Ivy  chuckles,All Elves  dance.. we have our jigs  and   reels and such.. Kree , and his   family know ...more formal dances, because of the  who politics thing..

 ..i need to  Have a reason to dance?  I am more happy to sit at a table with a good   bottle of  wine, or  ale that doesn't  taste like they pulled out from behind a stable

"You do have a reason...I'd like to dance with you. I promise to somewhat behave...or do you need some...liquid courage first?" She gave an innocent grin though those icy blue eyes of hers revealed that she was anything but. "Formal dancing have too many rules though it would be fun to try and pull him from that rigidity that comes with it."

    The  round the Corner,  heading  east.. a mile or so down the   way is  the North bridge.  The  Smitty was closed,  but the   forge was  still working  with the door  clpsed...

  The mercenary guild  was rowdy taverns  and shops lined the   North  Way, and side streets  showed  some   places  tucked  away..

 , He used to be more  fun. It sneaks out some times. Mostly when we're home at the Timber? As it is now,  He throws  himself into The Arrows,  and  makes certain, that anyone who harms elven folk, pay the price..well?  That might be not be wholly  truthful... I might  look the other  way  if the  Iron wood  Elves  were punished a bit...unless it was slavers.. then all bets are off.

Tyri grinned. "Well I will believe that when I see it. But right now, I would like a dance with you. I think I am a little too wild for Kree's tastes."

  They neared the bridge, two pairs of   city watch were on either  side of the bridge. Like the South way,  it was  wide  enough for 10 ranks of  troopers   to march shoudler   to shoudler.

  well?..you might have to wait for a Dance... where we are going, they didn't waste floor  room  for dance floors...

 he stopped  as he titled his head, then smiled,..a lesson... watch.... he pointed to the bridge.

 some people were raunnign  off the   bridge, o ther   ran towards the other side, , 4 people  had  drawn steel and  were  fighting, as the 4 guards broke from thier posts  and blowing whistles..

 The  City watch and  Ironmound regulars  , who had  a base  at both  ends of the river, started to send   troops  out.

 it took about  20 minutes.. a Cleric from the Ironmound regulars   knelt over   a body on the bridge, the  other  three were standing  with hands   behind them and spear  tips  pointed  at them.. the clerics s got up   and shook his ehad, one of the fighting group went  and began to take things from the body, the other two were forced to leave  towards   Ivy and Tyri.

 ..fight between  2 merc groups.. they had thier   insignias, so they  could go on thier way.. the dead one's  comrade is takign things from the body, whatever is left  will go to the South River Gate  armory, the  dead fellow  wil get one last ride, in the orc cart..... without thier insignias.. it could have been bad... the ebst?  they go to the prison.. next?  they would have been forced to serve in the  regulars, most likely as board  troops for the ironmouind Navy...the very worst.. they did not co-orperate, and did not have insignias... they would ahve  been thrown over the side of the bridge and feel  the 80 or so feet to the river, where the  serpents would have greeted them

Subconsciously, Tyri took a step closer to Ivy as she watched what transpired, a hand moving to rest upon his bicep. "The city can be such a confusing place with so many rules..." she said softly, a frown coming to her fair features.

   Ivy  gives her backside a   tap with the   lower end of his  Bow. His smile is  wide as he watches   some ...rather   rough, lookign folks  comign towards them... whether  they were waiting to   steal the spoils. or  take  down others who might, it was clear they had see the   Elf  with his cloak and Bow.

 ..this is a  thing we have been tough, and few learn... Forest folk  dread the  city..City folk dread the wilds... but hey do not understand  , they are one  in the same....

  a Grizzled looking   fellow  with a hand  axe in his  hands said  something to  Ivyian as they walked by, in a tainted form of  Orc... Ivy answered back, in fluent orc, the group  Stopped  for a moment, eyed him a  Bit  as  the  smile the elf had, seemed colder then  a heartbeat ago..  Troopers  were  walking of the Bridge, and the  group of men decided to move on...

