Vardynn Embassy

[Kalína Dalá'isyrás]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 1st Hour of Sunblaze Known as Lightthrive (9 AM)


Kalína was laying in bed, thinking of the night's events and how they had panned out. Her usage of her abilities had not been as effective as she had hoped, yet she felt her teachers would've been proud of her progress in her absense. An excitement and hope rose in her heart as she thought of her upcoming adventure with working at the Embassy with the wonderful new employers, and the thought of having a little one to possibly help look after once again, until she could find her own son. Tears welled up in her eyes as her thoughts drifted to her child and the memories she had of him before his sudden disappearance. A sharp knock at her door brought her from her sad reverie.

She stopped before the door to the elfess' room and knocked sharply.  "Kalina, it's Drea Corfuyne, may I come in?  Lady Tylannah is asking for you."

"One...moment, Drea!"

Quickly removing herself from beneath the sheets, she snatched up her cloak and wrapped it about her shoulders to fend off any chill. Rushing to the door, she unlatched the locks and quickly swung open the door to find the Lady's bodyguard standing there, if not a bit impatiently.

"Please...come in. Is..the Lady...alright?" She inquired as Drea made her way into the room, closing the door behind the woman when she had entered. Small hands wrapped around her thick tresses and twisted them to pull them off her features. "Should...we be...go-ing?"

[Drea]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 1st Hour of Sunblaze Known as Lightthrive (9 AM)

The door opened and Drea stepped into the elfess' room.  It appeared as though the elfess had still been in bed.  "I apologize if I woke you, Kalina, but Lady Tylannah requests your company.  Please, do get dressed first."

Drea looked about the room, casually eyeing anything that belonged to Kalina.  Nothing outwardly suspicious caught her eye.  "The Lady is still a bit shook up from her experience last night."  She turned to face the elf.  "It has been suggested that the Lady was dreaming; sleep walking perhaps, though I'm not entirely sure.  The Lady is quite adamant that what she experienced and heard was real. "

She walked over to the small window in Kalina's room and pretended to be interested in whatever was happening in the gardens below.  "If that is the case, who or what is behind it?  It also begs the question: what was the purpose?"

Again, Drea turned to face Kalina.  "You, of course, were asleep the whole time?  Did you hear anything?"

[Drea]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 1st Hour of Daywane Known as Sundrown (3 PM)

Aeris sighed.  He was content.  His eyes closed, feet up on his desk, he almost purred as he felt fingers gently caress his temples.  His headache was gone; banished by the dexterous digits of his new assistant who stood behind him kneading his tight muscles.  His doubts over Xennia had disappeared as soon as she pulled a chair up net to his desk and started going over the expense reports.  She read them to him, listened to his suggestions, offered some of her own opinions, then wrote down his responses, nearly as quickly as he could speak them.  What should have taken him long into the night to complete, longer if Buttins were helping, only took a few hours.  She then offered to relieve his stress and massaged his shoulders until he almost melted, then moved to his temples to completely cure his pounding skull.

If she weren't so damned homely, she'd be the perfect woman!

"There you go, m'lord."  Xennia moved back to the other side of the large desk.

Aeris opened his eyes and sat upright, taking his feet off the desk.  He rolled his head around his shoulders, marvelling at how less tight he felt.  "Yes, thank you, Xennia."

"Anything else, today?"

There was always more to do, but he wasn't in the mood for more work.  "Not right now."  He gave her a quizzical glance.  "What are you here to do, Xennia?"

"M'lord?"

"Besides spy on me, I mean."

Xennia smiled.  "I'm your personal secretary, m'lord.  Anything you need done, I'm here to do.  As for spying, I guess that depends on what you mean by spying.  Yes, I will be ordered by Ambassador Fruwee to report to him on your actions, but I consider myself your employee as of now.  I trust you are not a traitor, m'lord?"

Aeris shook his head.  "No, I'm no traitor."

"Then you have nothing to worry about, m'lord."

Aeris doubted that.  Still, her absolute admission of her duty to spy on him was strangely refreshing.  Unlike Buttins, Aeris knew where she stood.  "Where are you from, Xennia?"


