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There...that was the spot. Not too far from the fountain, but well beyond the 15 foot range of the merchanting ban. Tessa shouldered past one last elven man en route to where she'd spotted a dry rain barrel beside one of the buildings. The flame-haired human woman passed a coin to a street urchin who gladly up-ended the barrel for her to use as an impromptu stool before rushing off to spend his payment of service.

With a chuckle Tessa watched him scamper out of her sight before she unwound the colorful beaded scarf from her hips and draped it over the barrel. After smoothing the crimson fabric with a hand, she planted her derriere atop it and slung her lute off her back. A grin twitched on her lips at a few passers by who paused to try and figure out just what the human womans was up to.

Slender fingers strummed a few notes from the instrument as she nestled it on her lap, and the sounds seeped out into the crowds a few yards from her before the noisiness of the square drowned it out beneath the stamping of feet, shouts of vendors, and buzz of conversations. A few bystanders paused to listen and wait to see what the human was prepared to do.

Once a half dozen or so pairs of eyes had directed their attention to her, Tessa gave the crowd her brightest smile. "My lord Telperinquar En'Lojist has bid me come to this fine festival and use the skills for which he employees me to entertain those who would seek good song and good music this day. On behalf of my Lord and his son, I bid you welcome and pray that my songs might bring a smile to your face."

With that, the woman's strumming took on the structure of a tune, and her voice rose to reach those who focused on her.

"Sing me a song,
A tale untold,
Of Trueblood lines,
High Elves of old.

Spin me a yarn,
Of Heroes gone,
Of Elven Kings,
And lands whereon,

The proud did tread,
On Pannin's Shore,
Now left to dream
As legends' lore.

Play me a tune,
Of ancient times,
When men knew more
Than fancy rhymes.

Teach me a step,
A dance of yore,
That dreams may shine
Forevermore."


Ngozi wheeled his mobile stall into place. He smiled at the presence of the bard; hopefully she'd stay. She'd draw a crowd, and that was always good for business.

His stall, wagon and shop and home--or at least a place to sleep--all in one, folded out into various shelves for the wares. Glittering strings of beads were laid out on cloth, charms and amulets, fetish statuary for the superstitious. Rings, some set with glass and others with stone, precious or otherwise, glinted brightly.

However, no use having the merchanise look good if the shopkeeper does not. Ngozi peered into a bit of mirror set up for the customer's advantage, and made sure he was looking as good as he could possibly look.

Satisifed, he cast a thoughtful gaze over his merchandise. He fiddled with the set-up a little.

Good thing that the music was here.

Jakli tilted her head as she drew closer to Market Square, her ears attempting to turn every which way all at once. There was just... There was so much! She hadn't truly expected it to be so massive! Everywhere she looked it seemed there was a new sight to see. That tent there was so bright! And the coloring was unlike anything she'd seen before - were there many people who could dye cloth such a vivid purple?

For a brief minute she stood on one place, tugging in nervous excitment at the fur on her hands. Where to first? Did she even want to go anywhere yet? She could always just stand here listening to the music and drinking in th-

Someone pushed her from behind, causing her to stumble forward awkwardly. Confused, she whirled to peer up at a rather irate looking human. "Are ya jus' gonna stand 'round all day like an idiot? Yer blockin' traffic," he grumbled.

Jakli flushed beneath her fur, mumbling a hurried apology and scurrying out of the fellow's way. She'd have to take extra care to not displease anyone here.

Not too far away from the bard, there was an elven man, vaguely interested by the merchant's goods until he found a few books, reaching one of the hard leather covers with a pale hand, and starting to flip the pages, curious as to what secrets could be hidden onto the yellowed sheets of paper.

The place had not calmed at all since yesterday - of course it wouldn't, the festival was just starting, after all, and Tessa's voice was known to drag crowds - and it made his task a little harder, both trying to read, and make sure no one would enter in collision. He would have preferred watching over his father, sure... But if he was there, he might as well enjoy it, shouldn't he ? The servants would take good care of the old elf. Yet worry still tugged at him, and Alcion didn't know why. Hopefully, this wasn't a bad omen...

