"I'm lucky hunting usually includes fishing. 2 Pike? We'll manage that soon enough. And then we'll decide how else we want to spend the day. What other types of fish are in there?"

He figures she's done it before, so she'll know what else might bite.

  As they walk to the boat, two workers  are fussing of the  boat getting it  ready.Pike, Bass,there are several types of pan fish. We have Wardens  who sweep the  lake to make sure there are  no serpents , but the water comes from somewhere...and any River has  serpents. If we latch on to a serpent, they are very fine  eating1

"Sounds good. Well, we'll see how many we can catch. Fishing is often a waiting game, but that gives us plenty of time to do other things too."

After all, it'll certainly be quiet out there, except for whatever talking happens.

    The helpers loaded the  boat,  then  tried to help Dala  board, but she  shook off any  help, nimbly  getting  in the  craft, she stepped to the Back,  Luthien  sat by the oars.

  Take us to the  far  end, by the  wall, but stay clear of  any people who are  fishing. Some are fishing for sport, some for  food. Either way, i do not  wish to compromise thier  enjoyment...

  once the workers   pushed off, She leaned a bit forward to Luthien as she  said,I row on the way back, I did not want to ruin your  manly image , by me rowing  out...

about half  way across the lake a sail bat came by, people dressed  rather  well waved at them, by way of greeting, to the east side a fellow dressed in green leathers   fired a bow from a rowboat that was painted in  Ironmound colors... he  pulled in the  heavy line  that was attached to the arrow....the other Warden  rowed to the far  end where an older  man fished  with  rods with some small kids,  and the warden handed then a 2  footlong serpent, , the  Kids  jumped up and down , the older  man waved  at them, as the wardens went back out , searching for  stray serpents .

Luthien smiles.

"Oh, no. Nothing you do is going to compromise me or my image. The only truth that might get out is how strong you really are."

Still, he rowed out, because it was expected of him, after all. And he does find a nice spot away from other fishermen, and takes some time to say the usual fishing prayer of his religion to Tra.

Having said his prayers...

"Alright. Let's catch some fish."

And out goes the line, with bait!

Once out on the water...Luthien's prayers to his goddess are answered, and answered with some style...not only does he catch a side pike, but /2/ Serpents. Catching one is achievement enough, and he goes and doubles up on it!

"...We are going to eat very well tonight."

 Dala was happy with thier Catch,This is quite the day, and  only a few hours in?... we should get back so the chef  can make something for us...

 perhaps , we will dine  alone tonight?

Luthien likes that plan.

"Yes, let's. Somewhere others can't get to. Where it can be just us."

She knows the castle better, he's certain she'll have something in mind.

  stepping up to the waist of the boat, she waves   Luthien away, so she might be able to Row..

 Two kids  are fishing with battered poles, the bait they are using  is  in a broken wooded  Mug, they don't seem to be having as much  Luck...

 Dala   uses  one   oar , to spin the boat towards them...  when they  reach the two kids, they look a bit scared.....You fish  here often?

 the little girl nods her head, the  boy  has a tiny smile, he seems to be the oldest,This  is a good place, no one picks on us here, if  we  fish from the wall.... we.. aren't doing too  good  today...

 Dala smiles... she stands up and gets  one of the serpents... she already had  whacked its head, to kill it...stand  by the wall there  and  Hold out your hands...

 they moved back  the  full 10 yards to the wall....Catch!  she tossed the serpent and the   boy and girl grabbed for it, and , between the two of them, snagged it...

 There...now?  You can say you caught it, and will not be lying! she picks up  what is left of thier own bait.. tightens the lid  and   tosses it to the wall so it  won't  fall into the  water...

 That should help...set your line deeper..the bass  are going to  shade now...

  A warden was walking  along he asked, 'Mlady? is everything alright?

 quite!.... I am giving your  a mission,, Sir Warden... when these  children are done, you will escort them to thier  home... No one takes the serpent from them, Unless thier parents  wish to sell it...but it goes home with them, so thier parents  may make that choice..

 ..as you say, M'Lady, they will make it  home, with the serpent and anything  else they catch this day...

The Boy points at her, a flicker of information seeped into his head....You are  the pricness Rogue!

 the warden looked away a bit  embarrassed...

 Dala laughed,..is that what i am known as?

 the little girl nodded her  head again her eyes alot bigger now.

 The  Boy , embolden a bit , said,aye , Your Highness.....they say you were  born in the palace...but your  heart is in the streets...

 Dala smiles a bit, clearly touched...I was... and it is....what does your father do?

 he works  the  docks   near  the  inns, helping load  and unload  when they need people...

  and your mother?

 she dyes  clothes  for  rich folks..but they don't pay her much

 the clothing the kids   had  were rope-belted  rag pants and  homespun  shits., they were  clean...save for thier feed from walking in the  mud on the shore.

She Looks at the warden...You will deliver this message  to the  children's mother....she is to report to the  palace, with her  children in the morning... I might have an opening  with our clothing makers, where she might put her skills to good  use.... she winks at the kids,and good pay...we must go now..Warden? make sure the Mother
 Understands...

 ..I will not   fail you, M'lady, I swear  by  the Black Timber...
 she waves  at the kids.. they stood there for a  few moment s watching her row.... The the warden gegan to  fuss with thier rods, showing them the best  way to rig  and cast...