"Oh, from a small village called Granich, on the island of Churican."

Aeris felt a shiver course through him.  "I know it well!  That's where I am from."

"I know."

"You know?"

Xennia gathered the loose sheets of parchment and put them into a neat pile.  "I make it my business to know many things, M'lord Aeris."  She then curtsied to him.  "I think I shall retire then."  She turned, then stopped abruptly.  "Oh my, he doesn't like you, does he?"

Confused, Aeris walked around the desk to look where Xennia was pointing.  In the doorway of the office, the cat Arnurd crouched, staring at the small statured man, growling.  Aeris sighed.  "Damnable cat hates me."

"Would you like me to take care of it?"

Aeris looked at her.  Something in her voice made him shiver.  Did she mean kill it?  Not that he was adverse to such a thing, but the fact that it was Lady Tylannah's cat made him pause.  Was this a test?  If he said yes, would he find himself clapped in irons in short order?  "No, no thank you, Xennia.  That will be all."

She pursed her lips.  "Pity.  I hate that cat."  She then walked from the room, the small cat bolting away in front of her.

[Cyradin Lawabel]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 3rd Hour of Sunblaze (11 am)

Cyradin frowned at his nephew's latest quip as they drove their wain towards the Vardynn Embassy. The boy was getting a smart mouth on him, and Cyradin knew it would get either the boy or both of them in big trouble. Unfortunately, Raworaan was at the age where he believed he was invincible, that nothing could affect him, that he could do anything without it having a negative effect on him. Cyradin knew the time was approaching that Raworaan wuld get a lesson in such things, and realise why it was all just a process of waiting for such a thing to occur. Part of Cyradin hoped that the lessons wouldn't have a lasting impact on him, and another part of him knew that would have to happen for the boy to learn from it.

"What's the problem, uncle Cyr?" Raworaan asked.

"Your smart mouth," Cyradin told his nephew, "it will get you in trouble one of these days. I hope you'll be able to deal with it. I mightn't be here to assist. And I might be unwilling to help out, depending on who you insult."

"Well, you were there when I commented on the beards of those female dwarves," Raworaan observed, "and you stood up for me when that hobbit took offence to me calling him fatso."

Cyradin sighed, "and I regret doing that. You need to learn that there are consequences. Consequences for your actions. If you don't ... well you are setting yourself up for a fall ... a painful fall."

"I doubt it," Raworaan said, "you'll always be there. You respect the memory of my father too much to let anything happen to me."

Cyradin fell silent at that, knowing the boy spoke the truth, but unwilling to admit to it.

"You have a smart mouth, you know that, don't you?" Cyradin commented after a few moments.

Raworaan nodded, "so you've said to me in the past."

Cyradin said, "well, remember what Dek said to you, about your smart mouth."

Raworaan sighed, "I do. I was hurt that day, you know. Badly hurt."

"You deserved it," Cyradin said, "what's happened to the old Raw?"

Raworaan sighed, "I don't know. I woke up one morning and he was gone, and I came out like this. I don't like doing this, Uncle Cyr, I just can't help it."

"I know ... and I'll be able to help you as much as possible, I've been through it all, afterall," Cyradin said, "Despite it all, I'll do what I can to help, even if its just picking up the pieces of your broken life."

"See, I told you you'd be back again," Raworaan said, with a smirk.

As they approached the embassy, Cyradin sighed.

"There he is, the 3rd assistant undersecretary to the department of works, self righteous git that he is," Cyradin observed, "you'll help supervise the unpacking again, while i deal with that toady."

"Its a deal," Raworaan said.

As Cyradin approached the man, he could see that the secretary had a self-congratulatory smirk on his face and knew that this wouldn't go well for them.

"Well, Master Merchant," the man sneered, "you are late. I will be docking pay this time."

"We were delayed by the rains to the north and west of here. The roads through the mountains were quite dangerous. We had to spend the odd night at a farm," Cyradin replied, "but you are right, we didn't make the delivery according to the times specified in the contract."

