Time to go to market.

While the little ones were tucked into their bed back at the family home, Shadiya had decided to try and venture outside. It felt as if she hadn’t had any fresh air for weeks – too many hours spent tending to the little ones, building up their new home, sorting out her own inventory of items while cleaning up messes by wandering hands had made certain of that. She was just thankful that she had such a great husband to watch her back so that finally she could go and stretch her legs once more.

Has the market always been such a stir? Frowning the woman watched as a crowd was bustling through the narrow streets. She knew that it could become lively here, especially if a festival was upon them, but this seemed a bit too lively for such an odd hour. Maybe a celebration of some sort? Shadiya peered forward before shaking her head. No, it wasn’t that either.

So what was causing such a commotion?

“Come ‘ere! You’ll see these wondrous artifacts taken from a land unknown!” Faint whispers and murmurs were starting to flood the street as the dancer continued on her way. Matori, Obans, and various other earthlings were grouping together alike to swarm towards a strange hybrid who was holding up some object. Some object which Shadiya had never seen the likes of before – it was curled and when touched seemingly sprang to life in a way. But years had obviously touched it since its original creation. She didn’t understand the grand appeal of such a seemingly innocent piece yet…

It did rather gleam in the sunlight.

Blinking, Shadiya attempted to focus on exactly what the merchant was holding. Truly, it was unlike anything she had seen before! Was it a weapon? A decorative piece? A trophy from some foreign war? Not even anything that her father had brought home before looked similar to the piece the merchant was twirling in his hands. Perhaps some strange jewelry once had resembled it, but this thing seemed to have once served some different purpose. Who would have created such a thing? Even her father probably would have been stumped.

And her father had traveled far and wide. Not just Oba, but also Matori and into other regions of Tendaji. Pursing her lips Shadiya couldn’t help but to sigh. Of course one find meant that this stranger could prance in front of a crowd like he had hit gold. Would her father had done the same? A small, sad smile flickered across her features. He probably would have been too excited to find such a mysterious piece. “I could imagine you would toss it around as well, papa.” She found herself whispering as her gaze studied the object. He probably would have ran through the streets to show it off at a market, but only after making certain it had been sketched well and was labeled as a potential rare artifact to sell….or maybe he would have added it to his personal exhibit. Probably a personal piece for him to show to his family or even play with. He was a rather kind hearted man after all who wouldn’t mind showing even rare pieces to a child.

The thought made her stomach clench. If only her uncle hadn’t done such things! It made her gaze burn with unshed tears to just imagine how her father would have preserved such an intriguing object. In fact, if she had any of her previous standing and wealth the woman would have been tempted to try and barter with the stranger for the piece. But it wouldn’t bring her father back would it? Collecting rare items could be a way for her to cherish his memory, but not to bring his spirit back from the beyond.

Closing her eyes, Shadiya bowed her head against the flood of the emotions. Perhaps it was because of the babies, but she couldn’t help reminiscing about her past and the family she had lost. The family that those babies should know today…

“You could have bought this object and despite all my warnings you would have played with Koril and Kyril.” Shadiya did manage a small laugh, forced as it was. “You and your obsession with strange objects, papa.”

So maybe it was worthless, maybe it was a bit too sentimental for anyone else but Shadiya decided to linger in that crowd for a bit longer. She would study the strange object and in her mind imagine exactly how her merchant and traveler of a father would have reacted to the piece along with others that the man was pulling out of his bag.