Kincaid resisted rolling his eyes twice in as many breaths, first at the way the Fashtali cheetah woman spoke to Nate, and then when he was poked in the back. Still Rokas had a point, Nate needed rescuing...
His weapon may be peace bound, but Kicaid still cut a dashing figure in his fluted antique mithral full plate, polished to a mirror shine. Clearing his voice he prepared to interject into the verbal cut and thrust, "Ah hem. Ma'am?" Once he had her attention, Kincaid's armour clanked softly as he bowed, "Greetings! I am Kincaid. I'm assuming you're Nate's mother? I'm afraid I don't speak your language... Anyway we have had the honor of travelling with Nate these past few weeks. You are to be commended for raising such a fine son, he looked after us when where where all out to sea in that dragon town Kymerrai. He also showed valor on the battle field earlier when we, along with the Sethalesh Militia encountered a land shark. Fortunately the gods smiled upon us that day and we swiftly prevailed." Of course Kincaid wasn't going to mention how hurt he got, it would be unfair to worry her unduly.
"Well mother as you can see these are my travel companions. Mr Kincaid is the one who patched me up again after the meeting with the Bulette."
The feline looks Kincaid up and down, and huffs. "So you're hanging around with demonic drow spawn? And halfbreed drow/deer spawn? I really don't want to know how that occurs, but it doesn't surprise me drow would do such as that. And what is that, a hobgoblin? Really? As if they don't raid the city already, now you're inviting spies into the city so they can see how the defenses are set up?" She cuffs Nate on the back of the head. "I thought I taught you better than that boy? I didn't get reincarnated twice to raise you proper for you to go off and play rebellious adolescent with drow scum. You're not too old for me to turn you over my knee again." She warns him crossly.
Despite the words, the woman doesn't seem overly hostile to the group, just seems to have a prickly personality.
"I'd imagine some strang deerfay might be able to transform itself to a drow, they are a mischievious bunch. And I don't think Rokas isn't one of the tribes raiding our town, he came with the others when I met them and helped the get by in the dragon city, they seem to be new to this area, explorers by the way they talk and make notes of the lands we've traveled, plus I brought them a cheap map of the area so they could see where they were." he responds with a serious mime on his face.
Kincaid didn't understand the tirade, but he knew when something was a lost cause. He gave Nate an apologetic look and watched the woman with a sort of awe.
"I'd imagine some strang deerfay might be able to transform itself to a drow, they are a mischievious bunch. And I don't think Rokas isn't one of the tribes raiding our town, he came with the others when I met them and helped the get by in the dragon city, they seem to be new to this area, explorers by the way they talk and make notes of the lands we've traveled, plus I brought them a cheap map of the area so they could see where they were." he responds with a serious mime on his face.
"So, they don't know about the area, they make notes of everything around them, and they buy maps and ask questions about what and where things are?" She says, this time in Fashtali, and then cuffs Nate again. "That is what spies do you scale brained whelp!" She turns to look at the group again, her eyes narrowing.
She now seems suspicious of the group.
"That might be true, but even the best spy can't feign such a lack of knowledge of the region as these guys do, besides if you were to send spies to here, wouldn't you at least send someone who spoke our language and could blend in?" Nate asks in common before adding "I think you might see spies everywhere and I know it has saved us all many times, but once in a while you have to trust outsiders to learn anything of where they come from. I know where they come from and am trying to learn as much as I can in return for showing them around our region. I hope I never have to use that knowledge for anything, because I do trust them and enjou traveling with them." he responds in fashtali.
Kincaid continued to watch the tirade which frankly was starting to get rather uncomfortable, particularly with the spying accusation. 'Better let Nate handle handle this.' he thought.
Terex thought that Nate was doing a rather poor job of handling it. He wasn't sure just what her response was, but Nate talking about spies let him guess. And so of course he had to speak up.
Hey, we're right here! Terex protested. If you want to ask us something you can do it straight to us instead of hounding Nate! As for Rokas, we didn't even know coming here that hobgoblins attack people around here. Where we come from hobgoblins get along with everyone else.
Hylar takes the insult without the slightest hint of aggravation. He knew what he was, and it also wouldn't do him any good to get angry, that woman could probably snap him like a twig. Not a particularly sturdy twig, either.
