"Hmmm, about as well as most of the town." Zeldana answered with a shrug. "Maybe not as well as half of the local boys mind you. Though that might be more because I lack her preferred... items. She's a fairly nice girl, I've never gotten a bad word my way from her but that might be because I'm never her competition. We've spoken a bit if I need to buy something and she's minding the store. Her father is a... different story. Honestly I sometimes wonder if she does what she does for his attention, but it isn't my place to pry into something such as that. Yet I know that man has a temper, so you watch yourself." She explained. "Her sister is more like her than their father, but I know the least about her to be honest."
"I got the idea that her father was on the protective side. From what I heard, he seemed pretty worked up that her sister was taking up with a fellow named Benny Harker."
"Do you know much about him?"
Ameiko laughs at Zeldana's comment "That's because you've never crossed her the wrong way, she can ruin a reputation extremely fast. Maybe it is her acting out, I'm not close tho the Vinders, though what I do know is her father surely does have a temper"
"That is true. Though I've never had a reason to cross her. Honestly our tastes are far different." Zeldana said with a small laugh "So I must say that if you're going to continue this Tamm, step lightly. If you break things off with her she'll like throw you into the mud before everyone." She warned.
"Now as to Benny Harker, he is the co-runner of a lumbermill here in town, though he was a ladies man. Flirted with every woman he came across if I remember correctly. Yet, he has treated Katrine fairly so... maybe they found each other enough to know that is their soul mate?" Zeldana wondered a loud.
He quietly tried to follow along with the town gossip but he truly didnt understand it. They sounded embarressed of their fellow menfolk... but he wasnt sure why? If he knew any of them better he might ask why they were speaking in such tones, but he didnt want to embaress them at all either. Maybe miss Ameiko knew? He would ask her later if he remembered.
" I come from the east, The Ashwoods."
He added suddenly joining in the parts of the conversation he could.He didnt really want to talk about that dark place, or why he was this far east really.
"Uh I found Dewdrop further east on the outskirts of the Sanos forest and we've been fast friends ever since. "
He waved for another drink as he drained the one he was given quickly more to forestall any questions about his home.
To Zeldana:
"Well Katrine's dad seemed pretty upset about her seeing Harker."
"I'd hate to ruin things for them if they are a good match, but if he's just using her then maybe she needs to see him for what he is."
"I could do a good deed and earn points with Shayliss's father. Two birds with one stone."
Seeing Corrin left out of the conversation:
"Dewdrop certainly seems like a smart deer, how much larger is he going to get?"
"He's an elk! Elks are um like distant cousins of a deer. Honestly I'm not how big he will get, but hes about half grown now I think. When i was very young my mother took me to see Illuivadair The great white elk of the Ashwood forest and he was so tall he could probably eat food off the roof here!
He paused and it was clear for a moment he was processing the earlier conversations in his head.
"How does the point system work for humans and becoming partners? Could we help you earn points with this Shayliss's father?"
Ameiko says "The complication just makes it fun, adds a new interesting aspect to the relationship. Benny doesn't seem like a one Woman man, I doubt he stays true to Katrine, I'd probably be upset if I was Mr. Vinder as well." When Corirn says his question she laughs "It's a figurative term, it means that he'd probably like him more if he saved his brother."
"Is there a difference between elk and deer?" Tamm asks Corrin.
"We didn't have either in the city where I grew up and I always thought they were the same thing."
Loxley sat back and sipped her drink in quiet. Much like Corrin, she just didn’t know the local social ins and outs.
”Remind me to stay clear of the Shayliss girl.” She chuckles.
She looks over at Corrin and Tamm, holding back a laugh at the elf’s inquiry into the ‘point system’. She quickly composes herself before speaking again.
”Dewdrop looks very impressive. You must take good care of him.”
She looks thoughtful for a moment.
”Hmm, if I recall my studies, elk can grow to around a foot or so taller then deer and can out weight them by possibly twice as much when fully grown. There are several other differences ranging from their coloration, antler size and how they communicate, but personally I think the size difference is the most impressive. She looks back at Corrin. ”Did I miss anything?” She asks curiously. ”I’m afraid I only have book knowledge to call on.”
He gasped at Loxley clearly caught by surprise, He hadnt expected anyone well... civilized to know so much. He couldnt help but nod in excitement.
"I was going to compare it to wolves and dogs, but yes those are very precise differences. Same sort of creature, just much larger and stronger."
He smiled and took a sip of his drink.
"I think Dewdrop is smarter than any old dear ive met too, but then again maybe he's just smarter than your average elk. He is the best miss Loxley."
"I think that fact depends upon the family." Zeldana said with a small smile. She had an idea of Ameiko's... family problems. "It also depends on the person." She stated as she looked to Tamm. "You need to get to know her father as a person. To see what he would respond the best to. For example my father would respond best to just being honest and upfront, but this obviously wouldn't work for everyone."
Theb she looked to Corrin. "You question is very hard to answer Corrin. Partners might not even be the proper term. Some are more like short couplings, while others mate for life akin to wolves and all the choices in between. It is very difficult to figure out unless you get to know the person and what they want out of the relationship."
"I am going to go walk about some and see the town more."
"I might even stop by the general store and see how Shayliss is doing today...." Tamm says casually as he stands up to leave.
"Anyone want to come along?"
"I will go with you miss Yeda! I love well the wilds and all. Too much time in town will make Dewdrop mopey too."
He added though a small part of him definitely wanted to well go watch the interactions Sazzat Tamm had with this Shayliss... he still had so many questions.
”As will I.” Loxley added after Corrin. ”I think a stroll through the local flora would be fun. And maybe bringing something back to contribute to supper would put us on Miss Ameiko’s good side.”
