"You sure you don't want me to find you a pair of boots? Its not... safe to walk around without footwear in the streets" Benchan asked gently as he walked beside the young woman, the inhuman woman, into the streets of Keepsal. 

He wasn't sure if the people were giving a respectful berth because the Lord's master of the guard was walking in full uniform, one hand on the sword at his hip; or if because his companion had the pale skin, feline features and pointed ears of a creature not quite human. 

She moved silently, her body toned and lithe, but  more like a predator, a fighter, than most people were used to. She had been quiet since leaving the Keep, brooding almost. And the Fey was on a war path to get out of the city as quickly as possible, pausing only once as the breeze picked up, letting it play through her hair for a moment before they continued trekking through the dirty streets towards the nearest gate.

"You're probably right. The stones feel dead, the earth has no connection to itself... I've just never worn them before. Soft ones, lined with fur for when I've been in the mountains. But the hard soled, tall leather things you have? How can you stand clomping around with them on?" She glanced to his feet, then back up to him, shuddering.

"You get used to it, I suppose." Benchan offered a shrug in return, smiling softly to her. "Are you actually coming back?"

Verana paused, giving him an odd look, before she tilted her head up and took in a slow breath. "I smell something delicious."

"That's Baker's Street. We can take that road to the Farmer's gate if you would like." He paused then, letting out a curse and feeling the panic rise in him. "You must be starving. You haven't eaten at all."

"I am, actually. What's a Baker?" She followed him as they turned down the wide street lined with various produce stands, bakeries and butcher's shops. Watching  the transactions with curiosity, her eyes flickering as she watched people move and speak with one another, studying them with an inhuman fascination that caused him to shiver.

"They.. Bake.... Things. Like bread, or sweets, pies or, well, half the things you eat on a daily basis." Benchan had never been asked that question before and it took a couple moments to realize that she may not actually have something of the sort in the woods.

"The shops closer to the Keep are the ones that most of the higher class people go to, they make the fancy things, sweet breads, expensive treats. The further you go along, the more salt of the earth it gets. Some of them are better than the ones up top, but they bake more useful things, like entire meals in a pie, treats that the poorer people can afford, buns for the charitable houses." He pointed out butchers and produce stands, explaining their purposes too, walking with her as she made her way down the street, nodding to show that she was listening to him.

"This one looks fine." She stopped in front of a small shop near to the end of the road, filled with utilitarian looking breads and pies, where a middle aged woman stood behind the counter, speaking with another woman.

Benchan smiled, watching the baker laugh with her customer, before he caught himself and remembered Verana was watching him intently. "This is my favourite, she's the best baker in Keepsal, Morningside and quite possibly the entire kingdom. It is the only bakery I ever go to here in town."

Verana grinned at that, giving him an amused look and chuckling softly, "Is it the food, or her company that makes you say that, Sir Benchan?"

He jerked and turned to look at her in shock his brows raising, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. "Her baking. The food. I don't have time to be seeking out female company. " The Fey-woman's laughter followed him as he strode into the shop, flushed red, feeling like a young paige for the first time in decades.

The two women stopped their conversation and smiled in greeting to him before taking in sharp breaths, their expressions losing the mirth and relaxation from moments before.  Behind him, Verana stalked, silent as death into the bakery. Verana glanced at the two women, then turned to look at the display of baked goods, her expression suddenly shuddered, mysterious and unapproachable.

"Sir Benchan, you're usually not here for another couple hours. This is Greylin, she's the blacksmith I told you about. She's travelled the world to learn how to make the best weapons, she was hoping to settle here in Keepsal." Mirabel said easily, though the shrewd woman's eyes watched Verana with an unasked questions.

"Ms Mirabel has told me a great deal about you, its fortunate that I get to meet you." Greylin seemed embarrassed, though it didn't last long with the Fey hunting  through the displays behind him, "Mirabel brags for me, but I have travelled a bit. I can make a strong blade, but right now I'm working with the farriers. And I'm sure you're here for reasons other than being harassed by people looking for work at the Keep. " The smith's handshake was firm, though her eyes didn't remain on him for very long before returning to Verana.

"Ms Mirabel, Miss Greylin. This is Lady Veranandein of the Feysha. She's been indisposed at the keep for a while and I told her this was the best place to get something to eat." Benchan nodded towards the woman they were looking at, who was still seemingly ignoring them. 

He recognized the expression, the same look of ignorance that had his men thinking she couldn't speak their language, or was perhaps lacking in sense. He wondered if it were a defensive expression for the Fey, something to give her time to assess whom she was dealing with.

