Welcome to Gaia! ::

With the runners safely tucked away, and the return of her father the unloading of the wagon proceeds much faster. Beth gets the last couple of boxes down and set behind the stall before scrambling one last time to get her hides and charcoal. She makes sure the tube is tucked well out of the way and wouldn't be mistaken for any of the wares. Having to pack and unpack the boxes was a chore, but something well worth it when you saw what they held. Tiny boxes no bigger than several inches square up to several that were easily two feet square. Each had its own design carved into the wood from simple floral or forest to dragons, riders and dragons, and flits.

Beth blinks, a bit surprised that everything had been laid out and arranged to her father's satisfaction. "Beth, mind the stall whilst I go in and talk to the Lord Holder," Ben's deep voice rumbles out. She nods and moves to sit on the stool where she can survey everything. This isn't a good angle to sketch the front of the hold from, but that can wait. I don't want to draw stalls either even if the harper says its good practise.... I'll do it later, promise. So many people. People are good to draw, but they move so fast. It might be hard to draw them now, perhaps I should wait 'til dinner time when their sitting. But I can't always draw people sitting," she giggles at the thought. Sure she was rambling to herself, but what could you expect of a girl twelve turns old?

Lost in her musing she leans forward just slightly to rest her elbow on the shelf. Her eyes darting from one person to another and her fingers twitch to feel coal against them. She needed more hides. Maybe the tanners would let her have flawed scraps they didn't want. Beth made a note to ask them. She needed charcoal too, but that was fairly easy to get.

The sound of hoofs hitting the stones draws Beth's attention to a large black runner with a tall woman on its back. She studied the lines of it closely trying to determine if it might be one that her mother had bred. A quick run-through of her mental list like her mother had taught and she quickly decided that it probably wasn't. The woman seemed completely at easy on the creature's back and made it look simple. Beth was jealous. Not that she couldn't ride, her mother had made sure of that, but she wasn't the best at it.

She watches the woman dismount and hand off the reins. It wouldn't take long to sketch the runner and show her mother later. Eliza was always interested in other breeds. Beth's attention gets diverted by a man asking a question about a particular piece and she answers best she can.

Lala turned her gaze from the hold itself and turned it towards the few small stalls that hadn't been there the day before, and wondered if another trading train had somehow caught up to them. Moving closer though, her pale green eyes soon noted that these people were most likely small holders who had come into the hold to sell a few wares to make some extra marks.
Lala was tall for a woman, about 5'11" with long ash blond hair that hung down her back in twin braids, a head scarf keeping back a few stray strands that would have otherwise hung about her face. The young woman was thin and wiry, the little flesh she had on her bones seemed to be all muscle. She wore pants tucked into knee high heavy wherhide boots. Her shirt was white and loose sleeved, with a green vest that had many hand pockets. At her belt there was a knife as long as her forearm, with smaller matching ones hidden about her person (two in her boots, one up each sleeve in her wrist guards, and a smaller one hidden in her belt).
Moving closer to the stalls to have a look at the wares, Lala paused not far from a little blond girl as she looked at a few small ornamental boxes. They were quite well done, making her wonder if the holder selling them wasn't also a crafter to have accomplished such work. Standing upright once more, towering over the petite little girl where she sat by the stall, Lala addressed her, the woman's pale green eyes steadily regarding the little girl.
"Who made these?" she asked simply, a slight smile on her face so as not to frighten the child.

((I'll assume my post?))

This is boring. There is no one here to speak to and we should get back. Astarteth had a steady commentary of complaints going on. The green did her best to be happy but this place was dull for a dragon like herself. You did not even dress nicely.

Kallista was going to have to make sure to scrub her green extra tonight or she would never hear the end of the sulks. Curious, she stopped at the booth and watched the barter before the man moved on. Curious. Another interested person, this time a girl almost half a head taller than her came up and asked about the boxes. Looking down, she saw the most interesting carving and designs. Maybe this would be something T'ka would like. Not one to be rude or lose her runner mannerisms, she did her best to stay in the background and observe everything.

Lala smiled reassuringly at the little girl as she looked over the pretty little boxes as she said "Oh, I'm no lady." with a wave of her hand at the title, grimacing a little "I'm a trader." she explained. You really couldn't get much further from being a lady than that, unless you were holdless. Well, proper holdess, not trader holdless. Traders chose not to live in holds, they weren't thrown out of them. Some people didn't make the distinction, but her people were quite adamant about it.

When the girl addressed someone behind her, Lala looked around and saw a woman standing behind her, no doubt waiting for a turn "Sorry 'bout that." she said, taking a step to the side so that the other woman could take a look as well.

Beth gives the trader a playful grin, "Well I didn't know your name and it wouldn't have been polite to say "Hey you." Papa always said to be polite. My name is Beth and papa went up to talk to the Lord Holder. He was hoping traders would still be around and maybe interested in dispersing his wares." She couldn't quite keep the delight off her face when she said she was a trader. It's exactly as father hoped with traders still being here. He'll be so happy if I can get her to agree to take some in their caravan. Beth looks back and forth between the two woman, waiting for one or the other to decide they want a closer look at something. "Oh ok. Please feel free to look and come back any time." She smiles.

(Edited in a reply to the rider)

Beth smiles and lightly picks up the box in question. She turns it to display the sides and top then opens it before handing it to Lala. "The box is light and sturdy at the same time as its made from the best cured wood." Her eyes light up as the woman mentions taking some of the smaller ones. "That would be great! He brought extras just in case." She giggles softly, "Thanks! OH! My name's Beth and my father is Ben. Your pa could stop by any time tomorrow." She gets a moment of a frown before looking back at the woman. "I'm sorry, we'll be here for several days maybe almost a full sevenday so please stop by when its convenient for you. Since I don't know when your.... leaving...." Beth trails off and pink tints her cheeks, Oh dear did I start rambling? and talking about when their leaving.... how rude... I hope she doesn't get mad.