We ended up having lunch at a local tavern that catered mostly to travelers and merchants. The air inside was thick with the scent of grilled meat, roasted root vegetables, and freshly baked bread. It wasn't anything fancy, but the food was hot, hearty, and just what we needed after a morning on our feet. We sat by a corner window where a breeze from the nearby sea drifted in, ruffling the curtains and cooling the sun-warmed room.
After eating, we strolled back into the market. The place was as lively as ever—vendors shouting over one another, children chasing each other between carts, and stalls bursting with goods from every corner of the region. We passed spice merchants with crimson and golden powders piled high, leatherworkers displaying satchels and belts, and weavers selling cloth dyed in every hue under the sun.
