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"Right now, I'd ask you to take Casta here through her paces while I clean out her booth" Liri tells Eldon. "And yes, the horse over there is Angel's. His name is Praesul. But I wouldn't touch him if she is not there." Liri takes Casta's saddle and harness out of the tack room and hands the saddle to Eldon while she puts on the bridle on Casta and brings her out. "Here you go" she says as she hands the horse over to Eldon. She goes and gets a shovel to clean out the droppings. While she does that, she keeps half an eye on Eldon and Casta.

Eldon handles the mount with the skill of one who has spent time with horses, he guides the her outside and waits patiently.

"Dalea, I'd like you." He says soothingly, stroking her side.

Addi's husband returns after a short time, trailing another man.

The newcomer is tall and overweight, with an oily mop of curly hair thinning on top and an equally dirty beard. His clothes are grubby and stained, as if they've never seen a washtub. He carries a large case in his hand, and another by a shoulder strap, huffing and puffing as he shuffles in. He lays the cases on the counter and says, between racking breaths: "Viren says you want" huff, puff, "a leather skirt," puff, gasp, "and some clothes for a," puff, "a young lady. I am sure I can accommodate you," wheeze, "What do you have in mind?"

There is something about the man that is vaguely discomforting.

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The group's mounts make a minor herd - Casta, Praesul, huge, white and fierce, Maughus's northern horse, seemingly half the warhorse's size but no less fierce, Daos' and Elias' horses, Bastian's mule and the four mule team from the wagon. Five horses and five mules, all told.

Praesul allows Liri and Eldon to take Casta out of the stable, but rumbles in his chest and bares his teeth when they come near his newly-adopted herd. Maughus' horse stands its ground next to Praesul, an image that would appear comical if not for the fact that the horses themselves are ready to fight, and Praesul is more than capable of killing.

"Yes, I was looking for a leather skirt, something to travel in." Angel keeps her voice level, but standoffish, the man was freaking her out. Reminding herself why she disliked Men, and that she was here for Salia she nods.

"Yes my friend would like some clothes." She raises her hand to cut off the expected protest from the Girl. Every girl should have some nice clothes.

Eldon gives the Stallion a smile "Woah there Mr. I'm not stealing your herd, just helping out.", He grins wider, "Feisty thing isn't he?"

Liri shakes her head in disbelief. "He's never behaved like that before, but I guess that was because Angel was around all the time" she says. "So we will definitely need to wait for her to come back before we can move the animals and our belongings.

OK, will you mover her, please? Just a quick exercise." Liri smiles at Eldon.

“So s-something in leather for the girl as well, then,” he says. “I may have to…measure her. I don’t know if I have anything in her size on hand.” He stares hard at Salia, maybe for a moment too long, and then starts looking Angel up and down. “I may need to make some adjustments for you as well. You’re a tall one,” he says as he fumbles with the buckles on his shoulder bag.
Addi huffs and turns back to her sewing.
The man eventually gets his bag open, and begins sorting through his wares. The first pieces he pulls out are not quite what Angel had in mind, being more suited for nighttime wear and for a certain type of entertainment venue.
When he eventually gets to something serviceable, a doeskin skirt, it appears to be of poor quality, thin and fragile.

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Praesul relaxes as Eldon moves away. Maughus’ horse lifts its nose and turns away in an almost human gesture of disdain and goes back to the water trough.

Although his family caravan never used them, preferring to keep their horses close, Eldon is aware of several stables nearby that would suit the group’s needs. He can also offer a wainwright, having purchased parts there that his tribe couldn’t produce in the field.

Angel shakes her head at the attempt to touch Salia, images of her breaking his hands comes to mind, she'd never let anyone touch her like that. Seeing what he has to offer she shakes her head more profusely this time.

"No, that really isn't what I was looking for..." She gives an obvious frown, not trying to hide her disdain. "And I was looking for something plain, simple, for my friend here." She moves to stand near Salia, protecting her from him.

"Of course, I have a few Stables I can suggest my own Mount Dalea is in one." Eldon says as he leads the Mare into the courtyard, leading her gently at first.

"She needs a good ride, perhaps we could take a ride out later? Dalea has been cooped up for too long." He smiles, stroking the horses side, as he exersizes her.

"A ride would be a wonderful idea, but we'll have to wait until someone else is back" Liri answers, busy clearing out Casta's booth.

When she's done, she walks over and watches Eldon ride. Casta is a well-trained horse, but she will try to get away with little disobediences after a while when someone unfamiliar rides her, for example going into a faster trot instead of a gallop or turning at unexpected moments.

"I can wait, do you think your Master Fraso will like me?" He asks with some trepidation, "I'm no Warrior, I've never hurt someone, never been in a fight." He blushes, admitting this as he comes by halting Casta with the skill of one who was never taught to ride.

"What I am is a someone who is willing to help, to aid others." He thinks back to Elias, that worked out well didn't it?

"Well, that question is something you would have to ask Angel. She is the head bodyguard. I have not been with the party for very long, and I am not part of the bodyguard, but an envoy of my own people." She approaches man and horse, smiling. "Please dismount, I could see you are a fair enough rider, though without formal training. Most important, you treat a horse well."

Once Eldon has dismounted, Liri swings herself into the saddle and does a series of exercises, even fancy things like a diagonal trot. Horse and elf move gracefully together, seemingly effortless, a silent symphony of browns. After about twenty minutes, Liri dismounts, pets Casta, and gets her back to the stable, taking off the saddle and grooming her.

"Impressive." Eldon murmurs, almost watching the riding, although his eyes are on Liri most of the time.

The leatherworker looks bewildered, and a little bit guilty, gazing back and forth between Angel and Viren, for support, perhaps, before he speaks. "Perhaps if you visit my workshop, I could make up something appropriate. I have some heavier leather there. And tools for taking proper measurements. I could open a bottle of wine and we could discuss the matter, the three of us."

A loud thud accompanied by objects rattling on Addi's sewing table follows and the woman glares across the shop at her husband's friend.

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[OOC] @ Breila and Jerrard - haven't forgotten you. It's just that when the party splits three, no, FOUR ways, it's hard to keep the timelines in sync. [/OOC]

"No thank you, I think I will pass." She says a little too brusquely a hint of panic in her voice.

"Come, lets give the dress to Addi." She says turning to Salia, half turning her back to the two men, with that she steps into the tent, taking Salia's hand so she is not left alone, and giving Addi a knowing smile. "I will return shortly for the dress." She moves closer, "I appreciate your help."

With that she heads back out towards the barracks, to collect their gear. "I believe your brother would actually kill me if anything happened to you, not that I would let it." She laughs, "You were in no danger, I could have easily taught them a lesson."

Perhaps it was her own fear that caused her to act that way? Reading something into an innocent situation, but no matter.