flames roared and swirled everywhere in the wood-built town -- along the two main north-south streets and each of the smaller , east-west streets ; from the wooden docks on the shore of the fjord , to the wooden wall that surrounded the town ; flames danced on traders'-stalls in the market , on the big , fancy , expensive homes of nobles in the center of town , and on the smaller homes on the outskirts ; flames roared almost everywhere , except on the empty space where the hall had stood -- sending a thick , grey column of smoke twisting up to the night-clouds .