While the accommodations are better than those of the cargo ship Anisa rode on to Olympia, there isn't much else to distinguish the voyage itself. Calligenia went out on deck once during the flight, just to prove that she could, but spent the bulk of her time learning Standard from her Lapi companions.

"I think a carriage would be good," responds the white Lapi, "unless taking the stuff later would be cheaper, or if Calli would rather walk to get a look around." She looks at the other doe, "Whaddaya think?"

Calligenia seems to be all eyes (except for her ears, of course) as she looks around the docks. "I … I think a carriage would be good. This will take some getting used to," the Amazonian admits.

Anisa nods, and turns back to Aaron. "A carriage it is, then. I can take our stuff with us."

"I'll be right back then," Aaron promises, and dashes off into the crowd to hail a carriage.

"Maps! Getcher maps of Rephidim!" yells a particularly short, striped Kavi as he approaches the does. "See all the sights worth seeing! Only five shekels!"

"This is really a bit of a scam," Anisa whispers to Calligenia in Skeek, "but if you want one I'll get it for you. That way if anything piques your interest, we can check it out later. Want one?"

The other doe barely notices Anisa's whisper as she stares at the Kavi. Finally she asks, "What is this creature? Is it dangerous? It looks like something that would bite."

The older rabbit's face grows into a look of amusement, and she places a consoling paw on the younger Lapine's shoulder. "That's a Kavi. They can be kind of shifty at times, but most of them that live in Rephidim are harmless. They have really short lives, so they have to make the best of it." She pats Calli on the shoulder. "You don't have to worry about most of the people here. They may look strange, but they won't hurt you."

The Amazonian nods, but still looks as if she's wondering how far she could kick the Kavi. Finally, she says to the map-seller, in passable Standard, "No, thank you."

Anisa grins, and shrugs to the Kavi.

"Are you sure?" the Kavi persists. "It would be just awful for two such lovely and delicate flowers to get lost in the city," he laments, then adds, "How about for four shekels?"

The older doe stays quiet, looking towards Calli to answer.

"Did you make the map yourself?" Calligenia asks the Kavi.

"Myself? Err, no, I buy them from my uncle Spug," the Kavi admits, looking a bit confused by the question. "But he's a really good mapmaker! Once was an airship navigator even!"

Doing her best to mimic Calligenia's accent, Anisa asks, "Out of which port?"

"Why Rephidim of course," the Kavi says, standing up as tall as he can to show how proud he is, although he ends up slumping a little. "At least, that's what I figgered. I never axed for details like that."

"How much does he… charge?" Calli asks, pausing as if unsure of her word choice. "Yes, how much does he charge you for the maps?" she asks again, sounding more confident.

Anisa nods the affirmative of the word, looking to the Kavi for reply.

"Umm, a fair price," the Kavi says, his eyes wandering to see if there are other likely buyers that won't be inclined to ask so many questions.

After a moment of thought, Calligenia offers, "I will give you one shekel for a map, with the chance of further emp… employment, if you deliver it to me where I will be staying."

"Oh, uh… so you wouldn't want it now then?" the Kavi asks.

"I do not need it now," Calligenia replies.

The white doe arches her brow at this, looks first to her traveling companion, then the Kavi. "We know where to go," she adds, "but if your maps are good, they'll be able to take you to where we are."

The Kavi shifts from foot to foot, unsure of whether to gamble on the future or to look for someone willing to pay the full five shekels. But the crowds are already thinning out, and he's too small to compete with the "personal guides" and others which will be offering their services near the baggage claim area. "Alright. Where do I bring it?" he finally asks.

"You had better give him the directions," Calligenia whispers to Anisa.

"We'll be staying at Snowshoe's Tavern," Anisa tells the Kavi, still masking her own accent. "It's in the Bazaar, and is supposed to be well known. Do you know of it?"

"Oh yeah, I know dat place!" the Kavi beams. "Who do I ask for? You want I should come tomorrow morning?"

"Ask for Calligenia," replies the older doe. She then looks to Calli. "When should he come?"

"After breakfast," Calligenia says.

"Okay!" the Kavi says, and holds out a paw. "I'm Rooli. Genoh?"

