"Wow. Thanks......No one's really given me somethin good as a gift on their own accord befofe....so this means a lot."

Balthur snorts and shrugs, but looks flattered. "Well, I'm not the sorta guy who likes to leave debts unpaid. Especially life debts. If it were me, I would say I hadn't really paid you back enough... but if you're happy, that's fine with me. I figured these things would help save your lives someday."

Knight squints at the harness inquisitively, poking his nose into one of the loops and getting stuck. He wriggles around, growling.

Balthur laughs, and Knight gives him a look full of pure venom. "You'd better help him - he'll bite my arm off if I do it now. I'll keep an eye on the cart just now - you've got the rest of the day to see if there's anything you want to get from any of the market stalls."

"I didn't have time," I say guiltily. "There's always next time though."

He nods. "Next time, for sure. No worries - Elves are always around somewhere, they'll still be there when we return." He yawns, snuggling into the egg. "Long day of flying ahead of us. Better rest up while we can."

Nicote helps Knight out, then goes to the stalls.

"I rescued her and a group of familiars," I tell Numbat, "that's why we need to cross the bridge and it's being guarded by centars. I'm trying to get the familiars back to their families."

"Woah. I'd heard of the awful Familiar trade that was going on... I didn't know they were stealing babies! That's horrible!" he takes off his hat and scratches his head. "Well, now, Numbat doesn't like the sound of that."

Suddenly he jumps up, a grin on his face. "I could help! You're crossing the bridge to get to the Northern territories, right? I've travelled all over the Northern territories. Well, a bit. But a lot! Probably," he trails off. "I've been there! I could help. At the very least, I could buy you passage over the bridge."

i nod at my work and start to get to work whistling a tone

You head to the great mining cavern and set to work, hacking away at the stone. You keep on whistling your cheery tune, though, and get on with the backbreaking work.

+1 Stamina

Unfortunately, you don't find any important minerals. You do make the beginnings of your own tunnel though.

A whistle echoes throughout the cavern, and other Dwarves stop their work and head out. Seems like work is over for today. Maybe you'll have more luck tomorrow.

Delirious decides the most logical strategy might be to begin a small loop around the building, looking out for any less obvious entrances that may hopefully be unlocked. Even though it looks like no one is about it wouldn't hurt to keep her eyes wide open, she didn't want to get snuck up on.

(:P)

You do so, creeping around the building with sharp eyes.

Round the back there is a small metal door. Thing is, it's locked. Perhaps the keys are around here somewhere...

Nicote helps Knight out, then goes to the stalls.

Knight leaves the harness with Balthur and trots after you, interest glinting in his eyes for the various things being sold around here.

There are various stalls, most things being strange items from distant lands, shipped in here through the canal from the seas of Anaia. There are all sorts of tools, equipment and sculptures around.

He cant' decide what to get. "Want anything, Knight?"

You head to the great mining cavern and set to work, hacking away at the stone. You keep on whistling your cheery tune, though, and get on with the backbreaking work.
+1 Stamina
Unfortunately, you don't find any important minerals. You do make the beginnings of your own tunnel though.
A whistle echoes throughout the cavern, and other Dwarves stop their work and head out. Seems like work is over for today. Maybe you'll have more luck tomorrow.

i head out also and look for somewhere to sleep for the night