This book was interesting... Many things about past artists, and their techniques. Not that he had to copy anyone - he had a style of his own, and he was very proud of it - but it was fascinating to see how those elven artists made their art into something that would remain influential for generations to come.

"How much for this book ?" He asked, holding it up in the air for the shop owner to see, in despise the passing crowd.

"For this one... 10 gold coins should do, my good sir."

Alcion rose an eyebrow in thought, pondering over this. This seemed like a decent price of a book of this size, of this kind, and, especially, of this age. The pages where slightly yellowed by time, yet it was kept in near-perfect condition all this time. A smile drew on the elf's face.

"Ill take it."

After paying the required amount of gold, he put the book into the leather bag he was carrying at his side, securing it there - he would have plenty of time to read later, once they went back after this day, and things would be calmer.

Turning, he left the busy pathway, heading nearer toward the fountain - since selling was not allowed next to it, was less busy. The elf then just listened to Tessa, a small smile drawing on his face.

Tessa's voice was beautiful, no matter the setting.

Tessa's malachite-hued eyes picked the familiar visage of Alcion out of the crowd, and she flashed her employer's youngest son a smile, inclining her head respectfully to him as she strummed her lute a few moments to catch her breath.

The arrival of the merchant quirked her smile into a grin, as more goods tp peruse nearby would certainly bring more people in close enough to hear her. She eyed some of the beads with a glimmer of interest from her perch on the rain barrel before delving into another song introduction.

"Now, a bard I be and as such, I've picked up many a story while accompanying my patron in his journeys. This little tale is about another bard, though one of elven lines, whom my Lord Telperinquar and I heard perform on one of our travels, but whose personal story I found much more interesting and amusing than his songs. So I wrote a little ditty about him..."

With a wink towards the crowd she turned her fingers to playing a livelier and more upbeat tune to suit the lightheartedness of her words.

"There once was a lad
So brave and bold
With a voice as smooth as dusk
He stole the hearts of every lass
In lovely Terralusk.

Musician by trade
He roamed the land
A fortune in his hands
But lost it to a pretty face
Not far from Greyskin Lands.

Singing 'Woe is me
I was fancy free
In fine and hearty health!
Though I've won the hearts
Of ladies fair
They've cost me all my wealth!'

In spring he did roam
To Pannin's shores
A sight without compare,
And lost his purse to fair Andreen
Of the wavy golden hair.

In the cold of night
She took his coins
And left him in his bed
And the poor young bard was poorer yet
As she with his trousers fled!

Singing 'Woe is me
I was fancy free
In fine and hearty health!
Though I've won the hearts
Of ladies fair
They've cost me all my wealth!'

He journeyed once more
The lands he loved
An elf of mind to flirt
And came upon the fair Merwyn
In the sands of Kiurek Desert.

This time the bard
Did catch the wench
Absconding with his load
And learned to fear a wizard scorned
As she turned him to a toad!

Singing 'Woe is me
I was fancy free
In fine and hearty health!
Though I've won the hearts
Of ladies fair
They've cost me all my wealth!'


Why, WHY, by all the little gods, did everything have to be... in the middle of everything else? Tertian fairly beat his way through the crowd, applying force with his walking stick when needed. In the fast-moving glut of people, it was hard to tell where a blow came from as long as you were quick about it, and though some angry bellows were in his wake nobody really suspected such an old man, did they?

Tceh.

The strains of music and splashing water greeted his ears as Tertian approached the fountain. He practically burst into the mostly clear area - well, clear compared to the groups clustered around the merchant stalls - fanning his wings outward at last and clacking his beak in irritation.

Now. Where was this merchant that Chinyan had reccomended over supper?

Ah. Handcart, dark-skinned elf, many trinkets, mirrors - that had to be it. Tertian battled his way over and eyed the elf warily. "Are you Ngozi?" he grunted, resting one hand on the merchant's cart.

