The sun had begun to dip behind the western wall, casting shadows from the taller buildings in the city beyond it, and the lamplighters were running about with their long poles. It was an old way of doing the job, but it helped keep people who would have otherwise been homeless employed with enough money to live.
Emilia didn't care. She sneered at their filthy clothes and dirty faces when they ran by her as she walked back into the East Market through the MidWest Quarter Gate. She had changed into a long-sleeved light green dress with a similar style to what she had been wearing before and long, brown boots. Her matching green parasol hung from her left wrist by a darker green silk ribbon. Under her right arm, she clutched a strapless bag made of thick, dark green fabric.
She was going to head back to the pawn shop to meet with that woman whose name she still did not know, but she had no idea where it was anymore. She had left through the South Gate in such a hurry after that crowd had started gathering that she hadn't really paid attention to where she had originally been. She had no idea that it had even been the South Gate she had walked through and had to get help from one of her father's servants to get home.
As she continued walking, the smell of spices hit her like a cannonball. She looked to her right and saw a warmly lit booth with a dark-skinned old lady serving rice and brown, red, and yellow sauces to many people. Emilia looked up and read the sign that hung from the front of the large booth: "Kita's Indian Cuisine". She hadn't eaten dinner yet, but as she stood there smelling the food, her stomach growled.
'That lady can wait, right? I'm sure just grabbing a bite to eat won't take too long.'
Emilia was so hungry that she was speaking her thoughts out loud. She snapped herself out of it and walked over to the stall to get some food.
The small woman smiled up at her warmly from behind her pots and bowls and asked, "What can I help you wid, young lady?"
Emilia bit her lip and said, "Well, I have no idea what any of this is. I just couldn't resist the wonderful smell! What would you recommend?"
The woman's smile broadened, and she said, "Ah, this food very spicy. You don't look like a spicy kind of girl, no! For you, I would recommend the Korma. Very creamy, very sweet." She started scooping up rice into a wooden bowl and poured a yellow sauce with chopped chicken over it. She stuck a spoon in it and handed it to Emilia.
Emilia wasn't expecting to be given the food right away like this. "Oh! Um, alright, thanks." She took the bowl and fumbled with her bag for a moment, pulling out a few coins. "Will this cover it?"
The old woman's eyes grew wide and she snatched the coins, nodding, "Yes, yes, quite enough, thank you! Enjoy!"
Emilia turned and sat on one of the colorful cushions laid out in front of the booth. She tried some of the sauce and immediately started eating the delicious food as if she hadn't eaten for days.
