I hail from New Stetven. Other than that, there is not much to tell. My mother was a merchant's daughter, and I have no knowledge of my father other than that he was or is an elf. I wasn't really considered part of my family growing up, so I spent much time exploring the nearby forest, and that is where I was introduced to the beauty of nature. Yourself?
"My family comes from Taldor. I was taught the ways of knighthood while I was young. I found it a most interesting life."
Looking over at Raxus thinking "So he is half-ogre that is odd." He takes in everyone's words before answering "So you hare half ogre Raxus that explains a few things to me. I agree with Lady Felina actions define a person well up to a point anyway." Looking at Mikam "Now Mikam was it? Worth is up to a person, why call yourself worthless?" Turning to look at Thalia he laughs "Assorted filth Lady? That is the first time I have heard someone explain court so well."
Thalia laughs, a cool, seductive sound. "My... position as a priestess affords me an unique perspective of our court, to be sure. And the price of promoting the arts is that one is never without a plethora of free opinions of celebrity and governance delivered by fools," Thalia sighs, boring herself with her speech. She turns her head and seeks out the puzzle she was tempted by earlier, finding the conversation at the table to be lacking, Raxus's origins not withstanding.
The old man seems to have stayed in the same place since Thalia left, the only difference is the flute she gave him, that now seems empty. And a more crooked posture in the man, as if standing still was taking his toll on him.
A cripple as well? Thalia giggles like a novice peeking at priests indulging in worship together, and her lips part as she inhales, a certain light reflecting in her hazel eyes. "The only thing poorer than the performers at this hoax is the service, it appears," Thalia says pointedly, and smiles at Raxus. "If they were properly informed of your stature, kind Raxus it is almost certain that they would have prepared a throne for you to sit upon."
Thalia rises, leading with her slender legs, and spares a glance for Felina. "Alluring as present company is, as a priestess, I find myself inexorably drawn to servitude. The fulfillment of such duties is my greatest happiness," she jests and giggles again. "Raxus may be prevailed upon to entertain in my absence, he's in possession of an agreeable singing voice."
Having none else to say to the assembly at the moment, Thalia procures a glass of water standing on the table and returns to the elderly man.
"I could not fail to observe that your glass had not been filled by the servants," she purrs. "What has become of the chamberlain? I wish to lodge a complaint!"
The man turns to the sound of Thalia's voice, his spine straightening and a smile appearing across his face. Oh, I agree the service is... lacking, these are farmer girls who wouldn't know a fork from a fork he offers his flute to Thalia and says Would you be so kind as to dispose of this glass? I would do it myself but I seem to trip with the clumsy dancers around the hall he turns his face and says in a lower voice Tell me sweet voiced woman, has boredom got the better of you and now you are curious about my little wager?
The servant comes back to the table carrying a plate full of different cheeses and a steaming bowl. He sets the bowl in front of Cyean and places the cheeses in the center of the table. All the while she tries to keep himself from looking directly at Raxus or the centipede but several times curiosity gets the best of her. Will the lords or the lady want something more?
Thalia's warning cut through the pleasant fog like a knife through cloth. Mikam promptly placed the goblet back on the table, sending a few drops of ruby fluid onto the white tablecloth.
"I wasn't really meaning that I am worthless Cyean", he begins as he daubs at the small stains on the tablecloth with a napkin...staining it in turn,"It was simply alliteration. I got going on it and it just tripped off the tongue was all..." Mikam stops speaking as he notices that the wine stain has transferred to the napkin as well, stops daubing, and refolds the napkin, before making it vanish under the table.
"I think that I am doing fine for the moment, thank you.", he says in answer to the servant's question.
"Felina, was your mother a merchant as well? I was doing factoring work for the House in Skywatch for the last few years before I came to Pitax. We moved a little bit of everything on the Lake, from smelting coal to smelt." Mikam smiles, not unpleasantly, at his extremely stupid pun.
"I do not have the same extensive experience with farm girls as you, it seems," Winterflower provokes, letting her fingertips stray near to his but not touch when he offers the glass. "Though with your current state of dress you are better equipped to impress them then this rabble. Fools, dressed in motley, dancing to windless pipes at the ends of strings," she hums, swaying slightly.
