Shopping Trip

Writers: Anika, Avery
Date Posted: 31st December 2014

Characters: Kapera, Gim
Description: Kapera goes to get the gift
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Ikalis, J'nus

Kapera

The Dolphin Hall hadn't given her any success in finding any of the items
Ikalis had helped suggest, so to Sunstone Seahold it was. Being a merchant
port and having the Seacrafters nearby made them a likely spot to check
for nautical items. Kapera had to stretch the straps to their maximum to
get them secured around her gold's gravid belly and cursed a few times as
she tried to get the buckles to go. Once they were ready to go, she calculated
from the sluggishness as Riyanth leapt to the sky that clutching would be any
day soon.

**Good thing I'm going now,** she thought.

She had to get the visual from the watchdragon because Sunstone wasn't
somewhere she knew very well. It hadn't been in the territory of
Dragonsfall, it had only recently become a major Hold, and the Hall itself
was new. Which meant that any visual she had had was Turns out of date and
wouldn't get her there.

Riyanth burst from /between/ above Sunstone and spiraled slowly
to a landing. She didn't bother freeing the gold from the straps but just
packed her gear against the gold, patting her side to make sure she had
the marks pouch. She'd be back soon enough, hopefully.

She stopped the first young boy she ran across. "Is there a shop here?"

"Lots Ma'am," the boy replied, rather in awe. "Fish monger's on tha corner
thar," he pointed. "Baker right next door, then tha tanner's, an' next
that's old Gim's. He gots all sorts o' odds an' ends an' seafarin' stuff.

"Thank you," she said with a polite nod, then headed that way counting
doors. One was fish, two was baker - she stopped to smell the aroma there,
tempted. But she could get pastries free at the Weyr. Three was tanners,
and four was the one the boy mentioned. Odds and Ends. Sounded promising.

She entered the shop and peered around. "Hello?"

"Ahoy, Milady. What can old Gim be doin' fer ye?" a weathered old man
asked kindly as he made his way over to her, his wooden peg leg thumping
heavily on the floor.

"Hello Gim. I'm Kapera of Dolphin Cove," she greeted the man. "I'm
shopping for an item for a friend of mine, I was hoping maybe you could
help."

"Be my honor goldrider, an' ye'll kindly relay me best ta yer lovely
queen." Though he would not have known her face, Gim was a good
businessman and knew the names of the Southern goldriders as he aught.
"Now it be a bloke ye're lookin' fer I take it. A seacrafter then? Or
from tha sea was he?"

"I'll pass it on," she promised. "I don't believe he was ever a crafter,
but he loves fishing and items that appear well-crafted and antiques."

"Ah," the gray-haired man bobbed his head in understanding and ran a hand
over his whiskers before hobbling over to a cupboard and removing several
boxes and making his way back to a counter. Motioning Kapera over, he set
out the first box which was handsome enough to be a gift in itself. The
polished reddish brown finish was inlaid with shimmering seashells. "This
is truly a treasure fit fer even a Weyrleader," Gim advised opening the box
and removing a complex instrument. "Owned by Cap'n Vrandar
an' boastin' tha fine craftsmanship o' Master Smith Chaun, this sextant is
solid bronze, wi' a split horizon reflector an' tha finest scope ya could be
askin' fer."

She leaned in and took a look at what the man was suggesting. "How are the
shells that pretty?" she asked, eyes caught by the box.

"It be tha inside of certain shellfish, ya see. Tha outside's ruddy ugly
but inside's tha treasure."

The instrument looked complicated. It was also beautiful, solid-looking
and shining. Someone must have cared for it very much. "Was Captain
Vrandar well known?"

"Aye, he was. One o' tha greatest when I 'as still young an' hale. Braved
a storm wi' nigh on hurricane strength winds ta bring medicine's ta a Hold
set upon wi' a plague. Saved many a life. Fine piece that one is, but if
yer lookin' fer summit more intimate then ya can't go wrong wi' a compass."
With a speed that belied his age he had three more modest boxes set before
her and opened to display the round metallic instruments within. "Many a
seaman's sweetheart gave her beau a compass as means o' sayin' she al'ays
wanted him ta find 'is way back ta her. Fine brass pieces, each one o'
these. Used by some of tha best seafarin' men I'd a pleasure a knowin'."

Those were also beautiful, and she trailed her finger over one without
actually touching it. "That's a very poetic meaning. How much are the
compasses versus the reflector?"

"Tha sextant is, as I said, a rare treasure. Hard ta find them made by
Master Chaun," he explained picking up the bronze piece and turning it for
her to see. "Thar's 'is maker's mark right thar an' tha box 'as Vrandor's
name engraved." He quoted her a price and watched her face to see if he
might have a customer for the expensive item. "An' that a bargain on
account o' yer position."

She tried to keep a professional mask but a faint twinge of pain was felt.
She had marks but that was a very dear price even with the discount she
was sure she was getting. And what it would mean to J'nus, who would
probably recognize how fine the craftsmanship was, and how much it had
been and -

Well, a piece like _that_ symbolized a lot about a relationship. Was
she ready for it?

Setting the sextant down he picked up a compass and offered it to her for a
closer look. "Now each o' these is a finely crafted piece, ya kin look
closely an' see tha details vary but any one I could offer ya quite
reasonable." Indeed, the price he quoted was very fair if not his absolute
best. He knew better than to gouge a goldrider on price, but he was still
a businessman.

She admired one of the compasses with a handsome bronze color. It reminded
her of Kopth, and she grinned. "This one looks like his dragon's color."

"Aye, that's a handsome piece that any man could be proud o'. I'll
even knock down tha price fer ye if, ye could send my way a
rider wi' a mind ta barter fer transport. I've many an item a young
dragonman might covet."

She took a moment to consider who might be the most eager. "Are you
alright with blueriders, sir? There's a young man from Topaz SeaHold,
born to the sea before he found his dragon, would know anywhere
coastal you need to go as well as the standard reference points.
Otherwise I think I can find a good brownrider."

"I'm too ol' ta worry much 'bout tha color o' tha dragon or wot it
means. Jest lookin' fer a transport an' don' 'ave time fer a sea
voyage. If ya know someone might be willin' ta barter fer it, it'd be
worth a third the price o' that compass if you'd jest send 'im my way."

"Then I think you'll like Z'von. And if he likes you well enough
perhaps you'll find more transport opportunities. When do you need to
go?"

"Ol' sea bird like me don' 'ave much o' a schedule. Learned long ago
ta roll wi' tha tides. Sometime in tha next month or so be right nice. Ya
be wantin' that compass wrapped up wi' a hide aroun' tha box?"

She nodded. "I want to surprise him with it. And do you want to hear how
ankhe takes it?"

His face crinkling even more, Gim offered a broad smile at her question,
"Indeed, tha'd be right nice! Not a treat I git too oft'n." After closing
the box to the compass, he took it behind the counter where he had some
hides set aside for this purpose. What a fortunate day it had been and what
an impressive woman Kapera was. He could only hope the patronage of the
prestigious customer was noted by many. What a yarn this would make for
the Tavern tonight - the lovely goldrider coming into _his_ shop for a
special gift.

"Well then, I promise to let you know how J'nus takes it. Thanks again,"
she said as she reached for her marks. This had been quite the transaction.

Last updated on the January 10th 2015

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