Aimery was out at the Bazaar looking for a gift for Lex or something he could use to complete his costume. Birthdays were a fairly new tradition for him, but he vaguely recalled celebrating at least one and had read about them enough in his novels to know what they were supposed to entail. But what counted as an appropriate gift from an employee to an employer? Or did the fact that they were friends and had a certain closeness override restrictions of title?

That contemplation was why he'd parked himself in front of a tent selling cloth accessories, and why he was staring down a display of beautiful handmade ties. There was one that was deep purple with what looked like gold threaded through it along the edges, just enough to catch the light every now and then, and Aimery thought it would look good with Lex's coloring.

But did he really want to get him a tie? Aimery hummed in annoyance at himself, then glanced around a spotted a young woman nearby and called out, "Miss? Could I bother you a moment for some advice?"