Calligenia clasps hands briefly with the Kavi, and repeats, "Genoh." It's one of the business terms she was careful to remember.

Anisa grins, crossing her arms in satisfaction. "That was good," she says in Skeek. "You're getting the hang of Standard quick." Reaching into her pocket, the doe pulls out a shekel, and offers it to the Kavi.

As Rooli tucks away the shekel and happily skips off, a familiar looking cart (familiar to Anisa, at least) is pulled up by a placid Dromodon. For whatever reason, Aaron always hires the same wagon and driver – a graying Kavi with a carved pipe, who hardly ever talks. Aaron waves from the back, where the does' luggage has been loaded already.

"That was quick! And look, he loaded it all by himself!" Grinning, the doe hops up into the back, and offers a paw to the Lapi girl. "Let's go! I'm getting hungry, and I bet Mama will have supper ready."

Calligenia takes the offered hand and steps up into the wagon bed, just as Aaron hops down.

"Patch'll drop you off at the Tavern and then come back for me," Aaron explains. "Hopefully I'll be through customs by then with the rest of the stuff."

"Good luck!" Anisa calls out to the buck with a bit of distaste in her voice. "Customs can be murder," she explains to Calli. "Now, home James!"

Patch is an old hand at carting things around, and finds the quickest way from the docks to the Tavern at the edge of the Bazaar. This is just as well, really, since Calligenia's first look at the chaotic marketplace makes her fur rise up around her neck. Once at the door, the old Kavi just grunts and nods when asked to watch over the bags and trunks until Anisa can get a few more hands to help carry it inside.

The dinner crowd has turned out in full force tonight, and several people are sitting at the couches around the hearth or at the bar while waiting for a table to open up. Among those seated at the couches, Anisa can see the black-and-white splotches of her brother Royce, who is talking to a brown-haired human. An unusually well-groomed and alert-looking Tyson mans the bar, and smiles widely when he sees his younger sister. "Anisa!" he calls out, sounding unusually happy.

Trudging in with the first of her bags, Anisa drops them to the floor, smiling at the strangely jovial Tyson. "Ty! First Ones, you look like a million shekels." Walking over to the bar, she leans over and gives her big brother a genuine hug. "Been busy while I was gone?" She gives a glance over to Royce and his companion.

"Busy!" Tyson says, rolling his eyes in exaggeration. "I've had to take over for you and for Royce, ever since he got that… er… girlfriend, sort of," he notes, gesturing towards the couches. "Now that you're back, though… " He breaks off as he notices Calligenia standing behind Anisa, and drops his voice to a whisper. "Who's the babe?"

The white doe furrows her brow at the "girlfriend" comment, eyeing Royce and the strange human. Warily, she turns back to Tyson, and rolls her eyes at him. "The 'babe' is Calligenia of Dianus, and you'd better be nice, for your own sake – she's a princess of sorts." She grins mischievously, and motions for the younger doe to come over. "Calli, this is Tyson, one of my big brothers. Ty, this is Calligenia."

"A pleasure to meet you," Calligenia says in Lapi, and shines her smile at Tyson while presenting the back of her paw.

Not quite up on the manners of nobility, Tyson takes Calli's hand and shakes it. "Not half as much as it is to meet you!" he gushes.

Anisa snickers to herself at Tyson's expense, setting her ears back in amusement. "Yeah… anyway, we all work here at the Tavern. Except for Gibson, our oldest brother – he travels."

"He is a mercenary then?" Calligenia asks after retrieving her hand from Tyson.

The white doe flops an ear sideways. "No… not exactly. He's an archaeologist. He tries to learn about the past."

"You make him sound like a scholar or something, Anisa," Tyson teases, then asks, "Will Miss Calligenia be needing a room?"

"I was hoping to share one with Anysia," Calligenia says, and looks to the white doe for confirmation.

Anisa swats at the buck. "Yeah, she'll stay in mine for now. If she wants her own later, that's up to her. Speaking of rooms, we'd better go put our stuff in mine. We can unpack later. Are Mama and Daddy home?"

By this time, Benjamin has drifted over from waiting tables and automatically begun to arrange the luggage to keep it out the way of arriving or departing customers. Tyson says, "They're out at some meeting tonight, but I can get Quinn or Bessy if you want. Hey Ben, tote that stuff up to Anisa's room!"

