The day had started many hours ago and the sun was now at the highest point in the sky. But the creature was not hot despite it all. Luminescent gaze looked around as she spread out her crafts in front of her on an old hide that she had dried out with the salts of the sea. Ears flicked at the sounds of the waves crashing against the shoreline. Her tail lazily grazed the water as she placed seashells on the hide, only the best and brightest ones for her store. The Lachox wanted to trade favors to make her home even more beautiful. Next to the seashells were pearls, fresh fish and seagull eggs laid out nicely and in a row. {Perfect.} Nodding to herself, she sent out a chuff into the air. Calling for any client to come do trades and sales with her.
her betrothed had disappeared - and gemini couldn't say she was sorry to see him go he seemed to hate her as much as she'd hated the situation, but there had been nothing to second-born daughter could do about that. what mother-dearest said went, at least until hollyhock stepped up to take the throne. if, she thinks, hollyhock proves to be different than their mother ( and then she winces to think that she's even compared the two; holly would be mortified ).
the royal shakes her long snout and folds her ears to her skull, eyes briefly closing as she tips her head into the warm touch of the sun. it's almost tangible here at the shore and gemini finds herself drawn here time and time again, especially in the fierce grip of wintertide, to escape the cold halls of the cordillera. she likes to pretend it's just the temperature that chases her from the high court because it's easier to lie to herself, and everyone else, than admit that she hates her mother right now. that, perhaps, she always has.
so she meanders among the merchants who hawk their various trinkets and wares with the soft hum of the ocean just behind them. gemini has foregone her crown, today, tucking it carefully into the pouch that's tied to her leg ( lest her mother flay her alive for not having it with her at all ) and instead has slipped a scarf around her neck, carefully hiding her long, long mane that has anyone who's seen the secondborn daughter of the matriarch knowing her on sight.
she feels almost anonymous as she makes appreciate hums and coos at the jewelry that stretches out before her.
@Sedna's spread catches her eye as she makes her way along the shore, the vibrant woman's shells and pearls making her heart do a little flutter. one in particular catches her attention, a pearl the color of the moons in the yrosian sky and a seashell that's as bright blue as the sea itself that holds them. she reaches a paw out, as if to touch them, but jerks away with a sheepish smile. {beautiful,} she proclaims, lifting her luminescent gaze to the lachox. {may i ask your price?}
Soon, the market flooded with those who were merchants also setting up and the buyers in which everyone tried to haggle in a sale. The she-wolf looked around, answering questions who approached but only a few shells were sold through the morning. Then came up another to her little area, nearly touching the prized possessions and Sedna could only smile. {The pearls are... more than what most can afford.} Raising a brow, despite her knowledge of the High Court, she was not deep within the confines to care beyond knowing there was the Matriarch. The Dusk Court held her alliance and her craft held her soul. Like a mirror staring back with her gaze, Sedna pointed to the blue shell. {This will cost two fish or equivalent trade.}
The costs of the pearls, they varied on pricing between the more blemished to the flawless. The trade would need to be worth it to Sedna for her to sell them. Even the most blemished one she sold earlier than morning had handed her flawless pelts and a healing poultice. {What do you offer in exchange?} Picking up a slightly blemished but not the more blemished pearl in her selling collections, she held it in her paw.
her statement brings a knowing smirk to gemini's lips and she tips her head down slightly in an attempt to hide it. there were so many times she wished she could simply tell the lot who she was, offer them whatever she could give, but allmother knows she'll be either swamped with those who like the high court.... and those who did not. given that she was not supposed to be trained in physical skills, for protection or not, she supposes it's smart to remain anonymous. a stranger in a sea of faces. but that doesn't mean the spoiled princess doesn't rear her head once in a while.
she clears her throat, shifting her weight onto on hip and reaching around to snag a gold bracer from the bag slung over her shoulder. it was impeccably made, nary a mismark in the curve, and she holds it to the merchant with a little flourish. a single ruby sits in the center and her heart gives a little ping to think she's giving it away. it's sentimental in some ways, an early gift from her mother, but not enough that she is desperate to hold onto it.
physical gifts given to a forgotten daughter as a means of buying her affection were... unimportant.
the pearls would be a lovely gift to hollyhock, anyway, and perhaps she could keep one for herself. {would this suffice?} it may not be a fish, but the gold could surely fetch a price. or so she hopes.