The fashtali snorts, and goes back to looking at the shirt. "I'll drop it off with Mangli for repairs." She tells Nate in Fashtali. "Keep your spies away from the defensive works, and don't answer any more questions about the city defenses or militia." She tells Nate, giving him a lick on the cheek, followed by a cuff to the back of the head. "And make sure you are at your Aunt Moratha's for dinner, she's cooking club-head for dinner."
The woman stalks off.
As she leaves Nate says "I'll be there by sunset." Nate takes a moment to compose himself turning to his friends.
"I think that went well, she can be a hardball but deep down she just wants to protect everyone, I hope she hasn't scared you out of the city just yet." he says to the others and adding "At the very least you are not hanging out to dry on the walls, so let's focus on the positive."
Terex, wings still pumping to keep him hovering at roughly eye-level, gave Nate a tiny shrug. She's pretty scary, but not as scary as dragons, he 'said' to the group. So now that we have a bit of money, what should we do?
He perks up a bit. Is there a bookstore here? he asks eagerly.
"There is one, it doesn't have as old works as the one in the dragon city but it's fairly decent." Nate responds to Terex
We should go there first! Terex happily declares.
Kincaid just about manages to avoid rolling his eyes at the 'Keep your spies away from the defensive works.' line. Poor Nate, with Relatives like that...
We should go there first! Terex happily declares.
"Sure why not." added Kincaid.
Rokas follows along, unsure of how these people will react if they ever found out from where they came from. But for now, they weren't being escorted to a jail, so that's a win... right? Of course, he is curious about the defensive work, but he understands that this could only happen once the trust was established.
Nate leads them through town, to where he remembers the bookstore being, but now there's a tailor's shop there instead. Asking around, the book shop went out of business since he left.
The book seller is still in town, however, the tailor informs them. He's now working as a scrivner/lawyer, but still sells books part time. He gives them the new address.
Traipsing back across town, the group finally finds the offices of Allishan, Allishan, and Allishan, Scrivners At Law.
Stepping in, they find a young female catfolk behind a desk, working on some documents, and two cubs on the floor rolling around biting at each other, although they stop and look with wide eyes at the group, poised to either attack or run.
The woman looks up. "Welcome to Allishan, Allishan, and Allishan. How may I help you?" She asks in accented tradespeak.
Terex flies in after Nate and comes to a stop, pumping his wings to stay in midair at eye level. Hello! We were hoping to buy some books. We heard that you sometimes sell books here? His mental voice held a note of uncertainty as he finished.
"Greetings it's been some years since I been in town, I was showing my friends here to the old book store but it was now a tailor. However he was so kind to send us here so would we be able to take with him?" nate asks politely.
The woman sighs, and then turns her head and roars, her lion ancestors proud of the amount of noise that comes out of a slight frame. "FATHER! MORE DUST NOSES! GET THEM IN THE BACK BEFORE ACTUAL CUSTOMERS COME IN!" She roars, making both cubs shoot about a foot up in the air and land 6 feet away, having somehow done a flip and change direction mid jump, they race up the stairwell at the back of the office, sounding like a herd of centaurs charging down on a doomed army.
An older lion with fur so white it looks almost bleached comes out, using a large wooden pole as a cane. He squints at the group for a moment, then huffs and pulls a pair of glasses on a chain out of his belt pouch, rubs the lenses off on the fur of his chest, and then squints through them. "Oh, Nate Dragonail. I see your mother finally went out and rounded you up after you ran away. Bad boy, making your mother worry like that. Especially since she took it out on all of us." He looks at the girl behind the desk, and then turns. "Speaking of which, let's retire to the back room, before my great-granddaughter decides to charge us a consulting fee for standing around." The old cat's words are clear, and in tradespeak, despite his obvious age. In his youth, he was no doubt a scary individual. He leads the group into the back room.
The back room is actually up a back set of stairs, and looks like it was once the attic, but has been converted over into a private library with a bed in the back, which is neatly made. It's a little tight with everyone in the room, but not so tight people are touching, just not much room for anyone else to join.
"The sins of the father, you know. Raised them up to like books, they learned things from them, then got too busy to remember where they learned it from." He shakes his head. "Now what do you want Nate? I remember when we played as children, you weren't much on books. A bit shocked to see you wanting books at this late date."
Two lion cubs are hiding in the shadows on top of one of the shelves near the door.
