Sightseeing Part 2: Look! Little Fire and Spice!|I

[Kender Bard]

Delilah shivered heavily; she was grateful that the kind folk in the Beastlands (such a strange and wild place! Even Celentia wasn't so untamed!) were polite enough to trade gems and shards for warmer clothing. They would have been in dire straits otherwise. As it was, she couldn't believe how cold it was, and she (plus her entourage) were eager to seek shelter in the city.

She and her group approached the gates and stopped there. She waved to the guards cheerfully.

[sparepart11]

The guards looked at the lady strangely, not really breaking from their milling about and pretending to look busy. The one assigned the duty to speak to newcomers spoke out.

"'Ello there. Don't see many groups like you these days. What do you need?"

As he was speaking he was waving to the guards beneath him to open the gate. The group doesn't look dangerous, and if they don't look dangerous he really doesn't want to deal with them at the moment. Forces, if she is important he wouldn't have kept her waiting, maybe she will offer praise to the higher ups.

[Kender Bard]

Delilah bowed her head to the guards and smiled, pausing near them as she gazed at the city. "Where might we find Lady Evanlyn, good sir?"

Behind her, her nobles shivered and whimpered.

[sparepart11]

The guard pointed down the street, as if his finger into the crowded distance would answer any of the ladies questions. It took him a couple of moments to realize that it really wouldn't help at all.

"Our Lady would be in her house, middle of town. The big roads from the gates lead there, so stay on this street and you really can't miss it."

Especially with how much the outside of it is decorated. So worried about personal image she didn't seem to realize just how much a garden in the middle of the city clashes with the grey it attempts to punctuate.

[Kender Bard]

Delilah bowed her head to him and gestured to her group, marching them through the streets. Bundled up as they were, and huddled together, teeth chattering and trembling, they weren't precisely a striking bunch, merely unwieldy with their numbers. But now and then, if one stared enough, they could glimpse the hint of finery on the majority of the people with the lady.

Delilah marched her group straight up to what she supposed was the home of Lady Evanlyn. She considered how best to get the woman's attention. She shrugged, walked up, and knocked, feeling giddy and silly.

[sparepart11]

The knock was heard and with a fashionable pause it was opened, a decent looking young woman was the one answering dressed in all sorts of finery. She walks back to swing the door open further to allow the visitor her entry.

"Welcome to the house of Lady Arrida, we ask that your weapons are left in the front and your bodyguards remain in the lobby. Otherwise feel free to enter, how may I assist you?"

Very formal, it even seems like her voice has been trained to meet all numbers of nobles. This house really does seem much different from the surrounding city, almost like tripping over a gold bar in the middle of a pasture.

[Kender Bard]

Delilah turned and issued an order to the crew men - doubling as overland bodyguards for the trip - and ushered her nobles into the warmth of the house. "I am Queen Delilah of Grandisle in the Firegem Isles," she informed the woman. "I sent message of my coming ahead of time to Lady Evanlyn. Do please tell her we've arrived?"

[sparepart11]

The receptionist made proper reception of the guest and motioned to a runner to go upstairs and get Evanlyn. It is too hard for her to run in the shoes the lady requires all of her female help to wear.

"Please make yourself feel at home, if you are cold there is a couch next to the fire. Lady Evanlyn gives you her assurance it is the most comfortable she can find."

It didn't take long for the lady to stroll down the steps to greet her guest. Luckily she did receive the letter, so she was able to prepare properly for a sudden guest.

"Queen Delilah! I pray I'm not the first to welcome you to our fair city. I know our help at the gates can be a little crass. I promise you that your presence is of the highest honor to Ilyamen."

[Kender Bard]

Delilah busied herself seeing to it that her followers were comfortable. Ragnar assisted as well though soon gave up and simply sat down near the fire himself, coughing.

"No, no, we were well received by everyone we spoke to," Delilah assured Evanlyn. "Frankly, we're just glad to be in and out of the cold. Brr! How can people live in such climate?"

[sparepart11]

"It does take some getting used to that is for sure. And as difficult as it is to believe we are surrounded by places even colder this time of year."

As she was speaking a servant came out from a curtained doorway holding a tray upon which was a kettle and some tea cups. It was obvious that Evanlyn was ever ready to receive guests, although if you are worried about waste never inquire as to how many times the tea has been dumped and replaced in any given day.

"I would ask you if there is anything around the city you would want to see, but as you remarked on the weather would you rather stay in? I can have someone fetch whatever comfort you require I assure you."

[Kender Bard]

"Oh we'll certainly want to be touring later," Delilah assured Evanlyn. "We just need a little time to unthaw, don't we my dear fellows?"

There was a mutter chorus of assent.

"Do tell us what we have to look forward to," Delilah enthused as she accepted a cup of tea. "And where we'll be staying."

[sparepart11]

Evanlyn gave a slight bow to their chorus of assent, a silent gesture that she fully supported them taking their time in front of the flame. The temperatures never seemed that cold to her, but she always told herself it was better then living in the Mountains.

"Well I will definitely take you down Ilyamen's famous market district, as a nexus for Narutan goods everything you can imagine can be found there. I will also be happy to take you to the area of town where the noble caste and the religious houses are found, so you can see the distinct architecture that only the melting pot of Naruta can provide."

She snapped her fingers and the secretary from earlier rushed to her side, she seemed much more awkward on her feet now in her haste then she was before.

"As far as room and board, tell me how many rooms you will require and you will have that many in the best inn in town which is located not far from my abode."

[Kender Bard]

Delilah gave the number--making a point of stating how many were noblemen and how many were simply the crew and guards--before smiling brightly and stating, "Ah it sounds like this Ilyamen is like our Fire and Spice. You see, in the Firegem Islands, Fire and Spice is the centralmost island and the entire place is a giant market, more or less. If you want it, it will be there. And we all do love to shop." The girls were quick to agree. "The architecture shall be lovely to see and I'm sure you or whomever you assign will be a titillating guide."

[sparepart11]

Upon receiving the number the secretary walked out the door to make the proper reservations. Evanlyn nodded happily, that one was definitely her favorite project and she was turning out fabulously. It was then that she realized she needed someone to guide these people through the streets, and she knew there wasn't anyone yet trained for such a duty. It seems she will need to do it herself.

"If that is the case then I pray that Ilyamen makes you feel like you are at home away from home. As far as guidance, I will be attending you personally and leaving my minister in charge here. There is no task more critical then making sure such important first time guests get nothing but the best."

She will call this a personal learning experience. She needed to make a properly trained guide, someone good in relating to the nobles of the city would be perfect. She will make sure to add that to her list of things to do immediately after Queen Delilah .

"If you like, use this moment to warm up and I will have a carriage summoned to take us through the city streets."

[Kender Bard]

"Ah, true amenities," Delilah sighed in bliss. A carriage; they wouldn't need to walk. They'd be tucked away in comfortable seats and covered in blankets. They could always shop later or perhaps even individually during their stays. "That sounds perfect, my dear. You truly do know how to make a queen feel like a queen." She tittered at her poor joke and her loyal nobles did much the same.