"As a result, we will be docking 60% of your standard fee," the 3rd assistant under secretary said.

"No, you'll be docking 15% of the fee," Cyradin said calmly, "as indicated in our contract with you. Alternatively, if you decide to continue on with your foolishness, my apprentice and I will take our business elsewhere. I understand the Remusians have recently opened up an embassy here. Maybe they could do with some supplies, if you have no use to them."

"Very well, 15% reduction," the official replied, "don't go to another embassy, those are our goods, we ordered them and you must give them to us."

"Actually," Cyradin answered with a gentle smile on his lips, "I believe you'll find that until you have paid my apprentice and myself for this delivery, these goods are ours, to do with as we wish. I know it means that we won't do business with you again, but I prefer Marcogg or Naios to New Santhala, anyway."

The official frowned, and said, "you are right. For the trouble I've put you to, I'll waive the 15% reduction."

"No, you won't. I've told you previously, Mr 3rd assistant undersecretary that I don't take kindly to people trying to bribe me, any more than I take kindly to people trying to cheat me. Your bribe is of no interest to me," Cyradin told him firmly.

"Very well then," the official said, "I'll pay you, come on in."

"Start the unloading," Cyradin called over to Raworaan, who nodded in reply.

***

[Meanwhile]

"Oh, if it isn't the same baby as last time," one of the porters said.

"Listen, I am not a baby, you big dumb ugly oaf. I am 10 years old and I am already much smarter than all of you five combined. The Master Merchant and I will take our business elsewhere if you are not careful, and then the 3rd Assistant Undersecretary will be upset with you."

"There is a problem with that scenario, kid," another of the porters said, grinning evilly.

"What is that?" Raworaan asked, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"The Master Merchant and the 3rd assistant undersecretary are all the way over there," said yet another porter, cracking his knuckles. Raworaan winced at that sound.

"And you are here with the five of us ... and not only are we big dumb ugly oafs, we are also much stronger than you and we don't appreciate little brats calling us names," said the fourth porter.

"I am not a little brat, I am 10 years old, and I am ...," Raworaan said with false bravado.

"badly outnumbered and in trouble," the first of the porters said to him, "the Master Merchant and the 3rd Assistant Undersecretary are now inside that building. Which means we can have fun."

Raworaan looked at them and knew that things were going to get painful for him. He started running, shouting out, "Help! Help! Help! Someone help!"

[Thaelel Swordmar]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 3rd Hour of Sunblaze (11 am)

Thaelel was going for a walk in the beautiful cobbled streets of New Santhala. He couldn't believe his luck. He had an easy and well-paying job at an embassy within 200 peds of his house, but it was boring. He'd find any excuse to extract himself from the confines of the stuffy embassy. "Captain of the guards?" Thaelel thought, "More like captain of the numskulls!" All his subordinates were completely useless, and it made his life difficult. But then again, it didn't really matter that they were totally incompetent- after all, it was extremely unlikely that there would be any action in the middle of the capital of the United Kingdom of Santharia. Thaelel's whole body itched to fight, and since he could easily defeat any of his guards in training bouts he went for daily walks.

"Help! Help! Help! Someone help!" a boyish voice suddenly cried.

Thaelel's hand went immediately to his sword and he rushed over to where he thought he had heard the shout. The mercenary was confronted with a despicable scene: five large men were standing over a little boy, grinning nastily and cracking knuckles. Suddenly one pushed the little boy over and started to kick him.

Disgusted at the men's behaviour, Thaelel jumped in front of the first man that was kicking the boy and punched him hard in the face. As the man clutched his nose, Thaelel grabbed his shoulders and hooked his leg around the man's ankles, pushing him over. The second man clumsily attempted to punch Thaelel, but was too slow. With a flick of his wrist Thaelel brought his sword to the man's neck, blocking his punch in the process. He then kicked him in the stomach, knocking him over, kicked the first one in the head as he tried to rise, then took out a throwing knife and embedded it in the door of a house 2 nailsbreadths from the fleeing third man's head. He couldn't stop the other two fleeing, as they had already disappeared around the bend, but he could certainly stop this one.