Benjamin struggles with a leather trunk nearly three-quarters his own size, and complains, "You're bigger; you should come help!"

"No, I just wanted to see them," Anisa says. "I don't want to bother Quinn right in the middle of a rush. C'mon Calli, we can go put our stuff up, and you can see my room." Walking over to her little brother, she picks up the trunk with ease. "He's busy right now, Fluffbottom. Give Calli a help with her bags, I can manage mine. This is my little brother Ben, Calli."

Ben blushes as he helps the chocolate-and-cream colored Amazonian with her trunk.

Anisa smirks at her brother's reaction, and begins to haul the trunk up the stairs, towards the living quarters. "You two be careful. My room's just up this way, Calli."

The trio climbs up the stairway, and come into a room that's a bit of a juxtaposition. The dominant colors consist of pink with a bit of blue trim – a very feminine feel to the space itself. Adding to that feel is a medium sized bed sitting in one corner, made up with pink and white sheets, and covered in various stuffed animals. The shelves, dresser, and desk also go along with this theme, but the beat up punching bag and small weight set in the other corner do not. This is obviously a girl's room, but belonging to a girl with a few issues, it would seem.

"Just drop the stuff anywhere for now," says Anisa. "We can pack it away later. Oh, and welcome to my- er, that is our room." She grins.

Calligenia seems mesmerized by the decor, and her eyes keep returning to the stuffed animals. "Are those your gods?" she finally asks, after piling her luggage at the foot of Anisa's bed, with Benjamin's help. The young buck doesn't even make any gagging sounds like he usually does whenever he's around Anisa's stuff.

The older doe laughs, and answers the question with a flying leap onto her mattress, bouncing a few times as she rights herself. "Only if you worship squeakiness and fluff," she replies, once she has stopped bouncing. "No, these are my pals – I've had them since I was little." She lays back, and cuddles a Lapi doll to her chest, tossing a fluffy Vermite at her brother. "They're just toys. They keep me company when I'm asleep."

The Amazonian nearly jumps at the sound of the mattress squeaking, but recovers quickly and nods at the explanation. "I suppose it is easier than putting up with squirming nieces and nephews," she suggests.

Benjamin prepares to throw the vermite back, but checks himself and just tosses it back onto the bed, saying, "I'll be downstairs working, but if you need anything, Calligenia… anything at all… just ask for me." He waves to the does and then leaves the room.

"Oh, we have those too," Anisa laughs, "but Bessie usually deals with hers. Ranit too. You still need to meet my whole family! During dinner you'll get a chance." She watches her little brother leave, and gives a smirk. "Seems you've already made a good impression."

"He seems better trained than your other brother," Calli comments after Benjamin has left. "Will you introduce me to the one called Royce?"

"Ben's a little sweetheart, he's always been better behaved than the others." The doe sits up on the bed, and sets her doll aside. "Sure! We can go back downstairs if you'd like. I want to meet this new… girlfriend of his anyways." She bounces up off of the bed, and onto her feet.

Calligenia decides the bed must double as some sort of exercise equipment, but doesn't ask about it just yet.

"I'll show you the other rooms later. Oh, this is the bathroom, by the way." Anisa motions to the washroom. "If you have to answer the call, or take a shower, this is where to go." The doe heads down the stairs.

Set slightly apart from the dining area is a makeshift lounge formed by a large couch and some over-stuffed chairs arrayed around the hearth. Sitting at the couch is the white-and-black piebald form of Royce, who seems to be trying to explain something he's drawn on a napkin to the human girl seated next to him. "It's all in the air mixture," he says, looking smug.

Walking up behind the couch, Anisa puts her mouth right next to Royce's ear. "I hope you mean something other than the air in your noggin." She blows a raspberry into his lobes, then quickly hugs him from behind before he can protest.

Royce lets out a muffled but thoroughly embarrassing squeak as he struggles against his sister's grip. "Ack! Leggo, Anisa!"

Giving the buck a quick peck on the head, the doe lets him go, wearing a huge grin. "Okay, if you say so."

The human girl smiles slightly at the display. "Ver you going to introduce me to your friend, Royce?"

