Oron eyed her small selection. "You should get more."
"I have one for each day, why would I get more?" Izzy asked, feeling confused.
"What about dress robes?"
Izzy looked down at her pile. "These are dressy."
Baba started folding her new clothes and placing them in a fabric bag. "Not really, since you'll be primarily visiting the palace, you'll need robes for events and balls and such."
Izzy pointed to her new robes. "Why can't I wear those?"
"Those are your everyday robes," Oron explained.
"Will I see these people every day?"
He frowned. "No."
"Then they won't know that I wear them regularly. It's silly to get a robe for people I don't see so they don't think I don't rewear my clothes."
"A breath of fresh air this one," Baba said, handing her the bag.
"Then you'd love Meryn," Izzy winked at her.
"Bring her by," Baba offered.
"I will," she promised.
Izzy made sure to take Oron's hand as they walked out.
"Thank you for my new clothes."
"I wish I could have shown you more."
"I'm glad we got my clothes from here, I'll think of Baba when I wear them, not those uppity assholes."
He twirled her around making her laugh. "Care to grab a snack?"
Izzy hesitated. She really didn't want Oron to be snubbed again.
He tapped her nose. "Don't worry about me, the street vendors aren't as picky when it comes to who they sell to, unlike the clothing merchants their products can go bad." He led her down a side street until they finally popped out into what looked to an older part of town.
The stones were worn, the cloth not quite as white, and the signs were showing their age, but the atmosphere was completely different from the more upscale streets she had seen thus far.
Boisterous laughter filled the air as a pair of older fae argued on a corner. "What is this place?" she asked, trying to take in every detail.
"The Border City. It's the part of the city that skirts the edge of the Queen's realm and butts against the Dark Forest."
"What's the Dark Forest, it sounds ominous."
"It's not, it's simply where the darker fae live."
"Darker fae?"
"Yes, like brownies and goblins."
"Why don't they live in the city? Is it because of the assholes?"
"No, it's because they don't do well in sunlight. The forest protects them with its tall trees and shadows."