"Stop running!" Thaelel yelled, "Or the next one goes into your leg!"

The man froze, terrified.

"Good... Now put your hands on your head, turn around, and walk slowly back to me"

While the man was shuffling slowly back, Thaelel surreptitiously glanced at the other two men. One was out cold, and the other was groaning in pain. The boy was looking in wonder at the mercenary, obviously surprised that one man could so easily take down the three huge porters.

"Don't even think about getting up." He told the groaning man.

By this time, the third man was within a ped of Thaelel, so he ordered him to stop. He told him to lie down next to his criminal friends, and waited. Soon the first man woke up, and immediately started to get up, but a strong kick from Thaelel soon put any thoughts of escape out of his mind. Then, the mercenary addressed them all:

"You lot are in big trouble. I'm taking a walk in this beautiful city when I hear a cry for help. I come over to investigate, and I see three huge men terrorising a little boy outside the Vardynn Embassy. So what happens then? I see them push him over and start to kick him. Then something inside me snapped. I went for you, and now look where we are. I think this will make an interesting story for the ambassador, don't you?"

"Please, no! I'll do anything! Take them, but not me! I've got money..."Said the the man who had fled.

"Shut your mouth, coward." responded Thaelel angrily, "You will take responsibility for your actions. And don't try to bribe me. I am appalled. How could three grown men beat up a small child? Absoloutely despicable. Utterly vile and loathsome. I'll be sure that the ambassador hears all the details of this story. Now get up and walk to the embassy! Now!

As the three men were forced up at sword point and marched to the embassy, Thaelel winked at the little boy.

"Don't worry," he whispered, "Justice will be served, even for the two that got away. Sorry about that whole business, I haven't had time to introduce myself. I am Thaelel Swordmar, Erpheronian mercenary and captain of the guards at the Remusian embassy. Now if I might ask who you are and why you were in a fight with these big dumb ugly oafs?"

The boy smiled at this, and Thaelel listened to him intently as the cowardly man cried for his mother.

[Raworaan]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 3rd Hour of Sunblaze (11 am)

Raworaan looked at the man in amazement as he slowly took on and defeated the five porters. Then, he came towards Raworaan and the boy stepped back nervously when the man bent down to Raworaan's height.

"Don't worry," the man whispered, "Justice will be served, even for the two that got away. Sorry about that whole business, I haven't had time to introduce myself. I am Thaelel Swordmar, Erpheronian mercenary and captain of the guards at the Remusian embassy. Now if I might ask who you are and why you were in a fight with these big dumb ugly oafs?"

Raworaan smiled at the man's words and then the smile turned into a grin when the man called them 'big dumb ugly oafs'.

"I am Raworaan Chesabaltt, but my friends call me Raw. You're my friend, aren't you, Sir? My uncle and I are merchants and we had to make a delivery to the Vardynn Embassy. We came down from Naios in Xaramon Province where we live and work. Uncle Cyr is in side that building over there with the 3rd assistant undersecretary to the department of works, getting our pay. He told me to oversee the unloading of our wain, but not to do any of the lifting myself. Those five porters were called out to do it. They started calling me a little brat and a baby. I told them I wasn't a baby, that I was 10 years old," Raworaan said.

"They told me they were going to have fun and I think they were going to really hurt me," Raworaan added, his eyes still wide and he was wincing as he saw the three porters stumbling ahead of Thaelel, "you were great then. Thank you for saving me from them. They didn't like me not helping them, but Uncle Cyr told me not to do the lifting. He thought it would be too heavy for me. But now, it looks like I'll have to do it by myself. Sir, would you be able to help me? I don't want to stop you from your work or anything, but some of that stuff in there is really heavy."

The door on the side of wain was open and Thaelel would be able to see what Raworaan was talking about. Large boxes and containers, barrels and other storage items were in there, most too big for a 10 year old boy to lift and carry without any help.