"As for your wager, do not do me the discourtesy of assuming that I do not know that whatever information you might provide is likely to be falsified. But, for a diversion, it is likely to suit," she laughs and opens her hand, allowing the flute to fall from it and shatter on the floor. "I have disposed of your charge, and accepted your wager."
The crowd turns and the old man cringes when the flute crashes on to the floor and he seems offended by Thalia's bluntnes but nevertheless answers Certainly I have lots of experience with farm girls. And pray that you have it by the time your body is old and broken like mine, for if you only get to experience boring courtiers and haughty priests you will not have even tasted half what life has in offer for a witty and talented girl like you he seems to think for a second his following words My wager will be easy for you to win for, although you think I intend to lie to you, I'm only trying to get some entertainment in this place he smiles at you and says I just want you to get an instrument and play a song that ridicules all these pretenders, I want you to steal the day from under Irovetti's nose he does his wink-blink routine again and continues I never liked the arrogant prick, and neither do you he turns towards the crowd before saying but the crowd will not be an easy one, you will have to do something good to get a response from them he turns back to you If you win, I will answer your questions, no lies, maybe some half-truths, if you do not, well you seem to suspect I already know you so you would lose nothing but a few seconds by telling me your name
The servant tries to clean the mess Mikam made and accomplishes it, at least partially, before leaving she says I will get ya a new napkin, and a new tablecloth if you wish As she turns to leave she winks at Mikam as the right side of his lip curls up.
Now who is presumptious? Winterflower muses, her full lips parting in lusty smile. "And the opportunity for some mischief?" she practically purrs.
Winterflower looks to the sad assembly of musicians and recognizes a peer that she had some affection for before she took to the pesh. She had known the girl once, her lips had been sweet before they began singing Irovetti's praises in her nasal tenor. Better still, the boorish scion's resources afforded her a cello of exceeding quality, that which Winterflower could not have afforded even if she were inclined to hoard her wealth. "Anica, my darling," she hums, and extends her arm and curls her fingers up in a gesture for the girl to come to her. Winterflower gathers a chair and handles the neck of the instrument as tenderly as a lover, though she gives her former bedmate no such affection. "You have remembered to tune this today, yes?" she confirms as she takes the bow in her left hand.
Winterflower's song flows through her as channeled from Shelyn herself, flowing directly from her heart to the strings. Her passion for the instrument is evident from the flush that appears on her face, and the sweat that stands out from her pores, and her breath becomes shallow and rapid as she reaches the climax. Shivering as though she has achieved her very own, she rests in the chair a long while after, composing herself.
"Well then, Master. I believe I have won our wager."
The old man stands silent during the whole piece, moving his hands slightly following yours. A single tear appears in his grey eyes but he is swift to clean it. As you approach him his smile grows Oh, you won the wager but I assure you the pleasure of listening to that piece should make everybody in this room a weep of joy his smile fades and he turns over himself Look at the crowd and tell me girl how many of them will remember it tonight when they get inebriated with wine and pesh? he end his turn and faces you again But don't think your effort will have no effect, several of those pretenders have a little talent, and you have given them the inspiration to do something better than singing Irovetti's praises, I for one think it will be worth listening when the few talents in this academy start doing what true musicians should do. he smiles again Now, I am sure you have questions, they may not be the right ones but I will answer them, truthfully I assure you.
Might he be speaking the truth?
"If you speak the truth, and know nothing of my profession, well," Winterflower laughs and relinquishes the cello back to its owner. "Allow me to escort you a ways. My limbs did not achieve their mien through idleness," she trails, hoping to insinuate that her mind did not evolve in stagnation either.
The man offers his arm to Thalia, expecting her to guide him to wherever she intends to asks her questions. If you would be so kind to help me walk, I can guide myself but I would not be able to follow your pace
"Kind?" Winterflower repeats and laughs. "I can see how my performance earlier might have lent to your mistaking my divine patron. Mine has many titles, and her adherents flock to her for a multitude of reasons, but kindness is not among those."
Winterflower leads the elderly man along the perimeter of the ballroom and pauses just inside the alcove where a statue commemorating Castruccio Irovetti's prodigious ascension has recently been inducted. The crudely carved oblique brazenly implies a phallus. A more fitting tribute might have been a bronze ox shatting in a cup of delicate Tian ceramics. What is well known by those who travel these halls is that this alcove conceals the entrance to a none so secret chamber just inside where couples frequently meet for trysts inspired by Irovetti's firm example.
