Saewynn’s eyes were shinning as she took in the sights of the Westray marketplace. Colorful cloth crisscrossed overhead forming a canopy, a shield against the blazing sun. Crowds of all sorts of people from every nationality milled about. They carried recently purchased goods, gestured animatedly as they haggled with vendors, and laughed and snickered with friends over warm food from a nearby stall. Benches divided the street in two, serving as both a place of respite and a way to direct the flow of foot traffic.

It was nearly too much for her to handle. Instead of trying to process it all at once, she tuned out all the lesser feelings, focusing on the most intense and interesting of them. If someone asked her how she “tuned out” emotions, she’d describe it as if she was squinting her eyes, only the brightest or most colorful of lights remained.

She examined the source nearest her that fit the criteria. It was a deep feeling of elation, gratitude, satisfaction. Saewynn grabbed at it, bringing it closer, bathing in the sensation, if only briefly, before letting it go.

Hm. Since this is a market, and judging by where they are, I’m pretty sure the man just bought something he’d been wanting at a good price.

Her nose crinkled.

No, wait. I think… She examined the swirling, complex mass that represented the man’s emotions. She ignored the fleeting sensations that lasted mere moments, pushing aside the surface-level emotions, and dug deeper. The source of his satisfaction was surprisingly deep in his psyche. It was old and there were signs of neglect.

Ah, I was wrong. The man had instead been looking for something for quite some time, nearly having forgot about his desire to obtain it. Saewynn silently scolded herself for her mistake.

Lady Yltris would have had one, no, two of my nails for that slipup!

She smirked, reveling in the freedom this excursion had granted her.

“Miss Saewynn, is something the matter?” one of her entourage asked her.

She turned around, walking backwards as she stared at the Sagoth with a blank expression. It took her a moment to recall his name, Grothe.

The Sagoth were Yltris’s creations, human in all aspects, barring the single animal body part each one had. Most had horns, like those of a goat, bull, or some such, but just as many had hooves instead of feet, talons instead of hands, a tail, or any other feature imaginable. Grothe had been chosen for his lack of obvious trait; he had the forked tongue of a snake. As long as he kept his mouth shut, he’d have no trouble going where he pleased.

Saewynn’s expression remained blank as she responded, “No, I was just enjoying myself. It is my first time here, after all. What, am I not allowed even that?” she pouted, knowing that the expression would get the response she desired.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t read the emotions of her chaperones. They were high-ranking underlings of Yltris, their Anima far too developed for her newly acquired Imperium to affect. She had to rely on her trusty pair of eyeballs to read him.

Nothing. Not even a dilation of the pupil. Drat. Her pout this time was a natural one. Faced with a brick wall, she abandoned her attempts to needle Grothe. The corner of her mouth curled up as she laughed internally at the thought of Grothe inadvertently revealing his true nature in the middle of the crowd and getting mobbed. Yes, if that happened, she’d be right there in the mob, heckling him, that’s what she decided.

Some time later, as the sun began to set, Saewynn left the marketplace carrying bags of clothes, beauty products, accessories, books, and other things she had purchased. The fact that the two Sagoth hadn’t offered to carry them didn’t bother her. If anything, she found the weight of the bags provided her with a nearly primal sense of satisfaction.

Despite their lodgings being nearby, she deliberately took a lengthy detour, heading towards the less savory part of the city. Her chaperones remained silent, clearly they were curious as to what she was doing. Saewynn didn’t head directly for the grouping of muddy, distasteful emotions, instead taking a more natural, meandering route.

She pretended to be oblivious to her surroundings, humming to herself and staring ahead absentmindedly.

----

“Shhh! We’ve got work to do! Everyone, get off your asses and get ready!” Berg hissed to his mooks. They scrambled to their feet, picking up their weapons and hiding themselves behind boxes or blind corners. Berg and a few others remained on the street, pretending to chat leisurely as they waited for the stupid fools to walk right into their ambush.

“Heh, how much do you think they’ve got on them?” someone asked him.

Berg rubbed his chin. “A week’s worth of pay. I’d bet on it,” he answered.

The man grinned, “Ha! A week? The last one barely had enough ta last us a day, you hit your head or somethin’? Fine, loser pays for tonight’s drinks.”

Berg nodded. He had a good feeling about this one. He could practically smell the money from here.

Soon enough, a girl and her parents rounded the corner. Her long, scarlet hair had been done in a braid that reached her mid-back. The bags she happily swung back and forth immediately caught his attention. He would have elbowed his companion if it wouldn’t make them suspicious.

The trio passed a certain point, and the trap was sprung. Berg’s allies stepped out from their hiding spots and quickly surrounded them, brandishing their weapons. Berg stepped forward, putting on his most serious tone as spoke to the group. “Drop the bags, empty your pockets, and we’ll send you on your merry way, alrighty?”

Confidence surged through him. Yeah, the girl’s reaction was exactly what he wanted to see. He’d be eating real well tonight.

“D-don’t hurt us! Please!” she cried. The way she said it almost seemed fake. That thought was quickly snuffed out, replaced with assuredness. Seriously? In what world would a girl like that not be terrified right now? Maybe I should lay off the powder for a while, might be makin’ me paranoid.