The sea-coated wolf would eye the stranger, a smirk still on her lips as her paw held the pearl with ease and care. Wondering what the buyer would trade in return for the little white oyster-made ball in her possession. Sedna watched as the pouch on the hip was dug into, curious of all the treasures within it. But what was pulled out set her back. What was being offered was not just anything. A gold bracer with a single ruby. {Oh, my, my, my.} Setting down the pearl to the remainders, she carefully studied the bracer. Musing with herself, she gathered into a small animal fur multiple items. The blue seashell and four of the most pristine of her pearls were tucked in.
Sedna smirked as she moved over the fur filled with her bought prizes before holding her paw out for the bracer. {Such a pretty, delicate prize.. surely, you do not truly want to depart from this?} She wanted to just snatch it, but her manners proved to be stronger as she waited patiently with out stretched limb.
she gets a bargain, she thinks - the shell and four pearls. she would deny such a prize, but it would only make her stick out worse than she already does, with such an item to trade. the merchant is clearly interested and she smiles vaguely, a paw flicking in the air in something like dismissal. {i know the crafter,} gemini promises, winking a ruby eye at sedna. {i can plead with him to make another.} and what she means by this is that if she so desires, she can merely demand another be made ( not that she is usually so crass ). but the pearls? they were something unique, created by the earth rather than a canine paw or gift.
she nods her head, gently placing the bracer amongst the other trinkets. {please,} gemini promises with a softer smile, gathering her traded items and stashing them in her bag.
{how hard is it to harvest such fine pearls? surely the ocean doesn't give them up easily.} she's always been envious - jealous? - of the gifts of the lachox, able to dive beneath the surface of the wild sea that all but surrounds their country. she feels so very trapped at any given moment that the freedom to swim out further than a few feet is a sweet dream to her.
Given a telling that the stranger knew the crafter and could get another one made, her interest piqued. {I am a lady of the craft and the water. But this is something special. Mhm.} As the buyer placed the bracer among her trinkets before picking up and stowing away her buys, the Lachox couldn't help but to try and snag a peek of the bag contents, with no luck. Her own form shifted to place the newly acquired item safely with her other traded acquirements.
At the sound of a question being asked, luminance gaze looked back up to the stranger. An inquiry on how hard it was to harvest such jewels from the sea and she could only slyly smile. {The ocean does not give up her beauty easily.} Lifting her front paws, she showed the scarring on them from the efforts of collecting such treasures. {She is treacherous to those who do not belong within her grasp, but those who are, get rewarded.} The corals were rough, clams and oysters difficult to pry open without losing a toe, it took great skill to fetch the pearls without killing the creature that made them.
something special, the buyer croons and gemini has to smother her smile - if only the merchant knew how special. perhaps when she has a moment to inspect the bracer more closely she'll find the royal seal, but by then the second daughter intends to be long gone, ducked back into the crowd or sequestered back in the high court proper.
but for now she remains free; heart light, pockets heavy.
the scars that twine the woman's forelegs make her wince, visibly. she barely quiets the hissing breath sucked between her teeth and wonders if it is very obvious how unaware she is of the world and the injuries one gets on a daily basis. her life has been cushioned, spoiled even, despite her bravado and claims of swordplay skill.
it's plain how uneducated she is on, well, everything.
{you've a great skill to offer the country,} gemini admits softly, lifting her gaze from the gnarled scar tissue. {might i have your name? i would recommend your wares to others.} she promises, tipping her tall ears back and offering a faint smile of her dark lips.
Her ears and eyes are not deaf nor blind at the visible wince and sounds of disproval given by the other wolf. Sedna lowered her leg and shifted to shit back down, placing her tail around her hindquarters. Her gaze didn't leave the figure in front of her at the question of her name. {I am Sedna of House Titheridge. May I have yours?} Head was tilted just slightly as she rose a brow. Anyone could give any name, but a name was a name regardless. The blue wolf was merely an artist, out in the world to show off her crafts.