[se] the reign of doves

K O A

and they will shake their heads
and wag their bony fingers

Koa's family is plenty serious - at least, his mom was. It's his father the toymaker we can blame for the streak of chaos that runs through him, the laughter and smile and eager need to keep other people on their toes. And it is that fun vein he channels now as he fights off boredom in this unexpected venture, continuing to tag along after Lena like an oversized Labrador puppy as she makes her purchases and barters.

'Always could use rare bits,' the merchant is saying as she reclaims the ruby, a design clear in her mind. 'Dragon scale is popular, unicorn hair... been lookin' for molten tiger drippings,' she adds hopefully, an eager glint in her eyes.

Whatever the pair lands on, it is all well outside of Koa's range of knowledge, and so he tunes the bartering out. He's pulled some sort of puzzle box from his bag and is fiddling with it near the doorway, the wooden cogs clicking as pieces move to form a picture as the boy waits for his new friend to be done with her spree.

in all the wrong directions—
and by daybreak we'll be gone