Welcome to Gaia! ::

Saria beamed at Long. "Well, this is a place to make people happy, not to hurt people!" she explained to him. "And Ilu is lots more fun to talk to than the man who makes the weapons."

She grabbed Long's hand and tugged him to where the caramel candies were located. "Here they are," she beamed. "They're really yummy, too!" She looked around for Daemon. "Oh, there you are!" she giggled, spotting him near her father. "Come on, Daemon! You have to pick something, too!"

Saria had to think about that. She didn't usually think past her own personal favourites, though she would readily admit that there were many kinds of candy that she liked. In the end, she ended up recommending just about every kind for Daemon and would not let up until he chose something for himself. Then Pengolodh paid for the purchase and they once again left the shop.

"Is there anywhere else that you would like to see?" he asked the two as they left. "Otherwise you're quite welcome to visit us at our home, or if you'd rather return to the palace I can take you back there as well."

Pengolodh smiled at the two of them. "As you wish," he agreed graciously.

"Me, too! Me, too!" Saria exclaimed, darting to her father and grabbing his hand.

Pengolodh shook his head. "No, Saria, you need to go home and get to bed," he told her firmly. "You've already passed your nap time."

Saria pouted, then looked up at her mother. "Mama, do I have to?" she asked in the sweetest tone she could muster.

Alinda smiled and nodded. "Yes, darling. Say goodbye to Long and Daemon, and then it's time to go."

Saria's pout grew deeper, and then she turned back to Long and Daemon. Long was the closer of the two, and she threw her arms around him and squeezed.

"Bye-bye!" she murmured. "Don't wait too long to visit again, 'kay?"

Saria pouted, but then a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Well ... then promise you'll come if you can?" she tried again. She let go of Long and ran to hug Daemon instead, then looked up at him, her eyes filled with hope. "Please?"

Pengolodh and Alinda smiled and stood a bit apart from the others, simply watching.

Saria hugged him again. "Thank you!" she beamed. Then she ran over to her parents and took her mother's hand. "I'll see you next time, then!" she told the two men, waving.

Alinda smiled and waved as well. "Safe journey," she bid them; and then she turned and headed down another street with Saria.

Pengolodh chuckled softly and motioned for the men to follow him. "Well, I think it's safe to say that you've made a friend for life," he told them with a smile.

Pengolodh smiled softly. "Our pride and joy," he said proudly. "I'll admit, she's got something to learn about etiquette and propriety, but she's smart and thoughtful of others, and just between us, every bit as beautiful as her mother."

He winked at the two, then laughed quietly.

"True," Pengolodh mused, "but on the other hand, it does mean that the next time you make it, she'll be quite a bit older, and perhaps a bit less likely to talk your ear off."

He laughed. "Maybe you'll even get your own bit of conversation in."

Still, he knew what Daemon meant. It would be a long wait for those in the Eastland before they got any more visitors.