"No," she agreed, "not all gloom." In fact, the market stalls they passed on their way through Lowtown and down to the docks were quite bright; sun glinted off of steel, roamed over apples and a few less identifiable fruit, and lit a gaggle of laughing children who ran after an unlucky fellow chasing a hen. She was making quite good time despite her short legs, which led to no end of swearing from her pursuer and no end of glee to the children.

"Despite some misgivings about us, the Inquisition did bring an entire new set of people to sell things to, and--" she interrupted herself briefly to turn and exchange a grin and rude gesture with a fellow carpenter as they passed each other and then returned to Sorrel, "--those with things to sell are glad of it."