[SoR] Distant Tides: Marketplace Mishaps

Published Apr 4, 2022, 3:36:33 PM UTC | Last updated Apr 29, 2022, 5:05:39 PM | Total Chapters 2

Story Summary

Songs of Reamere entries for my stryx Usta and her rider, Ozan. Their trip to Sol gets a little sidetracked after they get word of what's been happening downriver.

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Chapter 1: Marketplace Mishaps

Having already travelled as far as he had to reach the city of Sol itself, the journey to Reamere should not have been much of a challenge for Ozan.


And yet here he was, feeling more a fish out of water than ever, wandering the foreign city with Usta trotting alongside him, wondering how he had managed to become so thoroughly lost. The map he’d gotten from a vendor had seemed accurate enough, though then again he scarcely knew much about maps, let alone ones of faraway cities on distant continents. But he was quite sure that there should have been a market on this street, even if when he pulled his eyes away from the paper and actually looked, there was nothing to see but quiet houses and people going about the business of daily life.


Ozan tucked the map under his armpit and muttered to Usta, “I think we might be lost.”


The stryx stopped preening her feathers to peer down at him with a bemused expression, before leaning over and combing through his hair with her beak.


“Hey,” he laughed, pushing her oversized head out of his face, though he was quite sure his hair was already hopelessly messed up. So much for trying to make a good impression.  â€śI am perfectly capable of combing my own hair, thank you.”


Usta let out a chirp that sounded suspiciously like a laugh while squinted at the street they’d ended up on. Why had he thought this was a good idea, again?


Months ago and before he’d left Krissa, bored and desperate for something important to do, volunteering when the subject of sending an envoy to the city of Sol on behalf of the city-state had seemed like it. It wasn’t every day that you got to visit another continent, after all. But… well. He’d perhaps over-estimated how much help his father’s advisors were when it came to preparing for a long trip. And when they’d heard about the… issues in Reamere, offering to help the citizens of a land they were trying to curry favour with had also seemed like a smart choice.


He sighed and brushed his hair back from his face. No point in feeling sorry for himself. He’d already promised himself that he would do what he could to help. So, that meant finding supplies and heading out early.



Resolve restored, Ozan pulled out the map once more, squinting at the lines marked in ink to try to figure out where he’d ended up.


“It’s not going to get any easier to read the longer you stare at it.”


He twitched at the voice and he and Usta turned in sync to stare at the young woman addressing them. Just a few moments prior she’d been occupied with a loom on her porch, so neither he nor the stryx had paid her much attention… but she must have noticed them.


Ozan rubbed at the back of his neck, warmth spreading across his face. It was embarrassing enough to be so lost, let alone for someone else to notice. â€ś...I was hoping it would.”


Usta let out a friendly chirp, leaning over his shoulder to get a closer look at the stranger.


The stranger snickered and held out her hand, a gesture which he accepted readily. Embarrassed or not, Ozan prided himself on good manners. â€śName’s Prema. I take it you’re new to Sol?”


He glanced at the map held in his other hand and chuckled, “what gave it away?”


Prema just grinned at him. â€śNice bird you’ve got there. What’s her name?”


“Usta,” he smiled, feeling a bit more at ease with attention shifted to the stryx. The harpia perked up, feathery ears flicking forward with interest upon hearing her name. â€śWe’ve come a long way. I hope it wouldn’t be too much trouble to ask for directions to the nearest market in the city?”


She nodded absently, distracted by watching the way Usta’s ears moved, before glancing back over at Ozan and scratching her chin thoughtfully. â€śI can do you one better. I’ll walk you there.”


Ozan opened his mouth to insist that he couldn’t possibly impose on her time that much, but she waved him off.


“I’ve got a free afternoon, and you two seem interesting enough.” Prima flashed him a smile, “though if you’re hoping to find fish, you’re going to be disappointed - sorry, girlie,” she paused to say, seeing the way Usta’s eyes widened at the mention of her favourite food, “given the situation.”


He nodded. â€śThe monster.”


“The monster,” Prema wrinkled her nose and gestured for them to follow her, “still don’t know if I believe that, could be plenty of other reasons for a shortage. Just hope that it ends soon.”


Ozan absent-mindedly stroked a hand through Usta’s feathers as he listened to her speak. â€śI suppose I’ll be finding out soon. I plan on travelling there and seeing how I can help.”


“Really?” She paused to give the two of them a surprised stare, “well, in that case, I hope for both your sakes that it’s not a monster. I don’t recall hearing that stryx do too well in the sea.”


“Hopefully,” Ozan agreed… though couldn’t help but hope that there would at least be something more to the situation at the Reamere. â€śHave you ever been at sea?”


And so they passed the time talking as Prema led him along a few different streets, until they stepped out into a busy market taking up an entire vast courtyard. She stuck with him for a bit, petting Usta and observing his purchases with varying levels of judgement, before they parted ways after Ozan had loaded his new supplies onto the harpia’s tack.


“Do you think there’s a monster?” He asked her as he climbed into the saddle.


The stryx turned her head to stare at him with one large, blue eye, then rustled her wings with impatience.


“Alright,” Ozan patted her shoulder, “let’s go, then?”


Usta took off with a frantic beating of her wings, the cobbled street dropping away as she gained altitude. Monster or no, they had an early morning awaiting them.

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