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River moved quickly to join Amalirahc and Miyuki by the bracers.

"There are," she agreed with Miyuki's statement.

Jeremiah stood quietly behind the children. "What kind of designs would your father like, River?" he asked with a smile.

River scanned the bracers that were on display. There were simple designs that were just pretty - though she thought those were more girly than her father would appreciate - and some with simply designed items, like trees, birds, and so on. A few had crossed blades or other weapons, but none of them were what she had in mind.

"I think Papa would probably like something that reminds him of our family," she murmured with a thoughtful frown. "Perhaps something to represent our names or something ..."

"And what are the names of your family?" Jeremiah asked curiously.

River looked up at him. "Mama's name is Alyse, and Papa is Timaeus. My older sister's name is Jasmine, and my little sister is Brook."

Jeremiah nodded thoughtfully. "I see."

River's eyes brightened as she remembered something. "Oh! And he likes phoenixes!"

Jeremiah laughed. "I see. Well, if none of these are to your liking, would you like me to make a pair special for you? It won't take a day, you could pick them up tomorrow."

River blushed. "Oh, I couldn't - that would cost too much!" she blurted. "Grandmama only gave me a bit of spending money ... and I want to get something for Mama, too!"

Jeremiah smiled at River. "I would be quite happy to give you a special deal. You've already done much for my family - the three of you children have made my son and daughter happier than they've been in a long time. I'll do this for you, and I won't charge custom prices, all right?"

River's blush grew deeper. "Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly. "I mean, it doesn't feel fair that way, you're going to be doing more work than usual and not getting more for it, and we're just being ourselves for Jess and Jasta ... and really it's because Jess was nice to us first!"

Halmir was laughing to himself, trying to keep it quiet. River was right of course, but he understood how Jeremiah felt.

The tanner grinned at River. "I'm sure," he said firmly. "It would be my pleasure."

River giggled softly, her face still red. "Thank you," she said softly, bowing deeply to show her thankfulness. "Thank you very much."

River turned back to her friends. "Now I just need to find something for Mama," she murmured. "Though I have to admit, I'm not entirely sure what to get for her."

Amalirahc looked around the shop. "Well, there's a lot of things here," he pointed out, a bit needlessly. "There's book covers and shoes and bracers and-"

"But Mama doesn't use those things," River pointed out to her friend. "Mama likes researching and writing and-"

"Then what about a bag for her to collect things in?" Amalirahc beamed. "She collects herbs and stuff, doesn't she?"

River blinked. "Well ... yes ..."

"There is both," Jeremiah nodded. "Bags are on display at the front, though only a few of them have designs on them so far. I usually add the designs by request to make them more personal. For keeping loose papers, I have these portfolios."

He strode to the front counter and picked up one of the portfolios that were in a short stack, then brought it back to the children to show them.

"Soft leather, like a bag," he showed them, "opens like a book, but it's big enough to hold sheets in each side. Pockets sewn in, the same soft leather, inside both the front and back."

He grinned at River. "If you really want to impress her, you could get this with a bag, and have both of them personalized for her."

River nodded slowly, but again she was worrying about the price of it. If his work was the best in the land, as Amalirahc said, and if it was all going to be custom work ... it was going to be expensive, unless Jeremiah was going to gyp himself out of what he deserved again, she wasn't sure she could afford it.

Halmir saw the look on his granddaughter's face, and he turned to Jeremiah. "How much would such a set cost?" he asked quietly.

Jeremiah smiled at him. "Far less than you are expecting, I'm certain," he replied. "The portfolios are the simplest thing to make, and quite cheap, and the bags only slightly more so. The two together will be less than the bracers."

Halmir thought about it for a moment, then motioned for River to come join him and the tanner. "Let's see what we can do."

Amalirahc grinned at Miyuki. "That means we have a few minutes to look around on our own before they join us again!"

"Not here," Amalirahc admitted. "I don't have much money left, I didn't have much today. And I know what I want to get for Mama now! I'll bring her a flower, that will show her I'm thinking 'bout her!"

He grinned proudly at Miyuki, glad that he'd thought of something inexpensive but nice for his mother.

Amalirahc hadn't thought that far ahead. "Well ... I don't know," he admitted. "I don't think it would be good to just pick a flower from someone's garden ... maybe the florist would have an idea what kind."

He had never been to the florist's shop before. Flowers had never interested him, so he had always gone off with Celeb and Haldia whenever his parents had gone in.

Amalirahc blinked in amazement. "Really? Neat! I never knew that flowers had meanings!"

He grinned widely. "I'll ask the florist then, and see what they say. I bet he knows meanings! Mama would really love that!"

"What would she like?" River asked, coming up behind the two. Her grandfather was right behind her, looking quite contented.

Amalirahc grinned at River. "I want to get a flower for Mama and Miyuki says that flowers have meanings so I want to ask the florist what he says and maybe I can find a flower that means I want her to feel better!"

Halmir chuckled softly. "One more stop before the palace," he grinned.