Ngozi turned and smiled brightly, though in his mind he was warily attempting to place the bestial and figure out why he would be asking for him by name. It was just mildly worrying.

"Good morning, sir." Ngozi spread his hands. "Does my reputation precede me?" Hopefully, it was a good reputation. Hopefully. He ploughed ahead and launched into a spiel. "Have you heard of my splendid wares? I haven't been in Terralusk for some years. It's good to know that a gentlemen of your esteemed taste would want to seek me out. Were you after a bit of jewelry? I have some lovely pieces here, certain to bring out the colour in your feathers."

Tertain raised one eyebrow, and mentally decided to kill Chinyan next time he saw the younger merchant. This... this upstart popinjay seemed exactly the type of person the Bestial didn't like, and Chinyan damn well knew it. Feh, he was probably chuckling in his solar right now, the b*****d.

"My taste is hardly esteemed," Tertain grated, punctuating the sentence with a clack of his beak. "Nor is my wingspan legendary, my wealth astonishing or my talents known across the world." He tightened his grip on his walking stick. "The merchant Chinyan told me to seek you out for a business of another kind, man to man... as it were. There is no need for pretty frippery words in such business, aye?"

Tertian turned his head slightly and let his gaze wander over the goods on display. "A vendor of elegant delights, are you? And... garish," he added, narrowing one eye at a large, very ugly fetish statue. "Chinyan said you might be persuaded to sell some of my goods, if an agreement could be reached."

Ngozi smirked at the statue. "I carry what sells," he said with a shrug. "But as for a business agreement... That would be a good arrangement, would it not?" He tapped his fingers together. "Assuming, of course, that your goods fit in with my usual business. I am always on the lookout for the unusual and the beautiful. What exactly did you have to offer me?"

He was already starting to formulate a sales pitch, if it turned out to be the sort of thing he could unload easily enough.

"I trade primarily in natural goods of the lake," Tertian said conversationally, as he leaned his stick against the stall and began rummaging around in the many pouches strung on his belt. He kept his eyes firmly on Ngozi's, shuffling through the pouches by touch. "However, I run a small, side business... I design, and those I hire create from those designs. I don't think you care to sell bundles of lake-reeds, so, instead..."

He produced a long, slim package wrapped in brown cloth from one of the pouches, and unwrapped it carefully. The cloth slipped away to reveal an intricate fan, with the grip shaped like a stylized peacock. Painted cloth stretched between the light metal spars, and when the fan was opened it appeared to be the peacock's tail. "No mass-production, you understand," he grunted. "I run no lines of workers up and down, carving the same swish here and the same dot of paint there over and over." He held out the fan for Ngozi to inspect.

Ngozi took the fan, and turned it over in his hands. "You have a good eye for design, sir. I do believe I could manage to sell them."

A vast understatement. With the festival beginning, there would undoubtedly be fine ladies looking for an interesting souvenir to take home. Possibly a few men, but Ngozi was hardly one to judge. If they were willing to pay, that's all that mattered to him. For that matter, Ngozi wouldn't mind having one himself.

He handed the fan back. "You've caught my attention, sir. But you have the advantage of me. May I have the priviledge of knowing with whom I am dealing?"

Tertian bowed his head elegantly to Ngozi, his long neck curving in a slightly disconcerting way - a human neck could never do that sort of movement. "I am called Tertian. If you wish to be sure of me, speaking to Chinyan should be all the reference you will need."

The stork Bestial looked around at all the crowds and ruffled his feathers. "It's too damn crowded here. When your day of selling wares is over, could we meet to discuss business in a more comfortable place? I am staying in the Inn of Three Feathers, at Chinyan's insistence - he owns the place, and I'm sure he can clear one of the lower-level sitting rooms for us."

Alcion couldn't help but crack a smirk. That song amused him to no end, no matter how many times he heard it.

The young elf was tempted to go ahead and start reading his new book, but decided against it... too much noise. So, instead, he started wandering again. He had plenty of gold coins, should something interesting present itself.

That something interesting caught his eye as a lovely amulet.

