Free Wizard (The Key to Magic) by H. Jonas Rhynedahll Page A

same general cosmopolitan pattern that he had encountered in the big markets in Mhajhkaei -- tall and short, thin and fat, young and old, poor and affluent -- and were shopping with the same intensity or lack thereof. At first, he kept close watch on all that they came near, but after a short while, the familiar feel of the place caused him to relax.
    Nali stopped only once -- and that as if on impulse -- at a round kiosk that had banners with amazingly lifelike portraits showing men and women coiffured in various unnatural shades and blends.
    "A number seven," she told the rainbow-haired proprietor as she handed him a blue, square chip that looked like solidified lacquer.
    With a quick nod, the man pocketed the chip, then held his hands above her head, fingers splayed and said, "Dyonastrowl."
    Mar's magical sense told him that a spell had been cast and also that it was the gesture rather than the word that keyed the flux modulation.
    In a gradual tip to root process, the young woman's hair transformed from green to a weak purple.
    "Too many greens running about," she confided as they walked away. "I don't want to blend in to the crowd."
    More than two-thirds of the patrons retained a natural -- or at least natural seeming -- hair color. Those that sported the magically colored locks were of both sexes and though a few were dressed as revealingly as Nali, most wore conventional clothing in unexpressive colors.
    "All the people with the different hair are courtesans?" he asked her.
    She rolled her eyes in a fetching way. "That's absurd. The hair is a statement. No one does anything out of the ordinary up above because the Compliance Officers would take instant notice. Down here people can do as they please. Hair color is just a popular way to thumb our noses at the Faction."
    "What keeps the Compliance Officers from coming down here?"
    "A lot of people say that the Bazaar is so well hidden that the yellow jackets don't know that it exists, but I think that they just don't care what we do as long as don't try to soil their society in plain sight."
    Mar tended to agree. No secret could be kept with this vast number aware of it. This thought made him wonder if some paid stooge were already reporting his presence.
    The Bazaar proved to be a sprawling honeycomb of interconnected chambers, both large and small, and it took another fifteen minute walk through stalls, booths, solid-looking store fronts and their bargaining customers, gawking strollers, and hawking proprietors, to reach their destination, an alcove defined by gaily painted head-high cloth screens.
    With a watchful Mar following, Nali breezed through an unattended opening into a shaded interior. Padded couches and chairs were scattered about on a large red and green carpet, but there was no counter or obvious merchandise. Several of the seats were occupied by men and women of all dispositions, most reclining or stretched out flat. All of the customers were asleep.
    In the back left corner, a woman of moderate age, dressed in a loose many pocketed garment that was both trousers and blouse, sat perched on the edge of a lavish chair as she chatted with a man with chartreuse hair. This fellow, agitated and excitable, circled a matching chair across from her, hovering over it a time or two as if preparing to roost, but never quite sat down.
    When Nali coasted to her side, the seated woman -- apparently the aforementioned Fynd -- interrupted herself and stood to envelope the younger woman in a hug that seemed to spring from genuine affection.
    "Nali! Where have you been? I haven't seen you for days!"
    "I was at a party in the suburbs."
    "For eight days?"
    "It was a good party."
    Fynd laughed. "No doubt." She turned back to the man. "Well, Kemael, what will it be?"
    Kemael lurched to a stop, pursed his lips as he vacillated, then abruptly gave a sharp nod. "The full three hours."
    "Find an empty seat and I will be right with you."
    As Kemael skittered over to the nearest vacant