"The one they said Lord Samyel captured last night? They're just letting her go? Why is she here?" Mirabel asked in a hushed whisper, frowning when Benchan gave her a firm shake of his head.

"Do... you make any of these pies with human?" Veranandein asked suddenly, turning and looking to the three of them, grinning wickedly.

Benchan almost groaned, raising one hand to pinch the top of his nose as Greylin let out a curse and squared her shoulders. This nonhuman was mischievous, the myths got that rightist seemed. 

But before he could say anything, Mirabel snorted and shook her head, humour twinkling in her eyes. "We most certainly do not. Its pork today, with potatoes, carrots and turnips, some left over beef gravy to tie it all together. Would you like a slice?"

"Sounds delicious." Veranandein grinned as she took the pie off the shelf, bringing it to the counter and gently placing it down.  "I'll take the whole pie."

"That's half a gold mark." Mirabel said slowly, frowning , her arms crossing over her chest. Mirable was generous but obviously didn't quite trust the Fey. 

Benchan shook his head and reached into his armour for his money purse, frowning as the Fey flipped an unstamped gold coin onto the counter without so much as a moment's hesitation.

"I don't really know how to break it in half, so you can have the whole thing." Veranandein said easily, before she lifted a slice of the pie and began eating voraciously. She was on the second piece by the time Mirabel was able to take the coin test its legitimacy and turn back to her.

"It's better warmed up. I can put it on the oven for you, if you're going to eat it now, girl." But Benchan could see the amusement starting to trickle into Mira's features, her guard falling as she watched the young girl eat like someone starving.

Benchan silently hoped that the baker's ire wouldn't be turned on him when she realized that Verana was, in fact, starving. 

Verana shook her head and responded once her mouth was clear of food, "no, I don't know if I could deal with something that tasted better than this. This is great. Thank you."

Mirabel turned away again, grinning proudly as she grabbed a napkin and utensils, pushing it to the girl and offering a gentle nod. "You're probably going to tell me that you haven't eaten since before you came into town, embarrass a proud citizen of Keepsal at the deplorable treatment to our guests. But I am glad that your first exposure to our hospitality is in my shop." 

Mirabel's expression changed to the ire he had expected, turning from where she watched Verana, back to him.

Benchan blinked, pulling his eyes from Mirabel to look at Veranandein and the now empty pie plate. "Bloody hell, Lady, my Lord is going to be none too happy to know you were so famished."

"It has to do with more than just the day without food." Veranandein muttered and used the napkin to gingerly wipe her face. Her expression grew distant for a moment, as she  rubbed the raw wounds around her wrists "And there's no need for a title. I said we don't use them amongst the Feysha. Actually, I'd prefer you just call me Verana. I have a feeling, that no matter what else is decided, you are a friend, Benchan."

"Then call me Ben... Verana." He stumbled over the informal name, but inclined his head and smiled to her. "Was I right? Mirabel is the best Baker in town."

Verana grinned and nodded, giving him a thoughtful, mischievous look, "You said the Kingdom, to be honest. But she lives up to your praise."

Greylin shifted slightly, nodding to the group, "I don't mean to be rude, but I do need to get back to work, before I am fired...It was nice meeting you Sir Benchan, Lady Veranandein."

Verana turned to look at the smith, her expression changing one to careful consideration as she took in the blacksmith.  "Verana, please. And you say you make weapons?"

"I have the training and facilities to do so, yes." Greylin nodded slowly, her expression growing uncertain as she found herself under the Fey's intense, unwavering gaze

"Can you make swords similar to this?" She pulled out one of her blades smoothly and offered it hilt first to the Smith. Greylin let let out a low whistle as she inspected it and Benchan swore he could hear the metal continuing the sing through the air long after it should have stopped.

"The technique for this specific blade has been lost, they say it came from the angels themselves. There is no Smith alive who could exactly replicate this sword." Greylin blushed and shook her head, moving to offer it back to Verana, who held up a hand to stall her.

"But you could make blades similar to this style, of good quality in comparison to what is being made currently?" Verana's focus was intent on Greylin , as if she could sense a lie or bending of the truth if she concentrated hard enough.

Greylin spun the blade, inspecting it once more, before nodding confidently. "If you just want a good, functional blade like this, I can. It would cost about seven times what you paid for that pie. If you want the artistry, the cost goes up to ten."

Verana nodded at that, taking the sword back and sheathing it finally. "Excellent. Do what you believe the swords need.  I will pay the price you ask."

Benchan frowned then, turning to look at the fey with a growing understanding. Humans gave them their swords but the Fey protected the land and certainly didn't mine it for steel any of the ore that was used in weapons. "How many do you need, Verana?"