She lowers her voice a bit in a joking, conspiratorial tone. ”Maybe she might offer a discounted rate on rooms.” She chuckles lightly.
"I'll join Tamm around town then, as a local myself I can show him around and keep him out of trouble." Zeldana said with a small smile before she took a long drink.
"Besides I'm not good at hunting. I'd only get in way and lose the hunt for you." She said with a small chuckle. "Does me tagging along with you Tamm sound alright?"
"Sounds good to me." Tamm tells Zeldana.
Ameiko says "I think he's in his room, he came in and went up."
Tamm and Zeldana head out to the general store.
"So Tamm, looking to make Snadpoint your home?" Zeldana asked as they made their way to the general store.
"Don't know for sure. I hadn't really thought about where I was going to end up after I left Riddleport." Tamm answers.
"I need to find a new teacher. Are there any wizards in Sandpoint? I've got some questions about some of the things in my books and I need to ask someone some questions."
Ameiko says "Do you want me to get him?"
As Zeldana and Sazzat reach and enter the shop Shayliss sees you and says "Hello Zeldana, what do you need? Oh and hello Sazzat, dad's passed out in the basement."
Smiling, Zeldana gave a wave to Shayliss as they walked in. "Oh nothing today." She began as they made their way over to the counter. "The others in the group are going hunting and I'm not a very good hunter so... well I offered show Tamm around Sandpoint as he wanted to hang around town." Zeldana explained. "Anything to keep me from hunting!" She joked with a laugh.
"How has it all been?" Zeldana asked. "After the attack."
Ameiko goes upstairs, and you hear a loud knock "If you come down you might get a second chance for that hunt. That is if you ask nicely, I reckon the group finds you somewhat annoying." and about 30 seconds later Ameiko comes down followed by Aldern who smiles "Y'all want to go on a hunt?"
Shayliss shrugs "Katrine just moved out to be with Harker, after dad got pissed. Sazzat here's trying to help with the problem, though you know my father."
He walks over and sits down "The plan is to go to tickwood, an area known for their boars."
"Oh she moved out?" Zeldana asked with some surprise. "Thing must be going well between them? That is great!" She said with a smile and a clap. "I am glad to hear they're happy together. Guess they found their soul mate in each other!"
"I'm guessing your father is upset at the situation."
"Do you think that Harker is really a good match for her? It sounds like he's had some commitment problems in the past. "
Shayliss frowns at Zeldana "I don't think they are a good match, Harker is hot but he's an a&% h&!$. My father found him with another woman in his arms while Katrine was working a shift at the Kitten. She left after dad gave her the choice between Benny and us."
"Have you spoken with you sister?" Zeldana asked gently. "You're more reasonable than your father is Shayliss. Maybe you could tell her about him?" She added as she leaned on the counter. "I mean it isn't like Katrine didn't know what type of man Harker is, so there must be something that makes her trust him so much no?"
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Tickwood?
She gets an unpleasant, scrunched look on her face as she repeats the name, highlighting its implications.
Then... we might be picking little bugs off of our skin after this little hunting trip.
She then shrugs it off and gets back to the hunting.
Well, I look forward to chasing down the little boars with this. She hefts her greatsword over her shoulder for emphasis.
"I wonder if it is possible to show her how Benny is going to behave. Maybe we could find out when he's seeing another woman and arrange for her to see it?"
"She'll likely just blame the woman not the man." Zeldana commented. "If she's so in love with him there is little we could do at the moment sadly..."
Shayliss shrugs "It seemed like he had settled down a bit, until dad found him sleeping with the Mayor. If we arranged for him to be caught with another woman, that might do it. If I talked to her she'd probably think I was after Harker myself, and would block out anything I said about Harker. The only problem with that is we'd be dealing with the mayor, and I don't know if they still meet."
At the Rusty Dragon Aldern laughs and says "I wouldn't get your hopes up about chasing little boars with that, Tickwood is known for their big and ferocious boars, at least that's what I heard. I presume you two are coming along?" and he gestures at Corrin and Loxley
"Of course I would like to go. Wild boar hunting in the tickwood? That sounds great."
He said nodding and smiling to the young man and then Yeda. He certainly wasnt going to abandon her to this fate alone. She didnt really sound like she wanted anything to do with it or this fellow.
Zeldana tapped her chin a couple of times hefore saying "If we can't get through to her, then lets try to get through to him." She suggested. "Tamm could go a speak to him man to man, and I can try speaking to the Mayor. Sometimes people just make mistakes and others can be vindictive. We need to know what we're working with here."
Loxley smiled at Aldren and nodded.”Of course, we’re looking forward to it.”
At the Rusty Dragon Aldern smiles "Shall we go now? I can rent you horses if you need."
At the general store Shayliss's smile brightens up "That might work, I'm not sure about Harker but I think you might be able to convince the mayor. If you can't convince the mayor to do it out of the goodness of heart you can probably rely on her wanting to preserve her reputation, an affair with someone in a relationship is generally not a good campaign starter when re-election comes around."
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Yes, lets do this. Those trouble-making goblins got my adrenaline started yesterday but didn't satisfy it.
Yeda, interestingly, can at times look like a petite lady or an imposing tribal woman who's presence is much greater than her seemingly smaller frame. Right now she looks like the latter and ready to kill something.
"I will see what I can do. Of course I make no promises." Zeldana explains. "But even if I convince her to leaver Harker other women will just take her place." Zeldana warned. "Tis the man he is, and one of the reasons I don't care for him."
Shayliss shrugs "Then maybe we tell her that Harker wants to see her, and then have Katrine walk in on them. The only possible complication there is that Katrine ignores any pressure to keep it quiet, and spreads it about the town."
Aldern smiles widely and says "Well then we shall go, presuming your two companions are ready."