Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Ah ..."

Earendil flushed slightly. "Well, she wrapped it for me, so ... when Haldia opens it, I'm sure she'll let you look at it. I wanted to get her something to make her feel better, since, well ... she does need something to show her that this place isn't all bad."

Celeb tugged on Earendil's hand. "Can I give it to her?" he asked eagerly.

Earendil chuckled. "Sorry, not this time. Why don't you get her something yourself?"

Celeb pouted. "But she's my friend!"

Earendil put one hand on the boy's head and smiled warmly down at him. "She's everyone's friend," he murmured. "And I'm sure you'll have all sorts of opportunities to get her something yourself."

Celeb pouted. "Well, I'll look then. But not here, somewhere else, I think. That way she won't get stuff the same."

"So they do accept our currency here?" Rhea asked as Leyenda patted her brother on the head.

Leyenda nodded. "They don't have an abundance of gold and silver on this island," she replied. "Their coins are marble, actually. But that just means that a single coin for us can go a long way."

Celeb opened the door. "Come on, let's check out other places," he said, heading outside.

Earendil shook his head. "Sorry, I don't know," he apologized. "I spoke with Adanel, and she told me, but I wasn't able to see one."

He held the door open for the others to file out, and Aurin, who was bringing up the rear, asked, "Is there something you're wondering, sir? You look curious about something."

Earendil smiled and nodded for the soldier to step outside. "Just wondering what your coins look like," he replied. "I'm told they're marble, but I have not seen one."

As they started down the street again, Aurin reached into his pocket and pulled out a few white coins. "Here," he replied, holding them out to Lin. "See for yourself."

The coins were thin, pure white, almost weightless. On one side was the king's profile, and on the other side was a roc, its wings spread wide.

Aurin smiled at Lin, then handed the coins to Rhea, who had her hand out to see them as well.

"They are stone," he said simply. "If they were not, it would not be a practical material to use. Too many of them can get quite heavy, after all."

Rhea handed the coins back to him, and he slipped them back into his pocket.

"They're just as light as our coins," she murmured softly. "If not more so, since gold is quite heavy, really."

"The man who made our coins, sadly, was killed in the last raid that made it past the walls," Alena told Lin as she led them towards the next shop. "We have not had any new coins made since then. Thankfully we've not needed to, but ..."

Celeb skipped ahead of them, walking backwards so that he could talk to Aurin as they went. "Can I have one of the coins?" he asked eagerly. "I'll give you one of mine!"

Aurin chuckled and dug into his pocket once more. "I would be happy to give you one," he replied with a warm smile. He held one out. "Here you are."

Celeb grinned and dropped a gold coin in the man's hand, taking the marble coin eagerly. "Thank you!"

The next shop that Alena brought them to was tannery. Inside, the walls were covered with all sorts of leather products - everything from quivers to light armour to clothes to bags and pouches, whips and cords. Behind the counter was a little fire-haired boy, maybe ten or eleven years old.

He jumped to his feet as the group entered, and bowed low, grinning, when he saw Alena with them.

"Welcome!" he greeted them warmly.

Alena smiled back at the boy. "Good afternoon, Artemis," she said warmly. "How are you today?"

"Doing well, thank you," he replied cheerfully. "And how is your ladyship?"

"Well," she answered back; and she started off into a conversation with him, leaving the others to look around at their leisure.

Earendil was drawn to the armour section of the shop, and he found himself examining a set of bracers. They were very well made, and they had a nice design on them ...

Rhea let Aurin lead her around the shop, asking him questions about just about everything. Celeb was stunned by the fact that the shop was being run by a boy barely older than he himself, and he stood with Alena, waiting for an opportunity to talk to him. The others milled around a bit, examining this and that.

Kelirahc and Leyenda joined Lin by the bags. "Nice quality, aren't they?" Leyenda smiled.