Once the cart's wild jounce came to a halt, the hazy pressure of sleep slipped from Leif's mind like a veil. It occurred to him first that he'd fallen asleep on the journey and was no longer amongst Yun-Fe's pastures where the buzzing insects and grazing animals' croon melded into the world's tranquil melody. His brow twitched when the cart jostled to one side beneath him, wooden boards groaning as they were relieved of their burdens. A bolt of pain lanced down the side of his neck when he lifted his chin from his chest, bleared eyes squinted open with a gritted moan. The second revelation came about quickly once the sound was lost amongst a throng of voices, slipping in and out of recognizability with how quickly conversation passed around him.

Leif blinked in quick succession, a startled huh escaping his lips as he shot up in his seat. The heart of Yun-Fe sprawled out before him in a colorful bluster of people ambling from one street to the next in a hubub. A steady river of bodies weaved around the ox-driven cart stuck in the center like a boulder cleaving the rapids in twain. His tail curled around his waist, tucked beneath the drape of his cloak as he looked to his left and found the seatrest where Coltham sat empty. The momentary pause between considering how deeply he'd been asleep for the old man to have slipped away unnoticed and leave him in the center of town, and trying to find where he'd gone were interrupted by a familiar, hearty call.

"Aye, so he's finally awake!"

Leif peered over the cart's side, and relief pooled in his chest at the sight of Coltham knelt in the mud and dust while hammering away at one of the wheel's spokes. Iron met wood with a series of strong and steady clangs until Coltham's tugs and pulls at the wheel couldn't easily remove it from the axis. WIth a satisfied smile, the old man twirled the hammer and tucked it away in the hanging leather loops of his belt. "Though' you wouldn' wake up 'til after I'd gotten this 'ere wheel fixed," he said, rising to his feet with a few claps to his knees to brush off the beige dust clinging to his trousers. "But 'eres where we part ways, lad. Off y'get."

Leif accepted Coltham's outstretched hand and swung down to the ground with a little bounce on his heels. He pressed his hands to his lower back, feigning a groan as he arched his spine and snuck deft fingers in his pockets to ensure the pouch was still hidden. Coltham's laughter and playful jeering at his poor choice for a sleeping arrangement followed him as he staggered to the ox's side. The beast of burden seemed disinterested in the crowd, staring listlessly ahead until Leif leaned against its flank. Glossy black eyes drifted down to observe him from their periphery, and Leif smiled as he petted the ox's furry ears until they twitched under his fingertips. "Thanks for the ride," he said, preening as the ox crooned its farewell and bumped its damp snout against his palm. 

A snort from behind turned Leif's gaze over his shoulder to find Coltham appearing positively chuffed, scrubbing a finger under his nose with a pleased smile. "I'm not so far gone I need the likes of you worryin' about me," he said, though the smile barely hidden beneath his whiskery beard told Leif otherwise.

A quick conspiratorial glance toward the ox curled his lips into a mischievous grin, his tail unwinding from his waist with a little sway. "Actually," he drawled with his elbow propped up against the ox's thick neck as he gestured with a nod toward the beast of burden, "I was talking to him. It's not like you pulled the cart all the way back to town."

A beat passed before passerby were glancing in their direction as Coltham's peevish shout of "You little—!" was met by a spirited laugh. Leif danced out of Coltham's reach, narrowly avoiding knocking into a pair of fishmongers carrying their spitted cargo by ducking underneath the hanging fishtails. "See you later," he called behind him with a smile and ducked within the crowd until the bustle of Yun-Fe swallowed him whole. Yet somewhere beneath all of that, Leif heard Coltham's distant cry of "Take care of yourself, y'hear!" and smiled to himself.  

With the midday's rest come and gone, townsfolk returned to their duties and the village was alive with fervor. Merchants harked their wares in their colorful stalls, wooden posts bearing a number of scarves varying shades and hues which fluttered on the breeze like a bird's feathers.  He veered further away from the village watch who, while dressed in plain working clothes, bore swords and staves with narrowed eyes as they watched the crowds like a hawk prepared to swoop in at a moment's trouble. Occasionally, one of them would find Leif within the crowd and follow him with a roving eye but it eventually returned to observing the streets and Leif would breathe a sigh. He'd grown accustomed to the scrutiny but it never left him feeling settled for long. At the very least he hadn't needed to worried about being dragged off the main road and questioned about his whereabouts for some time now. 

Leif breathed in through his nose, lips parted with a soft oh as his stomach growled at the thick smell of rich spices. His steps slowed as he glanced in the direction of a food stall where an ogień emerged from the iron grates laid over a cookfire. Meat sizzled atop the grates, giving off a faint wispy smoke that the proprietress fanned toward the street enticing several people ahead of Leif to come nearer. The ogień preened at its handiwork; its tiny, glowing body resembled a hot coal burning in the pits of a brazier as it dove beneath the grates and settled within the cookfire until Leif couldn't make out its face from the flames.

Compliments sprung up here and there for how obedient the ogień behaved but from the proprietress' weak chuckles, Leif deduced that it must not have been easy. His stomach growled again as if to get his attention and he withered under the thought of leaving without at least having a taste.

A little wouldn't hurt. Although, it is getting late, I should get back before—

"Mister Leif!"