Trying to regain a bit of dignity, Royce straightens out his ears and smiles apologetically to his companion. "Oh, of course. Gerda, this is my crazy sister Anisa and… and I don't know the young lady with her, I'm afraid." To Anisa, he says, "'Nisa, this is Gerda von Eraman, from Chronotopia. I'm going to be her copilot in the big motor race!"

Gerda reaches a hand out to Anisa. "It is a pleazure to meet you."

Anisa perks an ear at this, her smile fading a bit but still remaining. "It's a, uh pleasure to meet you, too… Motor Race?" The doe takes the human's hand, and shakes it vigorously. "What's a Motor Race? Oh, this is Calligenia of the Hydron Clan; she'll be staying with us for a while."

"You are so out of touch at times, Anisa," Royce chides. "I'm talking about the Rephidim Cup! It's a five-mile road-race for self-propelled carriages. A bunch of nobles are sponsoring it." A moment later, the "Clan Hydron" comment sinks in and he blinks at Calligenia. "You're an Amazonian?" he asks incredulously.

Gerda brightens at the mention of the Motor Race. "It is an honor to finally meet ze older sister of Royce! He is helping me with maintenance and running of my vehicle for ze race, he haz much talent for mechanics." She turns to the young Amazonian. "It is a pleazure to meet you as well."

Calli smiles and bows to Gerda and Royce, then answers the buck with, "Yes, I am Amazonian. And I have never met a hoo-man before now… but surely you are a woman, Gerda?"

The older doe crosses her arms. "A real race is done with your feet, Patchy. And yes, she's from Amazonia." She smiles at the human. "Yeah, he's a mechanical wiz. An annoying wiz, but a wiz nonetheless." Cupping her paw over her mouth, she whispers to Royce in Skeek. "How in the heck did you meet her?"

Royce whispers back to Anisa, "She almost ran me over. And I thought Amazonians were… taller. She's not another one of Aaron's cousins, is she?"

Gerda blinks briefly in surprise at Calligenia before answering, "Ya, I am a woman. You zay you hail from Amazonia? Vat is it like zerr?

"It is… much quieter than here," Calligenia replies after some thought. "My city is very clean and well maintained as well," she adds, with a possessive tone.

"There's all kinds of Amazonians," the older sister replies, "and no, she's not one of Aaron's cousins. Wait- ran you over? What in Dagh's Drawers do you mean by that?"

"She was having a little trouble with the throttle is all," Royce says, holding up his hands defensively. "I jumped on and helped her out."

The young human woman smiles at Calligenia. "I come from Chronotopia, verr ve build many great machines." She pauses to reach into her pocket before asking the chocolate-cream doe, "Would you like to ze a machine from my home?"

"Yes, I would," Calligenia says, smiling. "I have not seen many machines."

Anisa eyes her brother sideways, leaning her ears out a bit. "'Helped her out'? How far has that 'help' gone?" She looks at her brother cautiously.

Gerda pulls a small egg-shaped device out of her pocket. It has a small hinge, and a barely perceptible seam along the edge. A myriad of wheels and clockwork mechanisms can be glimpsed inside, along with a clear clock-face.

"Err, just what are you implying, Anisa?" Royce whispers. "I've been helping get her machine in shape for the race, and will be riding along in case anything happens. I'm not the one traveling off to romantic destinations with an unmarried man, you know."

Calligenia leans over the back of the couch to get a closer look at the strange device. "It almost looks like a sundial. Is it a time-keeper?" she asks.

"I'm not implying anything," Anisa replies, "and besides, even if that trip was what you think it was, that unmarried man was of my own species. I just want you to be careful, alright?"

Gerda hands the machine to Calligenia and shows her how to open it to see the clock and gears more clearly. "Ya, it keeps ze time very vell. Be careful vith it, as ze outside is glass."

The Amazonian cradles the clock as if it were a real egg, the tips of her ears bobbing in time to the ticks. "Is it magic?" she asks the human.

Royce nearly bursts into a giggle-fit, but controls it and assures Anisa, "Don't worry sis, my… er… virtue isn't in any danger here. And humans aren't exactly dangerous carnivores you know. Her teeth are smaller than mine are."