   Ivy started walkign again,one must know the predictors ..and  if you hunt prey, know where they  hide...den..or water... Many a great warrior  fell in the forests... many
 Great Hunter fell inside  walls.... Kree and myself.. we are not great, but..we  outlived them...

 the  hit the   crest of the  drawbridge he pointed to the other  Bring , lit by torches and braziers as  the one they were on,..there is were we   entered ..The Plank is  near the  south end of the docks, In case you need to make your way there without me..

She jumps a bit at the contact with her backside, her hand tightenly slightly on his arm. "I prefer a hand next time," she purred watching the group. "I suppose it is a good thing I have you then because I never really fully traveled into the cities let alone stayed long enough to learn the...etiquette." She looked to where he pointed, making mental notes. "And why would I be leaving you behind?"

  Ivy  shrugs  as they near the edge of the Bridge.. in the distance  they can hear some dance type music, and  there are some lamp lights a bit  brighter on one streets, as well a  some Red Globes  hanging from the posts.

 ..I am noty a God... a the  right blade at the wrong  time, and you might  find yourself  on your own, And, if you decide to stay an Arrow, it would not hurt to be able to navigate this city.

"You? Not a god? Are you sure?" she smirked, clearly teasing. "Well I would agree with your assessment...I should learn how to navigate the city. Would you be willing to teach me?" Upon hearing the music, Tyri's eyes lit up and she grinned, giving Ivy's backside a proper grope before moving up a little ahead, stopping to look back at him as she bit her bottom lip, clearly excited for the music and hopeful that that was their destination.

  The  elf  chuckled a bit  and looked  away    at some of the people  walking in differant directions... to thier  Left ( north)  was   a Inn Called  "riverRider's Inn.    right before the samll street that lead to that Inn. A Guard house for   Bridge guard she  could see to the  south, some of the  streets  that  lead a little ways    towards the  great  Mound, of Ironmound. Dcks  for waships  were there, and  faint lightsd  of an Inn or two   alng the river. perhaps a mile or so away.

 A very big Open field layed to the south as they   keep walking.  anothe r field , perhaps  a 1/5  sizwe  had   trees and   shrugs,  there were torch lights  and Magic  glode behind it  as the sound of steel on still, cries of pain and shouts  of  angry  noncoms

 passng the training area . seeing   the Crossbow Inn  on the   north we4st corner of  The Road of Kings   and the North eastway..  Ivy  gave a nod with his head in to the south, a massive  builing   with   massive walls  and  a  cental tower , that wasn't  too much shorter the  the top of the 'Mound'..

 ..That's the palce.. Kree and I and  anyone who wished  to  follow will be there  for Kree to present himself for the Tou  complaints  about 'Merchant's landing'... Things are about to  go very badly for  the merchants in Tou.... instead of them charging elses  2 or three times  as much, or paying that much less?.. they will have to  pay...not only for goods, but safe passage through our Lands if they wish to trade...

As they passed through the massive intersection.. about another  half mile or  so, and we  will reach pleaser  street....

"You really like to build the suspense, eh?" she have him a lopsided grin as she moved backwards, watching him curiously. Satisfied by whatever it was that she was doingin looking at him, Tyri moved back to walk beside him though she began to skip. "Well I mean...if you are going I shall attend as well...it's not like I need much sleep anyhow." There was that mischievous glint in her eyes that said she was not intending on sleeping much at all.

    as the  finally neared Pleasure Street, they  could see  the wll light   areas, many ladies  and a  few 'men' stood outside  Builings, .

 right on the Corner  was ' Skirts Inn'. which sported    some red Globes, Muisc   came from in side  with voices   chanting    some old chanty

 I slender red head  stepped in front of  Ivy in the Middle of the street,..why?..what  we   'ave  'ere  then?.. A Pretty boy  Elf, ?

 Elf  lips   twisted  in a short version of a smile, Ease off there  'tilly'... I  don not   mess whith  women who might  be bigger  below the belt , then i am..makes  me feel all  shamed and such...