Alcion loved jewelry - and had no shame admitting so. He probably had more than he could ever wear, but the designs interested him so...

He approached Ngozi's stall, glancing at the goods... Those statues where of extremely bad taste, but not the same could be said of the jewelry... He remained silent, trough, letting the shopkeeper and the avian carry on their conversation uninterrupted.

"Sounds ideal," Ngozi smiled. He pressed his palms together. "I do recall that inn, and I'll come find you this evening."

It was all he could do not to dance a little in excitement. An opportunity like this--it was a rare thing--he had a duty, an obligation to follow up on it--the profit! Yes, the profit!

Tertian nodded again, moving his whole neck to do so, not just his head. "I will see you then, then." Good. He had to get out of this crowd -his room at the Three Feathers was small but at least he could spread his wings! "Fare you well."

The Bestial turned around, sighing as he clasped his wings close to his sides and plunged back into the crowds, leaving Ngozi's stall free for all browsers.

Well.

Ngozi smiled smugly. Perhaps he wasn't doing too well, sales-wise, but it was still early, and this opportunity alone was in itself worth coming to Terralusk.

When the avian left, Alcion found suitable to make his presence known.

"Excuse me, but how much is this... ?" He asked, pointing to a silver sun amulet. "I would be interested into buying."

Ngozi blinked, momentarily lost in reveries of big sacks of money. "Pardon? I'm so sorry, I was miles away." He came nearer to see the piece indicated. "Oh, that one! A true jewel of a piece. I traded for it with a rather skilled crafstman in the south. Do you see the quality here?"

He picked up the amulet, and held it up to catch the light. "Fine silver, this is." Well, perhaps it wasn't pure silver, but that didn't mean that the silver in it wasn't high quality. "The chain should hold beautifully. Were you buying for yourself, or for a lady friend?"

"Myself." Alcion nodded. "A fine piece indeed. Seem you did a good trade on that one." A small smile drew on his face. "So, what I you interested in ? I have gold pieces... or I guess I could exchange for one of my paintings, if you're into those things."

"Gold would be preferable," Ngozi admitted. "I cannot eat a painting, and it's not within the realm of what I usually sell. I'm sure you understand. Gold, however, regardless of where it's minted, is still worth something." He named a price, calmly, on the high side in the range of average.

Arien picked her way carefully through the crowds before pausing briefly at the sound of a lovely voice, and equally lovely music playing somewhere above the racket and noise of people bustling about.

She really ought to be making her way towards the inn where her room was being held for her and check in but she couldn't help but be attracted to the sound of the music and the display of wares.

A small smile appeared at her lips as she curiously made her way through the stalls as she clutched her cloak close with the hood up over her head as though she were trying to hide from the masses of people all about.

She paused briefly to admire a jewelled necklace or two before ducking away when the merchant caught her gaze and attempted to draw her into a deal of some sort. "I.. no thank you, sir," she murmured simply, before continuing on her way.

"Understandable." The young elf sent a small nod, then pondered. "Sounds good... Ill take it." He searched trough his pocket until he came out with the required amount, and paid.

"The festival must be one busy seasons for merchants, uh ? With all those people around."

"It's a good opportunity," Ngozi shrugged. "We must do what we can to eat, after all." It sounded good, though he made a good enough living. He counted the money quickly with his eyes, scratched at it with a thumbnail, felt the weight in his hand, and found it satisfactory. Those with the tendency to cheat tend to be more cautious about being cheated themselves. He tucked it away in a pouch at his waist under his shirt, and handed the necklace over. "May it bring you great happiness, sir."

"I would ratter hope so, I could use it. Good luck with your trades !" Alcion gave a wave as he left, putting on the amulet in the way.

Today had been good, so far. This festival was facinating, and it was only the second day. The book still tugged at him, but he resisted once more, returning to the fountain and sitting there, listening to the water's flow.

Ngozi grinned behind his hand. Not bad for something he'd picked up for a song six months ago. It was a pretty nice necklace, at that, though not quite worth what he'd asked.

This festival was turning out be quite interesting.