[Meanwhile]

Inside the building the third assistant undersecretary grumbled as he handed over the money to Cyradin. Cyradin made a point of counting it. There would be enough there for them to stay here for a few nights before returning to Naios. Perhaps he could even take Raw out for a meal somewhere, or get him newer clothes. As he thought of that, he looked out towards the wain to see a man with a sword next to Raw, and three of the porters ahead of them.

"Who is he?" Cyradin asked the 3rd assistant undersecretary.

"His name, I'm not sure of, but he is a guard of some kind at one of the other embassies. Judging by his uniform, I'd say it is the Remusians. There'll have to be an accounting of this," the man said to Cyradin.

"Why would he be attacking your porters?" Cyradin asked.

"I don't know, maybe they were going to do something to the brat," the 3rd assistant undersecretary said.

"My nephew is not a brat," Cyradin said firmly, "but it is clear that they are bullies ... 5 grown men picking on a boy ... disgraceful."

"Damages will have to be deducted," the 3rd assistant undersecretary started, "first of all ..."

"There are no damages. Five grown men attacking a boy? That's disgraceful," Cyradin pointed out, "I wonder why he stepped in to help Raw."

"Maybe you'd better go out and find out," the officious fellow said.

"After I get paid," Cyradin said firmly.

"But what if he's going to hurt the br ... I mean your apprentice," the 3rd assistant under secretary said, changing his word at the look he received from Cyradin.

"He's not going to hurt Raw," Cyradin said, "he's there to help him. Why go to the trouble of saving him if he was going to do something to hurt him later on? No, he's no bully. Now then, about that money?"

The third assistant undersecretary to the division of works within the Vardynn embassy looked out at the events unfolding with a sigh ... he KNEW he'd have to give an account on what happened.

[Thaelel Swordmar]

"Raworaan, eh?" replied Thaelel, "I'll call you Raw, if that's okay with you. Anyway, I'd love to help you with your wares, young merchant, but first let me take these bullies to the ambassador. Now that I know the full story, I think these men will undoubtedly get quite a punishment. As for being your friend, I think you can decide that" Thaelel winked.

"Now then, you said you came here with your uncle. Where is he? I'm sure he'd like to know how his young nephew is doing. And I'm definitely sure that he'll want to accompany you to the ambassador when you tell your story."


"Take me to the ambassador. His name is Fruwee, isn't it?" demanded Thaelel of the porters, "And don't get any funny ideas about leading me to some 'friends'. I know this city like the back of my hand, and if I find you leading us into one of the rougher districts... let's just say you will regret it."

"Yes, his name is Fruwee" One whimpered as they led Thaelel into the embassy via the back entrance, Efér'scál'swordmar at their backs and Raworaan trailing behind as he answered Thaelel's questions. As Thaelel looked around he caught sight of a man negotiating with someone from the embassy, and interrupted Raw.

"Is that your uncle Cyr?"

[Raworaan]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 3rd Hour of Sunblaze (11 am)

"Raworaan, eh?" replied Thaelel, "I'll call you Raw, if that's okay with you. Anyway, I'd love to help you with your wares, young merchant, but first let me take these bullies to the ambassador. Now that I know the full story, I think these men will undoubtedly get quite a punishment. As for being your friend, I think you can decide that" Thaelel winked.

"Yes, you can call me Raw," Raworaan replied, "thank you."

"Now then, you said you came here with your uncle. Where is he? I'm sure he'd like to know how his young nephew is doing. And I'm definitely sure that he'll want to accompany you to the ambassador when you tell your story."

"He's currently talking to the Assistant Third Undersecretary to the Division of works here at the Embassy. The 3rd assistant undersecretary was trying to get out of paying us any money for this delivery. We were late, you see. There were bad storms up north, and we were forced to stay with some farmers for a day or two. Uncle Cyr got the 3rd assistant undersecretary to agree to pay us the correct amount of money, and told me to oversee the unloading of our wain. He doesn't want me to do the lifting, because he says I'm still too small for it. But, I'm 10 and am almost an adult. And I am stronger than he thinks."

Raworaan followed Thaelel and the porters as they entered the embassy.

"Is that your uncle Cyr?"

