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"Kadri:

"In my own way, I have lost my father as well."

She pauses.

"Samara has been very good to me, and I trust her - as Daxia says. I think that you could as well. Daxia is right. Until you have been ensured against those who hunt you and would take advantage of you, we are here."

Cesare

He smiles as Celi joins him at the window and listens as she attempts a solution for the girl. He is not sure about Daxia's response to that. Whilst he can understand she wants to keep things simple for the girl, Celi has a right to offer her suggestions too. Still he keeps his expression neutral and his thoughts to himself.

Daxia's solution though is a good one and he doesn't feel that the girl has too many options but to take it. Still it is her choice. She may have relatives here or in another place.

He is more concerned with Mikal's news about the lockdown and has some thoughts on that but doesn't want to interrupt the girl's thoughts.

<Lia>

She listens to the conversation and looks from face to face during it. With a brief glance and a brief nod at Celi's comment she then tilts her head assessingly when she hears the rest.

Celi

Celi frowned; they were missing the point. Everyone was quick to tout their own sponsor, not realizing how that would sound to the girl.

Celi couldn't speak for the girl, but were it Celi in her shoes, she would be cautious of accepting someone else's offer to act "in her best interests," no matter how loudly her name was proclaimed, or by whom it was shouted.

If you were going to gull her into handing over the ore, you might try it just this way, with someone who had allegedly protected you mentioning the name of someone else she "could trust".

Maybe they thought she was stupid. Or drugged.

Celi wouldn't offer to take her out to the Wild and keep her safe, though she could do that. Nobody would believe such an offer anyway. All she could do was watch the girl, and do her best to help her when the time came.

That she could do.

The Heartwood
Early Morning, the Town of Cragside
Rameday The First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Elisa

"No ... no ... we are good merchants, we are. It is not for us to judge who buys and sell, just that the trade is fair and coin is best possible."

At the mention of Samara's name Elisa looked back up.

"Fa always worked with Miss Samara, I mean ... she gave trusted him with the lock and key, didn't she?"

Kadri:

She nods.

"That she did. And that is unusual enough that I would say she had to have a trusting relationship with him."

Daxia
with the Gang and Elise in Captain Koromov's room

"Your Fa and Miss Samara trusted one another," Daxia said, still softly. "And I do believe your Fa and you are good merchants, Elise, for you always worked with Miss Samara, who is herself a far better merchant than any other I have met in Cragside."

She turned her head to look at her second. "You were outside last, Mikal... how safe do you think it would be for Kadri to go alone to Dama Kelleni and ask her to come here? Would she be safer attended by a Jvrillian mercenary? Or would all be safest if we send a messenger... an honest one this time?"

Bekkah

From where she had been quietly listening, Bekkah spoke up in her usual soft voice.

"Or I could go."

Mikal

He shrugs. "In my opinion it's not safe at all outside. We're being watched, and we've now drawn blood. If any of us, except perhaps Lady Bekkah", he nods to Bekkah, "goes outside they need an armed escort."

"And we're not that safe in here, either. In fact, I'd give us a coin flip whether or not the inn might be assaulted if they get desperate. Only thing stopping them, in my mind, is the Horde."

He ponders the second part. "Messenger could be alright, but we need to assume any message we send, written or verbal, will be intercepted and analyzed, so it needs to be nothing but a request for her to come here, else it needs to be a purposeful distraction."

He looks at Kadri. "You know this town better than I. How likely is it that Dama Kelleni will be safe in her person should she come here without armed escort?"

"For that matter can we be certain even Lady Bekkah ia safe outside? They don't need to harm her. They could simply detain her, knowing we'd have to act to rescue her. And we will not catch them unawares if we try a second rescue."

KAdri:

"Samara. . . has backing. I can't name the person, not because I won't but because I do not know - and I think that she could make her way here safely. Samara. . is not the same as one of us or an orphaned young lady. She has many connections."

Daxia
with the Gang and Elise in Captain Koromov's room

Daxia's eyes shifted to Kadri at her last comment, opened her mouth to speak, then closed it with an audible clack.

She shook her head. "If things are as dire as Mikal suggests, Bekkah, I think a Priestess of Attera may be as much protection for Elise as those of us who fight," she said to her sister. Then she sighed, and looked up at Elise for a heartbeat before turning to Kadri. "I think the fastest and surest way to get Dama Kelleni here is for you to bring the request to her. You can answer any questions she has, you can readily impress upon her the seriousness of the situation. But Mikal is right... you should not go alone.