  Dala looked at  Luthien,one serpent is plenty for two people, and  we have enough other fish for a rather large course  meal!

Luthien patiently watches this whole exchange...and when she gives the serpent away, he's smiling widely.

"There's your heart."

Moved by that particular act of generosity...Luthien waits till they've moved a little bit, and left quite so much public view, before learning down to kiss her, if she accepts it.

"That was something I hoped to see."

She accepted the   kiss and looked at Luthien as she began to row again, a bit of  a smile,.. an you?  a Holy Warrior...

"It was the right time. There will be plenty more where that came from."

Letting her row was a little different, but he was starting to understand why she wanted to. Of course she could let him see to her needs. But she wants to see to his needs too.

"Speaking of which, we'll have to stop by the temple on the way back. I want to say some prayers of thanksgiving. We were blessed out there today."

 Dala   rowed with somewhat powerful strokes, considering her  size... she nodded with a grin , for Luthien to  look at the   two kids walking with the warden... the Box  had given the warden a bass he must have caught with Dala's bait..., the kids proudly walked with the  serpent, and a decent pike...

 the warden waved away a well dress fellow  with fancy tackle... and the three  entered the far  path to take them to the streets.

 It appears  the  chicldren gave the warden a bass?.......and , as i guessed, a rather  well to do fellow, was trying to by the  serpent off them..

"I don't doubt he was. Few have the skill to catch a serpent...and men like him? I wouldn't be entirely surprised if he fell in the water and the serpents caught him. The Captain fed plenty of people to the serpents over time.

Money can be replaced, but that serpent those kids get to eat will be a meal they remember for a long long time."

Mostly slavers, but it wasn't a good idea to cross the Captain.

  Dala  laughed I would hang on every word of the tales  , bards and messengers   would  bring in about the Arrows.The Harsh  justice would cause some of the squimish in the court to frown or faint...i see it  as a good  way to get the message across...

 the Last few  strokes   were all she had,  , she she shipped the oars, allowing it to glide through the water, as two workers  waited to help beach it.

Once the ship had anchored, he was obviously subjected to a few odd looks from the workers, who noticed she was rowing and not him. He was clearly not disabled, after all, and had a Knight's physique. Moreover, they saw him rowing out to begin with.

Luthien pays them no mind, and simply steps out of the boat, and offers Dala a hand to help her up.

  The Princess, Tells  the workers to have the   catch wrapped  for transport.   The horses  were brought  around for them as the  fishing Tackle were  returned .

 the  fish  and serpent  were  brought out , wrapped in heavy paper, , with a wicker basket it  for transport.

 As the pair mount up, Luthien caught a  Glimpse of  Antok and another   guard,  stepping  behind a tree.

Luthien can't help but smile and shake his head. Of course they were on standby. It prevents Luthien from having to do ALL The protecting with his own sword if something goes wrong.

Her father loves her, this sort of thing can't really be avoided.

Nonetheless, they'll go back on their own. Presumably with a mostly secret escort.

Well, it can't be helped. Meanwhile, he leads the way to Tra's temple. He was serious about giving thanks. They are carrying fish, so he won't be able to spend too long in prayer. But he needs to make a point of going to pray before they finish getting back. Perhaps the temple has some ice handy for recently cost fish.

It took them about  10 minutes to  reach  the   Temple distract, both of them knew their way  around.

 She   tied of their  horses, as  Luthien wished to enter  the Temple.

Luthien strides for the Temple...upon entering, he immediately heads for one of the pews, and kneels down to pray.

Aware that they're carrying fish and he can't stay too terribly long, he only stays around 20 minutes.

From there, he makes a donation to the Temple for the generosity of his goddess...

Before he finally returns to the horses so they can finish the journey back.

 The Princess walks  around the Temple. looking  at Icons  and   statues... she  smiled  and shook her  head   as attendants  asked her if she needed help or had  questions.

 When Luthien was finished, they walked out, she giggled,..Maybe  I should  go see the Sisters? Luck is  as important as  skill....

After Luthien makes his prayers, and his donation, he returns to Dala's side.

"By all means. The Captain was always fond of the sisters, himself. I was always more of a hunter, personally, but in such goals as we had, they were aligned with one purpose."

  she gave  him a side glance with a bit of an Impish smile,Does not luck factor into  hunting...The  Captain Hunts  dark folk, perhaps Tra  should court the sister!

 the horses wer steered, taking a short path to the  Palace.

"Perhaps that is why we were such an effective team. I do not recall too many getting away from us when we were hunting them. In truth, for the truly wicked, it is likely the sisters already have an alliance with the huntress, and it happened long before I or the Captain were ever born."

He was enjoying the ride with her. Princess Rogue. He'll make a mental note of that one. There teasing to be found there. He'll have to make sure the other suitors never hear that one. He'll keep it for just them.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:45, Sat 09 Oct 2021.

  reaching the main main road into the   Palce... Antok and  two other riders  'appear' from  the   trees.

, they ride  across the drawbridge... to the  stables,  so they can get thier  catch to the cooks... and  wash up...

 >>>>>>>>> Luth in to Palace