"It's great to see you again, I must say white suits you very well. I think as I've grown and the dragon blood in me has awaken, I've been pulled more and more towards reading old tomes. I've spent some time working as a librarian in Kymerrai and got a lot of old history to read about my kind of hybrid race. Today I'm not here looking for a book, it's my friend here who are seeking I think it was history books of the land." Nate responds to the old lion gesturing towards Terex
"But I wouldn't turn down an offer if you have a book detailing white dragons and their innate ability to control water and ice, I like to learn more about the powers growing inside me." He adds before letting Terex ask for what he wants.
Terex notes the situation with interest, wondering just how long it had been since Nate was here in town.
He broadcasts a sense of excitement as he looks over the private library from where he has come to land. When the Fashtali speaks to Nate, Terex steps forward a bit.
Well, actually, I was the one who asked him about bookstores, sir, he 'says'. I'm Terexaltherin. We met Nate south of here and he's been kind enough to show us around.
In spite of his best efforts, however, Terex is not looking at the Fashtali, but rather his library, his little eyes running over the titles of the books, looking for exciting possibilities.
Kincaid mostly minds his P's and Q's and (assuming nobody stops him), he browses through the shelves looking for anything interesting, that he can read.
Hylar and Kasha follow the group into the back. Hylar is oblivious to the lurkers, though Kasha takes note of the other predators in the vicinity. She doesn't choose to share this information at this time, as her last command was to follow and not to scout or track.
"KILL IT!"
"EAT IT!"
Two roars erupt in the room, and two balls of fur land on Nate like a furry pair of meteorites swooping down on him like the angles of death!
The unsuspecting half-dragon is piledriven into the floor as teeth and claws gnaw and scratch at his scales!
Two lion cubs erupt from hiding on the tops of the book shelves and drop on the unsuspecting Nate with twin roars and bear the hapless half-dragon to the ground where they bunny kick him with their hind legs while they gnaw at his scales with precocious and small teeth ineffectively.
Terex is startled for a moment, but then lets loose a peal of telepathic laughter.
So fierce! he exclaims, looking at the cubs.
"So you want to play?" Nate says and then uses his wings to lift off from the floor, hovering a few feet up and performs a barrelroll to knock the cubs from him and then he grabs them laughing. "Full of life these young ones, they'll be great hunters when they grow up."
Rokas turns around with a worried look on his face when he hears the shouting. When he notices the two youngling "fighting" Nate, he then relaxes and smile. "Well, that's quite the welcoming committee. Any other surprise hiding in the shadows?"
The old lion laughs. "Hah, they do have energy. Remember when I had energy. There might be some spiders in the corners, if you're squeamish about those." The old lion says in tradespeak.
I for one hope there's some pleasant surprises waiting in these books! Terex declares. He starts looking over the titles around him, trying to get a feel for what is in this collection.
"If these young ones takes after you they'll be a handful in their teens." Nate says with a grin to the old man.
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Kincaid looks over the shelves, and notices a few books with titles he can read :
A Goblin's Mating Habits: Collection of Poems
Appearance: The cover is made of bold violet cloth covered wood (scorched) with exceptional detail in various bold yellow and green hues. The binding method is exposed riveted pages. The pages (good condition) are cleanly cut papyrus with flush edges.
Size: 10" high x 12" wide
Weight: 7.3 lbs
The Peacetime Application of Glamour: Illustrations
Appearance: The cover is made of bold indigo cloth covered wood (good condition) with exceptional detail in various textures. The binding method is exposed riveted pages. The pages (fair condition) are cleanly cut parchment with gilded gold edges.
Size: 9" high x 11" wide
Weight: 0.7 lbs
The Truth of Bast: Religious Tome
Appearance: The cover is made of black cloth covered wood (stained) with a Dwarven symbol on it. The binding method is covered and glued pages. The pages (water damaged) are ragged-edged vellum.
Size: 11" high x 10" wide
Weight: 3.9 lbs
A guide to Eating (Safely) in the Kingdom of Swamps: Topical Reference - Taksi
Appearance: The cover is made of dark wood (fair condition) with detail in various textures. The binding method is covered and glued pages. The book has a clasp and lock. The pages (scorched) are cleanly cut parchment with gilded gold edges.
Size: 11" high x 9" wide
Weight: 3.1 lbs
Variants of the Sword: Fictional work Play
Appearance: The cover is made of muted red leather (fair condition) with simple dyied decorations. The binding method is exposed glued pages. The book has a clasp and lock. The pages (scorched) are ragged-edged parchment.
