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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SecondMovement|Second Movement]]
| + | #REDIRECT [[ADanceOfAngels]] |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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| − | == The Last Supper ==
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| − | <i>The Quicksilver Zephyr...</i>
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| − | Breaking the clouds over Frostwallow, a trade city north of Windia, much south of Crystal... not a guild city, saving itself from the harshness that Amber Post would be for Anne to see. Not part of the Hanslanti despite heavy trading with Crystal, so safe enough. And not part of Windia, and as such, without increased prices due to the Celebrant's rampage. Perfect as it gets.
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| − | And just north enough to be built heavily for cold, without all the minimalism one would expect - Frostwallow is a proud trade city, burstling with life, activity, and many wares... many of them excavated from lesser ruins of the far north, where Devinekos dwell... making for casualties, but also for a beautiful, living city, something so rare this far north, a land of minimalist, survivalist, sad villages whose lifespan is cut down by barbarians every few generations...
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| − | And, fast as Cael expected, they get there, in time for bussiness....
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> After waking everyone for breakfast, having it in one of the dinning rooms rather than the more usual sun deck out of deference to Vorpal's ..weakness, Cael begins to outline his plan.
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| − | "When we land, which will be soon, I'm going to make contact with some merchant factors I know of within the city, and hopefully they should be able to get us the oil we will need for this to work." He smiles "Then, while we're waiting for the oil to be gathered and loaded onto the Zephyr, I think I will take Anne shopping ... both of you are welcome to come along, of course."
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> "I think I shall come along as well", Vorpal decides, leaning back in her chair in the other side of the table. She toys idly with a nigh-empty cup, swirling its remaining contents around and around. "I have been indoors far too long, now. I want to stretch my legs."
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> Anne's face lights up like a spring bloom. Her eyes shake, looking at Cael with a dreamy expression... "Take me shopping? <i>Really</i>?!?"
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| − | <b>Alexander:</b> Body fully recovered of the harsh treatment of last night, the prince sips some of his milk... and nods. "I would like to go, too... still have some jade with me, and since I did not take out clothes from the Palace of Eventide with me before we met, I do not have nearly enough to dress... and wouldn't be bad to meet the place."
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| − | He says, a content sigh... "I still have much to learn... but I do think Lilith taught me much yesterday. Thank you." He smiles.
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael smiles tolerantly at her, and her dreamy expression "Yes, take you shopping for well, anything you might need, and then maybe something else too."
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| − | He nods to both the prince and Vorpal "Well, it seems we're all going then."
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> "Is the wrist till sore?" Vorpal asks from the prince absently, staring down into the cup.
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> Her expression of amazement only grows greater... a birthday party, a first gift of love, a come of age party, the happyness of all in one, for her... suddenly, all the grief is past, for the country girl never had such a dream opportunity, ever... "You... you..."
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| − | <i>You are too good to me</i>
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| − | <b>Alexander:</b> Alexmoves his wrist absent mindedly, not a sign of pain on hsi eyes. "Yes! Hurt like hell at the time, but you went easy on me, right? it stopped hurting soon after..." He says, fully convinced she went easy on him, his teacher, who did go so rough on him last night... totally oblivious to the miraculous speed of his recovery.
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> <i>Oh?</i> Vorpal looks up at his words. The first moment of surprise, however, quickly passes as she remembers all the other times when the prince had recovered from his injuries - some of them absorbed by him from Vorpal herself - with astounding speed... <i>Well, I suppose he is similar to me in that sense.</i>
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> <i>No, if you wish to better yourself, then I will help.</i>
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| − | Cael smiles at Anne, letting Vorpal and the Prince talk.
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| − | "Well, I can hardly send you off with only one set of clothing to your name now, can I?" He says amused, his voice warm.
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "No... I don't think so..."
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| − | The idea of attending an university, scary as it is alone, with all the other children of high homes, with servants and education and wardrobes and culture and.. brings a swarm of butterflies to her stomach, making her gulp.
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| − | "I have to be presentable, right?"
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| − | <i>And you will just give me this...</i>
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| − | <b>Alexander:</b> He gets up, leaving everything in his place in respect for the servant, an excuse to all on the table, "Suppose it will be fun. Make you more than presentable, Anne.... dress you like a princess and scare the monster's troops away with your dazzling beauty." He winks, stretching his immaculately white wings.
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> Anne blushes profusely, eyes going straight to the floor, fidgeting...
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| − | "N..no... that would be all of you..."
