Gaunt's grain cart rolls along minus most of a sack that has been dipped into in exchange for supplies along the way, bartered for in the feline villages.

This is a feline-dominated land, particularly populated by Katthas of the digitigrade variety. As a resident of Dack, Gaunt may claim Kattha heritage, but his plantigrade stance still marks him as an outsider. Still, it doesn't take long to figure out that this is a cat-preferred land … and Skreeks tend to draw unwelcome looks. The Savanites seem to draw only indifference … and along the way, it's evident that Willow has left the "no slavery" part of Nordika, for a few wealthy merchants have spotted slaves doing the manual labor.

For now, it's a bright, sunny day. It's still a bit nippy, but things have gotten warmer (or, that is, less cold) as the wagon has made its descent from the mountains and into the lowlands.

That the sky is free from clouds and wind helps to combat the chill that much more. The ground is free of any snow here, though the weather seems to be contemplating the idea now and again.

Willow's nose pokes out from her blanket as she eyes the countryside rolling past. The angry looks from the natives seemed almost a relief to her in a way. Out of the land where rats are royalty and back to the world where they're treated like rats. She climbs over a burly Savanite as she makes her way to the front of the cart. "Hey Gaunt… how much farther to the city?"

Gaunt yowls, "Not much. See?" He points off to the right – the south – where the ground drops off sharply, giving way to … water. Lots of it. At first glance, it looks like the ocean. But, no, the Lake of Langour is just a really big lake. "We'll be going uphill soon. Parthos is that way." He points up the road, though no city is visible forthcoming.

"What do you know about the place? Should I be worried about getting my tail lopped off, or are they fairly polite to foreigners?" She settles herself in one of the remaining bags of grain and props her feet up on Burr's back.

"Oh, it'll warm up," purrs Gaunt, snickering as he sees Burr get used as a footstool. "Just as long as you've obviously got a few shekels to spend. They have a lot of tourists there, and they know to respect ceramic or metal no matter whose paws have held it."

Willow leans back, staring at the sky. "I've heard this place worships a whole bunch of funky gods. Do they have temples in Parthos?"

The wagon rolls past a shack that has a sign out front, translated in Olympian and Rephidim Standard as, "Ancient Artifacts – BARGAINS!"

Gaunt nods. "All over! Ah. We're getting close, all right. Word of advice: the ancient Olympians didn't make statues out of plaster."

The Skreek peers into the shop, halfway expecting to see a black Khatta as the curator of the shop. "What do you mean, not out of plaster? They use marble or something instead?"

"Yeah. Or other types of stone," says the feline farmer. "What I mean is, some of the 'archaeologists' around here looking to sell 'genuine artifacts' are just selling plaster casts. That may be fine to decorate your mantle, but not at the prices they're asking."

The wagon continues rolling on, as the road starts gently curving uphill.

"Ah… might make for some good haggling though, in case I want to take a trinket home. Thanks for the tip." The Skreek nudges Burr again with her foot. "What about you three? Ready for life on the airship again?"

Burr snorts, and starts moving … which causes a chain reaction with the mutt and the other spotty, since everyone seems to like the idea of using Burr as a footrest or pillow. (But then, considering how much room Burr takes up, it's not like there's much choice.)

Copy snorts. "Oui? Parlez vou … ? Oh! Mademoiselle! Are we there yet?"

"Almost, Copy. Do you plan to come along on the ship or stay in Olympia? As long as you can work we can use you." She nods to Testament-Blaze. "You too. After Gallis, I think the crew will treat you better, and we're short handed… but after all of this it might be time to decide if you plan to stick with us or head back to Abaddon."

Testament-Blaze signs, "There are many opportunities here. If nothing else, I can learn of this world, and report to my brethren when I return."

Copy laughs. "Come along or stay? Work or beg? It's a tough choice, I tell you … but given the chance, if you are serious about the idea that I could help and not just be a laughingstock … I think I shall come along for so long as I can get a full belly and a good place to sleep. It is far better than the Mongrel Quarter!"

