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Post by Brandwyn on May 14, 2014 19:19:33 GMT -5
"Sorry, I'm used to the behind the desk thing." She said. "And I liked the idea of being merchants. I don't wanna think about being married..Ugh!"
Marcus looked releived. Playing a married couple when they had just met would have been pretty awkard and he thought the merchant idea would work out much better too.
"Merchants it is then," he said with a smile, his face still a bit flushed with embarrassment over suggesting they pose as husband and wife.
"A new wardrobe? You mean my usual black won't cut it?" She glanced at her 'travel bag'.
Marcus grinned, "Well you look terrific, but definately not like any merchant I have ever seen." He studied her seriously for a moment. "I think I know where we can get a couple of outfits for free and one of them is actually mostly black, but it is a bit more...frilly...er...soft...than your current outfit." He suggested hestiantly. "My sister has grown a bit thick in the middle since she got married and I think she has some old outfits that would be perfect and fit you just right."
Rick nodded, "sounds like a plan and since it is not quite noon, you will have time to go visit your family right after lunch." He started rummaging around in his kitchen and set to work on dishing out a salad with apples and currents and a sweet raspberry dressing along with some slices of quail for the three of them. "I hope you will stay and have lunch with us, Emily?"
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Post by Jordyn on May 17, 2014 9:10:20 GMT -5
Emily cocked her head to the side. "Frilly?" She asked warily. "N-never mind." She looked around and yawned slightly. She sat up a little when Rick started to make lunch. She shrugged. "Not like His Majesty is going to be to happy with me sneaking out....so...sure, if no one minds, I'll stay for lunch."
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Post by Brandwyn on May 22, 2014 22:53:29 GMT -5
She shrugged. "Not like His Majesty is going to be to happy with me sneaking out....so...sure, if no one minds, I'll stay for lunch."
"Ummm, ya know you didn't exactly sneak out," Marcus waved the papers from Crowley in the air at nearly the same moment as Rick said, "of course we don't mind. We love company, especially company as pretty as you are." Marcus shot him a strange look that Rick ignored.
After lunch Marcus grabbed a satchel full of herbs and tossed a gold piece to Rick, "Will that cover this stuff Mother wants?" Rick nodded and shewed them out the door.
Marcus led Emily up through the city to the northside along the river where many of the merchants lived in grand houses. His parents weren't exactly rich, but they did fairly well, even though the plague had hurt their business a little.
He turned east and followed the row of mansions down towards the docks where the houses now were neither so large or so elaborate. His family's home was one block off the river and butted up against Merchant Row and his father's woodworking shop. It was a nice large house, but certainly not what Marcus would consider a mansion.
The house had two stories with a round bell tower in the northeast corner facing the river. At the base the tower had three tall narrow windows that opened into a sitting room. Marcus led Emily up to the side door and knocked. The door opened and a slightly plump woman wearing white and an apron stained with sauces, flour and who knows what else glared down at them. "We've already given out the day's allotment to the po-ooOh! It's you!" she exclaimed and ducked her head back in the door, "Kate! Kate, go inform the Mistress that her son has returned." She stuck her head back out and then opened the door for him. "Welcome back Master Marcus!" she said with a grin and then her eyes widened in surprise as she saw the woman accompanying him.
Marcus gave her a hug and snatched two plump apple pastries off the counter behind her and slipped them into his ranger satchel. "This here is Emily, a fellow ranger and we need to see Sissy. Do you know if she is here or is she in the shop?"
The woman pointed upstairs, "She's in their room and not doing too well," Mary answered. "That baby is upsetting her stomach still." She nodded to Emily, "Welcome Miss Ranger. Would you like something to eat or drink?" She looked Emily up and down and tried to figure out if there was any emotional attachment between Emily and Marcus.
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Post by Jordyn on Jun 3, 2014 0:29:14 GMT -5
Marcus gave her a hug and snatched two plump apple pastries off the counter behind her and slipped them into his ranger satchel. "This here is Emily, a fellow ranger and we need to see Sissy. Do you know if she is here or is she in the shop?"