"I'll have an answer for Miss Greylin when I return in the morning. Thank you." Verana nodded to the smith, who grinned widely at that, clearly trying to calculate what this commission would mean for her future prospects. 

Before anyone else could speak, Verana turned to Mirabel and offered a sheepish smile, "You said that I ate what could feed a family in need for a couple days. I don't understand how some people could have everything they need and others could barely survive. But I do understand the need to share when there is plenty, how many more of those meals do you have made today?"

Mirabel blushed just slightly and glanced towards the shelf, then back to Verana. "There's six left that aren't already sold."

"Alright. I'll take another one." Verana put down another gold coin though Ben couldn't understand where the coins had come from. She wasn't reaching into any pockets, they just appeared in her hands as she put them down on the counter. Like the five others that soon followed the first.  "And you will give the remaining five to those who need it."

"But Lady, you're over paying! They're worth half that." Mirabel shook her head, her eyes widening, watering with emotion. 

"Well, they're worth double what I've paid, but I understand you are providing to those who can't afford them and adjust the price accordingly. That makes you a good person, Ms Mirabel." Verana said firmly, offering an expression that would not be budged.  

After a moment, Verana put a small coin purse down on the counter beside the two stacks of coins. "You will do this every day for the next month. It doesn't have to be the same people, but feed those in need of it. And if you profit from it too, remember to help those who don't have plenty."

Mirabel shook her head, fighting back the tears that already began running down her cheeks with the end of her apron. When she had dried her eyes from sheer stubbornness and squared her shoulders,  she gave the Fey woman as firm a look as she could give with tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes. "You will take something else, then. For all this. Something worthy of the highest society. Believe me, I can make it, I was trained in the palace."

Benchan blinked and turned to look at the baker. "You were?"

Verana grinned and reached up to squeeze his shoulder, "Alright. Ms Mirabel. I don't know what that could mean, but I'll be back tomorrow. Make your absolutely most fantastic dish and I will share it with you. We will break bread and be friends, for that is how my people build relationships. And make one for the Keep as well. Benchan will deliver it to them, as a gift from me?"

"Of course." Mirabel nodded, smiling widely at the woman in front of her, clearly won over by the Fey.

"I saw the gate before we entered this shop, I can smell the earth and find my way out." Verana murmured to Benchan. She took a step back and bowing over her steepled hands  to the three of them with the same respect that she had given the King. "Earth's blessing to all of you. I'll see you all tomorrow."

She gently grabbed one of the remaining pies from the shelves and carried it out the door without another sound, leaving them standing in dumbfounded silence.

"I just agreed to make a gift for the Lord of Morningside and the King of this entire bloody Kingdom..." Mirabel shook her head as she picked up the gold, putting it into the money purse and then slipping it into her apron. "Why is she here, Ben?"

"Her people believe a danger is coming to the island and she claims Humans were allowed to settle here because they agreed to answer the call to war when that day came. She came to ask us to fight with her people." Benchan rubbed a palm along his stubbled cheek, thinking it over for the first time since it all happened. He did not have faith in his fellow man to honour whatever deals had been made nearly a thousand years before.

"Which is why she wants swords." Greylin murmured, nodding in thought and looking to him. "Look, I know that I could step on toes, if the King and his Lordship decide to renege on that promise and I give her people weapons, but..."

Benchan shook his head, "No. Do what you do. Make them. I will talk to Lord Shelby. If it comes down to a fracture between us and the Feysha and you don't deliver, you will be compensated." Even if they had to garnish his wages, he wouldn't let the young woman pay for the mistakes of the lordlings who ran this country.

Greylin offered an inclined head before turning and taking her leave without much else.  Mirabel  had swung into action, packaging up ten of the remaining pies in silence before looking to him, "You know those two young mothers I try to employ as much as possible in my shop, when I can afford it, Ben?"

"Yeah, their husbands went to sea and decided not to come home." He inclined his head, quirking a brow.

"Four of the pies, two each family, go to them. The other six go to the orphanage. Can you do this for me?"

When he nodded, she continued, "When you get back, I will have the King's gift ready and you can take it back there. I think you need time to think about what you're going to report to you Lord. And don't you try to deny it, or try to say that you would never hide anything from him. I know you can make wise counsel to those lot, when the time comes for it."

Benchan didn't know what to say, so he just grumbled gruffly under his breath and took the pies as carefully as he could. He didn't have a chance to say good bye as Mirable was already in her back shop working. He let out a slow breath before striding out the door, telling himself that things were going to remain the same as they always had been.