"Yes, that's uncle Cyr," Raworaan replied, smiling, "he cares for me, and is teaching me to become a merchant. I wish he was my father, not my uncle, but when people think he is my father, he corrects them. He doesn't like lying, you see."

[Kalína Dalá'isyrás]

30th Singing Bird, 1st Hour of Sunblaze Known as Lightthrive (9 AM)

Pulling her nor'sidian cloak tighter about her shoulders, she listened closely to Drea's words, feeling a bit uneasy with the tone used to address her with. Kalína nodded in acknowledgment to the woman's apology and request, yet made no immediate moves to act upon it as the woman's attention was focused on her, making it a bit awkward to change into the proper attire. Drea's wandering eye increased her discomfort and nervousness, standing in her nightgown in front of such an important person. Her small hands combed through her long white tresses as she bit her lip, worried about the purpose of all the questions which were being posed, and why they were not going to the aid of the Lady who needed their comfort and understanding.

"Per..haps...if I...spe..."

She attempted to interject into Drea's speech, but was unable to make any result come from it as the woman continued on before the elfess could complete her thought. Yet, it was something Kalína was used to when dealing with others, as her voice was quiet and her Tharian was broken, so talking over her was not uncommon or strange. While the woman's attention was turned towards the garden outside the window, Kalína used the moment to quickly dress into something appropriate for visiting Lady Tylannah. Her limbs easily slipped into the spilk allia gown, hugging her slender curves as she carefully laced it up the back. When Drea turned to face the elfess, she was fully prepared for the attention.

She couldn't help but be overwhelmed by all of Drea's questions and aloud ponderings, as its purpose was unclear: was she trying to make guilt rise and some confession to be emitted? For the sake of her dignity, Kalína remained silent for most of the woman's directive comments, even biting her own tongue to keep from speaking from time to time.

"You, of course, were asleep the whole time?  Did you hear anything?"

"No...not rea...lly slee...ping. But...no...thing...I hear." The elfess insisted, answering Drea's final two inquiries. 

[Drea]

30th Singing Bird, 1st Hour of Sunblaze Known as Lightthrive (9 AM)

Drea nodded at the elfess' words.  She heard nothing.  Truth be told, she didn't expect the elfess to have heard anything.  More likely, there was nothing to hear.  The Lady must have had a nightmare.  There really wasn't any other explanation to a child crying who didn't exist, and figures disappearing into solid stone walls.

Drea smiled.  "Thank you , Kalina.  That's all the questions I have."  She stepped to the door .  "I'll take you to Lady Tylannah.  Bring your instrument."

Drea led the way to the sitting room, where the Lady was once more peering out the window.  Drea cleared her through softly.  "Lady?  I have brought Kalina with me."

Tylannah slowly turned to look at the two women.  How different each was to the other.  Tylannah smiled.  "Thank you, Drea.  That will be all."

Drea nodded and left the room.  If the Lady preferred the elf, she would not intrude.  There were other things she could do.  Besides, the company of "ladies" was not really her style.

Once the bodyguard had left the room, Tylannah rose from the chair she was in and moved to a sofa.  She sat and patted the seat next to her.  "Sit, please, Kalina.  Maybe a bit of music, if you'd be so kind.  Something gentle and soothing."  She could feel pressure building in her head and knew that a headache would soon follow.  Hopefully gentle sounds would ward off the pain.

[Thaelel Swordmar]

"Your father sounds like an admirable man. I am greatly looking forward to meeting him." commented Thaelel, impressed by the young boy's clearly impressive intellect.

Walking up to the master merchant, Thaelel extended his right hand and interrupted his conversation with the ambassadorial underling.

"Thaelel Path Burner of House Swordmar, renowned mercenary and captain of the guards at the Remusian embassy."

As the merchant turned to him, Thaelel continued, gesturing to Raw with his left hand.

"I found your nephew in a 'brawl' with five men. He seems pretty bright to me, but not enough to stop himself from provoking them. I was only just able to protect him, but some good did come of this. Apparently I am his friend!"