"Surely one inured to the simpler pleasures can appreciate this piece," Winterflower jests and gestures to the statue with a nod of her head. "I half expected your disguise to be glamour, but I am intrigued to find that it is not," she whispers, drawing closer. "Might you first answer which route you have come to Pitax, before I make any erroneous assumptions concerning your origins? Overland or river travel?"
The man smiles while Thalia takes him to the statue and answers her comment about her goddess with a shrug and a simple I am not a man who cares about gods, they are too far away although I will meet them soon he stands quiet after the mention of his disguise and says There is no disguise on me, but sometimes people care more about their senses than their brains, if they do so, they are the ones disguising me The answer to your question is overland my whispering flower.
Winterflower hums. "Only one of a dozen possibilities, then," she recognizes and laughs. She takes a step back and leans against the cool wall of the alcove, accentuating the lean line of her body and her relaxed state. "I will assume that you are aware that the waterways belong to him, and that it is far easier for proprietors and companions met along the ways to mistake intent than it is for one confined to a cabin, or ship.
"You have me at a disadvantage, for you have come by some knowledge of my person during your stay, and I have none of yours," she continues, and smiles a seductive smile. "I do enjoy pretending at being disadvantaged. If you will not give me your name, will you supply me with a familiar title that you would prefer?"
Ah my flower, I can give you the name my parents had in good stead to give me, but it will mean nothing to you. he smiles, clearly enjoying the little game Have you read about genies and similar creatures? Then you should know that the truthful answer to your question is Yes. But I do not intend to betray the spirit of our deal, so I will give you a title you might recognize. I am often called the Blind Bard
The Blind Bard is a name usually given to an old man, known for his music, that travels the River Kingdoms, he has been known to appear in those places where something important is about to happen, there are those that say he serves a secret master, those who say he is the secret master, and those that think that he is just an old man who likes to travel these lands.
The same rumours place the blind bard in several countries just before a big change, they say he was in Cheliax before Aroden's death, in Galt before the Red Revolution, in Absalom during the ascent of Iomedae. He is often accepted to be a mere myth, the classical messenger of change, by scholars, but the descriptions all fit this man. An old man with a strong voice, well worn travel clothes and grey eyes.
"Ah, therein lies the difficulty associated with our trade; what we accept or assert is truth is only as reliable as our sources, or our ability to promote ourselves," Winterflower laments, touching her cheek and turning her face away in a dramatic gesture. She slides the hand down her neck and chest, playfully highlighting her physical allure, then lets her arm relax as it falls beside her.
Winterflower is silent for a time as she observes the happenings at the table she formerly occupied, and her new companions.
"I have only one more question," she states finally. "As you have likely have come across some information about my companions, as a... favor to me, might I know you tonight?" she inquires, and turns herself to observe his reaction. "They are dull, and if it were my desire to bore myself on what might be my last evening in the city, I might teach the vermin woman a more pleasurable occupation for her mouth than speaking, but if our travels do not present such an opportunity in the near future I am not likely to go wanting. Mystery, however, and cultured companionship will be in short supply."
A slow, seductive smile graces Winterflower's features. And I may learn your purpose, too.
The man seems taken aback but swiftly regains his composure Ah my sweet flower, the answer to that question is no, for I am an old man and there are things old men can not do anymore his smile fades as his face takes a shade of pain I am sure that we will meet again for as you know, you are just starting change, and it is my duty to be there when it takes place he turns to leave but after a couple of steps halts himself and turns back to Thalia I have a little request for you he seems coy about it Would you be so kind to walk me back to the hall?
"Far be it for me to deny a performer his prop," Winterflower replies, and steps forward to offer her arm. "Shall I place you somewhere less conspicuous so as not to lure the attention of persons who share our particular passions?" she inquires while they walk.
Winterflower will escort the Blind Bard to the area of his choosing, and kiss his cheek softly, and not without a flirtatious giggle as she utilizes the opportunity to whisper in his ear, "It is not my Lady's way that her faithful should make oaths, but that of the River Kingdoms that we should keep them," she hums, invoking the River Freedoms. She steps away and offers him a smile. "Enjoy the remainder of your evening, Sir."
