With the afternoon sun setting right on top of the city center all the merchants have gathered under the shade of open tents and promise of cool refreshments by Lazarus Mercier. As people began to gather so did the conversation and while at the moment collected, there was a lot of concern in the air about the King and what the future holds. Lazarus stands up and says, "Friends and family, we have endured much worse and still are here. No matter what the future holds there will always be need for people like us!"

Whatever else might be going on, the dark-haired head of Princess Donella, tied with a piece of watered scarlet silk can be seen as she walks from merchant's stand, to booth, to cart. It puts her, drably dressed as a sparrow amongst peafowl, in a perfect position to hear Lazarus speak when he stands. She folds her arms, and turns to hear what sort of people he refers to.

With Lazarus addressing the gathered merchants, the conversation turns to him. A merchant asks about nobles enroaching in their business, using their fame to drive sales away. Another concurs and speaks about the lack of opportunity for the little guy. Lazarus raises his tea, which is what is being served. A Mercier brand. He takes a drink and laughs, "No opportunity for the small guy? My friend, either you are a moron or blind. I can open up a shop here in the blink of an eye. No questions asked. Now is the time for the little guy. Those that endure, preseerve."

Donella cups her hand to her lips, and calls, "There is no noble house as friendly to the cause of the merchanting families of Arx as the Thrax are. Our fortunes, our livelihoods are tied together, and when the tide rises, we do well together. Three of every four crates that come upon our shores do it in the holds of Thrax-Crewed ships. Yet when I walk my own district, I do not see merchants from other places willing to open shops there... What stops you?"

It's hard to miss Saedrus in a crowd what with the summer shades of silk he's wrapped in. It was probably the overheard conversation that there was tea being served on his walk through the city that led him here. He makes a languid pace towards where the merchants are all speaking, a snippet over heard and the courtesan smiles to himself. "Fame is one thing, but skill and talent another entirely. If there is a market there for a product it will always sell, no matter who started the business." He comments, glancing up towards Lazarus with kind smile. Attention turned towards Donella, only noticing the woman when she speaks.


The table grows quiet when Donella reveals herself. Lazarus gaze is drawn to Saedrus as he takes another sip of his tea but is quickly turn to Donella, missing what Saedrus had to say. He chuckles, "They would not tell you, your highness and I think there lies the issue?" Lazarus stands up and offers Donella a bow, "Lazarus Mercier and I hear the Thrax district is one of the most secure. It would behoove any merchant to build a warehouse there."

Donella inclines her head in polite response to the mannered bow. See? At least one Thrax can be spoken with peaceably. "I think you are correct, Master Mercier, and a pity that be, because we would welcome your commerce, if you chose to do so. Strength is a selling point our people pride themselves on." She nods also to the others at the table, regarding them each with a glance. "What do you specialize in, Master Lazarus?"

Like the rest of the crowd Saedrus stays quiet, his head turned to look back over his shoulder towards Donella. The courtesan for the time being remained unspeaking, and instead inclined and cast his eyes about the city center for that tea he'd heard talk about. Not that he wasn't paying attention mind.


Lazarus motions for her to join his table by standing up and pulling out a chair for her. The merchants at this table were all served tea and some of the orders were beginning to scatter out toward Saedrus. It was a Mercier servant girl that approaches Saedrus and gives him the tea even though he was walking away. She was hush about it hoping to lure the courtesan back to group for her own gains. At the table Lazarus says to Donella, "Join us, join us. The Mercier business is weddings." A grin forms on his face, "Our wedding wines are quiet popular and new because of the variety of grapes we grow. We have recently entered the tea business and are curious about places to settle in that likes to work with us."

Donella asks then, "Will you allow a Voice to sit amongst you and listen to your cares? I thank you, then. I would like to be better versed in what weighs upon your minds, as well as your purse strings. We all have people to provide for." She slides into the offered seat, smiling with pleasure at the gesture. I give my word to be a courteous guest in your midst." She tilts her head, and asks, "Only weddings? If this is an exceptional new wine, how is your supply of it? I have a special occassion, but it is not a wedding. What do you call it?"

Saedrus smiled to the Mercier girl when she catches up to him with the tea, which is takes with a warm smile and some soft spoken thanks. "Perhaps," the courtesan speaks up, having wandered his way through the crowd towards the table, "you should consider the Lyceum wards. After all, the wine business is rather over run, but tea is a rarity. And when visited upon by other Houses they would think more kindly of the tea. It could be quite profitable."


Lazarus smiles, leaning back to sit comfortably on his chair. "I concur." He diverts his gaze from Donella to look at the other merchants whom have now turned to their own hushed conversation. This brings a subtle chuckle and shake of his head from Lazarus to the princess, "Mercier had made its mark in the experimental. We make wines for all occassions but considering weddings to be such an important part for a house, it is where we have focused our expertise." Saedrus words take Lazarus' attention for a moment and he motions for the man to join them, "The more the merrier. I mean, I can not see why we can not work together." He smirks to the courtesan, "You do have a point."

Donella says, "Indeed, he is right. That sort of novelty could go a long ways... particularly when paired with the agricultural interests of the city states, or amongst those who do not drink morning, noon, and night. They have many orchards, whose produce would be very fine, served with, or infused into a tea. Custom teas for particular events, or patricular patrons..."