The festival's not quieting down any - but I find myself getting used to all the noise, somehow. I didn't think I would, but I did.

I managed to make some nice sketches in the past few days - there is so much different beings here, I find it fascinating, truly... I have yet to draw a bestial person, trough. Perhaps I could ask... ? But I am afraid they'll be angered if my sketch would not be faithful. Maybe I will be able to catch one without them noticing... ? I don't mind handing out sketches, but ill'd ratter not until I am sure they are worthy.

I think I will head down in the streets again...

There were a few things which Tessa knew were a given in her life. One of them was that if she wanted to find Alcion, the best way was to lure him to her rather than go looking. And to do that usually required nothing more than playing some of her music. The flame-haired bard slipped between the backs of two plump human servants trailing behind their elven masters to get to the spot she'd performed a few days prior.

Without an urchin in sight, she batted her lashes at a human festival goer and sweetly asked him to overturn a rain barrel for her to sit on. It didn't even require a coin like an urchin did, so she was pleased as she unwound the wrap from about her hips and laid it out atop the barrel bottom.

Once she settled in and got her lute into her lap, she hummed a few bars to warm up before launching into a song.

Unto the city of Terralusk
There came a fair young maid,
Dressed in the garb of nobility,
Her garments well arrayed.

In spite of magic in her veins
No spell she had to cast,
And so she came upon a shop,
With arcane things amassed.

Within this shop there was an elf
Both fair of face and hair,
And saw within the tender maid
Her magics unaware.

To teach he did an offer make
To help her find inside
The means to wake what slumbered there
The arcane touch espied.

"Oh where are thou
My magic bright?
I know you are inside.
Why come you not
Into the light?"
The lovely maiden sighed.

The sorcerer a merchant born
Did know his craft and trade,
And from his lessons magic came
Unto the lovely maid.

His tongue he taught, a language fair,
To sculpt from it each song,
To lyricize her arcane craft
And render magics strong.

"I feel you now
My magic bright!
I sense you in my heart.
I've drawn you forth
Into the light."
The maiden did impart.

And so the merchant mage did bid
The maiden fair partake,
Of evenings dark and lessons deep
A merchant's price to take.

In time she learned her lessons well
And led a happy life,
Until the merchant sorcerer
Announced she'd be his wife.

The lovely lass was quite aghast
For plans she had designed,
To travel far across the lands
And so his troth declined.

The sorcerer felt wrathful woe
And vowed she would not go.
The maid was forced to call upon
A spell to lay him low.

"I need you now
My magic bright
Rise like the lunar tide.
And stop the elf
Of moonkissed brow
I will not be his bride!"

And with her song the arcane surged
It welled betwixt the pair,
And dazed the mage a moment's breath
As she escaped his lair.

Into the night the maiden ran
To flee for honor?s sake.
To save herself from arcane wrath
She fled into the lake.

So to a merchant sorcerer
Her innocence was lost.
And waters claimed her final breath
Because a mage she crossed.

Unto this day I hold to heart
A lesson to obey:
No matter what a merchant sells
There'll be a price to pay.



One thing was known, and it was that Tessa knew Alcion extremely well. Trough he had already been searching for her, her voice confirmed that she was actually there, and all he had to do was follow it to find her.

This wasn't a simple task, he soon found out, do to the people gathering.

"Sorry ! Excuse me madam !!! Watch out !!! Ah, sorry, sorry !"

The crowd was DENCE. Alcion could barely take one step without colliding into someone... Trough he eventually emerged, simply waiting until Tessa would be done her song while waiting in front of the crowd.

Jakli sighed faintly as she made her way through the crowd. She'd gotten better at avoiding crashing into people or getting in their way while she was here. True, she had the occasional slip-up and got shoved around a bit, but she was getting better! Really!

She paused near the fountain in the center of the square, casting a searching glance around the area. She'd found some trinkets and baubles in the few days she'd been here - a simple necklace she'd purchased the other day hung around her neck now.