"Plenty to learn in Parthos, Testy. Maybe you and I can visit some of these fancy temples." She nudges Burr again. "And as for you… you're not doing a thing when we get back if you can help it, except spend some time with that pup of yours. I want him to know about all the adventures his pap's been through."

Burr smiles despite himself. "I miss Thorn," he signs.

Copy barks, "Maybe if I'm lucky, in some port I'll find a nice young blind mademoiselle who can't see how dirt ugly I am, who will kindly scratch my ears. Hmm."

Willow pulls her feet off the cheetah's back. She signs, "I'm sorry for separating you two for so long. I just didn't think where we were going was good for a pup." And then clears her throat. "Well, we'll just give Barnacle our earnings and see if we can get a tour of Parthos while we're here then."

The Skreek smirks at Copy. "Now, now… you clean up rather well. You're only mutt ugly, not mud ugly."

Copy bark-laughs. "Oh no! I am blushing! … and groaning!"

"By the way, did you hear any interesting gossip while we were in Castle Naochi and in Dack lands? You've got good ears," Willow squeaks, dropping into Gallisian.

Copy whurfs in Gallisian, "Oh, only that Prince Dack has flipped his lid, that's all."

Gaunt's ears prick, and he glances back curiously for a moment. Even in Gallisian, "Dack" is still "Dack", and "Naochi" is still "Naochi", after all.

The Skreek takes a moment to smile and shrug at the driver before focusing on the mutt again. "Don't mention their names… but how do you mean he's flipped his lid?"

Copy whurfs, "That business about his family? He's got family, all right, but they're scattered to the four winds. Unless you count ghosts. But the villagers seriously think that if you talk about him, he can hear you. And it takes an ale-loosened tongue to forget about it long enough to say that much."

"So all those aunts and uncles and sisters he told me about weren't there in the castle with him? I didn't see anyone there besides a servant," Willow yips back, her rattish accent making her tone sound a bit on the puppyish side.

"Maybe in his head," whurfs the mutt.

Willow sinks down in her seat and plucks at her lip. "Anyone say anything about the prince buying up our stock?" She pats at her pockets and takes a peek at the silver shekel, a bit worried that it might have vanished when she stopped paying attention to it.

Yes, it feels like the coin is still there. As for how it looks,though … it's not silver anymore. It's gold.

The mutt yaps, "Yes. He paid some ne'er-do-wells to pick up the junk and stick it on his carriage."

The Skreek blinks at the coin and frowns. "Gaunt… do you do any trading with Prince Da – er… the prince? I have something I need to give him."

Gaunt mrowps, "Uh … not directly. Why?"

"I… er… just realized that I have an important package to give to him, but I don't want to risk it getting stolen and it's prone to have just that very thing happen to it if I trust it to the couriers." Willow pockets the coin again and growls to herself. ( You can't buy me, and you can't impress me with gold. I neither need nor do I want your money. We agreed on a silver, and a silver was all I wanted. )

Gaunt purrs, "Sure. I can get something back to him."

"Now keep in mind this is his property. He might not like it if something happened to it." She pats her pocket. "Are you heading back immediately, or can I meet you after running some errands in the city?"

Gaunt says, "Going to take me a while to do my business in the city. I won't be disappearing right off."

"Can you point me to a bank when we get into town?" Willow folds her arms across her lap.

Gaunt nods. "Certainly. They've got a bank there. Big enough city to have one." His beasts plod lazily along, drawing the wagon up a slightly steeper incline.

Willow leans back again, this time using a bag of grain as a pillow instead of the cheetah. "Well, wake me when we get there. I hope they don't charge to break down coins." ( So was it a mistake or on purpose… and why? Maybe he felt sorry for me because I was a Naochi… or maybe it was a bribe. Blast, even out of Kroz I still have it nipping at my heels. )