The  elf's  eyebrow raises, just a bit as the two move off after  something. He and the rest follow  suit, though  he is unsure  of what is going on.


  Merik gets to the spot, he looks  around  quickly..and may...or may not  have seen the  woman Go around the  corner, back towards  the center of  town...though he cannot be sure  if it was her or nay...........

Wishing someone else had seen her, He takes off quicker around the corner, trusting his gut on which way she went. His boots thud on the ground and his arms pump as he tries to pick up more speed. He calls to the others following "This could be nothing."

In reply to Merik Uaine (msg #99):

Stopping where he is So do you know whereth we be headed to Justin calls out to the reckless fellow then turns to Kree Some have little sense, and are easily tricked... he comments wondering at the survival ability of Merik

  Though  Kree jogs  after the  others, it  is clear he  is  not using his  full speed...his  eyes  look around as if expecting something,...there  are  many reasons for people to act thus, let us hope  our comrade knows  what he is  about...


.............................

  Merik  sees, what looks as if it is the girl, peeking  aropund the corner, then darts away ...when he reaches  the corner he sees he  is close  to the  town square, where  the  well  is..a Big buildingn  for the MAyor's  home...and   a fewhundred yards  to the  east is the gate they came in..he  can also  see the barracks  and such  for the town  Guard is  some  ways  behind  the MAyor's  home.

Watching as the man dissappears down an lane True... So where doth we billet for the night he beams in anticipation of a hearty meal and good nights rest.

   I am thinking  of The Bear's  Claw..not the  best in town, but not  the  worst either...rooms  should be  within our  range, and if they are full , I can barter  for the barn. There are threes other places, but the prices  are a bit higher.

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg #103):

Justin considered the different types of inns he'd stayed overnight in on his way here Soundeth fair he grinned then chinned the air towards the lane Doth Thee thinkest yon fellow will's be able to relocat us

   Not  certain, I have  no idea  what he  is doing, should not  be hard to find us, byt  i hate to leave  one of  my Arrows on his  own, when he's  new to these lands...

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg #105):

Tis what I thought whenst he chose to run off. Wouldnst hold good for the arrows to have such a greenhorn dispatched affor proving himself. Perhaps trailing yon fellow wouldst serve to abate such and test any skills others hath or commence accuquisiton of such by one. he prompts

  He  frowns  as  they move  towards the center of town,perhaps...but it  would be better to know  why he is going where he is going...


  Justin  and  Kree and whomever  else  is left, note that there  are pairs  of  Bowshot  watch walking   a bit more in the center of town. Likewise, there  are Ironmound  reuglars (  from the barracks)  and Bowshot watch, both guardig  the gates.

The sounds, smells and people milling about, not to mention the guards all served to dissuade the learning tracking/shadowing True let us catch up then increasing his speed and pace trying not to loose sight.

 Move  to Bowshot  Thread.

(( Luthien, from Palce))

  The horses  clip clopped  along , The princess   did  take   a  northern approach before  wheeling to the   east, towards the   Temple district  and such.

  There will be some watching..from the battlements..or they will have  men at arms  in the street  watching... i am not as big a praice as my older sisters... but i do provide a way  to get a seat at the Big table..

In reply to luth (msg # 110):

"A table is only useful if it is used for something. That said...you never told me. Let us presume the throne isn't in your future and your sisters live long lives. ...what do you want to do? How do you want to make this world a little better than it was when you found it?"

Maybe, if he can find out what she feels her calling is...

  Dala   shook her head, her hair  bouncing in a  braided pony tail...alas , I cannot  make  much of  an Impact... i will, probably have very  little, into way of meaningful work, for the Empire. I do spend some time, trying to help the working  folks. I did  have my idea  of taxing the richer people  more, get accepted.... some  businesses  threatened  to leave the city, my father told them,it was their right...however, they would have to worry about bandits and such if they sent good to our  markets ..and of course the taxes for  being imported?... only a few left, most went to Tou...I think they regret that choice.

 outside of that?..my main contribution is practicing  my bow, so i might help defend  the palace from the battlements?... the sad thing is, if an enemy ever got that close, it would mean the  city has  fallen.