 People  around the   whore laughed  and She  gave   Ivy a Push,off  with  ye, ye  thin arsed  long  ear...

 people laughed at that and   return,   as   Ivy  grinned   , just a bit  with no real mirth...

 see those  two Inns  at the end of the  street...  we are  going to the  'Golden Girl".. Across the  Street is  'The Silver Hair'..both are well know  houses  of pleasure... but the Golden girl has more of what we  want...

Tyri snickered at the exchange as she skipped along. "Oh lovely! You are going to dance with me right?" she grinned, moving up beside him and linking her arm in his.  Despite her...eagerness, Tyri was glad that Ivy was with her. Despite her confidence in herself, her more naive nature could prove to be more dangerous.

 Ivy   smiles     a tiny bit as his  eyes  shift   about  as he looking  everywhere at once, there are some  , very nice lookign  women  in the street, there is a  nicely built fire trough between the street of the Sabres Unn  and the Gokden ale,  servers  from  each are  coingout  with  drink and food  and collecting   used   dish and mugs


  there is   talk and Giggles  from the people who are  enjoy the , somewhat, cool  night..

 ..The Skirt's IN, up at the   main street corner , back there. is a   whore house, 1 silver an hour, even if you are just drinking!... The Golden ale  only has  rooms  upstair , by the hour..the Sabres Inn  is a regular Inn..but the two business have found it  good to  work toegther..as it is? we are Going to the  Golden Ale...

   Ivy Openes  the door  for a server who has  four   wooden trays and  8 wooden  mugs.. she smiles  at him and  Tyri, Then  Ivy waves Tyri through  first.

"Thank you," she purred, reaching out and running a finger along his chest as she past, moving fully into the establishment, that eagerness clear in her icy blue eyes. She scanned the room, a smile on her lips.

  There  were at least 30 people in the place, 20 of them were ladies in various states  of Dress...er..sorta of...

  Some one   pushed the  server Girl, who went in befor her   Causing her  to drop the wooden Mugs.

 Ivy  Grabbed the   Fellow Spun him around   and Hit his  Face of the table 3  Times  before  a rotund  fellow    Grab the arm that was slamming the Fellow's face  into mush.

 Ivy let the fellow's neck Go and he hit the table one more time. and layed on the Fllor.

 ..you know..boss  ...don't like punching...

 Hold that thought....um...if you can...

a  throwing  dagger   seemed to appear in his hand as he  cut   the purse strings  from the  bloodied,  unconscious  man....Spoils?..any one want to argue?

 two sailors   just turned thier back on Ivy , and the Big guy grabbed the  body and tossed it out  into the street... Ivy   opened the purse, and  Gave the Server  Girl  2 silvers  and a copper.....this is  for your trouble , good  Lady..

 she put them in her own purse , blushing  and smiling  as he helped her  witht he mugs  and  she moved off to the kitchen, taking a look back and smiling.

 Ivy looked at some of the  folks who stared  at him,..Last i saw? the only slaves in Ironmound were  enemy  prisoners  working the ship yards.... If not  for
  Bumrush? That bastard  who have been going out the back door to wait for a ride on the orc Cart...

  Bumrush smiled,..boss say..go back to see him..

 Ivy  smiled  and    waved to  Tyri.. tossing her the Purse,..not much. but  its yours.. your first Arrow  money.

 they weaved throught he  crowd   as some of the  ladies  finger waved at him,..when we're  done  we can  go across thr street   for some  fun that  does not  cost a silver an hour.

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

 A Blonde Dwarf   was   sitting at a table  with  a , rather muscled, human woman standing near him...The dwarf  was  earting, some kind of bird...

 shoulda  know it was one  you...bastards  can't  leave no one alone...

 Ivy  Grinned,Figgin Nailbiter... nice  to see you too.. this is one of  my companions ..Tyri... and you know damn well if it was  Kree that guy would  have lost his hand  at the wrist...

 The  Dwarf Motioned to them to sit, the  woman got them each a small plate  and a  Glass, pouring in  a Light blue  wine..

 yer cousin's wrapped too damn tight.. lost of   folks being dead out there, that might not be, because of him...