Now, she pricked an ear forward in a curious fashion, not that it would help much with all the chatter going on around the square. It all muddled together the further away it was, making it near impossible to pick out conversations. It wasn't exactly easy to see what was going on in the trader's booths either - not with all those people walking back and forth in front of them.

Jakli let her ears droop for a moment, starting away from the fountain. She'd just have to look for the daggers for her father the hard way, it seemed.

"Works every time," Tessa thought to herself, as she took her bows and nodded towards Alcion with a smile tilting on her lips. She wrapped her colorful scarf around her waist once more and approached the elf whose family she had served for her entire life.

"My Lord, I am most grateful that you have found me. I did truly need to speak with you. Might we go find some quiet shade somewhere and converse?"

Alcion could not help but blink, wondering what she needed to speak about, then glanced around.

"Perhaps near the fountain ? There are always less people there. Or it is private enough to require us to go back ?"

Tessa smiled and hitched the lute higher on her shoulder. "The fountain will suffice My Lord. It's just so noisy by the merchant stalls." She gestured for the elf to precede her, as always stepping in behind and to his left like a proper servant should.

Now wearing a modest, masculine chain necklace with an attached charm of a bird in flight, Zian has been watching Tessa's performance from the crowd. While it was never exactly his passion, he's always liked music. And he'd heard a few festival patrons describing this bard with favorable reviews.

So he's noticeably irritated when after one song - and an enjoyable oneshe's called aside by some elf he's never seen before. Thinking he's bothering her about the performance, and not exactly thinking twice, Zian calls out from his spot in the crowd. "Hey, let her sing! Encore!"

Alcion motioned to do so, but then a voice yelled across the crowd.

"Hey, let her sing! Encore!"

He stopped net, sending a serious glance at the crowd.

"...I am sorry, but Tessa and I have important things to discuss. I am sure you will all get to hear her voice again, but for now there are more important things at hand. We should hurry, Tessa..." He said, leading her toward the fountain.

Some people these days didn't remember how to be polite. Seesh...

The flame-haired bard's head turned towards the encore request, and she made an elaborate bow. "Many thanks for your appreciation, but I have business to attend. I shall gladly play for everyone later this evening with my kind Lord's permission and blessing." She gestured to Alcion with a smile that left no doubt as to her high esteem of the elf.

Without further adieu she turned to accompany her point-eared companion to the fountain. She settled on it's edge and folded her hands in her lap.

"My lord, I was wondering if it would be possible for us to attend some of the arena fights? I have heard they have the makings of some grand tales and songs, and I thought perhaps they might even be a good place to find wonderful models for your artwork."

"I was intending to, actually... It just seems that the area is always full by the time I get there to take places." He gave a smile, sitting on the side of the fountain. "Most unfortunate, but I hope we will get to attend at least once before the festival is over... this would be a shame if we did not."

He ran an hand trough his long hairs, looking pensive.

"I wonder when the next one will be... Perhaps if we come a bit early..."

Tessa smiled and contained her excitement at the response from Alcion. "I shall ask about, if you'd like, my Lord, and find out when the next arena battle is scheduled. I am sure someone of your stature will be able to easily secure some seats. If you'll excuse me now, Lord Alcion, I shall go do that very thing?"

"Go ahead." He smiled. "...But perhaps you should go back to your crowd... They're waiting to hear your wonderful voice, after all. I can look around myself..."

The bard bowed to Alcion and glanced over at the crowd. "Mayhap later these eve, Milord. My throat is feeling parched and I think it best if I seek some hot tea with honey to sooth it, lest I damage it in some way."

"Hmmm, true, this would be extremely bad if this would happen." Alcion was genuinely concerned... Not only because of her voice, but for her as a person. "Get some rest, please... ? I'll truly hate to see something like that happen to you, Tessa..."

"I shall Lord Alcion. If you have need of me further this day, I should be in the servant's chambers at our lodging until dinner." With that, Tessa bowed again and made her way back out of the Marketplace with a graceful step.

Alcion watched her leave, a small smile on his face as he himself left torward the area.

If he could at least get this for her...