Thalia inhales sharply and centers herself before rejoining the group, taking a seat beside Raxus again. When she recognizes that Mikami has ceased drinking, she smiles softly, but narrows her eyes when she recognizes the display of cheese set in the middle of the table. Cheese? she wonders. Clearly someone has not been informed of its affect upon the voice, and the thighs...
"I wasn't really meaning that I am worthless Cyean", he begins as he daubs at the small stains on the tablecloth with a napkin...staining it in turn,"It was simply alliteration. I got going on it and it just tripped off the tongue was all..." Mikam stops speaking as he notices that the wine stain has transferred to the napkin as well, stops daubing, and refolds the napkin, before making it vanish under the table.
"I see." Cyean looks at Mikam speaking thinking to himself "Any word that comes off like that came from somewhere." He than goes back to eating his food and looking around the table.
Seeing Thalia return to the table he says "Welcome back Lady Thalia I hope you had fun with whatever you were doing. Do you happen to know where the king is? I am bored and feel the need to find out about my comrade how about we play a game of questions?" Turning to look at the rest of the group "You all can free to join in the more the merrier." Turning back to Thalia "Ladies First."
"Does my illustrious king know where he is?" Thalia hums, her smile broadening. She lifts her voice and offers a tribute to the host. "From the stories crafted of his adventures, he is several forceful thrusts into a patriotic, lusty maid whose sighs are sweet and nether lips taste as fresh as the morning dew!"
When Cyean poses his question, Thalia's eyes flash anger. "For myself, I know what my first question is not, and that is which among us is uncouth," she says pointedly. She leans back in her chair and studies Cyean for a moment. "When you rise in the morning, which is most likely to be beside you: a willing and able partner, or your sword?"
Cyean looks at Thalia for a moment before an odd grin slowly goes across his face "Now my lady thank you for that, yes indeed I am straight forward I never said otherwise. I am but just a knight after all we do have to give up some graces to protect our people." Thinking for a moment on her question "Neither but that was not part of the questions was it? Well I would say my sword." Putting his hand to his chin he goes into a thinking position for a minute before speaking again "What do you think of wars?" He looks waiting for her answer.
"Now, there is a highly charged question! 'What do I think of wars?' In which context? In whose perspective?" Thalia hums and leans forward in her chair, gracing Cyean and any who care to notice with an unbroken perspective of the line of her neck and bust.
"Mechanically, I think of wars not at all. Contemplating the logistics of recruiting, equipping and moving hundreds of men simply bores me to tears! My knowledge of tactics is only as great as the next student's, and I believe that we might both agree that the perspective of the victor, who survives to record the tale, determines triumph and folly, hmm?
"As an expression of political power, I think of war quite frequently. My king has promoted a great general to represent our interests, whose campaigns against the beasts of the fields are lauded by the maidens," Thalia muses, an almost song-like quality to her voice as she expounds on her opinion. "Is he a servant of our king, or simply expressing his own desire to conquer? The ambiguity intrigues and excites me."
Thalia's breathing is somewhat shallow, and is directed between her slightly parted lips, evidence of her particular passion for the subject. "As a social convention, well, war is quite convenient," she continues, her hazel eyes flashing. "Women with not a modicum of skill may follow men drafted from farms, from the slums, from the prisons, or noble warriors like yourself to the field and provide them with some measure of comfort, and like as not a bastard in their bellies that will perpetuate the cycle.
"For it is my experience that at their very core, all men and a great deal of women, desire to rule. All that differs is the tactics they employ. The simplest of men employ force, as it directly affects the freedom of others and their intent cannot be mistaken." Thalia concludes with a smile. "Be wary of others who employ guile, for they are the hardest to define" And control.
Cyean claps his hands once Thalia is finished. "A very wonderful answer. Very different thoughts on the different ways of war. Thank you for the answer. I shall remember your words. However Lady Thalia you did not ask me another question. I shall think on your words until you do say. " He once again goes into the position he was in earlier while thinking on Thalia's words.
"Did I not?" Thalia inquires, and leans back in her chair again, pressing the upper portion of her back against the delicate slats designed to support. She hums and looks to Raxus. "Like as not, it is to prolong the mystery," she suggests, and laughs. "I do believe that we have been called to travel together for quite a long while, during which time I am quite certain that there will be ample opportunities for us to become intimate," she purrs and flicks her eyes towards Felina.
