Vivian left the store just as the first customers trickled in, hen-pecked husbands being frog marched by women and children who were discussing new clothing for the coming winter. She chuckled at the distraught men’s looks, earning gasps of reproach from the women and fear from the children. Vivian merely smiled, nodding at one of the men in acknowledgement.
“Enjoy the Smirking Sage, I hope you find something to your liking,” Vivian said, walking out the door before they could respond. Rushing down the stoop, she adjusted her breastplate. The heavy leather casing wrapped over the thick metal shield over her stomach and chest chaffed as she turned down the alleyway towards one of the smaller shops not based on the main road.
The Market District had numerous alleys that hid countless windo