The woman pointed upstairs, "She's in their room and not doing too well," Mary answered. "That baby is upsetting her stomach still." She nodded to Emily, "Welcome Miss Ranger. Would you like something to eat or drink?" She looked Emily up and down and tried to figure out if there was any emotional attachment between Emily and Marcus.
Emily smiled awkwardly and looked around the house and took a step out. She blushed and asked, "Marcus, I'm not sure if I should go in." She chuckled. "Maybe I should stay out her while you go visit your family, I don't want to be a bother." She finished awkwardly. She shifted her feet awkwardly in the dirt. "You know?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 3, 2014 20:23:38 GMT -5
Emily smiled awkwardly and looked around the house and took a step out. She blushed and asked, "Marcus, I'm not sure if I should go in." She chuckled. "Maybe I should stay out her while you go visit your family, I don't want to be a bother." She finished awkwardly. She shifted her feet awkwardly in the dirt. "You know?"
"Nonsense!" Marcus countered. "Come on in to the kitchen and have a slice of pie. You do have pie, don't you Miss Mary?" He asked hopefully.
"Of course we do, My Lad. Would you like some of the egg custard or prefer apple?" Mary beckoned Emily to come inside. "I will show you the way to the kitchen."
"Go ahead, Emily, it's okay. I will run up and see how Sissy is doing and ask about the clothes." With that Marcus bounded up the stairs with practiced ease, leaving Emily with the household steward, Mary Channing. She headed for the double doors across the room and beckoned Emily to follow her.
"We have things other than pie, if you are hungry, Miss Ranger. Would you like something else?" Mary asked Emily.
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Post by Jordyn on Jun 3, 2014 22:01:16 GMT -5
"We have things other than pie, if you are hungry, Miss Ranger. Would you like something else?" Mary asked Emily. Emily entered the house and followed Mary to the kitchen. She looked around for a moment then sat down in a chair. "Please call me Emily." She said. "And I'd love some coffee or tea if you have it please and thank you?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 2, 2014 14:44:17 GMT -5
Mary nodded and bustled about the kitchen for a moment, putting on some fresh coffee. "Master Marcus enjoys his coffee almost as much as sweets," Mary grinned at Emily, trying to put her at ease.
She set a slice of apple pie in front of Emily and a few minutes later poured her a cup of coffee. "So, tell me, can rangers do magic? That young scaliwag up there won't give me a straight answer. I've known him since he was a babe and he never had an ounce of magic in him before, so I want to know. If they can teach it somehow..." Mary's eyes sparkled, "well, imagine all the good one could do if you could conjure up food for the homeless waifs and maybe even a cure for this plague."
Meanwhile Marcus was having a lively conversation with his sister and looking a little bewildered at the undergarments she was tossing onto her bed. "She'll need at least three outfits if you are going to be on a ship," Sissy said. She laid out three moderate dresses worn by ladies in the merchant class when they traveled. "This should do it." she declared and began folding them carefully and placed them in a garment bag. "What is it you are doing again?"
Marcus shook his head, "Ranger business. Top Secret."
Sissy threw a boot at him. "You always say that and I know its hardly ever true," she complained. "Well don't get yourself killed." She tossed the bag at him and he caught it mid-chest, nearly getting knocked off his feet in the process.
"Thanks!" he woofed as he caught it. "Don't worry about me, I always land on my feet." he quipped with a grin. "Ranger Emily thanks you for the loan." he nodded and headed back downstairs.
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Post by Jordyn on Aug 5, 2014 13:27:25 GMT -5
Emily took a bite of pie and thought for a minute before answering. Swallowing, she smiled. "No, ma'am, we can't. But I wish we could sometimes." She took a sip of coffee, and brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. "Thank you for the pie and coffee."