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> "Aye", the Ghost-Blooded puts in, resting her cheek against her palm as she regards Anne with a thin smile, her eyes narrowed and twinkling quietly. "There's no hobby for pretty young men like dressing pretty girls into pretty dresses."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> He nods to the Prince "Calisara will let you know when we land."
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| − | He smiles to Anne, "I'm sure we can make you more than presentable, Anne. I'm sure you will do well, regardless."
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| − | He turns to Vorpal, refusing to rise to the small bait. "You are more than welcome help too, of course."
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "Y-you think...? Really...?" Cheeks flushed deep red, her pale blonde hair falling all over her petite face, blue eyes all but vanished.
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| − | <i>Am I not right now? How much would it take... I want to be presentable to you. To be pretty to you..</i>
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| − | <b>Alexander:</b> "Well, it is fun! I used to watch when Elizabeth did it with her friends, even if they had to constantly turn my head away on... moments. But all of them dressed just as well... now, when Liza wanted to dress Millia up, it was fun. Or when they all jumped over Fiona, who insisted on those eastern, earth-colored practical clothes. Ooh, Millia and Carina would have none of <i>that</i>..." He says, eyes lost in the distance. Even if Fiona was wearing one of her practical clothes.. last he had seen her.
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> Vorpal laughs at that, a short yet surprisingly hearty moment of mirth. "I think I'll pass. Just choose her a cute one for me."
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| − | Emptying her cup with a final, quick swig, she pushes her chair backwards and rises to her feet. "Be sure to have Calisara to keep an eye on whoever might be approaching this ship, though", she continues, a shade more seriously yet still genially enough. "We don't need another invasion to our hands."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> <i>You're quiet pretty in your own way, anyway, but others won't see this unless you dress yourself up a little, and so we shop...</i>
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| − | "Of course I do, Anne"
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| − | Cael laughs too, at the Prince's tale "I'll be sure to get her too, yes."
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| − | And then he too becomes a little more serious "And I'll be sure to caution her, yes. Another invasion would be most inconvinient."
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| − | "And I had best go to prepare for the final approach."
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| − | <b>Calisara:</b> Ephemeral arms close around Vorpal's neck, glomping her from behind with the forces of mist, and the playful voice sings like winds... "I am always keeping an eye, my dear Lilith! You can be sure nothing bad will come here while I am around. Or I will kick their arses just like that ugly last time!"
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| − | <b>Alexander:</b> "So, getting one for you? Is it today that we see the Pale Angel in a courtly dress?" He smiles, walking over to Anne, offering her a hand and a smile... "Shall we, Anne? It is time to go shopping."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael just shakes his head at Calisara's antics as he leaves the room to go to the cockpit and to land the Zephyr outside Frostwallow.
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> "Says someone who let twenty-eight men and two big apes into her ship before deigning to give us a warning", Vorpal responds with a dry voice. Struggling to keep an even face under the goddess' assault, she reaches over her shoulder with one hand, endeavoring to grab Calisara's nose between two fingers. "You must have been napping at that time, eh, dear?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> Anne takes his hand... looking up... to a face of majestic perfection. To a smile that felt like the sun, burning her away. Only a boy, not the confident man she loved, but yet, yet... if she ever met gods, that is how they should look like. So beautiful, majestic... she takes his hand, another part of the awe in this. A shining majestic light, a pale beautiful darkness, and the cool confidence of Cael.
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| − | And her...
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| − | For a moment forgetting how it made her feel, and simply loving it, she takes her hand, to be taken for a walk in dreams and gifts.
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| − | <b>Calisara:</b> "Of course not! I was, er, I was, was..." Vorpal touches her nose, and she makes a face, even if the feeling is like touching cottom candy in her dematerialized state. "I did warn you, didn't I? Just, just not that fast. You know!" She says, crossing her arms and making a even greater face.
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> "Aye, I know", Vorpal responds, her white teeth flashing amidst her white lips as she grins - not the slanted one she usually favors, but a more real one. "Just keep it up, will you?"
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| − | "No, not for me", the Ghost-Blooded then says to prince as she walks past the dreamy couple, patting Alex's head as she moves towards the room's exit. "A cute one for Anne. I'm all set myself, thanks."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael carefully brings the Zephyr down next to one of the larger roads leading from Frostwallow, landing far enough from the road and the walls that she wont be an impediment to traffic, but not so far from them that delivery of the oil will be too onerous.
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| − | The Zephyr sets down with barely a burst of dust, the legs resting easily on the cold-hardened ground. After powering down the engines to their rest state, he gathers the others and bids farewell to Calisara, walking to the gates and into the bustling and beautiful city.