"I will stay here with my sister and Elise. Since the Velikii was killed by an arrow and Darian is our finest bowman, I think it best she and Longtooth not be seen outside." She looked around the room at the others, then back to Kadri. "I will leave it to you to decide who you wish at your side."

Darian

At the mention of them and not going out and about, both Hunter and Hound looked to one another. Her mouth twisted, then she leaned down and she spoke softly to the ruff.

Kadri:

"Dazi. . . . ."

She pauses.

"I really do not think you will like my answer."

Daxia
with the Gang and Elise in Captain Koromov's Room

Daxia regarded Kadri, for a fullhand or more of slow, even breaths... at times, appearing to look through her. Then she nodded. "Yah, Dazi probably not like. But see good paths, bad paths." She nodded again. "Kadri say."

Kadri:

"Bekkah."

"Would say you, but . . . right now, you are too noticeable. Same reason that Darian, despite her obvious talents, is not the best choice. Mikal"

She nods in his direction.

"Is solid, good skills. Talented. Celi - I apologize, for I truly have barely seen you in action, and I really don't know what you can do. Anyway, if we get into a fight either way, its a problem, and one we want to avoid. That leaves Cammelia, Cesare and Bekkah - and Bekkah wins out because. .well. . . at least one person risked would be. . . safe? If anyone could be."

Daxia
with the Gang and Elise in Captain Koromov's Room

Daxia smiled at Kadri. "Logic sound. Also... good path. Avoid fight is always best." She released Elise's hand and stood, looking between Kadri and Bekkah several times... then around the room at all the occupants, including the ruff and the young girl. "Want all to be safe," she said, her gaze finally returning to Kadri. "Dazi not see Bekkah in almost three handful years; Dazi just worry, ok? Bekkah good choice."

Bekkah

She listened and then nodded when Kadri asked her to accompany her. She would do her part to help, it certainly wasn't a victory by any means, although she was glad she was going and Dazi wasn't. She knew of course that her sister would have felt the same if she was going.

She stood and reached for Dazi's hand, squeezing it.

"I'll be fine little one. I have so much more I want to talk to you about. So save me some food and please try not to worry overly."

"It's probably best if we go now Kadri. You should lead the way since you know where we go, but if we're stopped remain calm and let me speak first."

<Lia>

She spoke up then, with what seemed a care to pick her words.

"I have seen in towns sometimes, groups or gaggles maybe they'd be called, of female friends going to market or to visit each other. Perhaps, if illusion is still what is wanted, one or two more ahh... innocuous seeming ones would be helpful?"

"If there are others in the streets they may react seeing such a group bothered or interfered with."

-Darian-

The Hunter sat up and announced, "Longtooth go too."

Cesare

He had been listening almost biting his tongue to find an opportunity to speak. One disadvantage to having a large group of females together though there are more obvious advantages.

"I agree with Mikal's assessment. Captain and troop's presence are our best protection but let's not fool ourselves, some of these people have killed already and taken a girl and beat her up. Do you think they would do less to one of us, especially since we have done much to anger them."

"If any of us are to go, it should be someone that the group can walk away from if needed. And I don't think Bekkah fits that category at all. Plus there are things that can be inflicted on females that particularly other females here would not tolerate. So we would be exposed, emotions running high and forced into action. Not a good situation."

"If the horde are a protection here then either enough of us go that we gain safety in numbers or we use a messenger. Messenger could be required to bring back answer and piece of information from this Samara that Kadri can verify. Then they get paid. If messenger is caught or stopped we will know. If messengar is caught, we will not be forced to rescue and they will know that so it gives protection in itself."

"One other alternative is that I go. I am dispensible, maybe more than another. Male - which offers some protection in itself. And I am a free agent. If I choose to go, who will stop me?"

The latter is said more with amusement than challenge.

"And Longtooth would be a welcome addition always."

Mikal

His eyes open wide in mock alarm. "Oh, no you don't! You're not leaving me here as the only male...... alone...... defenseless..... I'll be torn to bits!"

He chuckles, grins, and nods. "Send a messenger. Don't see why any of us need to take the risk. If the messenger is taken we'll know what we're up against without any of us coming to harm."

<Lia>

She listens as both Cesare and Mikal speak, "I have no difficulty with what Mikal just said. A messenger solves many things." Then she grinned and added, "Though I'm not sure he'd be um... torn to bits."

Cesare

He grins at Mikal, then looks down at himself and back at his fellow male.

"Well I survived whilst you were out all night. Thought you were up for a challenge?"

Darian

She shakes her head slightly, a corner of her mouth curled up in a bittersweet smile. Then she goes back to checking the repair in her armor.