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 19, 2014 16:44:13 GMT -5
Mary sighed, "I didn't figure he could do magic, but sometimes he just appears out of nowhere and scares the heebee jeebies out of me!" she laughed. "You are most welcome, My Dear." She turned her back to the door just as Marcus stepped silently through it. He stood there not saying a word until Mary turned back and nearly dropped the loaf of bread she'd just pulled from the oven. "Watch out, there!" she slapped at Marcus, halfheartedly.
Marcus dodged her and laughed, then set the bag of clothes on the table next to Emily. "Sissy's contribution to the cause. I think they should fit you just about perfectly." Then he sat down and dug into the pie Mary placed in front of him. "So," he asked around a mouthful of hot pie, "do you need to go back to the castle for anything or should we just head down to the docks?"
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Post by Jordyn on Aug 19, 2014 17:05:23 GMT -5
"So," he asked around a mouthful of hot pie, "do you need to go back to the castle for anything or should we just head down to the docks?"
Emily shook her head. "I don't need anything from the castle. Nor do I want to go back to the castle until this is over." Emily said. "And didn't your mother ever told you to chew with your mouth closed?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 20, 2014 22:13:21 GMT -5
Marcus swallowed and said, "Yes, she did. Several times, in fact." He took another bite with a mischievous look on his face, "it didn't take." he mumbled around the pie.
Quickly he finished it up and then picked up the garment bag, hefting it over his shoulder that wasn't carrying the quiver of arrows. "Perhaps we should change here then and go straight down to the docks. Let me show you to a room where you can change. I will send a servant in to help you." Marcus led the way a short distance to another room where Emily could change her clothes. "I will go get my things and meet you back at the kitchen."
When they were both wearing merchant travel clothes they gathered back at the kitchen. He now had his ranger weapons concealed in a large trunk that also held a variety of merchandise he'd traded for over the years and thought he might be able to sell to add credence to their disguise. His transformation to a young trader was easy and complete. He had only to slip back into his old life prior to becoming a ranger.
"Guess we'd better get going then," he said to Emily. "Mary, tell my family I will be overseas for a couple of weeks probably. I don' thave time for a proper visit at the moment. Don't worry, we won't be in any danger."
Mary snorted, "You are a terrible liar, My Boy!" She gave him a hug and patted Emily on the shoulder, "Nice to meet you dear, you come back any time, you hear? Oh, and don't let this scoundrel lead you into any trouble." She joked. Or maybe only half-joked.
Marcus rolled her eyes and then headed out the door.
Their next stop was the docks. Marcus scanned the area for the Harbor Master. They had to go through him to get passage, though they could pull rank on him if they needed to. Marcus always felt it was better to keep on the Harbor Master's good side as long as the man was honest.
He scanned the ships in the harbor as they looked for the Harbor Master. "I supposed it would be too much to expect the Krakatowan Razor to be just sitting here in Araluen Harbor, wouldn't it?" Marcus remarked, not really expecting an answer from Emily.
"Do you see the Harbor Master anyplace?" Marcus asked her. "I guess we'd better work out our cover story background. I am going as a childhood friend of mine who was a merchant's son, but he died from an injury when we were kids." Marcus told her. "His name was Fentris Ravenwood. What is your name going to be, and your background?"
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Post by Jordyn on Aug 25, 2014 5:41:37 GMT -5
"Do you see the Harbor Master anyplace?" Marcus asked her. "I guess we'd better work out our cover story background. I am going as a childhood friend of mine who was a merchant's son, but he died from an injury when we were kids." Marcus told her. "His name was Fentris Ravenwood. What is your name going to be, and your background?" Emily was only half paying attention as she looked around them. There was so much to look at, and it was like sensory overload to try and look at them all. The air smelled of salt and various baked goods, and the ting of blacksmiths could be heard. She wandered a little, looking at the boats that were there, and watching them leave and enter port. After a moment, she looked for Marcus. She went pale, but continued to look for him.