[Cyradin Lawabel]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 3rd Hour of Sunblaze (11 am)

"Your father sounds like an admirable man. I am greatly looking forward to meeting him." commented Thaelel.

*Raworaan*
"You would have liked my dad, Thaelel," Raworaan told him, "he was always nice to me and mum. I was sad when they both died. Uncle Cyr wanted to go into their burning farmhouse to save them. But he would have died, and then I would have been left alone. I stopped him from going inside." He looked at his uncle talking with the 3rd assistant undersecretary and said, "Uncle Cyr has always been good to me, I don't want to lose him, like I lost my parents and grand parents."

Raworaan continued to walk alongside Thaelel as they approached the two men that were deep in conversation.

*Cyradin*
"I thank you for your agreement to pay us what was owed to us, minus the necessary penalties for the supplies being delivered late," Cyradin was saying when he became aware of footsteps approaching him. A right hand inserted between him and the undersecretary put an end to their conversation, and Cyradin looked to this newcomer. Seeing Raworaan alongside him made Cyradin raise his eyebrows in surprise. The embassy aide made to pay the money, but Cyradin motioned to him to stop as the newcomer seemed about ready to speak..

"Thaelel Path Burner of House Swordmar, renowned mercenary and captain of the guards at the Remusian embassy."

Cyradin turned to give the man his full attention. He was basically the same height as Cyradin, just a good bit heavier. He could well imagine that the man was a mercenary and that he did the job very well and very enthusiastically.

"Cyradin Lawabel, Merchant and Owner of Lawabel and Sons with offices in Naios and New Santhalos. I can see you've met my nephew and apprentice," Cyradin looked out towards the wain, "Raw, I seem to recall asking you to get help with the unloading of our wain. It looks as though that hasn't been done yet. Any reason for that?"

Raworaan looked at his feet at that point and refused to answer, fortunately Thaelel was able to step into the breach.

"I found your nephew in a 'brawl' with five men. He seems pretty bright to me, but not enough to stop himself from provoking them. I was only just able to protect him, but some good did come of this. Apparently I am his friend!"

"Brawling? With five men?" Cyradin asked, looking at Raworaan. His nephew's downcast look gave him the answer he needed, and Cyradin shook his head, "Raw, you know what I've said about such things."

*Raworaan*
Raworaan nodded and said, "well, they started it. They called me a baby. I told them I wasn't a baby and that I was ten and then they tried to hurt me. Thaelel saw and heard it and came to help me. He's my hero now. He was wonderful. But, we didn't get anything unloaded."

*Cyradin*
Cyradin gave his nephew a long look at that and didn't say a thing for a few blinks as he thought on what he was going to say. Getting angry wouldn't do anything, Raworaan was growing, and the men calling him a baby wasn't good. Besides, it was good that the mercenary and guard captain came on the scene when he did. Cyradin shuddered to think what would have happened to his nephew if the other man hadn't done so.

"You'll need to go back and do it, Raworaan," Cyradin told his nephew, placing a hand on his shoulder, "I'm disappointed that you'd behave like that. I warned you earlier today that sometime you'd do something to annoy someone and that I mightn't be there to help you ... you were just lucky that Thaelel was nearby. You need to think on that and stop making the half-smart comments. Just wait over there, while I speak with Thaelel."

Cyradin watched his nephew nodded to him and walk off a short way with a sad look on his face. Cyradin then turned to look at Thaelel.

"Thank you for coming to his aid. He is going through his adolescence, and we both know how difficult that can be. Do you have the time to keep an eye on him for a few more minutes while I conclude my business here?"

*Raworaan*
Raworaan was ashamed of himself. He shouldn't have responded to those porters taunts of him. He should have followed his uncle's instructions. If he had, they wouldn't have been injured by Thaelel, and his uncle wouldn't have expressed his disappointment in Raworaan. But also, he wouldn't have met Thaelel. And that last one would have been a shame. Raworaan was a good kid, he was just confused at the moment, all of the things changing were very confusing for him ... very confusing indeed.