 ..lots of people home with thier families..or starting new lives  in the trees, because of us too...

 ..Now?... what have you heard of the Tou bastards?... they in the city?

 the woman  put  some slices  of   bird meat on their plates  with a slice of think bread  and   pushed a bowl of  sauce to them.

 aye..  some of the  Big Mage Guild folks from Tou and a very angry Captain.. seem they had   issues  with you folks...

 ..yeah.. a few months ago?   they were tryign to  smuggle merelf  stuff.perdust and  all..mages  wanted it bad, but made us wait...sent folks to kill us, and low balled our  price..so ..Kree told them to visite the  9 hells, and we went home... there was some....embarrassing business  witht eh captain and a horse  race against a mute kid..the kid won... and..we might have killed  a couple  Trooper in the grasslands

   and ye Bloody well can't understand why no one likes you!

 ..lots of people like us.. we are heroes to good people..

 ..when?  they want  your idiot cousin's head... and that  new  merchant landing place   you've started  has Tou all worried...

 they should be...Mok  has been nullified ... we have our own ships on the Later River..and Mouri's gonna send  merchants up the river  to Vol,  The Trace Landing.. Plains' Elf  grotto  and  The Balck Timber, Via  merchant's landing... Mok will have to pay a heavy price for good, unles the merchant lords are over thrown..

 You fools... ye  killed have the merchant Lords..

 ..that's a good thing?   Steel from the coast coming into  Ironmound  through   The trace wood?  safe..sound..less guards to pay.., and we will see some of those blades too....new  world is  dawning , Figgin.. you might have to  add on to the Back of  your  'house'..

 the dwarf  snorted , then took a deep drink of the wine,so?  you come to see the Horn?

 Aye.. and , of course your  happy smilign , bearded face...
 The Tall woman    places the bottle on the   table  and went to a  cupboard the moved  and she stepped behind it..

 ..too tall for you..no?

 The dwarf  laughs,..perfect since..i can get to all the  good spots  with ut   streching or bending me neck..

The sudden attack almost took her by surprise but she didn't say anything nor did she judge Ivy for his reaction. Tyri blinked in surprise as he tossed the purse to her and gave a small shrug. "But...I didn't do anything to earn this coin," she smiled, following along beside Ivy, skipping as she went.

When she sat and was plated up, she thanked the woman and began to eat. She was listening quietly even though it would appear as though she were more interested in her food. With the last comment, Tyri smirked. "Sounds like everyone wins in this scenario."

  the  woman came back  upo about  Ten Minutes later.. a Darkskinned Sand Folk was with her, he was younger then  most, and dressed in  rugged leathers, with a  curved  sword  and  a dagger on his hips...

 ..The Guild Lord says, he knows what you want.... the Tou leaders  are staying in the palace.. they are eatign and drinking, and soon will be bedding   partners... It seems the Emperor has  opened his  doors  wide for them.... The   group of  4...with  2 armed guards  each, had been staying near the Sage's guild...but there were rumors of someone killing Tou troopers  outside the walls, and the Emperor  thought it wise to have them stay at the palace...

 he bows  deeply,..you may tell your  Captain this..from the Guild Lord....' you cannot  end them this night, for they are safe in the   ambassador   wing....... and..You can tell your Captain this... My uncle died  at the  hands of the merchant Lords of  Mok.... I owe him a debt of honor, for revenge he took..that i could not...

 I will tell him... but  he  will say something like " we were just lucky enough to be there at the right time..."

 The Thief  Bows  once more,..its is said..followers of the sisters both, do not have luck..they have  purpose...

 Ivy  nods,..i will say, we were glad to do that for you.... Thank you for the information

 The Thief bows and leaves... Ivy looks at the Dwarf,..so?  you take on Sandfolk now?

 ..he was a Sandfolk when he  entered to  Guild..he is now  a  Golden Horn

Tyri appreciated the young thief as he relayed his message and more when he walked away before turning back to Ivy and the Dwarf with an almost innocent look on her face. "What does that mean...that he is a Golden Horn now?"