"But, if you insist..." she pauses and taps a calloused fingertip on her upper lip while she considers her next question. "The lion you hunt, is it literal or a metaphor? From the perspective of an artist - and I am quite fond of puzzles - if I am to tell the tale after your victory, I would not mistake your intent."
Cyean looks goes from the pose he was in to sitting up to stare Thalia in the eye while he speaks his tone is very serious and his face is the same. "The white lion may just be a metaphor I do not truly know. The one I hunt however is in a literal sense. This may seem confusing but I will explain. My family have been knight's of Taldor since the legendary Armies of Exploration. They were proud people. I wish to do them honor by finding a white lion to tame and use as a mount. What greater honor to a Taldan Knight? Now this leads to a problem." He closes his eyes for a moment before leaning forward to begin speaking once again.
"The white lion of Taldor may very well just be an image that the ancient lords of Taldor wanted to show the people. The lion could mean Taldor was noble, regal, fierce, proud, pure and courage. If it is a symbol indeed than I am chasing nothing more than those virtues. If on the other hand the ancient lords did find such a fine creature and chose it as their symbol to show they were like this creature than well that is what I am looking for. I may look for the rest of my days and never find it or I may have found it within my own heart. I will still look however."
He than grins once again at Thalia "So Lady Thalia, now my turn for a question." Think again for a moment he looks up "What is your favorite color?"
Felina sneers at Thalia's comment. Hmmm, while I have nothing against pursuing one's carnal desires, I don't do so flippantly, no matter how attractive he or she is.
She suddenly colors red as if she has revealed too much, grabs her glass, and takes a big gulp.
Thalia's eyes fix on Felina's for a moment. "I relish the opportunity to defeat your aversion, Lady," she says and grins.
"Do you seek to limit the painter to a single brush?" Thalia answers Cyean and laughs heartily. "An artist could sooner limit herself to one single expression of her soul!
"Nay, not a color, but, an impression?" she suggests. "My favorite colors are the golden light that bathes my lover in the morning, the flush in their face when I deliver them to the height of ecstasy and whichever shade their eyes are when they attempt to gather their focus after."
Thalia purrs. "Preference exists only in a moment, and at most several."
Thalia smiles and drums her fingertips on the flat plane of her stomach. "My next question, Sir Knight, is simple. Have my answers thus far satisfied your curiosity, or piqued your interest?"
Cyean looks into Thalia's eyes while saying "I hope your lovers thought the same of you." He than closes his eye for just a moment before saying once again "I see that my question was a bit limiting. Sorry about that. Well to answer your question they have done as I hoped to help me understand you better. I could be more specific in the answering if you said what you meant by each. I have a few thoughts on that but well it would show me a fool if said I understood a lady's thoughts."
He than turns to Felina winks than says "A women after my own heart. Very nicely said Lady Felina. Do you wish to join our little game? It is very fun."
A tall dark-skinned man walks into the room, breezing by the servant asking for an invitation. His clothes are of plain design but are in excellent condition and clean. He pauses barely a moment before wandering around the room, seemingly a random and taking an interest in almost everything he sees.
He appears to ignore everyone in the room, not the least of which is the servant trying frantically to catch up with Toanga's long strides. Finally satisfied, he finds a seat where it is easy to observe as much of the room as possible. He studies everyone in the room intently, making no attempt to hide this, though it is obvious that his gaze lingers longest of Thalia and Felina.
He seems slightly perturbed and confused when the servant catches up to him and, after a moment, fishes out the invitation which appears to have been wadded into a ball and hands it over.
So this wasn't a waste of time after all. His gaze continues to sweep the room, though his face remains largely expressionless. It is difficult to tell if he's aware that his gaze seeks out Thalia and Felina most often.
Otherwise, he says nothing and makes no introduction.
Thalia's eyes follow the tall man's entrance, movements, and marks his silence despite the decidedly festive air. Another hunter? she wonders, attempting to puzzle the specific path his gaze cuts into the throng of filth gathered to pay tribute to the Bard King. Something inherently dangerous in the quality of that silence... but decidedly intriguing.
His question blatantly ignored by Felina, Mikam falls silent, his face flushing from embarrassment and frustration.
