Courtyard Simile
Mireli tells Armand that the courtyard is "like a cage after the freedom of the king, winding roads". They have been out on the open road for so long that even something relatively spacious seems anything but and the stonewalls of the large and open courtyard seem like the bars of a cage incomparison with wide open spaces. They are also renting the courtyard which means that there are more ties and responsibilities than when they are out in the open countryside and that can also feel like a cage in Mireli's mind.
Gargoyle Simile
Armand "grinned like one of the roguish gargoyles on the cathedral."
The author compares Armand's mouth to that of a gargoyle primarily because neither has any front teeth, but also because the gargoyle is a mischievous character who seems to be laughing at some private joke. Armand is also laughing at a private joke as he knows that there is a Santa at the department store because he is played by his friend and so he is playing a mental prank on the cheeky young boy. The gargoyles are endearing in their ugliness and so is Armand in this moment.
Seal Simile
Armand observes a barge as sleek as a black seal" sliding doe the river. The barge is compared to a seal because it is sliding effortlessly as if it has the oily skin of a seal, and is not kicking up any wake or foam in the water. It also looks completely black in the light on the river.
Perfume Simile
In the department store there was "an odor of mixed perfumes, as if all the flowers in the world were blooming behind the counters" comparing the smell of the combination of perfumes with the smell of flowers. The perfume smell is very strong and functions as a thing of aromatic beauty; it is overpowering but reminiscent of all of the beautiful flower fragrances ever smelled all released at the same time.
Scooter Wheels Simile
The pancakes are said to be as big as scooter wheels and as thin as silk. This is an interesting juxtaposition of something extra large like the wheels of a scooter, and something barely perceptible in thickness, as thin as a piece of silk. The thinness is also likely the reason for the scooter wheel size of the pancaked as the batter was obviously spread very thinly and extended outwards rather than upwards.
