Msaka rose a few hours later, having rested comfortably in his room. The sleeping quarters had proven to be of the same high quality as the rest of the inn, and to have the same subtle welcoming effect about them. Msaka had checked for magical emanations, but had sensed none. Even so, he wasn't sure that there wasn't some magic about the place that was simply too subtle for his detection spell to find.

He had made certain to ask during the trip whether the use of magic was restricted in Raseir the way it was in Shapier, and had been informed that it was. He was, however, free to use it in the privacy of his inn room, so long as he didn't cause any damage in doing so, and took advantage of that fact to cast one of the spells the shaman had taught him. Standing in the middle of the room, he extended his arms out sideways and quickly invoked the necessary incantation. There was a brief pulse of light around his body as he completed it, which rapidly faded away leaving no visible change to the area. He stepped forward and turned around to regard the space he'd been standing in, casting his magic detection spell once again.

Invisible to the unaided eye, but plainly present to his magical senses, a glowing outline of magical light framed the space he'd occupied as he cast the spell. He nodded, pleased that it had worked properly. He didn't expect any trouble in the city, but even if nothing happened, it would make returning to the inn easier when he was done exploring.

That task completed, he left the inn. Stepping back out into the plaza, he glanced skyward, noting that there were still a few hours of light left in the day. He performed a slow circuit of the plaza, looking over the goods being offered for sale. Most of the wares seemed similar to those in the markets of Shapier, though there was a large stand that was actually a front for a building, where all manner of glass items, ranging from the practical to the exquisitely decorative, were being sold. The glassware shop was staffed by both humans and kattas, the former seeming to be doing much of the crafting, while the latter were primarily doing the selling.

Msaka thought about it for a few moments, but couldn't think of any glass items he had a need for at the moment. Nonetheless, he scanned the displays, eyeing the workmanship. He wasn't terribly adept at appraising glassware, but the various items on display seemed well made, and many were quite colorful, being made of glass tinted approrpiate hues for the things being depicted.

He had nearly reached the end of the display when one of the items caught his attention. Stepping in closer, he fixed his gaze on it, and quickly realized that the item was what he'd thought. There, in the midst of a collection of glass animals, was a statuette of a leopard, fashioned of multicolored glass that depicted the leopard's spots in great detail. It was posed in a stalking posture, and looked almost lifelike, albeit only half a foot long.

Msaka stood riveted in place for quite some time, captivated by the glass leopard's beauty. Finally, his attention was drawn by one of the katta merchants, who quietly asked if Msaka was interested in purchasing it.

Msaka blinked and looked up at the katta distractedly, then nodded and returned his gaze to the leopard. "What do you want for it," he asked flatly, knowing that he would probably have to pay a lot for something so intricately crafted.

"For the leopard, we are asking fourty dinars," the katta replied in her quiet voice.

Msaka frowned. Fourty dinars was almost twice what he had available. Thinking quickly, he asked, "Would you take gems in trade?"

The katta nodded slowly. "Should you have gems of equal value, we will trade the leopard for them."

Msaka sighed, realizing that he was going to be depleting his resources by buying the statuette, but unable to resist the need to do so. He withdrew four cut turquoise stones from his pouch and held them out. "Will these be enough?" he asked, hoping they would be. He'd taken the precaution of summoning the pieces of ivory that had been placed in his hut to himself during the caravan journey to Raseir, so he could have easily exchanged those as well if necessary, but he didn't want to offer them if he didn't have to.

The katta held out her hand, and Msaka passed her the stones, allowing her to examine them more closely. At last, she gave another slow nod. "These are an acceptable trade for the leopard. It is yours."

Msaka suppressed a sigh of relief and carefully picked up the statuette, holding it securely in both hands. After going to that expense, he certainly didn't want to drop the thing on the ground. "Thank you," he said quietly, and walked towards the inn.

He quickly reached it and retired to his room, not noticing the katta who owned the place standing and bowing to him as he entered. Closing the door behind him, he gently set the statuette down on the table, well away from the edge. Settling himself down onto a pillow next to it, he sat quietly for over an hour, admiring its beauty. In the back of his mind, he knew he should be out investigating the layout of the city, but forced the thought aside. That task could wait for tomorrow.