The atmosphere on the boat continued to be heavy until they reached the port of Yalda. Jessup and Rish skillfully disembarked and helped Lorelei out. As if reaching a silent agreement, the three of them never mentioned the conversation from before, trying to start the visit with a clean slate. Although Lorelei thought that it would be difficult to forget about that horrid story, very soon her attention was captured by the sceneries and bubbling everyday life of Yalda. Jessup proclaimed himself as her guide and didn’t waste even a minute but started to show her the wonders of the port. Right beside them, Rish was giving some remarks from time to time, especially when it concerned the binshi-related aspects, but otherwise left the young squire handle the rest.

Yalda was not simply the capital of Norden. It was also the embodiment of Noah’s efforts to unite the North. The bustling streets were full of people of all color and ethnicity. A binshi tanner was working next to a limerian shoemaker; some old sailors were joking and laughing with a group of young white-haired warriors; limerian women in binshi clothing were running around and selling warm snacks from the big baskets on their backs; flocks of black-, brown-, white-, blonde- and ginger-haired children were happily darting around. There were also people from the south – mostly spice merchants – their dark skins and colorful clothing attracting the children’s innocent curiosity. Not far from them, another group of merchants from the East were praising their fine intricate tapestries and iridescent textiles to several giggling young ladies. Lorelei chuckled, recognizing from their funny conical hats, that the merchants were from Shareeba. Right next to them a young binsi man was selling songbirds and squirrels in small basket-like cages, and next to him a veiled woman from the Far East was showing a young limerian some fine hair-combs made of horn and bone.

Not only the people but also the houses of Yalda seemed strange and unfamiliar to Lorelei. In Sefis everything was made of wood or pressed straw, covered with a layer of colorful plaster. Here, the lower floor of the buildings was made of solid round stones, with the upper wooden one slightly protruding over it. But what was even more amazing were the windows. Only the lord and the few richest families in Sefis could afford themselves glass windows. Everyone else had to go only with wooden shutters. Here, there were many more glass windows, even on some houses that were definitely not extensively rich. Even the poorer looking ones had windows made of some strange white fabric.

“The white cloth is called ‘snow silk’,” informed her Rish. “It is something we binshi are really proud of. It is as light as a feather and resilient like leather. It keeps the wind and rain out, but the heat in, and if it is woven thin enough it is even semi-transparent. Some of the nomad-clans use it to make parts of their tents.”

“As for the glass windows, my lady,” Jessup chimed in, “you shouldn’t be that surprised. You have seen the dome over the Misty Garden, right. Norden might be the land of gems, but Yalda is the city of glass.”

His words were the very truth. A few streets away from the port stood the glass-maker borough. In front of the small shops were displayed the most intricate ornaments and utensils Lorelei had ever seen. There were goblets as clear as raindrops and as blue as the skies or red as blood; vases, flasks, and vials in all colors shapes, and sizes decorated the stands; birds, animals, and flowers, so life-like but all made of glass, reflected the sunlight and gathered the attention of the passersby. One of the shops specialized in mirror-making, another – in window glass. There were even hair ornaments and jewelry of sparkling glass and gems, embedded in ornate silver and golden frames.

Drifting from stall to stall, Lorelei felt as if she had entered a magical land. She was tempted several times to buy an ornament or a small hand mirror but managed to restrain herself. They were beautiful indeed, but their prices were correspondingly high. For the amount required to buy the simplest hairpin one could get a decent set of clothing and a pair of socks. This was unnecessary spending. She clenched her bag and walked away.

Her qualms didn’t remain unnoticed by Jessup, who simply shook his head.

“My lady, master gave you money to buy the stuff you like. If something pleases your eye, just take it. You can spend as much as you want.”

“Throwing coins on trinkets is wasteful, Jess. I don’t need them.”

“Oh, my!” Rish looked at her from the corner of her eye. “Could the duchess possibly think that the money she spends here would turn the Norden household into beggars? The duke would surely be very hurt if he could hear that.”

“Indeed! What if people thought his house was really poor?” Jessup put his hand over his heart with a tragic expression. “Such great, unbearable shame.”

“All right, stop it, you two! I get it, I get it!”

With triumphant smiles, Jessup and Rish winked at each other and brought Lorelei to one of the stands. After careful consideration and some decently fearsome haggling, she happily purchased a few things – a small life-like white daffodil she intended to give Shana as a sign of truce and reconciliation and three red bead-pendants with beautiful green tassels that she was going to gift Saya, Rish, and Jessup when they return to Ildemar. Lorelei couldn’t stop herself from grinning like a child. Being able to buy gifts for someone else was a new experience and she liked it very much. Still, there was a small worry, clouding her happiness. She… she wanted to buy something for Noah too. He had done much for her until now and she felt the need to show him her gratitude. But would it be even appropriate? A woman giving a man something like a gift was considered rather intimate. Well… they were technically married, so maybe… And he had said she was his friend. Still, even if she was to buy anything, he was the esteemed duke Norden, after all. He already had everything one could wish for. Could she even find something good enough for him here? A glass trinket would surely not be a worthy gift.