 The dwarf nodded  as he   reached for a Roll, only to have his hand slapped  by the   tall woman, we\ho proceeded to  cut the roll and apply  some butter.


 The Dwarf frowned and said,..liked it  better afore, when i could do  thing on me bloody own!  he turned to  Tyri,..aye, he is.... works  to our  advantage, it foes. Red Blades, 'far as we know,  Don't have no sandfolk with them...  we have , 'bout  3 or 4?... we can send them to the bazaar  or  walk about teh Temple area. They work good with the Beggar's guild folks.....and?  if  we have to kill them as traitors, no one will care.

 Figgin  puts  a piece of the meat on  the roll and takes a bite  with his   Tall woman Body guard shaking her head.

 ..ye  need  somthin' else?

 Ivy took  one  more  bite  and  dabbed his lips, finishing the wine, and stood,..You  folks  did  well,  any information  you need from Kree or Reedrick?

 The Dwarf  motioned to  cabin carved out of   stone. The Bodyguard reached in and pulled  a cold  bottle of  a Lime-green liquid from the  cabinet...Gnomes from the Sages guild built that, cost 300 gold..but  it keeps things  cold, think the mechintion guild had something ta  do with it too... anyway , that bottle's  fer your CAptain to share  witht eh group...comes from  down river..almost to the end, near the   mouth of the Storm  where it  empties into the sea,  near where them bastard  Red  Pointy ear folk hold sway... couple cities   down there..Navy ain't even been there.. they stop about 50 miles  before turning back to 'The Mound'..anyway.. some of  our people got a hold of  some of these bottles, i guess you can only get it near the Jungle...

The body guard wrapped the  bottle in a thick cloth.....Tell Kree  I always wanted one of them  Tou ambassador   Daggers, witht he frilly blue  jewel on the  hilt?... can't  seem ta get one...

 Ivy smiles  as they walk to the door,we shall see what we can do... The Body guard   says in a soft, if not cold  tone,

..That man you attacked, he had   friends across the street,,,,

 .. Good..good.... more coin for the Arrows...

 as they went through the   bar, , Ivy shifted his pack with the , well protected   wine bottle in it. some of the folks stepped out of the way.. a coupl ladies    waved  at Ivy, a few of the  men tried to take a grab of Tyri..

 we got to see what fun we  may have for a short time, then we must get back, the  sun will come early , and  Kree  will not  want to waste  time getting things  taken  care of, one  way or the other...

With a visit with the emperor forthcoming, Luthien had much to do. A visit to Court required the highest levels of etiquette and decorum, and he'd spend the necessary time to do that.

First, he required a haircut, then he had to be sure he was flawlessly shaved, he had to make sure his armor was so shiny you could see your reflection in it, equally sure his shield was reflection level shiny.

There was also the chance he'd be invited to dinner, so he had to make sure his Courtier outfit was in equally fine condition, with his mostly white outfit, black boots, white cape, and all the rest of it cutting a fine properly knightly figure for the court.

In short, all the preparing he had to do for an Imperial visit took quite a lot of time. Perhaps even more due to the fact he'd rescued this particular princess not so long ago, and he had to make sure she could be proud of him.

She looked at the bottle with a definite interest as Ivy stored it away before standing up to follow after. “It was a pleasure meeting you,” she smiled. As they walked through the bar, Tyri could feel those grabbing hands and leering looks but she took it all in stride, deftly dodging those that got a little too handsy though it would appear that she was just dancing along. “Just make sure you don’t leave me behind there darling,” Tyri chuckled softly. “It is a good thing I require very little sleep.”

  Ivy    lead   Tyri across the cobbles  to  the other  rowdy tavern. People looked them ove r, some gave nods, some looked  away, some glared.

  Ivy's   left hand may a  small  motion that was   'sort of' returned by a  young  girl sitting in a corner  with a bowl that had  some brass  bits  and a coper in it.