[Thaelel Swordmar]

"Of course. I've got to get back to the embassy, but that's not for another half hour, so I'd be happy to." replied Thaelel, " And if I could speak to you afterwards, that would be much appreciated. The ambassador is looking for a merchant to make a few deals with, and I'm sure he'd be honoured to conduct business with such an esteemed merchant as yourself. I'll leave you to it now. See you in a few minutes!"

Thaelel walked over to Raw, thinking about how to make conversation. Suddenly he had a great idea.

"So Raw, tell me about your uncle."

[Raworaan]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 3rd Hour of Sunblaze (11 am)
*Cyradin*
Cyradin turned to look at Thaelel.

"Thank you for coming to his aid. He is going through his adolescence, and we both know how difficult that can be. Do you have the time to keep an eye on him for a few more minutes while I conclude my business here?"

"Of course. I've got to get back to the embassy, but that's not for another half hour, so I'd be happy to." replied Thaelel, " And if I could speak to you afterwards, that would be much appreciated. The ambassador is looking for a merchant to make a few deals with, and I'm sure he'd be honoured to conduct business with such an esteemed merchant as yourself. I'll leave you to it now. See you in a few minutes!"

"IThank you again, Thaelel," Cyradin replied, and then motioned to the 3rd assistant under secretary, "I've got to deal with him for the time being ... trumped up little man that he is. Give a man such as him a bit of power and then ... and then he thinks he can run roughshod over everyone. I hate people like that. Let's go to the Courtyard Inn and I'll buy you a round there and we can talk about the needs of your Ambassador. I think I've just about had enough dealing with this windbag."

Cyradin watched as Thaelel walked over towards Raw, before turning his attention back to the under secretary.

"So Raw, tell me about your uncle."

*Raworaan*
Raworaan was ashamed of himself. He shouldn't have responded to those porters taunts of him. He should have followed his uncle's instructions. If he had, they wouldn't have been injured by Thaelel, and his uncle wouldn't have expressed his disappointment in Raworaan. But also, he wouldn't have met Thaelel. And that last one would have been a shame. Raworaan was a good kid, he was just confused at the moment, all of the things changing were very confusing for him ... very confusing indeed. He was, however, brought out of it by Thaelel talking to him, and he brightened up considerably.

"Uncle Cyr runs Lawabel and Sons. It was started by his father, and my uncle took it over and expanded it when Grandpa went to stay with my parents. That was soon after I was born according to dad. He is a great man who doesn't like people lying. In fact, he won't lie himself, and corrects people if they say something false or by mistake. Even if someone thinks we are father and son, he'll correct them. He'll always insist on fair prices of all his goods, and he is teaching me how to be a merchant. He likes rabbits and I know that he wants to make sure I am safe. Although I don't always agree with everything he says or does, I do like him a lot and he's mostly pretty cool," Raworaan stopped and looked at Thaelel, "Was that what you wanted to know, or was there something else I could tell you about him?

Raworaan looked into the wain and picked out a couple of smaller containers and carried it towards the receiving bay.

[Thaelel Swordmar]

Date: 30th Singing Bird, 3rd Hour of Sunblaze (11 am)

"Uncle Cyr runs Lawabel and Sons. It was started by his father, and my uncle took it over and expanded it when Grandpa went to stay with my parents. That was soon after I was born according to dad. He is a great man who doesn't like people lying. In fact, he won't lie himself, and corrects people if they say something false or by mistake. Even if someone thinks we are father and son, he'll correct them. He'll always insist on fair prices of all his goods, and he is teaching me how to be a merchant. He likes rabbits and I know that he wants to make sure I am safe. Although I don't always agree with everything he says or does, I do like him a lot and he's mostly pretty cool. Was that what you wanted to know, or was there something else I could tell you about him?"

"No, that was exactly what I wanted to know, thanks. But I do have one more question; What exactly does he sell?" responded Thaelel as he took two of the larger containers from the wain, carrying it to the recieving bay as he followed Raworaan, "It's just that I work for another embassy, as you know, and we would love for him to trade with us. That does depend, however, on what he sells. So, what does he sell?"

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