Lechance

Simon had cleaned up the few broken bottles that had toppled from shelves during the earthquake. The sweeping he did now was just to clear dust out of the shop proper. He had the door open and he was whistling as the broom bristles whisked over the floorboards.

He checked before he flicked a cloud of dust outside, not wanting to spatter anyone passing by with it. Then he leaned there, against the handle, and smiled at a passerby. "Good day!"

Temporary booths seemed to have sprung up overnight in the open space near Ms. Sheedy's hotel. Merchants of all kinds were selling their wares -- food and cloth, tools and trinkets, necessities and things people didn't really need, but wanted. Some of the expensive goods were tucked within the safety of more permanent "stores" in the building that housed the nickelodeon.

Performers roamed through the crowd and the streets, and there was a bright, festive feel all about.

A few blocks away, near the smithy, the livestock market was slightly less festive (and slightly more oderous) but still just as popular.