"Ha! No problem little one!" he said wiping off his clothes and smiling. "Nothing a little water won't fix!" he looked at the girl inquisitively. "Why are you going to go after the prince? You only looked to be that of a seven year old. And just so you know, seven comes four numbers after three." He said smiling before the man blundered into him. He had felt his coin purse leave his side. He also saw it drop on the floor. Through the crowd he couldn't see the man but would find him after everyone cleared out. He had gotten a vague but well enough look at the man. He would be left until later.

Staring incredulously at the man, Tali edged a little closer, still wary. She had fallen for similar tricks often enough. His question as to her motives made her jump a bit, not expecting to be spoken to so kindly. "Ta Prince is nice ta mes," she responded shrugging. "He gaves mes a gold coins befuh."

The man who bumped into Burner had also knocked her back onto her tush, which was beginning to feel a little bruised. Angrily, she whipped out her knife and sliced his bootlaces, almost faster than the eyes could follow. In about as much time, she had her knife hidden again, and was rising to her feet. "Yous okay?" she asked Burner, staring where the man had gone.

Celestria was surprised when she heard the door open, it had caught her off guard. Her hazel eyes wide and her eyebrows were raised as she saw a female come out. The words that escaped from the other female's mouth were haughty. Celestria's eyes narrowed, she hated when people talked as if they were superior than others, it took her much self control to not slap the woman in front of her. "I could ask you the same question, who are you and what were you doing in the throne room?" her voice was cool as she retorted back too the lady.

With out bothering to reply to the woman's question she turned on her heel and headed too the courtyard. She had seen several people down there while she was waiting in front of the throne room. Celestria's steps were small and graceful and she went down the stairs, she shook her head, the thought of that woman made her angry. Celestria pulled on white hood once more, she looked around and saw she had reached the outer circle of the courtyard. She cautiously stepped in, she saw a group of people.

Being a rather shy soul she kept away and instead took too inspecting the plants. There was a beautiful rose bush, though there weren't any roses on the bush yet she could see a few buds. But judging by the leaves colours she could tell that winter would probably going to come early. She let her fingers run over the leaves careful of the thorns.

From within the palace a pair of guards brought out a wooden platform and placed it next to the king. Trailing in their wake was a man of small stature with wizened features that happened to include careworn eyes and a short, neatly trimmed white beard. This man stepped up onto the platform as the guards snapped to attention on either side of him. He thumped the staff he had been carrying against the platform three times and silence fell over the courtyard.

"Hear ye, hear ye.. in the names of Their Majesties, King Eoldor and Queen Liene, I humbly request that ye milling occupants of the courtyard do form five neat rows that we may begin the process of passing out supplies!"

Stunned by the force of the small man's command, the milling crowd was quick to follow his orders. Into five neat rows they went and each of our would-be adventurers ended up at the front of a different line. Each in turn the small man pointed at our would-be adventurers and motioned them to come forward. Four servants brought a wooden table out to set next to him and another line of servants brought out the sacks of the materials to hand out.

"For each person there is a discount chit to be presented to the merchants in town when you go to b your supplies, a map and three gold coins. You five are assigned to a team. Go now and do not let us down!"

They were summarily dismissed.

The small chit rolled neatly over Cameron's knuckles and disappeared as he turned to greet his new found companions. "Well, well. Looks like we'll be stuck together for a bit." He eyed them , one by one. A mishmash group, to be sure, they barely looked able to keep up, let alone get the job done. He kept his smile warm and inviting, though. Best to start off on the right foot. "The name's Cameron. I'm a local tradesman in the artisan district. Pleased to meet you, friends." He shot them a winning smile as he extended his hand.

"Yeah, hun, I'm fine," he stated plainly. The man could keep the money, he didn't use it often anyway. He was out in the country too often. HE only used it to buy materials for making explosives and such. When the the herald told them to get into lines, he put Tali in the line next to him to assure they were in the same group. When they finally found the others they would be traveling with he bowed and said, "I am Kyle Waeylynd, better known as Burner, call me whichever you'd like. This," he added, gesturing to Tali, "is Tali."

Hugging Burner's pant leg, Tali closed her eyes against the people brushing past her, almost rough enough to make her lose her grip. She certainly did not want to be taken from Burner, who was the closest thing Tali had ever had to a father, considering hers had died when she was really little and what not.

She was also grateful that he wanted to be around her, even though she was filthy, and probably stank too, though she tried her best to cover that up with perfume when she could. It was amazing what people left laying around. A few squirts and the bottle was back up where she had gotten it, with the owner none the wiser.

Squinting up at the man, Tali tried to get a judge on his character. He seemed... fake. But if Burner was going to accept him, so would she. Sighing in resignation, Tali spoke. "'Snice ta meetcha toos, mistah."