Sitting back in the chair, his body rigid with anger at himself and the situation, he is unable to determine if he should say something mean or witty or cutting. Seething in intense frustration he merely listens to the verbal sparring from the sidelines. He clenches his hands, white-knuckled, under the table where they drip vermilion globs of magic onto the flagstones.
This is pure torment...I need this to be over so I can get out of here. I bet this is what Raxus feels like all the time...frustrated by the things around him...everything too small.
Trying again to strike up a conversation, in spite of his previous failure, he turns to Raxus. "Raxus, where did you grow up? Anywhere near Pitax?"
Thalia had settled into her lounging position, content to allow the others to speak, to preserve her voice and her mouth for pulling upon the King in a manner that would entice the reputed lech when her eyes widen and it appears as though she is no longer able to breathe. She recognizes the Blind Bard now, and her obvious folly. Thalia's breath begins to race, her heart pounding and each of the fine hairs on her body stands on end.
Neither the King, nor Drey, but a Prophet of the End Times? her mind seethes. And I invited him to my bed? Thalia slides her hand up her chest, neck and face to cover her eyes and begins to laugh, although it sounds more like weeping. Banished from the city on an errand. Will there be anything left to return to?
Drey...
Cyean looks around the table for a time. When Mikam asks Raxus a questions he looks from both Raxus to Mikam and back again. He thinks to himself "I wonder if he will answer him." He than takes a good look at Mikam for the first time. Again he wonders "Why did he say the worthless comment." Shaking the thought off he turns once again to look at Felina "So she says things she would like kept secret when angry."
He next turns to Thalia while she seems to weep thinking to himself "I wonder what caused that? Best leave her be however that is her business and none of mine." While looking over the table once more he notices the tall man but dismisses him since he did not speak. Finally he looks at Raxus once more wondering "So quiet I wonder what his life has been like. Ogres are vile creatures I hope he was raised by his non-ogre parent."
These people all talk too much.
"We called it Brug Borog. I believe the locals here call it The Hunched Man. The low mountain a few days into the wild. It is not a place worth speaking of."
Toanga continues to surreptitiously examine the people around the room.
This all seems more...chaotic that I imagined it would be. Interesting.
He then notices the sudden change in Thalia's behavior and frowns slightly when he realises that he's completely missed what caused it. He stares at Thalia for sometime trying to pick up some cue from her.
Uanble to pick up anything substansive, he goes back to perusing his surroundings. A secret to learn for another time...
Nay... a herald of change, Winterflower reminds herself. Had he not said as much? The death of Aroden allowed for the ascent of Iomedae...
Thalia appears to calm after a time, and her hand falls away from her eyes. Her arm and posture relax slightly, save for her spine, which remains rigid despite her reclining pose.
"Cyean, scion of Taldor," she addresses the knight. "I have always been curious, are the Qadiri that dance along your borders quite so fierce as your Grand Prince would have the world believe as he maintains his Ulfen Guard, or are they simply a convenient illusion to justify the sums the sums your Senate collects in taxes?"
Cyean shrugs "I would not really know myself. I never really fought them. My fore fathers on the other hand did. From the stories I was told they are quite fierce warriors. As to the Ulfen Guard I have heard they are very skilled warriors. As I have never crossed swords with one either I could not tell you if the sum they receive is worth it."
Thalia's eyes narrow and study Cyean's heraldry a time. Very like a knight, at the least - heavily armored, wholly ignorant and utterly disposable. Or so it would seem, if he is here and not there.
"Mikam of the cups," Thalia fairly sings. "What say you? Though the absence of Raxus and Felina's dulcet tone cause me to lament that I have yet to secure a partner for my bed this eve, we know only your name and your fondness for wine. I would be most pleased to discover that you have gainful employment," Thalia provokes with a toothy smile.
Cyean looks to Mikam than back at Thalia an odd mirth in his eyes. He watches and waits for Mikam to answer before he saying anything else.
Toanga adjusts his position slightly to hear Cyean and Thalia's conversation better. Looking at Thalia, Her moods seem rather changeable.
Shifting his gaze to cyean, Did she say a cavalier? I've never met one before. He certainly look different than the elves of the Expanse.
He leans backs in his chair, his eyes snapping to look at each different person in the room. A slight smile comes to his lips, his most expressive gesture yet, and he seems oddly satisfied.
Well...at least Raxus answered...
