A penny saved is a penny earned. Part 1

[Taylani]

For perhaps the first time Taylani truly understands the fact that Fallan and these people were truly nomadic. She knew of course, obviously but it is different knowing the day to day, but when she gets the idea of the big picture, totally different areas in different seasons Taylani finds it takes her breath.

She likes stability, the comfort of the routine, and Endrykas and it's people seemed to her the complete opposite. They were so fluid and ever changing, their belongings never quite seeming permanent with the transient nature of their dwellings. "There are traders from Eyktol here." She says slowly, sounding as if something was first dawning on her, "Do you have traders from...other areas often?"

If Drykas allowed traders from other areas, even though they clearly take captives from other areas...Wouldn't it stand to reason that a captive might escape with a trader? Wouldn't it stand to reason that a captive might at very least get a message out? Surely there must be a safe guard, these people were so intent on taking captives that they would have ...fail safes in place. She tries to keep her thoughts to herself, tries to school her face in a mask of innocence though her mind ran in circles for the moment.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Fallan nodded at her question, pleased that she was now asking him about things.

"Traders sometimes yes. Not often. Grass too dangerous. City moves. Traders need guides." It was why he reflected that he'd been surprised that traders from Eyktol were here now when he'd have expected traders from Syrila instead.

In fact he was expecting that they would need to move soon, to shift along the Run Southwards. Cyphrus was big and the city could only move at the pace of it's slowest member whilst the herds ate the grass down and the latrines filled. Fallan with his strider could easily keep pace, leapfrogging along as the city slowly shifted, pavilion by pavilion to a new location. With Tay though it was no longer so easy.

He peered ahead and smiled, at last it seemed that his quarry was in sight and he lifted his hand to point out to Tay the new tents of a different design that had appeared ahead.

[Taylani]

Taylani nods, in what she hopes was a sedate manner as her thoughts raced. "But they do come?" She asks again, wanting to be reassured. Of course they needed a guide, only these barbarians could seem to work out how this moving city thing worked, but a guide could easily be avoided. Especially if she managed to talk to the traders, to tell them what had happened. Perhaps not the Eyktol traders, they might not be willing to help her get to the opposite side of the grasses but certainly someone closer would.

If she managed to find a moment to talk to the Eyktol without Fallan hearing she might take her chances. It would, of course, have to be clandestine for surely traders would not be able to get her away from these people in a full out fight. But maybe, if she hid her hair, the bright red being a beacon if not with the Eyktol then with another. Without thinking, she beams a bright smile at Fallan, excitement at the possibility buzzing along her skin, though there was an odd ..pang when she thought of the man walking beside her. Surely it was just because she had given her word, and he hadn't really treated her badly. However there was the glaring fact that he had bought her so she shouldn't feel bad about planning to escape. Though there it is, but Taylani chalks it up to merely feeling bad that she was breaking a promise and tries to reassure herself that no one could expect her to bear a strangers children if she had another option.

"Oh!" She says, her voice unsteady as she tries to control her thoughts and her face, not wanting to make him suspicious. Even to her eye she could tell the tents were of a different design and cut then the Drykas' tents, and she could see the difference in the style of dress and even the hair styles. Her hand reaches out to land on his arm without thinking, her fingers gripping his forearm excitedly before she remembers herself and looks at him quickly before withdrawing her arm back to her side. "Um. What do Drykas sell to these? Just horses?" She pulled a question out just to take away from her own buzzing thoughts, trying to focus her mind.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Fallan nodded absently to the question, his mind on the tents ahead of them and what they might contain. "Traders come," he replied for it was the truth though he did not mention that they were far fewer than could be found in a city for the dangers of travel were much greater on the whole.

Her exclamation caught his attention, interrupting his contemplation of what deals might be struck if there were something of interest.

Satisfied that there wasn't anything wrong he continued their progress towards the tents.

"Mostly horses," he said, for it was true, though his family did not so much. "Some leather." It didn't sound much but then the Drykas were not a rich people in material terms nor did the Sea of Grass offer much in terms of wealth that the desert people would greatly desire.

[Taylani]

As they moved into the stalls that were clearly Eyktol in nature, clearly only because Taylani can note the difference in style and some wares. However no matter the difference in style they were all alike in one aspect, as they see people approaching they all pay attention looking for the sell. Taylani did not have anything in particular that she wanted to buy, but she did want to see if Fallan would give her time alone with these merchants without being obvious.

The first stall is a stall with little trinkets, what looked to be tiny beads that are hollowed for obvious stringing. Taylani has seen these beads woven in the hair of various Drykas women, and when she moves closer ostentatiously for a closer look the merchant smiles and pushes a box of displayed beads closer to her. The beads are a variety of colors from deepest purple to the brightest pearl white, but she is not interested in beads proper. Her blue eyes cut toward Fallan before looking back toward the merchant, wondering if she dared make a signal to anyone here. In the end it is better not to, unless she was able to speak plainly, too many things could go wrong.

Instead she looks to Fallan with a wave toward the beads, "I see these in your women's hair, often. Is it simply because they are pretty or does it mean something else?" This question is asked in sincerity, though she has no love for the Drykas she did find their hair styles intricate and unique. Taylani can see how beads embroidered into hair on a dancer can make its own accompaniment with the music she danced to, though she does not let the thought that she might never perform again enter her mind. She was too hopeful to let misgivings and doubts interfere.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Innocent of any plotting that his companion might be making, Fallan glanced around at the first stalls that they came across. The first he glanced over carefully, wondering what use might be put to them. His attention was drawn to the box and he smiled, realising that his travels had left him somewhat travel worn, with things either worn out and discarded, lost or traded away. It was perhaps time to correct that.