Since Alcion and Tessa had moved closer to the fountain, Spade had spotted the two of them. She could not help over hearing the situation. Having met both of them, her concern for Tessa's beautiful voice got her enough courage to walk over to Alcion. She gathered her things and came up to him.

"Might... I be able to be of some assistance? Forgive me m'lord for over hearing the conversation but I might be able to help. I know a few home remedies and have some herbs with me that would do wonders for Tessa's throat. I have heard her sing and I would not want her voice being damaged. Might I be able to lend my services?"

She bowed to Alcion.

Alcion stopped in his haste once he heard Spade's voice.

"Oh, excuse me !" He said, turning back to look at her.

"I believe she should be fine, but we should better be safe than sorry, no ?" He gave her a warm smile. "Thank you for your concern, and I believe your services would be of use, yes... Trough I have full trust to the healers..."

He chuckled.

"...It would sound like an interesting thing to watch. Pardon my curiosity, lady Spade, but I would like to assist you as well, if you don't mind."

"It is no problem. I would be more then happy to help. Expecially how enjoyable my conversation was with both you and Tessa."

She peeked into her bag trying to find what she needed. She looked up at him, as she fiddled around for something in her bag.

"I do not mind you watching, all I need is a flat area, access to fresh water and the stuff in my bag. I would say the fountain, but being so public, I am not sure how well the quality of the water is. Do you know of somewhere might I get some fresh water to work with?"

She asked him. Making this wasn't a daunting task, it just required some simple things and she could make it. Though the honey might take a bit to get, though she might know one of the stall people might be able to help. She got some sweet fruit and she was a few things jarred, something there might be honey. But she'll wait till Alcion gave her an answer ot her question. Then she could get to gathering her suppilies.

"Fresh water..." Alcion mused, his earings making a soft clinking sound as one of his ears switched in thought. "I do remember a river outside down, furter north... would this do ?" The elf was not really the best judge of the quality of a water point, so he was quite unsure of the answer he gave.

"Hm.. I think I spotted it before. Though I am not fully sure where it is. Though maybe it would be just easier to buy some from around here so we don't waste to much time to get this back to Tessa. Do you have an idea where there might be some being sold? Or maybe an inn would have some that we can use."

She asked him, maybe the place where he and her were staying might have fresh water that they can use. Most inn's usually carried water, atleast she thought they did.

"Though I need to gather a few things for it. What would be the best method? Go seporate ways and meet back here with the ingredients? Or should we travel together? What do you suggest m'lord?"

"Traveling together would be pleasant... But we might manage to get things faster if we go our own way, trough, with this crowd... We might have problems to find each other again, unless we set a very precise meeting point." Hmmm. What would be best ? "Also, I believe there is an inn nearby, just outside the marketplace."

"The inn might be the best thing then. I guess we can stay together, I only have to pick up one thing before we go. I suggest you stay close so we don't get seporated. Though if I lose you, I guess we should meet up at that Inn you were talking about. I think it's name is White Candle... Does that sound like a good idea?"

She waited for his acknowlagement before she headed into the crowd. She was small in stature, being only 4'11 but she was rather odd looking so people seemed to move out of her way as she polightly made her presence known.

"Excuse us... Excuse me... Coming though... Watch your back... Excuse me."

She wove though the crowd, makeing sure she stopped to make sure Alcion was able to follow behind her. She made it to the stall she had visited before. Looking around, she was able to find what she was looking for and bought it with some gold she had from home. She also got another fruit or two for later, which she stuck in her bag. Turning to Alcion, hopeing that he was still there, she nodded to the direction of the inn.

"Shall we go?"

Alcion just nodded in agreement.

"I was somewhere over..." The elf side-stepped to avoid a large bestial who would have rammed into him. "Somewhere over there, up north. Just follow me..."

Without really thinking, and figuring it would be the best way for them not to get separated, Alcion took her hand and off they went, slowly making it out of the mass of people, and heading toward the inn, where he managed to get a glass bottle filled with clear water.

"Will this do... ?"