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 1, 2014 15:01:13 GMT -5
"Emily?" Marcus asked and turned to look behind him when he didn't hear her answer. Emily was nowhere in sight. Marcus scanned the area behind him and didn't see her readily apparent. "Great," he muttered under his breath. "If I don't find her, Crowley is going to skin me."
He backtracked through the throng of people slowly, hoping she hadn't strayed off the path they had taken. People crowded around the foot of the ramps leading to the boats while hawkers and street vendors swaggered through the crowd shouting at people to buy their wares. Many people walked with gloved hands or hankerchefs covering their mouths and noses and tried to avoid close contact with anyone.
Finally he caught a glimpse of the back of her head and darted towards her before he lost her in the crowd again. Somehow he had passed her by without seeing her at first. He came up behind her, "Emily," and gently tapped her shoulder with one finger, and taking a step back, just in case she might strike out at him before realizing who he was. "There you are! Are you okay?"
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Post by Jordyn on Sept 1, 2014 15:15:28 GMT -5
Emily jumped and turned around, smiling. "I'm fine. Why?"
She looked like an excited puppy looking around at all the vendors. "Did you know there was so much stuff? It's amazing! It's like....like...what's the word? Anyway, there was a man that knows where the ship we're looking for is. He just pointed towards one. It might have just come into..."
She paused. "I'm sorry, I've never been to a port before, and this is fun!"
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 8, 2014 9:31:46 GMT -5
"Did you know there was so much stuff? It's amazing! It's like....like...what's the word? Anyway, there was a man that knows where the ship we're looking for is. He just pointed towards one. It might have just come into..."
She paused. "I'm sorry, I've never been to a port before, and this is fun!"
Marcus couldn't help but grin at her. "That's okay. I just didn't want to loose you in this crowd. Keep a hand on your money pouch around here too," he suggested. "So who was this man?" Marcus asked, looking around the dock and wondering exactly what Emily had said to the man and others. If the pirate was pulling into port and heard someone had been looking for him, it might spook him and they would lose this opportunity to find him. He didn't think it was going to be so easy, though, to locate the Razor.
He squinted at the ship pulling into port thinking it could have the right shape and size for the Razor. Obviously the ship had docked here on the Semath River at least once before when they had kidnapped King Duncan two years ago. Would Tony the Razor think it was safe to port here again after all this time? Could he be that daring and stupid?
"Let's get a bit closer to where she's about to dock," suggested Marcus to Emily. "But stick close this time, okay?"
He gently took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm and escorted her toward their target. Along the way he pointed out various shops and sites on the warf. This was his hometown and he grew up playing down here. He was well known by the local shop owners and many of the ship's crews that considered Araluen their home port. Several people hailed him or waved and Marcus waved back but didn't stop to chat. At the moment he didn't think that was a blessing. If Tony had docked, he was sure to hear that there was a ranger in the area.
"Hey, look! You gotta come see this!" Marcus suddenly steered Emily over to a sturdy merchant stand. "This is my old friend Barnaby's booth. He sells carvings and sculptures." Marcus leaned over to talk into Emily's ear so she could hear him over the din of vendors hawking their wares and sailors yelling orders to the dock workers. The booth had just enough room under its roof for four people to stand out of the sun or rain to examine the merchandise. Lining the walls were many figurines of various sizes. There was a figure of just about anything you could think of in the animal kingdom and many people in different poses. One shelf was dedicated to famous people across the Kingdom. There were several Princess Cassandras and King Duncans, no two exactly alike. It was also obvious Barnaby liked to carve horses, dogs and cats for there were many types of those figures too, most of them would fit in your hand.
Marcus released Emily's arm as he reached up to pull down a figure holding a bow and wearing a cloak. It was carved out of cedar and sanded smooth. Marcus studied it critically for a moment before he looked up to see his friend, the shop owner, watching him with a sheepish grin on his face. "Marcus! Buddy! How are you doing? On holiday are you?"