Size: 11" high x 8" wide
Weight: 4.2 lbs
On the Evils of Locks & Traps: Religious Tome
Appearance: The cover is made of muted blue stone (good condition) with detail in various textures and tasteful gray and black hues. The binding method is covered and laced pages. The pages (water damaged) are ragged-edged parchment.
Size: 9" high x 9" wide
Weight: 6.7 lbs
A Cross-Examination of the Battleax and Axe: Topical Reference
Appearance: The cover is made of tasteful yellow cloth covered wood (fair condition) with simple artwork. The binding method is covered and glued pages. The pages (good condition) are cleanly cut vellum with staggered edges.
Size: 7" high x 8" wide
Weight: 4.9 lbs
The Digestive System of The Pegasus: Topical Reference
Appearance: The cover is made of dark wood (worn) with simple stamped decorations. The binding method consists of loose pages secured with two straps. The pages (scorched) are cleanly cut parchment with gilded gold edges.
Size: 7" high x 8" wide
Weight: 5.8 lbs
Fairy Lust: Illustrations
Appearance: The cover is made of muted red leather (fair condition) with simple carved decorations. The binding method is exposed riveted pages. The pages (fair condition) are cleanly cut parchment with gilded gold edges.
Size: 11" high x 8" wide
Weight: 7.8 lbs
The Open Plains and Sky: Collection of Centaur Poems
Appearance: The cover is made of muted yellow cloth covered wood (fair condition) with exceptional detail in various textures. The binding method is covered and glued pages. The book has a clasp and lock. The pages (stained) are ragged-edged papyrus.
Size: 13" high x 11" wide
Weight: 1.7 lbs
The Crossbow - An Abridged Discussion of Covert Use: Topical Reference
Appearance: The cover is made of muted yellow cloth covered wood (good condition) with simple embossed decorations. The binding method is covered and glued pages. The book has a clasp and lock. The pages (fair condition) are ragged-edged parchment.
Size: 12" high x 10" wide
Weight: 6.2 lbs
Darts - A History: Topical Reference
Appearance: The cover is made of silvery metal (good condition) with simple dyied decorations. The binding method is covered and glued pages. The pages (fair condition) are ragged-edged parchment.
Size: 8" high x 11" wide
Weight: 4.8 lbs
An Ettin's Skeletal System - An Overview: Topical Reference (Thing)
Appearance: The cover is made of muted gray leather (fair condition) with exceptional detail in various textures and muted gray and white hues. The binding method is covered and glued pages. The pages (fair condition) are cleanly cut papyrus with gilded silver edges.
Size: 13" high x 10" wide
Weight: 0.5 lbs
The two finally tire of gnawing on hard dragon scale, and then immediately leap to the top of the bookshelves again and begin grooming themselves to get themselves back into presentable shape again, running claws through fur to straighten it out, ignoring Nate as if he didn't exist.
The old man chuckles. "True enough. Now, what did your friends want? My selection isnt' as good as it used to be."
"I don't know about Terex, but alchemy and engineering are some of my favorite subjects. Lately, however, I discovered a new interest in history. Do you have anything on this?"
Terex's telepathic laughter rings out again at the cubs' antics. He broadcasts to everyone (including the cubs), I like to read about just about everything! History, geography, magic--especially psychic magic, as a natural telepath I'm always curious about that--culture, language... speaking of which, he grins up at the old Fashtali, I'll probably want a book on learning Fashtali if I'm going to be able to read most of the books here, aren't I?
Browsing through the books, Kincaid marvels at the variety although some of them, particularly the one about Goblin's mating habits contained information he didn't need to know.
Still there is one that caught his eye, he asked the shopkeeper "Out of curiosity how much does this one cost?" He points out The Open Plains and Sky.
The old lion rubs a cloth over some square lensed glasses, and peers at the title of the book. "The goddess truly has an odd sense of humor. She gives me more time than I ever had when young to read, but takes my eyesight so I can't read as much as I want." The old lion rumbles as he strains to read the title of the book. "Oh, that one. I got that one from a Centaur from the Plains after besting him in an archery contest... oh what was it, a good 40 years ago. Hmm, I suppose I could let it go for 150 gold pieces. It is a very old book, and it's in very good shape."
Oh... Terex 'says', drooping a little. Are these all that expensive?