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Amalirahc pointed with his free hand. "It's up the street still," he explained. "They can't be all together, that wouldn't be good for business. But the owner of this shop, he makes sure that all the shops get some business, because he's like the head or something."

He didn't mind Miyuki holding his hand. She was his friend after all.

River blinked at Amalirahc. "Head? Like all the shops are his?"

Amalirahc shook his head. "No, like ... I don't know what it's called, but they all work together sort of and some of them can only sell some kinds of things and one isn't allowed to do things that another does because then it's not fair, and they can't have more shops like that in the city because it would be bad for their businesses ..."

"The Tanner's Guild?" Halmir suggested.

Amalirahc's golden eyes brightened. "Yeah! That! He's the head of that!"

Halmir took it upon himself to explain the concepts of guilds to Miyuki, as he would of course know best of all of them what they were and why they were so important.

"A guild is what regulates a trade within a city or country. Imagine if everyone did what they wanted, sold what they wanted - you could have people selling poor quality items if they didn't take the time to learn the trade properly, right? And that could hurt the reputation of others in the trade, and make things bad. Also they regulate the prices, so that they are relatively similar. If one person puts their prices too high, the others would follow and the people would no longer be able to afford to buy the items of that craft. On the other hand, if someone puts their prices too low so that people will only come to HIM, then the others could go out of business. So overall it makes sure that things stay fair."

Amalirahc added quickly, "Don't forget that they make sure that the shops all have at least a few things different from the others!"

Halmir chuckled. "And that."

Halmir smiled. It was a good question, a very perceptive one.

"That is beyond the jurisdiction of the guild, that comes under the authority of the Border Control. They are kept well informed and up to date on what the products and needs of the country are and foreigners are allowed to bring into the country, and sell, only a certain amount of their items, and only certain items. The less it is found within the country the more of it they are allowed to sell. Too much of an item already available brings down the value of the items sold domestically - that is, within the borders of the country and that's no good to the craftsmen who are trying to make a living."

"Well, there would be several people working on it together," Halmir smiled. "But yes, it is a lot to keep up with. But they play a very important role in a kingdom - without them, a kingdom could fall."

"We're here!" Amalirahc announced eagerly, pointing at a large shop they were approaching. He would have run ahead, but Miyuki's grip on his hand reminded him that it wouldn't be very nice of him.

River looked at the shop thoughtfully. It didn't seem different from most other shops - a simple outside, large display window with a myriad of items on display ...

Halmir smiled at Miyuki's comment. "Well, then? Shall we head inside?"

River laughed at her grandfather. "Of course!"

And she stepped inside, leading the way for the others.

Inside was not nearly as plain as the outside. Where most other shops had only their own wares to decorate their walls, here was different: carved shelves showed off the handiwork of the carpenter, glass shelves shoes the designs of the glass smith, and many hooks of various shapes and designs showed off the skill of the metal smith. None of these took away from the aesthetics of the leather, however: on the contrary, the leather works - bags, arm guards, light armour, shoes, boots, book covers, games, jerkins, falconry equipment, and much, much more - were displayed on the shelves and hooks in such a way that they complemented each other and accentuated the beauty of the leather works and the skill of the tanner.

There was one other thing that River noticed: the smell in the air. The scent of leather and oils, while present, was not at all strong, but rather the air seemed quite fresh. Ventilation slots in the walls and the roof allowed for the free exchange of air, keeping it fresh for the tanner and customers alike.

"Good afternoon!" a booming voice greeted them the moment they were inside the door. "Welcome!"

The voice belonged to the man who was running the shop: a tall, tanned, golden-haired elf with leathery skin and pale blue eyes. He had a kind expression on his face though and even when he saw Miyuki, Amalirahc and River, none of whom looked like the people of the city, his smile never wavered. In fact, if his expression changed at all, it was only in that his smile grew wider and his eyes began to sparkle.

"Well I'll be! You must be River and Miyuki!" he exclaimed.

The man chuckled at Miyuki's question.

"My children have been speaking of little else since yesterday morning," he grinned. "They are quite excited to have friends like the both of you."

River blinked at him. "Are you Jess and Jasta's father?" she guessed.

"Correct," the man beamed at her. He bowed deeply to the four of them. "Jeremiah, Master Tanner, at your service."

River blushed lightly. She wasn't used to people bowing at her like that, she wasn't royalty like Eärendil and his family after all!

Halmir knew just how to respond, though, as he had been raised in this very city and knew the customs of it. Without hesitating, he returned the bow and replied, "I am Halmir of Haven, and this is my granddaughter, River, and Miyuki Winters Aldrich, daughter of Prince Earendil Aldrich and Princess Lin Winters Aldrich, at your service, and your family's."

"Pleasure to meet you," Jeremiah grinned broadly.

Jeremiah smiled broadly. "That's wonderful to hear," he said warmly. "As you know, people who are different are not generally liked here, and as both of my children have ... shall we say, difficulties, they have neither of them had very good friends. I have never seen either of them so happy."

He clapped his hands together. "And I was just telling them how much I would like to meet you, and here you are, coming into my shop! How wonderful!"

Halmir chuckled. "River wanted to find some gifts for her parents, since they're still at home, and since she wanted to visit a tannery for them, Amalirahc absolutely insisted that we had to come here, as it is the best tannery in the city."

"In the country!" Amalirahc interjected brightly.

Jeremiah laughed heartily. "Well, thank you for the recommendation, my boy! But I'm quite sure that there are others whose work is the equal of my own."

"No there isn't!" Amalirahc blinked, amazed that the man would say such a thing. "If there were then they would be the guild head, not you!"