Luthien considers, and, "Oh, I don't know about that. The point of taxes is to raise money. Raise money to do...what? What did you want that money to do? Where did you want it to go? What did you want it to accomplish?

Money sitting in a treasury does little more than look pretty. For money to have value, it must be used for something."

  she stuck her nose in the air,..I told you my goals  for the  working poor  and  poor  folks of  Ironmound...But?..I am just a Princess, what  do i know..right?

her  horse picked up its  gait a bit faster

"Stop that. If you really believed I thought that way, you wouldn't be out here with me right now.

Still, narrow it down. You raised money, and you want to help the working folks. Did you have a specific path to do that? Do you know what they need? I actually learned a couple things from talking, and I learned a few things from Quid...he mentioned, for example real floors, real roofs, and windows. Have you considered construction efforts on the housing?"

  She is  still pouty,i have shared many of my thoughts, all i get is  'we cannot  do that'.. or 'it is tooo much paperwork"...that is words a Tou p[erson would use.... you give  coin to the peple, have them sign a ledger... any who try to  'steal' more then their  share, loses it all..the housing?.. If you are able to have some on in charge of  ships...wagons..trenches and towers, we should be able to have someone in charge of fixing hovels into homes.

Luthien considers this...

"Okay. I'll have to see how the construction guilds are set up around here, but we should be able to at least get something started. We're not gonna improve the whole city over night...this sort of thing is one family at a time. But...that can be good enough. One family at a time."

   Dala lead them through the Temple  streets, taking, what looked like, a very complicated   set of  twists  and turns  as they neared neared the   South-East Way.

  ... there  wil be  three things that will happen... those , whose  houses  we  work on, and improve, with be happy, and  should  have more  loyality, or  at least, feel more invested  in Ironmound.....those  who are waiting, will be  concerned, or even angry, which, could cause them to go either  way....the thrid  thing, will be those who are, more well off then the por  folk, but not  really rich folk..they will feel as though  they should  get some  help as well?... There would be the  hard task...because   we want to help the poor, become  more, like the workers , they will have a reason to work, rather then wondering  if they should leave for a smaller  Village , or another town...no matter what we do..over  all , The rich folks will be  upset, because  we are helping the people who have made them rich, through  thier labor, and what coin they could spend.

Luthien almost halfsmiles.

"This is why you have two sisters. No, we can't make everyone happy. Nobody can. Let your sisters worry about dealing with the people we're not focused on. Your sisters, and your father, can handle them in the short term...and very likely for years to come, unless your father dies suddenly for some reason. Barring that, he's a healthy man. He's not going anywhere anytime soon unless something is invisibly wrong with him."

  after passing many of the Temples..some  folks recognizing, either Luthien, or the Princess, despite her attire.

 crossing on the   southeast way, they head towards  towards the   side  street that will take them to the lake, the trees and Homes   hide most of it,but the   sight of a sail or two gives its location away.

 I do not have  'two sisters"...My Sisters have me. They came before me...

"If that's how they choose to see it, and they're 'delegating' the disadvantaged to you, that's fine. How your sisters view the work we do is of no consequence at all to the people being helped. It might be of some consequence to funding, but you've already got some skill in getting that, and you'll get better over time."

He'll also have to make sure to offer his prayers in the Temple on his way back. But the city has been left behind by now.

 as they go  down the side street,  it opened  up into a rather large  Lake  with a least a dozen boats on, many locals fished from the   shore,  even up against the  city wall as   troopers walked  and peered out over the lands.


  Dala  rode up to  a building dismounted  and tied up her horse...when  Luthien was ready she walked into the shop, asking  for  two containers of bait, two  rods and  a tackle  box and  rented  a   rowboat...

  I hope they are Biting. if we can get  a pair of  nice Pike, i'll have the chef  cook them for us..