Deep in thought, Lorelei walked around. She passed several stalls but nothing seemed able to catch her eye. The products were either too fancy and flamboyant, or too plain and ordinary. Just as she feared, there was nothing remotely suitable to gift Noah. Suddenly, she heard a weak old voice coming from her right.

“Moon-kissed child! Moon-kissed child! Come here for a second.”

A few steps away from her there was a small stall. Behind the wooden table sat a very old woman in a dark-blue binshi attire, smoking from a long thin pipe. Their eyes met and the old lady gave her a bright toothless grin. Lorelei curiously looked around, trying to make out who was this ‘moon-kissed child’ the old woman was calling. Currently, there were no other people around the stall. Rish and Jessup were a few steps away, buying some snacks from the basket of a lady-vendor. Lorelei turned again to the smiling grandma behind the table and saw that she was waving at her. It now dawned to her that there was a small moon-shaped symbol on her forehead. The one Rish had painted this morning. With slight hesitation, Lorelei stepped closer and greeted the old lady.

“Good day, madam. Can I somehow help you?”

“Good day to you too, child!” The old woman’s voice crackled. “I believe I am the one that can help you.”

“I do not understand what you mean, madam.” Lorelei was honestly confused.

“My eyes are old, but they are still quite sharp, dear moon-kissed child.” The still grinning grandma puffed out a cloud of fragrant smoke. “A young bride like you, going from stall to stall, looking at trinkets but not buying a thing, could only mean one thing. You are looking for something for your young lad, am I right?”

Lorelei blinked stupefied unable to properly react. The old binshi laughed.

“You, young people, are easy to read. Especially when you are in love. And a lad giving his bride a moon’s kiss is indeed worthy of something really special.”

“No, I… I am not… really…” Lorelei stuttered, her face getting hotter by the second, but her reaction only brought out another puff of smoke and a burst of cackling laughter from the granny.

“Do not be ashamed of your feelings, child. Youth is the time to enjoy love. Now come to me, I have what you are looking for right here.”

As if put under some strange spell, Lorelei inched closer. The old woman pulled a small bundle from bellow the table and very gently opened it. When the sunlight fell on the object inside, a small exclamation escaped Lorelei’s lips. On the piece of cloth lay two slightly curved tear-drop amulets that formed a perfect circle when put together. The one half was on first glance white, but everywhere the sunlight touched iridescent reflections sparkled, making it look like it was on fire. The other one was the deepest night blue and gave out a cold and domineering feeling, but when moved around a myriad of tiny stars sparkled in its depths. Both pendants hung on simple leather stripes, but this did not take anything away from their beauty. Instead, it accentuated their unparalleled craftsmanship.

“These twin-drops are meant for two parts of a whole.” The lady’s voice reached Lorelei like a distant whisper. “The white one represents the pure passion, burning in the hearth of a young maiden. The blue one stands for the strong and soothing embrace of a man, dedicated to protecting his loved-one. I believe they are meant for you and your lad, moon-kissed child. And I am rarely wrong.”

Lorelei was like hypnotized. She couldn’t move a muscle, while the old lady hung both pendants over her neck and hid them in her tunic.

“The twin-drops were created together and have remained inseparable till now.” The woman’s low voice continued. “Gift the blue one to your lad. Like that, the two of you will also remain inseparable. They will be your protection charms for the rest of your lives.”

Like in a dream Lorelei paid the woman and slowly walked away. Under her tunic, she could feel the slight coldness of the pendants touching her skin, but for some reason, there was a warm wave spreading from them to her whole body. This was incomprehensible! Like some sort of magic. Staggering a bit, she came to Rish and Jessup, who hadn’t seen a thing.

“My lady, are you all right?” Jessup worriedly asked, noticing her unnatural expression.

Lorelei only nodded and then turned to Rish with a serious gaze.

“Lady Rish, I believe it is high-time to explain to me what exactly the ‘moon kiss’ on my forehead means.”

“Ahem, you see, my lady…” The young binshi suddenly became nervous. “Actually, the ‘kiss of the moon’ is an old local tradition.”

“Yes. And?”

“It… it is sometimes given to a bride when she is welcomed into her new home.”

“And?”

“And… it means that the master of the house sees his bride as… gift from heaven. She is seen as a bringer of prosperity and good fortune for the clan and her position in the family is equal to his. She is the one and only mistress of the family and there could never be another. There is nothing more respectful to a binshi woman than to be given a ‘moon kiss’ because it shows that she is cherished as a treasure of the house.”

Lorelei lowered her head, unable to look her companions in the eye. Her face was burning red and her heart was racing. By the Gods, what was Noah thinking?! It was really embarrassing! This was too much even as an apology for Shana’s tantrums. This… This… She hid her face in the palms of her hands, trying to hide her emotions, but at the same time was vividly aware that even her ears were turning bright red. She had to control herself!

Suddenly, an ugly cry tore the hubbub of the crowd and startled the three of them.

“Thief! Thief! Catch the thief!”