...
 entering the  the  Inn the Music  was loud  and Lively,  several bards had  joined together  to   provide  Jigs and reels  for   the people who were dancing  about, sloshing  drinks    and, stealing  kisses, or gettign slapped.

  Ivy went tot eh Bar, a gruff fellow  looked  down at him..two cold   wines, and  two  berry sweetbreads...

 The fellow  looked at him, Ivy rolled his eyes ,sliding  two silvers on to the  bar, and the fellow   whistled for a wench and poured the  wines...

 A half  Orc came up   Behind  Tyri..he spoke to  Ivy,ye bashed , me  mate's face in, cause he tripped  some slattern  who is  carrin' mugs?

 Ivy   handed    Tyri her drink as they waited for the sweet Bread...aye, I did.. Bumrush, stopped me from killing him though...would have  made a  silver ,t akign his   insignia back to the Plank.

 ye  stole his  coin...

 ..I took his coin..... he lost..i won... i left him his life...which i am thinking, was overly generous..

 yer never gonna make it back to the Plank tonight, long ear....

 Ivy smiled, as he reached for the sweet Breads  , Giving tyri hers .....now?..Unlike  , my rather ...moody, cousin?..I like  coin... so? unless you want me to take your  coin..you best run along... I heard there  some  Halflings  down by the Bridge..I'm sure you might be able  to  scare them...

  ye think i'm a feared of  some   long eared  Arrow?

 Ivy  took  a bit of  his   sweet bread   and    nodded to Tyri.....Two arrows....just so you know?

 The  Half orc looked at  Tyri..what  does she  do..measure   the men folk fer ya?

 sort of..but you needed not worry..only menfolk?  not have  bread,  rape sons from a horned up orc  and   willing  whore?

  he smield a bit  as he   kept  chewing.. the   orc  went foe  his   dirk. but his  eyes  went wide....  a thin blade  was  stickling out of his  chest, He looked at Tyri, who had both hands  full as well, before he fell to the  ground.

 The Small Beggar  girl wiped her stiletto  and smiled  shyly at Ivy...   Ivy   smiled and put his  drink and sweatbread on the bar, and Lifted the Gril onto  the stool... he cut the purse  from the  Halforc as wel as his symbol,  then  he peeked int eh ourse, and took out   1 Gold,  and  two silvers.. and Gave the gril the rest...

 the  gril peaked  in  and her mouth  made a happy ''O' of surprise.....that is your spoils... you give your  guild its  due?...but the rest is  yours...

 he waved the  Bar keep..sweat  dreads and   Cold  fruit drinks  Until she's had  enough.. he placed the gold  on the   counter..... there's a  Half orc  her that needs a ride  on the orc cart... take what you want, I took  the coin.

 The Girl looked at Ivy with   flashing  eyes  and  a huge smile, then looked to Tyri and how  she was dresses,  admiring..perhaps  some  youthful envy..

 The BAr Keep shook his head,4th body tonight....

 ..and?..make sure the girl's happy... if she  gets roughed up or worse..I'll come back her  with Kree and  Reedrick...

 the Bar  Keep nooded   and   went to get   workers to  get the body so they could take what weapons they wanted, leaving the rest for the orc Cart

  Through his  mouthful of  sweatbread, he said,//lets  sit   and  finish these. then we shall see if  i can point  the  rumor to shame, about all elevs  being able to dance.

Tyri took the drink from Ivy with a smile despite the half orc that came up behind her. She didn't have to turn around to gauge his size of even the threat that he could pose to her, she just naturally picked up on that unease though she didn't show it. Those icy eyes of hers did dart up to meet Ivy's briefly, letting the two talk. The sound of slight movement made Tyri ducked and did a graceful spin, putting a little space between herself and the half orc. The 'battle,' though short lived made her heart race, that adrenaline pumping. "Well...thank you, young one," Tyri smiled as Ivy made sure she was taken care of. With her sweetbread in hand and her glass of wine in the other, Tyri let Ivy lead the way, letting him take a seat before settling right onto his lap. "I am sure you dance just fine," she grinned.