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| − | <b>FrostWallow:</b> Before them, Frostwallow bursts with activity. A First Age ruin, like most of Whiteshield, makes Alexander feel at home. Paved robes of clear cobblestones, marred in a myriad of different hues from the weathering, the time, and the Wyld. The newcomers catch all the sights in a blink, even as they pass through the outer, more chaotic parts of the city, only Alex tested Iron, for obvious reasons. The Wyld is close to the roads here, Air-Boats from Hanslanti and Windia, and boats on the White Sea the safest way there. The Wyld's tentacles come close...
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| − | Quite unlike the commerce in Nexus or farther down, all commerce is made inside properly warmed up huts or houses, all the wares carefully stashed. To stay out is to freeze in all but the best of days. This, at least, keep the attractions from getting anyone on their way on the streets - each and every store is really crowded on the inside.
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| − | Unfortunately, its First Age architecture prevents the Hanslanti way - Undercities - to work without too much work that has yet to be done. And yet, there they are, amidst great glass and rock and ice buildings, stores burstling with life, warmth, and all sorts of wares inside...
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> "We'd better get the oil first", Vorpal states as she walks behind the others. Wrapped into her dark cloak once more, the albino has drawn the hood deep over her head to give her sensitive eyes some protection of the early daylight. Her breath comes out as gusts of frost from the shadows of the velvet garments. "We'll have time to see the sights while it is being loaded."
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> Anne looks around in amazement, used to the cold - warmer in Windia, yes, even on the mountains, but yet, she never had much to cover, or a very warm house... used to cold, and the wamrth of her excitement is enough now. Each of the few standing First Age buildings, even if for Cael and Vorpal echoes all that was burnt, broken, and marred out of what it once was, was already a wonder for her, in their glass and solid ice. She almost dances around the street, seeing this, and that, and this.... and all the little wonders of this city, little creatures taken from the Wyld, stopping over a store with multihuded birds from the south and crytal frogs caught near the lake of whispers... so much. So much.
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael nods in agreement as he walks along with Anne and the Prince, making his way briskly through the streets as he looks for the appropriate Merchants.
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| − | "That was my plan, yes....Ah, we will try here." He anounces as they come to the premises owned or rented by 'August Opal', who proclaims himself to be one of the largest traders in oils, waxes and fats in the city.
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> "Hey!" Vorpal lets out a sharp whistle to catch Anne's attention as the others enter the building indicated by Cael. "Don't go wandering off."'
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| − | She doesn't bother keeping her tone very stern, however. In a way, she could imagine how the girl must currently feel like. There are sights amongst the Wyld-merchandise that even the Ghost-Blooded herself has not seen before, and she wouldn't mind taking a bit closer look at them afterwards. Try as she might, however, she could not achieve the same level of enthusiasm as the young girl had - having witnessed the wonders of the Underworld and the Crimson Fortress has stamped that flame out of her.
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| − | Only through her imagination and the romantic books she loves so could that old fire be rekindled... but that is a hobby for another place and time.
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> Anne runs back, so excited... "But, but... they have so much! So many beautiful animals, and things, and jewels, and, and, and..." He tongue begins to go at a speed faster than Vorpal could comprehend, about this or that wonder, excited to a point that would lead any older huma to a heart stroke.
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| − | <b>The August Opal:</b> The August Opal is a grand, grand place. Not the most ordered or beautiful of places, but like the docks it is connected to, this is a place where men work, and where things are <i>made</i>. Base materials are never one for appearances, they are one for <i>quality</i>.
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| − | And despite its flowerly name, the August Opal is quality, and not appearance. The smell of oil, wax and fat fills the air, many samples and merchandise all around them, the sound of more work done on the back rooms. A fat and strong man discuss with a customer about some intrincacies and prices, a man who was certainly a sailor before - but now, a merchant, with added weight and arrogance. And despite its makeshift appearance on the inside, the whole place feels covered in... respect.
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael subtly wraps himself in magic as he walks through the door, the fine strands of essence enhancing his features, lending weight to his words, giving him a presence that expands out to fill the room, his skin subtly lit with the warm of a true summer's day. As he waits for the merchant and his customer to finish their bartering, for surely they will not take too long with Cael in the room, he starts to look over the candles and also the oil, his eyes roaming as he does, taking in the prices and estimating the stocks they have.
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| − | When the merchant comes over to him, he smiles in greeting, extending his hand in flawless greeting. "Good day to you."
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> Vorpal doesn't even attempt to stop the girl when she gets to that point, but instead just lays a hand to the Anne's shoulders and pushes her towards the waiting doorway.