He showed her the water and she nodded. Taking it from him, she motioned for Alcion to follow her as she picked a back stall to sit in for privacy. Once sitting, she ackwardly sat sideways to fit in the stall, obviously it was not made for a Armadillo beastial, but she wasn't complaining. She took off her bag and quickly set up a mortar and pestle, a small beaker, burner and a vial. She took out some ingrediants that seemed like fine sand of several different colors and a few different type of leaves. Pouring the sands out and measuring it by eye, she poured some in and then ground it around. Making it even more fine as the marble pestle ground it against the bottom of the motar. The pestle had an odd shape to it, with closer inspection it seemed to be made in that odd shape to fit in the clawed hand of Spade perfectly. She made quick work and soon the stuff looked like a thick paste since the leaves had some mosture to them. She added a bit of the fresh water and mixed it a bit more till it was more watered down and less clinging to the mortar. Taking the burner, she placed the beaker on top of it and poured the contents inside. Lighting the burner, she let it work as she turned her attention to the honey she had gotten. Taking out a slim, small knife, she stirred the honey and smelled it. With a nod, she poured the honey into the thickening mixture in the small beaker. Taking the knife she used to pour the honey with, she stirred the mixture some and added some more water to make it less thick.

soon she was pouring a nice rich brown mixture into a vial and capped it. Handing it to Alcion, she smiled.

"That should be m'lord. I hope it is to Tessa's liking with tastem though I guarentee it will help. And if she needs anymore, I wouldn't mind making up another if she needs it."

Spade was quick to pack up, she used the rest of the water to wash out her supplies and poured it back into the glass she had gotten it out of. She could dump it outside. It wouldn't be to bad for the plants outside either.

"Where is Tessa anyway?"

Alcion watched each of her movements like a curious child, visibly a little amazed at all the different things he had never seem before, as he rarely headed out of his father's residence. Now this was something you'll never learn from a book, for sure.

He took the vial when it was handed to him, and clasped it securely on his belt.

"Thank you, ill be sure to tell her... This was incredibly kind of you, miss Spade, and I am extremely grateful. If there anything I could do for you, please ask..."

...But then the last question hit him.

Where was Tessa... ?

...In a lovely assortment of elven curses, Alcion got up.

"Tessa ! She is waiting for me at the area ! Im sorry, but I believe I really need to be going... She's probably already waiting for me..."

He tore a page from his sketchbook, and scribbled down an address.

"This is where Tessa and I are lodging for the festival... If you need anything, be sure to tell me, allright ?" He smiled. "Thank you, again, but i better get going !"

With a last wave, Alcion was out of the inn, wandering the streets to the area...

Spade accepted the address and watched him scamper out. She hoped he would be able to find her. And hope that she didn't take to long to make that for Tessa. But not atleast she knew the location of where Tessa was performing at night time. Maybe she would look into the inn herself, since she had been sleeping outside the town for the last few days. Making sure her stuff was clean, she dumped the liquid outside and returned the glass to the counter bar. She nodded her thanks and headed out the inn since she was done. She had been careful that even though she had been using fire, she had not damaged the table in any way.

She stepped out of the inn and looked about. Though her curiosity got the better of her. Alcion had mentioned the arena. She had nothing else to do, she picking a fruit of out her bag, she bit into it as she headed to the arena.

The last few days have been... confusing, busy, and somewhat interesting. I believe that is the best way to put it.

...What it is with Tessa that puts me in sutch ease... ? Why did she get me to talk so easely ? I told her the whole truth, how I saw her. What difference does it makes if someone has pointed ears, or not ? It does not give you the right to mistreat life. At any rate... I do trust Tessa, but I can't help being a little worried. If father and mother hear of this, they would probabely be extremely displeased... I've been keeping quiet since father has become ill... My family does not need to be trough more tension that currently present. I am still scared for father's health... I do hope he will be allright by the time we make it back home.

Brother said that I should get over it... Does he have no respect for the one that brought him to life ? His words still bother me...

But there is, unfortunately, nothing I can do about the matter. And it saddens me. It trully does...