Emer smiled at the two women who passed him, tipping his hat in greeting. He heard them chuckle, and he was sure they turned to look after him, but he kept his eyes forward, letting his smile melt away. Walking down the street with a slow, unhurried gait, he tried to look like someone who was just taking a stroll, admiring the Empire’s capital, which was slowly coming awake for its nightlife.
The sun had set, and the oil lamps on the streets were all lit up; the shops were closed, and the only people out and about were the ones seeking either trouble, pleasure, or both.
A burst of laughter coming from the nearby inn made him stop and stare at the big, worn-out building before continuing down the street. There was a certain charm to the Empire’s capital, he had to admit—after all, this wa