Leif stiffened as the delicate shroud of ambiguity was torn into shreds. He stooped his head lower to avoid the wandering eyes of onlookers and cursed his luck when small, thundering footsteps rushed in his direction. Little hands grasped at his cloak and gave a mighty tug, although it did little but arouse his attention and lower his gaze to the faces of Brenna and Paityn. Leif huffed a laugh as he said, "Weren't you two supposed to be returning to your lessons by now?" as he herded the children closer to his front while his back shielded them from the flow of traffic. Brenna released her hold on his cloak, allowing him to get down onto one knee in front of them while she and Paityn exchanged telling glances. 

"Well, yeah but.." Paityn started, then trailed off as he wrung his hands in his shirt's hem and stared wetly at Brenna as if he feared to go on. 

Brenna raised her eyebrows then furrowed them with a stamp of her foot that made Paityn flinch and look away shamefully. Leif smirked wryly and pretended not to notice the look Brenna gave before she turned to him. "We wanted to know how Alan is," she said, her voice edging upon pleading. "Then we'll go back to lessons, we promise."

Paityn startled at the mention of promises and, likely not wanting to be left out, quickly added, "W-We'll even apologize for being late."

Brenna glared pointedly at Paityn, and Leif bemusedly assumed that piece of information wasn't meant to be shared aloud. He hummed, pretending to be lost in consideration while the children gathered themselves "Why don't you ask him yourselves?"

The flat, unimpressed look from Brenna wasn't one Leif prepared for and perhaps if he were as young as Paityn - he might have recoiled from it as well.  He supposed it had been a simple and obvious solution, one even a child could have thought of, but it warranted asking at the least. In comparison to his companion, Paityn mulled over the words and shook his head. "My mom wouldn't like it if I went out to Alan's house," he said, glancing at Brenna before looking up to Leif plaintively. "She said there's a monster that's been eating sheep a-and cows, and if it can eat things bigger than a kid, it'll eat one of us too."

Leif noticed the shakiness in his voice, and felt a notch of guilt for bringing it up in the first place. He patted Paityn's head then ruffled the tight curls springing up around his fingers. "Okay, okay," he said, brushing his knuckle under Paityn's weepy eyes. "No crying..." 

Brenna laid a hand on Paityn's shoulder, squeezing her fingers around to comfort him. "You found Svet in the place we told you about, right?" She asked, tucking her arm around Paityn while the boy rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hands. "If Alan looked for him by himself, he might've gotten eaten."

Leif nodded, withdrawing his hand to lay his elbow on his knee. "The information was good, and Svet's home, safe and sound. But I'll let you two in on a secret," he lifted a finger to his lips when the children looked up to him. "When you have valuable information, you don't tell anyone unless they give you something in return."

Paityn sniffed, "Va.. ble?"

"It means when you know something really important," Leif curled his finger under his chin when met with the children's confused stares. A thought coming to mind as he explained, "You wouldn't give up a snack you like unless someone else had something good to trade with, right?"

When they nodded, Leif smiled. "You told me about the monster, so I'll tell you about Alan," he started, fondness buoying in his chest at their rapt attention. "He's just fine, although I think he would like it if a few of his friends came to visit."

The two shared a worried look, but Leif waved a hand as if to fan away their concern. "Talk it over with your parents, and let them know if you need someone to keep you safe then Mister Leif will do it." 

Brenna gasped happily, bouncing on her toes as she balled her hands into fists at her sides. "Really? You mean it?!" She asked, glancing sideways at a bright-eyed Paityn.

Leif shrugged half-heartedly. "Well, for a price anyway..." He ruffled their hair vigorously, smiling as their giggles and squeals echoed over the mingling crowd. "I'll ask your teacher later, so make sure you apologize. Deal?"

Brenna was the first to duck from under his hand, attempting to neaten her plaits with breathless giggles while Paityn took Leif's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Deal!" He said, a ruddiness to his cheeks better suited than the red threatening to brim his eyes. Leif rose up to his feet and watched as they disappeared into the crowd with cries of goodbye and see you later, their small forms squeezing through the throng of tall bodies. The smile gradually faded once they were out of sight and Leif turned around, striding past the tantalizing draw of cooked meat and the ogień's crackling laughter to melt into the crowd.

Leif could scarcely make out where his feet were leading him though his mind knew the way. The flowing crowd parted around him without regard and he felt disinclined to strike up conversation for more than a passing nod, or smile to those who recognized him. Eventually, the crowded streets of the stall markets were behind him and he followed in the shadow of a pack of merchants headed towards a two-storied building nestled on the edge of a precipice.

A tower bearing a windwheel stood tall from the building's red wooden roof, it turned languidly as zephyrs twirled around the blades with unabashed care. Underneath its shade, the wide, open pavillion in front of the main entrance hosted a handful of people loitering about as they traded words and barbs while others filled themselves on a meal while seated at tables nearest to the railings. Leif strode past a group speaking earnestly as they pointed at parchment tacked to the large bulletin board beneath an awning and a hanging sign depicting a pair of frothing steins met in a toast.

Once he stepped foot in the building, the noise from outside was nothing compared to the din of chatter and clattering dishes. Leif could scarcely hear himself think over the squalling of someone singing off-key while their listeners laughed, snickered, and clapped along to the beat of the song. Somewhere else, someone choked on their drink midword when a hardy THWACK sent them reeling with a gasp. When they managed to draw in a full breath, another round of cheers shook the rafters and Leif felt the good cheer suffuse in his skin like the warm air from outside.

A sudden slap to his shoulder jerked him forward, and he looked behind him at a young woman with mirth dancing in her dark eyes.

"Well, if it isn't everyone's favorite merc!" The young woman laughed, smiling at his put-out expression.

Leif rolled his eyes, the right corner of his lips twitching upward. "Evenin' to you too, Marris."