Marcus held up the figure, thrusting it towards Barnaby's face. "Barnaby, what did I tell you about this?"
Barnaby turned red, "C'mon Marcus, what can it hurt? The kids love the ranger figures," Barnaby said. "They especially like to know its a ranger born and raised right here!"
"That's just it, Barnaby," Marcus tried to explain. "We can't have our likeness spread all over the Kingdom. It interfere's with our job if people can recognize us on sight." He looked back up at the figures and pulled down a second one. It was taller and thinner and there were carved black feathers in a braid of the hair. Marcus recognized it at once as a representation of his mentor, Rick Greenriver, the current ranger of Araluen fife. "That goes for Rick here too. Take 'em down and don't make any more," he said sternly.
Barnaby held out his hands, "Aw, c'mon Marcus! I have time and money invested in those. I'm going to take a loss."
Marcus wasn't too happy with his friend. "I already talked to you about this last year. Why do you keep making them?"
"They are best sellers!" Barnaby quipped. "Almost as good as the Princess."
Marcus didn't see any other likenesses of him or Rick or any other rangers he knew, though there was one of a young girl wearing ranger gear. Her face didn't look familiar, so he left that one. "Remember, I told you to go ahead and carve ranger figures if you want to, but just don't make them look like real rangers." He pulled out his coin pouch. "How much for both of these?"
Barnaby sighed, "Okay, but the generic rangers don't sell nearly as well." He squirmed under Marcus's glare. "Fine, fine, I won't make any more."
"See that you don't. If I catch you carving any more likenesses of real rangers - ANY real rangers - I am going to lodge a formal complaint to the Guild Master." Marcus leaned close, right in Barnaby's face. "You know how that will go for you, right?"
Barnaby went a little white and then flushed red again. "Yeah, sure, Marcus. No more rangers. Got it." he laughed nervously. Marcus's family was a prominent and influencial one in the merchant circles and his father was an officer in the local Merchant Guild. Complaints of this nature could result in nothing more than a fine or a warning for a first offence, but if serous enough, the guild could put Barnaby out of business or even land him in prison if he continued to act against his promise. Barnaby knew this, and knew Marcus wasn't bluffing. "You don't need to say anything to the guild," he said hurridly. "and I will give you a special discount, on account of our friendship, for those two in your hand." Barnaby did a few quick calculations in his head. "1 gold piece for both, and that's a bargain!"
Marcus snorted. "That's highway robbery. I can't believe you'd cheat your best friend like this." He examined the figures again. They really were a remarkable likeness to both he and Rick, although not perfect. "I won't pay more than half a gold piece."
"Half?" Barnaby asked incredulously. "I have been selling them for a gold and a half each! I got more in materials than that."
"No you don't," countered Marcus. "You bought this wood from my father and all you have in materials is 3 copper pieces, so don't give me that rubbish." Marcus loved to haggle. He'd been born to it. "I will go as high as 7 silver pieces."
"Nine." Barnaby planted his feet and crossed his arms.
"Fine, Eight it is then." Marcus held out his hand. Barnaby eyed him for a moment and then rolled his eyes. "Okay fine, eight silver. Cough them up now though." He shook on the deal and then held his hand out until Marcus dropped the coins into it.
"You wound me, my friend," Marcus tucked his pouch back into his belt. Then he clapsed Barnaby's forearm in friendship. "It's good to see you again. This here is my friend, Emily." he introduced Barnaby to Emily. "What you been up to besides cheating customers? And just so you know, my nose isn't that big." Marcus pointed to the figure in Barnaby's hand. Barnaby looked from Marcus to the figure several times and shook his head. "I am afraid it is, pal. It comes from nosing around all the time where you shouldn't." he teased. Marcus rolled his eyes.
They chatted for a couple of minutes, giving Emily a chance to look at all the figurines if she wanted to while Barnaby wrapped the figures of Marcus and Rick up carefully in cloth to protect them and handed the package back to Marcus.
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