Anisa grimaces at Royce, shoots a glance at Tyson, then back to Royce. "Okay," she says in Standard, "if you say so." She turns to Calligenia, and looks at the gizmo. "What's that?"

The human smiles slightly as she replies to the doe's question, "No, it is not magic. It is simply a clever device for keeping time. Zerr is a spring wound around inside and as it unwinds, it produces that ticking noise." She turns to look at Anisa. "It is a Chronotopian egg, a small clock one can keep in his pocket.

"A marvelous machine, Anysia," Calli says, peering deeper into the mechanism to see the spring. "Your blacksmiths must be tiny to forge such small pieces of metal, Gerda."

The older doe stifles a giggle herself, and turns to Gerda. "So, what brings you to Rephidim? Just the race?"

Reverently, Calli offers the egg back to Gerda. "This is truly a land of wonders."

The human grins slightly at the chocolate-cream doe's rationalization. "Ahh, no, zey simply use very zmall, fine tools when cutting and shaping ze metal." She turns her attention back to Anisa. "Ya, that is pretty much my purpose for being here."

"She wants to beat the Titanians' entry," Royce adds, grinning.

Anisa makes her way around to the other side of the sofa, and plops down in another one of the couches. "Titanians? Here?" Anisa's ears shoot up in alarm. "They're not gonna blow up the island, are they?" She waves Calli over, patting a seat on the overstuffed furniture. "Where's the race taking place?"

Gerda replies a bit sheepishly, "Ya, zat is true, I vant to … show ze Titanians ze power of Chronotopian machinery."

The Amazonian takes a seat next to Anisa, and listens raptly.

Royce whispers to Anisa, "Especially since the Titanians flew a heavier-than-air airship recently." Out loud, he says, "The route goes through several estates out in the countryside, so that it covers a variety of terrains."

The white doe blinks at the airship news, but doesn't comment on it. "Is that so? How is your, um, vehicle coming along?"

Gerda smiles brightly at Royce. "It is coming very vell. Royce haz been helping me vith a few technical problems."

"Yup, no cobblestones are going to loosen the wheels or steering now," Royce says proudly.

Gerda adds, "Ze Titanians works are zo sloppy, no vonder zey constantly blow up in zeyr faces. Once ze last few adjustments are made, ve should have no problems beating ze Titanians."

"Or the Kavis, or any of the other entries," Royce adds, confidently.

Anisa nods, looking somewhat apprehensive. "Just make sure they don't blow up while you're around them. Thank the First Ones, they'll be out in the outskirts! I can just imagine it coming through town."

Gerda comments gravely, "Ya, zat vould be a disaster!"

"We have chariot races in Dianus," Calli offers. "But they are pulled by beasts. What sort of weapons will you have on your carriage?"

Gerda turns a puzzled look on the young doe. "Veapons?"

Calli's ears droop slightly, and she says, "To disable your opponents with."

"Um, things work a bit different here, Calli," Anisa offers. "Sports here are purely competition, not, er, to the death." The last part she speaks in Skeek, so as not to alarm the human. "So no weapons."

The human nods. "I vould zink ze different terrains vould effectively zlow up ze various opponents."

"I'm pretty sure there aren't any weapons allowed," Royce says, looking thoughtful. "I hope the Titanians know that, though." He adds, "And there will be observers spread along the course to make sure nobody cheats. The vehicles have to make it through on their own power."

Gerda hmphs. "It would be like ze Titanians to forget a little detail like zat!"

"Would a Titanian-fur rug be worth one of those time-telling eggs, Gerda?" Calligenia asks. "My mother has one in her bedroom."

Gerda pauses thoughtfully.

"Wouldn't that be illegal, though?" Royce asks nervously. "I mean… they don't allow clothing and stuff made from Savanite hides anymore."

Gerda says, "Actually Calligenia, I believe it vould, but I'm not sure how my parents vould react to me bringing home a Titanian fur."

Anisa's mouth drops open at Calligenia's comment in alarm. "Uh, that is… uh… it's a joke!" The doe forces a nervous laugh. "Amazonians… they thrive on dark humor, you see." She glances at the other doe. "Calli," she whispers in Skeek, "No on the killing! No! When you think of killing, just say no! We'll talk later… " She looks to the others with a smile. "A joke… "

Gerda laughs playfully. "Vell of course it vas a joke!"

