In the bright daylight, the full reality of this inverted society was on absolute display. The streets were packed with bodies, but the dynamics were entirely flipped from the ancient worlds she was used to conquering. Broad-shouldered women hauled heavy wooden crates of produce, shouting aggressive, boisterous bargains at each other over the din of the crowd. Female guards marched through the thoroughfares with their hands resting casually on the pommels of their swords.
Meanwhile, the men who dared to venture out were either heavily veiled, clutching woven shopping baskets tightly to their chests as they hurried nervously through the market, or flanked by imposing female escorts who glared viciously at anyone who got too close to their fragile, beautiful charges.
