As the others dissipated into the press of life all around, Jakob smiled. Within, there was a delight. He, after so many years, had come to this place. Truthfully, he felt as he had as a youth - intrigued by every sound and noise and movement around him.

The corner they stood at was marked by a tavern with a bright red topped stall before it. Beyond that, to the east, was the direction Derek had gone. He supposed that meant that where they were to stay was in that direction as well. It seemed odd to him that Derek would not have told them the name of the inn. However, he trusted those who knew the city to understand the ins and outs of it. Perhaps there were tells or perhaps the rest of the city was self-aware, able to state who belonged and who did not.

If not, the ten minute rule would fulfill their needs well enough. And a direction, of course. He had both as well as a starting point.

Jakob turned to the crowded square and found himself surprised at the way Laeris was watching him, a slightly pained, but patient look hidden in the other man’s eyes. Seeing that look gave rise to a flush much like he’d been prone to as a child, recognizing the concern and the exasperation.

Yet - he was glad, he never did seem to incite complete and utter frustration. Always there was a barrier he’d managed to not push anyone over. He suspected that this time he could get close to that line, many a time perhaps. But there were no rules in place which stated Laeris or any of the others were responsible to him. He was chosen, yet he also took his state with a grain of salt. Truth was that if he were the one for the prophecy, then there was a modicum of destined protection. Otherwise, he’d never reach his fated destination.

"Terribly sorry," he stated companionably as he found his place just beside Laeris’ shoulder. "It is fascinating. I’m sure you’ve seen it all many a time before. I look around and all I see is color and sound, like a windstorm but there is so little wind. Each eddy captures scent where it stands. Such as the chestnut seller at the front gate, how but a pace beyond her stall I only smelled sweat and animal dung. Everything…so new…"

His words danced away and he, almost instinctively, kept Laeris in the corner of his eye while he kept close eye on the ant hill of motion all about. Here, a pair of boys laughed and ran through, laughing. Here again, a pair of lovers walked, hand in hand, while the girl held a sweetened apple to her lips and her eyes danced. Then, just beyond, a mount seller with his paper thin hands, holding the string which kept the large creatures hemmed in. At a quarter turn about the flimsy corral, a young man, more hale of the pair, held his string up and patted the rump of one of the creatures while watching things with what Jakob felt was a somewhat muted twin to the awe Jakob felt.

Everything so new, so strange, yet so much the same. For all of his wonder, Jakob was no unaware. It was more structured, less chaotic a world than his forests. He could have easily found his way back, setting into place a mental mapping with distinctive landmarks at each. His memory chose colors and textures to "name" each street they passed, each alley way. Nor was he completely at a loss when there was a tug on his knapsack as lightly as a spring wind. A simply twist of his torso and a whistling smile into a sharp faced boy’s eyes made short work of an attempt to discover what good things he kept in his pack.

The child must have been desperate, for Jakob did not show himself to be worth trouble, considering his rather poorly kept appearance. Other than the boy, no other attempts were forthcoming.

He continued the jovial tune as he found he had to catch up once more to Laeris who, despite Jakob’s keeping an eye, still managed to leave him behind. Laeris was, again, watching him with that intent look that he’d seen on mother hens. Sharp and exacting. Jakob laughed as he ducked through the crowd which had parted them, unbeknownst to him. "It takes a different noticing here. Not everything is as clear to me. How often have you been through this particular city?"

[Heh - He's good, Kio. Very fitting for one in his position.]

__________________

‘What will my death be like?’ he thought- and knew at once
with abrupt certainty, that it would be just like his life:
... the same balance of bearables.
~Amis