When Lia returned to the table, Lafisual raised and interest but also skeptical eyebrow.  So, dare I ask how you knew about that story?    He puts his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm as he looks at her.  One thing is for sure, you manage to keep abreast of things that happen around here. Nodding a bit but maintaining his position he adds, Entertaining story in any case.  And, it seems you got some payback...was it enough?

  She smiled  as  Rogan nodded to her, folks  were eating and  grilling  now as they talked  about her song.

 Lia looked at Laf  as one of the serving girls  set a glass of  wine for each of them there. Lia  gave the girl a silver tip, but the wine was on the house.

 ..it is  quite simple. Two lonely  woman, most likely widows?  They were talkign about  some merchant lad... that fellow there is missing his wife..whether salvers took her, or she ran off?...and lastly, that man, a woodcutter  by trade, by his boots  and thick pants.. i just weaved a tale, that gave them all what they wanted...even if it was just in song....and..after the  song was over... they did the rest...Its not a bard's voice that is most important, but thier  ears...

Lafisual nods in understanding while he sips his wine.  Well, it seems that in any case you were granted your one song.  Do you feel like you want to move on or did you get enough to cover...your lack of funds from your previous engagement?

  well... perhaps one  more Inn..we'll try  further  down the street, near the Arena. shopuld be busy in that  area tonight with the  fights  tomorrow......er..today?

Sound good to me.  Let us finish our wine first?  He sips it slowly taking in the atmosphere awhile.  Picking up on her latest comment that he didn't catch at first, Wow, is it really that late?  Well, time has less meaning for us elven types.

  as they get up to go, Rogan stops  Lia,..hey.... Lass? if you want to make  some  coin, this fella  is leaving   for the night..you can have his  spot.

 the Older man... easy to see he is insulted by how the people favored the fair elf  over him, took his coin and  was heading out the door.

Lafisual shrugs and looks to her to respond.  Up to you.  I would be happy to move on or stay and listen to you.  As I said, people such as we have no need to be concerned about time.  He smiles at her.

  She settles into the chair, and  asks  if there are  any stories or  songs   people want to hear.

  her  singing goes on, for a Good  5 hours.... The sun is rising over the   walls of the city..........

Lafisual was so relaxed and content to be off the road he just let the night slip away listening to Lia and sipping occasionally from the wine glass.  Well, I must admit I am getting a bit tired but then it's been nice to have relatively few worries.  Perhaps we should find some place to get something to eat? 

Or maybe here is good, didn't actually consider the food here.  Lafisual muses.

 the food  choices have changed. Since it was morning.

 Eggs, potatoes , Fish, and serpent hot , homemade Bread  with fresh butter...Hot Caffee was being  brewed.

  the   people have changed as well, some folks going off to work, some travelers getting a last hot meal before leaving the city.

 A few merchants reading  the Daily pamphlets  about news in the city

Serpent eh?  What do you recommend?  We have fish where I am from but don't normally have serpent, though I imagine they could be edible.  Lafisual looks around the room but tries to be casual about it.  Not that he expected anything untoward, but he felt he needed to test his alertness a bit - and then decide whether or not to go to the arena, or just find a place to sleep.

  She smiled,...the serpent is wonderful. and the fresh water ones  are better..in  my opinion, then the   salt water creatures, but each has thier own tastes

 she looks concerned,..have i kept you up to long?

Too long?  nah, it was fun.  But I am rather tired to be honest and I am not sure I really want to go to the arena.  I have seen enough of that kind of thing for the time being.  He holds back a bit of a yawn, but then smiles back at her concern.  I imagine staying up until dawn is normal for you as it seems your chosen profession depends on it.  He shrugs through another yawn.

  She smiles  as she takes a bite of  toasted bread with honey on, and sips  some Caffee,..one might say, it is in my blood... too many bards throw away late night money....

Well, maybe they just get tired. He winks at her and tries the serpent.  It's as good as described.  He also mixes in a little toast with honey as that is familiar to him.  Sooo, arena fights...is this a common form of entertainment around here or just for those special occasions?

  Lia   nibbles   on her toast, but is on her second  cup of Caffee.,,The Arena  has many uses....The Biggest one is Punishment  for  our  enemies.  The   Ironmound  Guard, Watch and Army use them to train against.  So they can get the feel of  real enemies... Those prisoner who fight bravely may even be Sent to Engar where  they may be traders for  Empire  prisoners    with The Red Isle Halflings....That is  the Only time  the  Empire's  Navy and  red Isle Navy , will not attack each other on sight.

 ..The second  form the arena takes, is that  of sport. There are Many in the Ciyt and  outlying areas that will fight   Combat to earn coin and fame..They will fight against prisoners who have been  guilty of dangerous crimes.... those crimmnials  can..themselves  gain fame , by winning 20 contests... The fights  go to the first 'bad ' wound'..however..people, do indeed ...die from time to time.

..Lastly, there is execution... nobles, merchants..anyone with coin to brag about, will be execute in the arena ..it take many forms, and  quite frankly? It  depends on the crime.... today?..that  High Priest and Colonel will fight to the death..the  winner  may get exile..or...perhaps  have to play oput the whole....'20 fight  thing'

 except  for the training, the City makes   money on the  games and that money goes into  helping  keep the guard and Watch going.

Lafisual listens to her intently as she relates the information about the arena and finishes up his breakfast.  I wish I could say that I hadn't heard of such things but I imagine it does give the populace a kind of escape.  I am not convinced it actually does anything to discourage folks from whatever they are being punished for but that's a whole 'nuther discussion.  Do you attend functions at the arena generally or no?

  Today i will!. A High Priest and  the former Colonel of the House Guard? Fighting to the Death for treason?....If i cannot make money of that story, i should sell my Lyre and become a fisherwife!

I would imagine I would enjoy your telling of it better than actually watching it.  Maybe after a bit here I will head over to the plank and crash while you collect your material.  Then if it works out come get me and then I can hear your version of it.  He winks at her.  How much longer until it actually starts?  I would imagine you want to get there to find an optimal viewing location?

  The elven woman looks at the water  clock the  tops  row has a whit  boat for  that 'sails' to each Hour..when  midnight is reached a Black ship  sails.

 Below it  is a smaller version of the ship that sails in minutes.

 ..There is a Good 3 hours  before the GAmes... I should  get there, no sooner then at hour... they like to  have them at noon...people buy more food then.

Well, we  can go with that then.  Perhaps show me to 'Walk the Plank'?  I imagine I can find it, but I assume you know exactly where it is?  That is where I think most of the arrows ended up and it's supposedly safe for us there.  It seems just being with me didn't add a whole lot of excitement this night it would seem.  You were just fine by yourself."  Lafisual muses a bit and shrugs.

  when they are finished, Lia leads Lafisual  down and  alley/street that leads to the River,  Once they hit  the  boards of the Dock, she points  down the line.

 we head  down that way.. you cannot miss  the PLank , with its  cute little sign...

 The walk past a few more  dockside taverns on the way.

mmmmm?  Oh yeah I suppose that is rather cute.  Interesting place for the arrows safe house so to speak.  I do imagine Kree knows his business though.  I also imagine they are out and about getting breakfast.  They probably got more sleep that I did.  He nods approvingly toward her.

He heads inside with Lia and nods to Kree along with the other arrows he sees and then inquires at the desk about the room arrangements.

Laf...to Plank>>>>>>>>>>>>>