"Forgive me, I am still learning this language," Calli says apologetically. "I do not mean to offend anyone."

Gerda smiles at Calligenia. "Don't vorry, you do not offend in ze least!"

Anisa smoothes down her ears. "Right… so, when is the race? Are you gonna have enough time to get everything ready?"

Calligenia smiles back, as if nothing had happened.

"We've got a few days still," Royce says, "but nobody is allowed to know the actual route ahead of time, so we just have to hope we'll be ready for anything."

"Ya," Gerda agrees, looking at Royce, "ready for anyzing!"

The white doe smirks. "I bet you two will! Good luck to you." Just as she finishes, the Lapine's stomach growls audibly. "Oog," she says, putting her paws to her tummy, "I think it's about time for dinner. Is this blasted crowd ever gonna go home?"

Benjamin walks up, and asks, "Would anyone like anything to drink? Everyone's been served, Anisa, and nobody new has come in yet. Not even that servant of… Oh! I'd forgotten… Lightfoot is back now too!" The rabbit suddenly looks worried.

"He's back?" Anisa gets up from the couch, and looks to the entrance. "What's wrong with you?"

The entrance is empty, except for a Skeek couple collecting their coats. "I mean, he's back on Rephidim now," Benjamin explains. "He'll be going home." Now Royce sits up straighter and starts to look worried as well.

Gerda looks around confused, and turns to Royce, arching an eyebrow.

The white doe looks at Ben. "Yeah, that's what people tend to do. What's your point?"

The two brothers exchange a look, then both start talking at once. "She showed up two days after you left for your trip." "She's Aaron's cousin." "No, she's his sister-in-law's cousin, Ben." "And she has that big bodyguard! Even Tyson was afraid to flirt with her." "And she moved into Lightfoot's house." "She has her meals delivered there even… "

Anisa's ears swivel back and forth between the two bucks wildly, and finally she grabs them in frustration. "SLOW DOWN!!" She shakes her head. "Okay, Royce… what happened?"

Royce cringes as the focus falls on him. "Umm… well, her name is Aisha Al-Firaih, and she's from Abu Dhabi. She's around the same age as Calligenia, and a real looker, but she's got a mind like a Naga. And her bodyguard is a tigress, of all things, who carries two big scimitars with her all the time. They sort of moved into Aaron's house while you were gone. I think that Earth Mage friend of Aaron's let them in."

The doe's face turns into a frown at this, and she splays her ears. "Did she say why she was here?"

"I think it had to do with some sort of birthday present she got," Benjamin says. "It was kind of hard to pay attention to what she was saying at the time."

"You mean she came here?" Anisa sets her ears back, fur raising in alarm. "Great. I wonder if Aaron's tried to go home yet. I wonder what she wants?"

"She was kind of upset that Lightfoot wasn't here to meet her, actually," Royce offers. "As her closest kin on the island, he's obliged to offer his hospitality or something."

"That is only proper," Calligenia remarks.

"How did she even know to come here? Now I'm worried." The white doe goes to the doorway, and peeks outside. "I hope he's alright."

Peeking outside, the doe nearly bumps nose to leather-clad belly with a large, striped Khatta. With feline reflexes though, the tigress jumps back and actually looks embarrassed for a moment before putting on a mask of indifference. For a tiger, she's not terribly big, and is obviously still in her teens – though, unlike most Rephidimite teens, she has two large chitin scimitars hanging from her hips. "Excuse me," she growls in accented Standard.

Jumping back in alarm as well, Anisa blinks as she catches sight of the tiger. "Er, no, excuse… me… " Backing up a bit, the doe opens the door a bit wider. "Can I, uh, help you?"

Stepping inside, the tigress looks at Anisa, and says, "I do not recognize you. Do you work here? I have come to order dinner for my mistress and one other."

From the bar, Tyson waves to the feline and says, "You're late tonight, Fadwa."

"I work and live here," Anisa replies, eyeing the tiger. "Is your mistress by any chance Aisha?"