"Sometime decoration," he said aware of the lack of any such thing in his own hair, not that many men did. "Often memories." It introduced a difficult subject into his mind, one that he had been sidestepping for at the moment the way that she dressed did not reflect her current status, and it was no wonder that the jeweller had not believed him. Some things were so familiar that he did not think of them, yet his knowledge that she was an outsider had allowed him to continue to think of her that way. He pursed his lips and frowned, wondering how to broach the subject and failed to see a way to bring it up now. Instead he realised that it might be easier to simply do it another way.

He should buy beads, was the conclusion that he reached and so he started to look more closely at the stall, looking for the beads which would be most suitable for working into something for his own clan.

"How much," he asked of the merchant, waving at the box which had been pushed at Tay. He smiled to himself, for now Tay would be sure to be satisfied by the bargaining which must surely follow.

[Taylani]

"Memories?" Taylani asks, unsure how the beads in one's hair could represent memories. Her own hair falling free and long down her back, resisting curls and waves of any form, the dancer tosses the weight back once more with her habitual shake of her head as she leans forward slightly to inspect the beads, careful to keep out of Fallan's way.

She does not expect an answer as he speaks again to the merchant, instead settles back with her hands clasped in front of her watching the exchange more closely then she might should have considering her plans to try and catch one of these outside merchants alone. Yet the skill of bargaining or haggling will only help her if she is ever freed of these people so stay she does.

The merchant looks over the pair, his older eyes sizing up the two quickly. Unlike the jeweler the Merchant uses a different bargaining tactic, one that generally works well with young lovers. He had heard the redheads question to the Drykas man, and had already noticed her completely unadorned hair. He had traded with Drykas, not every time within their moving city, enough to know that Drykas women always wore their hair in intricate braids and knots. He had only ever seen women living with Drykas with either highly adorned hair, or shortly cut hair. Never long and free. Perhaps this man had found himself a bride from outside, and was just introducing her.

With a smile the merchant gestures to the box, "The beads are fine glass," His common smooth if not accented, "The colors vary from pinks to purples, from reds to greens. Your lady would have her choice if you were to buy the entire box for.. 3 gold Miza's." His hands spread wide, and in a fashion as if he were doing Fallan a great favor, "However if you are selecting just a paltry few, might I suggest the greens. I can sell you green beads for three silver miza's each. The greens would look lovely against the red in her hair."

OOC InfoOk, I looked all through the price list and couldn't find a price for beads. So I am guesstimating using the prices listed for glassworks as a basis.

[Fallan Windchaser]

The merchant was perceptive he thought, though perhaps it was a simple tactic for couples who were intimate were normally fairly easy to spot, at least when they weren't attempting to hide it. He wondered what the merchant might think if he knew the truth, though perhaps he could have guessed it if gossip had already been traded across the stall.

He considered the offer, wondering if this merchant whose Common was so much better than his also spoke Pavi, though it wouldn't help given that Tay didn't either. He knew also that these merchants were not always interested in coin. To travel back to their homes with empty packs was a waste of time and opportunity. Unfortunately he couldn't easily think what he could offer which was of the sort of value here so by default resorted to coin as well.

"Three gold? Too much for glass. One gold for all." He wasn't sure what a fair offer was, which was always a bad place to be in a bargaining situation, so he relied upon the tried and tested methods.

[Taylani]

When the merchant spoke Taylani opens her mouth to refute that she is not Fallan's 'lady' at least not in the way the merchant's tones implied. If these merchants were to agree to take her from here they can't think that she and Fallan were ...involved in any more then a captor-captive fashion. However before she could the man had already made an offer, and she can not think of an easy way to interject without drawing undue attention to her interjection. So she settles on crossing her arms, resigning herself to watching the exchange, and perhaps learning.

The merchant smiles widely, but again unlike the jeweler his smile is not fully contrived. "Three is more then fair. For these aren't simply glass but they are colored glass. Do you know how difficult it is to achieve exact shades of red? The glass worker who traded these beads to me took a very fine dagger worth twice as much as three gold." He raises his hand to run his fingers over the pointed goatee that he sported on his narrow chin, as if considering something of import. "However, your companion's hair begs for beads, so perhaps I can let it go for as low as two gold."

[Fallan Windchaser]

It was finally beginning to dawn upon Fallan that Tays appearance reflected directly upon him. The fact that a merchant from Eyktol had noticed spoke volumes for what others around the camp had noticed and gossiped about but not said to his face. Unfortunately for him, he realised, that gossip would also reflect upon his family.

He could not resist glancing over to her hair, one of the things that he loved most about her, allowing himself to be seduced by the merchants sales patter, to consider what the green beads might well look like, amethyst perhaps not being ideal. Her loose hair suited her status as a barbarian, but it also marked her as having no status here. Of course it was true that she had no status and wouldn't have a great deal more even as his wife since he was the younger son of his Pavilion, but he hoped to change that, and part of that change would have to include having her adopt some of the Drykas customs.

The merchants point was well made regarding the colours though, he had to admit it to himself, for were not dyes one of the things that the Drykas were reknowned? Doubtless the colours for the glass were similarly precious. In the end he nodded, unsure if he were getting a good deal, not believing for a moment that the merchant was selling for a loss.

"Hair needs beads," he agreed. "We have a deal," he replied at length and smiled. He had plans for these beads, but he probably needed to persuade Skylar to advise him on the best methods.