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| − | <i>With that speed, she has to tire up soon enough,</i> Vorpal decides, then frowns slightly as Anne just waffles on, showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. <i>She has to.</i>
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| − | And then, as she listens to the earnest, breathless stream of innocence pouring forth from the young girl's mouth, another, darker thought stains Vorpal's mind.
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| − | <i>And this is what we shall eventually destroy, as servants to the Deathlords, eh?</i>
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| − | Although it is a strenuous effort from her part, she manages to keep her face from twisting into a snarl.
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| − | <b>The August Opal:</b> Cael's entrance, of course, is nothing if not noticeable. Burshing the customer aside to someone else, he opens his arms wide to his noble customers, "Welcome, welcome.... I am Rasso Krantz, and you had the good fortune of finding me here, may I interest you in any of our goods here?"
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| − | <B>Cael:</b> Cael smiles all the wider at the speed at which he is served, affecting a most pleasantly suprised air as the merchant approaches, arms spead.
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| − | "Well met, and thank you for your swift attention, Rasso Krantz. I am Cael Pattona." He tilts his head and glances around, making a show of checking out his wares "And I suspect you may well be able to interest me in something of your fine goods."
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| − | <b>The August Opal:</b> The man nods respectfully, knowing he is dealing with an equal, no, a great person. A great man. One just like his ultimate boss, the man who rules most of the city. And he does not overprice great men. He finishes the nod, "Most of all our goods are fine, yes! I will not lie to you that some of my boys do tinker with some of the goods, but for you, good sir, I have simply the best! Mayhaps I can interest you in some of our fine waxes? Or our whale oil, which is perfect and wholly pure?"
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael sits his hand on the mans shoulder as he sees the change come over him, watches the thoughts that would have seen him fleeced and ripped off evaporate and his smile reflects this, his presence growing subtly to become the merchant's world. "That is most gratifying to hear, my good man. And it is your oil that interests me most deeply, as I have a desire to purchase quite a large quantity of it, and with some haste."
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| − | And with that, he starts to dicker with the man, laying out the quantities he requires, bartering over the prices, and then the delivery conditions, words flowing from his silver tongue, twisting around the man, flattering, demeaning, hard, soft, uncertain, resolute as is needed to ensure the very best deal for himself.
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| − | <b>Vorpal:</b> Hanging back from the others, Vorpal keeps out of the conversation, trusting Cael to take care of his part. Not only would her albino skin probably cause some distrust with the merchant, but... well, someone needs to keep an eye on Anne, too.
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| − | <b>The August Opal:</b> At first, there is one big problem.
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| − | The demand raises eyebrows of all inside, and it seems as outlandish as it can be.
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| − | After much explanation that it is, indeed, what they wish, a couple of merchants fainting at the instant money that would take so long to come in, and the logistic work nessessary to even see if they have or can bring it to the Zephyr, and enough bartering, if not about the oil, all is set, and as many strong men as could be called from the crews of every docked ship begin to take the huge barrels of oil, properly waterproofed with skins to the Zephyr... leaving them free for a few hours yet.
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "... And their <i>faces</i> when Cael made his demand! Half didn't believe, half seemed ready to faint! Well, ok, the little guy fainted, but he was probably a wimp anyway, but, but..." She shakes her head, mirth all over her. She hadn't had this much fun in... ages, all the sights, all the happenings....
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| − | <b>Alexander:</b> "You did not hear, did you? Someone in the back said they were probably making more money with this than Cael's reward..." Which they of course weren't. Hasnlanti was too angry for just that... a king's ransom and nothing less was the price for his head.... and the Zephyr. "So, now... time for phase two of the plan, right?" He says, looking Anne deviously, up and down. "Time to give you the Elizabeth treatment, Anne." He grins. And for a moment, he is together with the tomboy of his big sister, in those few times she gave in to her tomboyish nature and took him along, playing pranks on the guards of the palace and in her most ladylike friends...
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael thanks Rasso for both his oil and his great help in the arrangements to get it to the Zephyr, and then leaves the shop with Anne, and Vorpy and Alex, turning towards the more personal merchants in the city, those that sold clothes, weapons, writing supplies and the like.
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| − | "And now to sort you out Anne, before you completely wear Lilith out." he says with a grin, as he strides through the streets, stopping to look at this and that, explaining what some of the more outlandish things do to the young girl.
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| − | Eventually leads her into a small clothing shop, one with warm windows that sees to the needs of the nobility of the city's children, both their fancy clothing, and the more practical clothing they wear when not showing off. Once more the shop slows as he enters, and he greets the young woman who hurries over to deal with his request.
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| − | ----
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SecondMovement|Second Movement]]
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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