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"Wanderers," Aranel supplied. "Travelers. They usually keep to themselves, but sometimes they'll offer to work for some supplies or others. They're human, but they're decent enough folk."

"Rumours have it they love music," Earendil added.

"And dance," Aranel agreed with a smile. "They're a happy people, however large or small their band. They're fiercely familial, though, so take care never to offend one of them ... you'll have the lot of them against you."

Kaito was in agreement with Lin. "Yeah, that sounds almost exactly like gypsies," he said with a nod. "Except gypsies are generally feared and hated, because they have a tendency to steal anything that they think they could use. They just treat everything as if it's theirs. Children included - though as far as I know they don't mistreat them."

"Ah," Aranel smiled, "I see. Well, the Rovers are respected, for the most part, and far from criminal ... though they may try to sell you things that you really don't need."

Aranel shook his head. "I'm not entirely certain," he admitted. "I've never actually run into them before. I only know them by their reputation. But I have heard that the things they sell are of a very good quality ... and I'm sure they would take things in trade, for those who do not have the gold."

"And they're directly on our path, you say?" Tinuviel smiled. "Then we will be running into them, shall we not?"

"This could be quite the experience," Earendil murmured.

Kaito looked sidewise at Lin. "I still say gypsies," he replied flatly. "But I guess if we're going to be running into them, we'll see what happens. Right?"

"Should only be another hour or so," Aranel nodded. "Though to be fair, distances can be deceiving in the desert. It being so flat and all, at least in this area."

And within the hour, the group was quite visible. There were three wagons, all of them brightly painted, with everything from roofs to windows and a door on the back, set up in a semi circle around what looked like a small fireplace. Six black horses were in the river, drinking their fill. There were several men and women and children about; the children were playing happily, the men working away at this and that while the women scrubbed clothes in the river. All of them were wearing brightly coloured clothes, and on the whole it looked like a very happy group.

They all looked up suspiciously as the group of travelers approached. There was little question as to why - first of all, to run into others while traveling was rare, and especially such a mixed group as this. A human, four elves, and a cat-like being with avian wings.

Kaito looked at them just as suspiciously, but Aranel waved cheerfully and called out a greeting.

Two of the men stepped forward to meet the travelers, holding a hand up to stop them before they came too close to their camp.

"G'd aev'ning, trav'lers," said the taller of the two, squinting up at the group. "Whot brings ye tae this paert of the daesaert?"

Aranel slid down from his horse and stepped forward to greet the two. "I am Prince Aranel," he said, bowing his head to them. "This is my wife, Princess Tinuviel, our daughter, Regan, my brother in law, Prince Earendil, and our friends, Lin Winters and Kaito Aldrich Winters. We are traveling from Namonuito to Namu Ngulu."

The two Rovers exchanged a glance, then smiled amiably up at the travelers. "We've a fire gaein'," the first one said, "an ye're welcome tae join us faer the night, if ye've a mind to."

Aranel looked around at the others to see their reactions, and even Kaito gave him a small nod of approval, wary though he was. With a smile, Aranel turned back to the Rovers and nodded. "We would be honoured, thank you very much."

The first man stepped forward and held out his hand. "Naeme's Nathaneel," he introduced himself. "Thes es Maerk."

"Plaesed tae meet ye," Merk nodded, shaking hands with Aranel as well. "Come, jaen aer fem'lies. We've got faed and tae spare."

"Thank you very kindly," Aranel smiled warmly.