He teased and pretended to be offended, much to Navia’s amusement. She loved how she and Théadan would go back and forth, their wits well-matched with each other. They were always willing to flirt with and goad each other, leaving them to rarely have a dull moment between them. Even then, after acting as though he’d been hurt by her suggestion he buy new clothes and then accusing her of wanting the clothes for herself, Théadan ended everything by winking at her and mentioning a certain someone. It was cute, he was cute, and Navia grinned back at him with a nod. “We can get you a few different outfits,” she agreed, hoping Puri would have merchants carrying Mes’Mo’Tanian articles of clothing should Théadan prefer those styles over the Khluri ones. It was a coastal city though, so Navia was optimistic they would find clothing the Mes’Mo’Tanians had sold or traded for goods.<br/><br/>“You know the best way to catch someone’s eye is to wear no clothes at all,” Navia answered with a smirk, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at Théadan before she laughed and turned her attention back to the road. They were passing more people, more carts going in both directions. Navia paid them no mind, Théadan was her focus while they discussed his clothing. “I still want something new,” Navia announced despite having passed off the need for clothes to her lover, “I think we can afford to get you a few outfits and I can get something too, then we’ll be fine until we reach Mandira.” It was a sentence she never would have dreamt of having to say before meeting Théadan; she’d never had to worry about money before. Navia was confident they would be fine if they got new clothes; it was a necessity in her mind. “By the way,” Navia slyly looked Théadan’s way, “The best way to catch the eye of your certain someone would be to not wear any clothes at all.” Then she grinned brightly at him and tossed another leaf at his back.<br/><br/>It did not take much longer for them to reach the town of Puri, the tall walls protecting the city bleached by the sun. There was a line to funnel through the main gate so they had to spend a little time idly sitting on their horses’ backs and talking. It was during that time Navia noticed the two farmers from earlier were only a few groups behind them and the younger of the two still appeared angry and watching them. Navia tried to ignore her, her attention returning to Théadan, and once they were through the gate to enter the city, she didn’t think of the farmers at all. The town was larger than the others they had visited thus far, but not as large as Nygaard. There was a wealth of activity, trilling music playing in the distance, people carting livestock and goods here and there, city guards quietly watching for any upheavals. Navia found it thrilling, her smile wide while they sought out an inn to stay in for then night.<br/><br/>After a quick question to one of the vendors who eyed them both curiously, they discovered there was an inn close to the town center where they could shop for clothing. The directions the merchant gave them were convoluted, but after a few turns and twists, they found an inn just off the bustle of a busy market. It was easy enough to find a stall for Vari and Wyn to share for the night as well as a room in the inn for them, which housed their belongings for them after they were carted up. Navia very pointedly and graciously allowed Théadan ownership of the key to the room, even waiting patiently for him to open the door when they arrived and lock up when they left. Then it was just a short walk down the street to a bustling open area in the town that had been taken over by tents of a multitude of different colors. Inviting scents on the breeze teased at foods of all kinds, music played to serenade the ears, and the tents, their contents, and the people shopping were vibrant.<br/><br/>Her hand had been companionably resting in the crook of Théadan’s arm but as they neared the bazaar, they came to a stop and Navia could not resist toying with him a little before they went searching for clothes. “You could lose me in here,” she rose onto her toes to speak into his ear and ensure he heard her over the bustle, “I’m shorter than most of these people and they all look like me…all it would take is a quick slip and we’d be separated…” To tease him with such a thought, her hand began to slowly drift away from its hold on his arm and she tauntingly took a step backward to see what he thought of that happening.