities.
Haikan had given Mikail 5 crowns from their funds with which to buy herbs, for he knew that making potions for a regiment of soldiers is very different than just experimenting in a lab. He had allotted a lot more for food, but the bulk of the food had already been purchased and stored. All Mikail had to do was purchase a few spices and he'd be set, though he intended on finding something special to feed Jezara (he'd grown somewhat attached to the horse, and he felt bad that he didn't take it on the first venture). He knew where to buy alchemical supplies and he knew where to buy spices. He did not want to have to search for a place to buy anything else because he was scared to even look in stalls where people were standing.
He shoved through the thick crowd of people, his hand tightly on his wallet concealed in his jerkin, and his other arm firmly gripping his books. He didn't bring his pack here because he was sure it'd be stolen. He meandered along until he saw the herbalist's shop. He stopped as people were still shoving by him, and slowly moved toward the stand. The air was bothering him, because the ground was so tightly packed by so many feet, and it didn't absorb water well. The mass of people kept the wind from moving the warm air off of the wet ground, and so although the weather was pleasant in the alleys, Mikail was not enjoying himself here. Finally, he touched a hand down on the stall. Before he made his purchase, he was supposed to consult Sando about his purchase, because he was the one with the most business experience. He didn't want to spend money frivolously. I wonder if he'll be able to find me in this mess. I'm sure he can imagine that this is where I'd go.