"Yes, that is her name," the tigress says, eyeing Anisa right back. "Ah, I understand now. You are Christina, the traveling companion Aaron wrote about." After a moment, she adds, "I thought you would be taller."

"That Aaron… wrote about?" The doe looks puzzled at this, but then nods. "Yeah, that's my name. What, may I ask, do we owe the pleasure of you and your mistress's visit?"

Benjamin approaches somewhat timidly, although at this point it isn't clear if he is intimidated more by his sister or by the tigress. "W-we kept Aisha's dinner warm, if you want to take it back now," he says to the feline.

Gerda, meanwhile has paused, and is busying herself with the maintenance of her small clockwork egg.

Ignoring Anisa for a moment, the tigress – Fadwa – turns to Benjamin and says, "I will need a second meal as well, if possible, for Master Lightfoot, Ben." Turning back to the doe, she says, "I am here to pick up dinner for my employer. My mistress is here because she wishes to prove her worth in the family business."

Calligenia watches the goings-on by the bar for a moment, then goes back to observing the human use her small tools, and asking the occasional question about them.

Crossing her arms, the doe stifles a frown at the news of Aaron's arrival. "The Apothecary, you mean? How does she plan to do that?"

"I'll make up another plate, right away!" Benjamin promises, then dashes back into the service area.

"I am just Miss Aisha's bodyguard," Fadwa tells the doe, "and not privy to all of the details of her business. Is Aaron Lightfood an Apothecary? I hadn't known that."

"Lightfoot," Anisa replies, giving the feline a glare. "And yes, he is. Anyway, I look forward to meeting your mistress. Tell her I send my regards."

"Lightfoot, yes," Fadwa says, nodding. "This is not my native tongue. I will relay your regards, as I am sure my mistress is eager to meet you. This was the third place we came to when we discovered Aaron was not at his home."

"Third?" Anisa raises an ear at this. "What was the second?"

"His place of business," the tigress says. "Now that I think of it, there did appear to be many medicines present."

The doe walks to the bar, and takes a seat. "Yeah. Anyway, I trust you'll keep them safe. When can I meet miss Aisha?"

"Do you wish to make an appointment to see her?" Fadwa asks the doe. At the same moment, Benjamin returns bearing a large cloth-covered basket that smells of fresh bread and spiced vegetables.

Taking the basket from her brother, Anisa offers it to the Tigress. "Sure, that'd work. When is she free?"

Fadwa takes the basket, and says, "Now that Aaron has returned, I am not sure of her schedule. I will let her know of your request, and inform you when she will be available."

"Sure thing," the white Lapi replies, giving a small head nod. "Tell Aaron I'll see him later as well. Good night to you."

"Good night to you as well, and may your dreams be untroubled and sweet," the tigress replies, executing a low bow without tipping the basket. She then quietly turns and leaves the tavern.

"She's not bad once you get to know her," Tyson says to Anisa from the other side of the bar. "Aisha's the scary one."

Anisa watches the Khatta leave, and frowns at Tyson's words. "That's lovely news. I wonder how poor Aaron is holding up then. He seemed eager to get home, but I doubt he anticipated this."

"Does he have an extra bed?" Tyson asks.

"He has extra rooms," replies the doe, "but I'm not sure about beds." She frowns, then turns to Tyson. "You seem to know a bit more about it – what's she doing here, exactly?"

"I hope he has a comfy couch then," Tyson snickers. "Oh, she's here to look after some real estate she was given for her birthday. A problem parcel that one of her brothers or cousins or in-laws messed up with."

Anisa furrows her brow. "Why doesn't she stay there then? Or is it just a lot?" She shakes her head, "I guess I should be glad she's not trying to take over the apothecary or Aaron's house or anything then. Not permanently at least."

"Don't care for the competition, eh?" Tyson teases, giving Anisa an exaggerated wink. "How was your little trip down to Olympia? Any New Year's fireworks, if you know what I mean?"

The doe rolls her eyes. "She's his cousin, Ty. Besides, you have to be serious to have competition anyways." She smoothes back her ears. "As for fireworks – that's none of your business." She winks back at the buck. "Here, I'll tell you all about it… " She proceeds to relate her vacation experience her brother, mentally reminding herself to smack him a good one later.