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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pyrex" data-source="post: 1400734" data-attributes="member: 11600">I like it, but I think you're underestimating Lochlan's capability for subtlety...Even if he did feel out of place at a royal ball Lochlan was happy to see everyone again.  Seeing everyone reminded him of the last time they had all been together......the fall morning had dawned clear and bright, if a little cool.  The cool stillness of the morning suited Lochlan just fine though, as he had been hard at work helping Darren harvest gourds for an hour or so.   Once full, they began pushing the heavy cart towards town.  "Where're you headed with these?" asked the gate guard.  When Darren replied that they were bring brought to the market square for sale the guard told him that the day trading fee had recently increased to 6cp/cart for locally grown vegetables.  As Darren had only had the customary 4cp for the toll, the guard was about to refuse them admittance to the city until Lochlan spoke up. "'scuse me m'lord, but perhaps the duke'd be want'n some of these for his kitchens?  Mabye we could pay the fee that way?"The guard snickers, then with a bit of a sadistic grin, "I suppose you can at that." The guard then points from Lochlan to a large basket with an equally large hole in the bottom that had been discarded near the gates, "You take that basket there and fill it with your gourds and carry it up the hill there to the duke's keep.  When I see you reach the outer bailey I'll let you friend here in to sell what's left."With a dispirited look, Lochlan begins filling the basket, trying to keep them from spilling out the hole.  Once full he picks it up, and staggering under the load begins stumbling towards the keep.  Stopping every now and then as the gourds begin to slip out of the ruined basket.As he reaches the keep the bored guards wave him inside and around to the back, not even bothering to ask him his business.  Leaving the gourds in the kitchen, he picks up an armload of firewood and towards the keep's hall, while stacking it near the fireplace he overhears  "Duke, there's a merchant here to see you.  Says he's got a wagonload of selindran arms you might be interested in seeing."...... Lochlan shakes his head, returning his thoughts to the present, "The more things change the more they stay the same.  I may as well be invisible.  Except for Talariel hardly anyone has even noticed I'm here."</blockquote>

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