Narfi and Vali led Maeve out of the fomoire town and they walked along the road until they reached a gate. Men with suits of armor guarded it and wielded large swords that were as tall as them.
Vali showed them an identification card that he had obtained yesterday confirming he was a werewolf and Narfi showed his stating he was human. The guards nodded at him and then Vali motioned to Maeve, "This is my sister, I will be bringing her to get registered because she doesn't have an ID yet."
The guard nodded and motioned them to follow him. He opened the gates and lead them down a hallway to a reception office. "Mrs Laoise will help you." He said and left.
The lady wore glasses and had a hunched over back from sitting in her chair all day. She typed on a computer and said, "please state your name." In a nasally voice.
Maeve thought about it. What was her last name? Technically it would be whoever her parents were, but she had no idea who they were so she just put the same last name as Vali and Narfi. They all went by the name of Lokis mother which was Laufeyson.
"I'm Maeve Laufeysdotter." She said. Vali looked at her and was surprised by her answer. "Mr Laufeyson, you mean to tell me this forest spirit is your sister?" The woman asked turning to the two boys who claimed to be descended from Laufey too.
"What's wrong with her being a Laufeysdotter?" Vali asked. "Laufey had many kids."
The lady raised an eyebrow and wrote Maeve Laufeysdotter on it and said, "I don't care today it's too early."
She then wrote that Maeve was 18 and had green eyes and green hair. She put that she was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and next to race, she put huldra.
After taking a picture of her, the plastic card printed out of a machine and she handed it to her. "Please present this if you are asked to verify your identity. Some places here are off limits to non-wolves. With the war going on, I hope you understand."
Maeve nodded and they were then allowed into the city.
The Main Street was bustling with people, all going about doing trade. There were market stalls lining each side.
Maeve looked around and saw people selling things from blankets and rugs to helmets and swords. Smells of food wafted from stalls full of meat and children had their faces painted colorfully. Men leaned against a temporary bar that had been set up outside of a stall that sold mead and other types of ale.
Maeve looked into one of the stalls and examined the beautifully crafted jewelry and stained glass artwork that depicted wolves hunting and runes. "These are beautiful!" She said in awe. She had never seen such things before.
The fomoire lady looked up from a piece she was working on and smiled, "oh go ahead and have a look dear!"
She looked at the pieces the woman had made and one depicted a tree with a great river of water swirling around its roots. "Wow!" She said, running her fingers along the image, being careful not to cut herself on the grooves.
"It's Yggdrasil, the great tree that makes up our nine realms." The woman said. "Some say this sea is the fountain that feeds it."
"It's beautiful!" She said. "I can't imagine how you learned to do this kind of artwork."
"I could use an apprentice if you'd like." The woman offered. "You would pay for your materials of course, but once you sell something, the profits would be yours. I can let you use my glass shop anytime.
"Thank you!" She said taking the card with the woman's shop information on it. "Can I have this?" She said, not being able to put the beautiful piece down.
"It's 5000 staters the woman said, "I'm sorry but I can't sell it for less, it took me a long time to make it."
"How many dollars is that?" She asked, "I'm not from around here."
The woman looked surprised. "Well, I suppose that would be $500 more or less."
Maeve was surprised by this. "But our hotel cost us $200! At this rate, we won't be able to afford anything around here!"
The woman sighed. "You can rent an apartment for $200 here, that fomorian hotel takes advantage of travelers and wolves. If you want, I can rent you the attic to my shop. Say, you pay me $500 for the artwork and the first month will be free."
Maeve smiled and shook her hand. "It's a deal!"
Maeve paid the lady out of the money she had in her bag. The funds Sirius had left her just in case wasn't that much, but she still had $500 left after that and she was sure she could work and earn more.
Then the lady closed her shop and wrapped up the piece and Maeve followed her into an alleyway. After traveling a ways, the stone wall went inwards in an area , revealing stairs. The woman opened the door with a key and revealed a cheerful little attic bedroom. Maeve went in and sat on the bed and placed the framed artwork on the table next to it.
"Thank you! It's lovely!" She said. "Oh and what's your name?"
The woman smiled, "My name is Ériu."