Saedrus makes his way up to the table, tea in hand. There is first a gracious bow to Donella, before a second to Lazarus and a smile at large for the merchants gathered at the table. "Thank you, Master Lazarus," as he takes a seat at the table, crossing one leg over the other. The courtesan smile brightly to Donella, "tea infused wine? That is a rich thought." Tasty sounding too, "what has spurred the branching into tea for the Merciers, Master Lazarus? Surely weddings and exemplary wine keeps the family in business enough."


Saedrus has joined the Merchants Table.

Donella has joined the Merchants Table.

Lazarus agrees with a nod and when Saedrus joins them, he responds to the courtesan with a reserved chuckle, "In the Mercier household we believe in adapting to overcome. The efforts I invest in our tea does not affect our wine trade and only strengthens the Mercier vault." He clears his throat and drinks more tea, "Like you two, I felt that there was not a lot of options when it came to sober drinking. I grew tea as a hobby and the family felt it would be an interesting avenue." Lazarus then shifts back to Donella inquirying, "Tell me about your special occassion, your highness. I would be honor to provide you options from the House Mercier."

"I am holding a memorial banquet in the streets, for Her Majesty," Donella confesses, without even a trace of a smile. "She was my aunt, and I was on Maelstrom when her body was committed. She was a good Queen; she would have wanted the people of the city to be taken care of, in whatever way. The very least I can do is to keep her memory alive, and honored."

Saedrus finally gets around to actually sipping the tea he's been hunting all this while. Eyes cast across the rim of the cup for a silent taste. A moment spent savouring the sip as Lazarus speaks, the long haired Lycene nods agreeably, a small smile over growing tea as a hobby. "I am sure it will be a great addition." A look then as Lazarus and Donella converse, Saedrus takes a moment to consider the other merchants all speaking amongst each other. The courtesan takes another sip of tea, and stands from his seat with an apologetic bow to those present. "Thank you for the tea," he says to Lazarus then bows more formally to Donella. Saedrus excuses himself from the table, making unhurried pace back through the city center.


Saedrus has left the Merchants Table.

Lazarus nods to Saedrus as he departs them and then returns his attention to the princess. A smile on his face as he listens to her, "That is very considerate. She was everyone's queen and a lot of the commoners did not have a chance to mourn her. Not with the attack and all." He adjusts himself on his seat and pulls a journal from his breast-pocket. With a small piece of charcoal point, he begins to jot some information down. "Will it be held during the night or day? If those details have not been determined, I can bring you a couple samples. Cooler wines for the heat and sugary ones for the night."

Donella answers the Mercier, "I prefer the evening, so that the maximum number of people can have a chance to attend, and be fed, but I can be flexible as I am still looking for an appropriate source of foodstuffs. I would like to buy a sampling of your teas, as well, if that would be agreeable?"

Lazarus smiles, reaching over to his stock and from the crates of tea, he pulls a packaged sampled of his tea which he offers to Donella, "As a gift to celebrate business in the Thrax Ward." He resettles on his seat and says to her, "Perhaps I can assist you with the foodstuffs. I know a couple local farmers with an excellent streak for care of their crops. In return, your highness, you could help us secure a spot in the Thrax ward?"

Donella takes the tea from him with a broad smile. "Thank you ever so much! I do not know if I mentioned it before, but I don't imbibe much, and it can make social settings awkward. ... Do you prefer your storehouse in the open, with a lot of visibility, or more out of the way? Because there are some excellent places near Crimson Square. The other location, the Lament, is not really I place I would bring non-Thrax clients. A large building there would be more of a view-breaker, than a showpiece."

Lazarus smiles to Donella and nods, "I understand your plight as I do not partake in vice. Yes, it can make business very complicated." He chuckles, "But I suppose that is why the gods favored us with a pretty smile." Lazarus clears his throat at the talk of business and says to her, "The one in Crimson Square is in the open?"

Donella flashes that self-same feature, with a laugh. She drinks of her little cup, and says piously, "My praise to the pantheon for their many blessings." To answer his question, she responds, "It would abut our center of commerce. The most noteworthy property there is the Ebb and Flow, our local watering hole."

Lazarus nods slowly, watching her with a calculative glance as he drinks his tea. "The Ebb and Flow." He says mostly to himself to ponder for a moment before asking Donella, "Would they not take offense to a stranger enroaching in their territory? People can be very... Passionate about their business."

Donella says, "No. Business is our passion. If you will visit, you can see for yourself, and judge whether the site is appropriate. The tavern is not really the sort of business where wine makes it out of the cellars very often. The patrons are mostly common sailors. They prefer grogs, rums, brandies... spirits."

Lazarus smiles and leans back, "That sounds perfect. Could we arrange a time another day to visit the site. I would very much appreciate your input." The young man sets his tea to the side and allows his eyes to drift about watching the merchants slowly close up their shop. "Time has escaped me." He chuckles.

Donella turns as if to notice it. "And me as well. But all to good purpose, if our relations turn out to be prosperous. Please, feel free to send me a messenger whenever you would like to see the space. I am often close to home in the evenings. It has been my pleasure to meet you, Master Mercier."

Lazarus stands up in respect to Donella and bows politely, "I will do just that your highness. Thank you for this opportunity." The Mercier staff themselves have begun to collect and close up shop.

Donella has left the Merchants Table.