Calmer now, Mikam merely sits and listens in bemusement to the discussions of peoples that he had never even heard of before.
Taldor itself he knew of, well at least some of the goods that came from there. But of its people, well he had just learned more in the last minute than he ever had heard of previously!
Taldoran goods, well he could talk about those. They had a particularly nice hardwood, black cherry, that furniture and cabinetry makers seemed to always be clamoring for. There was also the particular hard coal, anthra...somthing that the richest houses in Brevoy always wanted. Not that anyone else ever cared about things like trade.
Shocked that Thalia would talk to him, Mikam's mind stutters for a moment as he scrambles for an answer.
"At the moment, ah no. I, um, well, I left my job as a factor in Skywatch and traveled with a caravan here, to Pitax. I was expecting to be able to start up a small trading house, but I found myself involved with, unsavory sorts. So now my seed money is gone, and I nearly got killed a few days ago. I think that I have a sponsor of sorts now, a swordsman by the name of Namith, who got me an invitation to this cerempny. He said that it was an opportunity that I could ill afford to miss."
"I think that Namith is a mercenary, but I am not sure. It could be that he sent me here as something of a joke, or perhaps as a part of a wager with someone else..."
"Whatever happens, I hope that I can get the money I need to start trading again, and build a successful trading house."
"I adore a man with a head for figures," Thalia replies, her smile broadening. And I should believe that working beneath me is a far healthier occupation than attempting to open any manner of trade business in Pitax. "As you may expect, with my particular calling I am oft inundated with small coin, and I am far too liberal with my expenditures." Thalia laughs.
Recognizing that the latest addition to their party has ceased his sedentary ranging, Thalia looks to him. "And you, good sir? If you have availed yourself of the grandeur of my prince's court, might we become acquainted with your person?"
Looking at Mikam "You need money? What type of business are you in exactly? I may know a few people who would back you. Granted though I would need to get a better idea of your character before suggesting you to them"
Lost in his perusings, it takes Toanga a moment to realise that he's being addressed. He turns his head and gazes at Thalia a moment, "My name is Toanga. I was once a hunter, then a traveler, then a student...of sorts."
He pauses a moment and then asks, "Did you say, 'My prince's court'? Are you a member of his retinue then? I was very surprised to receive my invitation as I have no friends or family here and there are few who know me. Can you explain the nature of it?"
Thalia is rendered speechless for a number of moments, confused as to how she might have given the impression that she was Irovetti's creature. "Me?" she touches her fingertips to her chest above her heart to emphasize. "A member of my Prince's court?" Thalia laughs heartily. "Would that I was in possession of such amazing talents to warrant my prince's affections!"
Thalia fairly giggles. "Nay, I am not part of the court, but like many others in this room, and without, observe its functions with no small amount of fascination, and wonder," Thalia lifts her eyebrows to emphasize. "You might say that I am also a student of sorts.
"As to why you were summoned," Thalia pauses and takes a good long look at Toanga, a satisfied smile tugging at her full lips. "You are certainly exotic," she purrs, "but it is best not to think too far into my prince's machinations." There not even the greatest of bards can invent a foundation that seems even remotely realistic.
Toanga appears confused by Thalia's response. "I'm sorry, you said 'My prince's court' and, again just now, 'my prince's machinations'. That, combined with your elegance, made me assume that you were a member of court. So you are not a part of the Pitaxian nobility then?"
Toanga looks around the room. "You are certainly correct about this room being fascinating though I hold that to be the result of the people in it." At this statement, he looks straight into Thalia's eyes, a strange flicker crosses Toanga's eyes but it is gone in an instant. "I would need to see this prince for myself before I could judge him as meriting any sense of wonder."
Toanga tilts his head for a moment in thought. "Is exotic good? I have often drawn attention to myself, too often unpleasantly, because of my height and "foreign" appearance. It is unique to not be the tallest in the room for a change." A twinkle appears in his eyes, "As to thinking about the prince's machinations, that will depend on how interesting I think they are; I am a student after all." He concludes with a smile. His attention now seems focused on Thalia as he is no longer constantly glancing around the room.
"This...court..is wearing on my patience." Raxus says in a low rumble. "If your..prince.. does not arrive soon I will not be here when he does."
The way the word 'prince' is spoken leaves no doubt in the minds of those listening that such authority figures are not held in high regard by the one called Raxus.