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“Each set is custom made,” she explained, as Darith smiled bemusedly at me. “The magic ensures that it’s a perfect fit and that it will not fit another person.”
I examined my ears in the mirror and saw symbols etched conspicuously at the bottom of the cuffs.“Do you use runes?”
The symbols weren’t familiar to me. This was sealing rather than runework. Runework was the domain of hearth casters. The ritualistic and symbolic nature of runes allowed things to be durable and effective.
Spell crafters had a more difficult time with these types of magics. Bonding their magic to an object in such a way was an esoteric branch of magic, but it was the only way for a spell crafter to give an object lasting power. Spell crafters guarded the secrets of sealings for millennia, and they were not forthcoming with that knowledge.
“No, runes don’t work for this type of magic. It’s a special enchantment that I learned from my father.”
If she didn’t want to share information, I wouldn’t force her. I admired the ear cuffs in the mirror. Vines and leaves were woven around the metal in a delicate design. They were beautiful, and I could see why they were so popular.
“I’ll take them,” I said, handing her 50 Gaelden.
She smiled with pleasure. “No, Your Highness. It’s my gift to you.” Her cheeks flushed red.
“I couldn’t possibly,” I protested.
“Please, take them,” she insisted. “It would be my honor.”
I hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “Thank you. I’ll treasure them.”
Her face lit up with happiness, and I knew I had made the right decision. “I could make you something custom instead. This is too humble of a gift for royalty.”
“No, no,” I said, touched by her generosity. “I love them. They are perfect the way they are now.”
I thanked her again, and we moved on to the next tent. As we walked, Darith leaned close and whispered, “Well done. She will never forget this.”
I looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“The biggest compliment you can give an artisan is to purchase their work rather than ordering a custom-made piece,” Darith explained. “It shows that you value their skill and that you appreciate their craft. You just made her day, possibly even her year.”
Seven years? I didn’t believe that.
“I only spoke the truth. Her work is beautiful.”
“Yes, but you made her feel seen and valued. That is the true mark of a kind heart.”
“She deserved it,” I said. “All these artisans do. Their talent can’t be denied.”
“They are,” Darith agreed. “And your patronage will help them thrive.”
It would allow them to present their work to a wider audience and to make a good living doing what they loved. It was the reason I came.
We spent the rest of the morning browsing the tents and talking to the artisans. One tent, in particular, caught my eye. A crowd gathered around it, their hushed voices and reverent expressions betraying their awe.
“What’s going on over there?” I asked, curious.
“There’s a demonstration going on,” Darith said.
We made our way through the crowd, and I saw that a young man was displaying an orb of light. He held it in his hand and made it move with a flick of his wrist.
“What is this?” I whispered to Darith, but it seemed he heard me.
“This will be a way to revolutionize our communication system, Your Highness,” the man said, his eyes alight with excitement. “With this technology, we will send messages instantly to anyone in the world.”
Astonished, I watched as he sent the orb of light zooming off into the distance. It disappeared, but I knew it was still there, traveling at an incredible speed.
I took a step forward to observe the orb, but it flashed. “How?”
