:) wow I am get one day up.

Sam said. “Arranged marriages? And you were to marry a family member? So if he was in love it should have ended? Mind continuing this inside?”

Shaid said. “Inside sounds great. But I need a few minutes. You have no wards on your house. I will be in one I have set some up.”

Rod said. “I will have some snacks and cocoa waiting. Come on. She means we need to get out of her hair for a bit.” He led the way in, leavening Shaid alone in the snow. She came in just as the cocoa was done. Rod said. “Perfect timing.”

Shaid took a cup gratefully. “Thank you the wards are done. You notice the two new lights by the door?” the guards nodded. “The one on the left will turn green if someone on the road has a blade, blue if the enter it not on the road. That was the best I could do for the direction. The one on the left will let you know if someone is coming up the walk. If it goes red they have a blade. If there is a red light on the outside of the door that means someone has busted the lock, blue they tried to get in but didn’t make it.”

Thanel said. “You warm up and let me answer for a bit. Family has a different meaning among the traders. Each group is a family and the head is Father. But all members in the group are not related by blood. So there are families with in the Family. The numbers will very with the groups, that is strictly up to the head. No one joins without his say so. There for marriages between groups must have the blessing of one of the heads involved. Though such seldom happen with out both being in agreement. Generally the groups are made of people that practice one particular craft, with a few doing related work. But the head will see that no one with a wildly different skill inters as that would cause problems.”

Shaid said. “As well as unnecessary expenses. You might think it would help profit by being divers, but it hurts it. Unless you are all ready known for it. Still those family’s do less well.”

Thanel nodded. “We are known as woodworkers, but we can make a profit off of buying cloth goods and reselling the. But we would do less well if the maker was with us, even if they were from a famous family. Simply because we are not known for cloth goods so our mark on them would mean nothing, and they could not use the mark of there old family. Now if the person had made a name to for their selves we would do a slight bit better. But likely just enough to break even on the items needed to make the cloth. Unless they set up their own stall. Which would cause more internal problems. Form them have a stall so soon after joining, to book keeping issues. Therefore it is unlikely that a cloth maker would be allowed in. unless they were a seamstress. That changes it.”

Sam said. “Why would? Oh because they can cut you’re clothing expenses raising your overall profit. So then wouldn’t the cloth maker welcome the woodworker?”

Thanel said. “Only if they made looms and spinning wheels. Have a chest or table maker would not make since.”

Rod said. “Well you need metal handles and thing so would a maker of them fit?”

Thanel shook his head. “Such a craft doesn’t fit well with our life. That is a craft better done in cities than in the wagons. As is the fantastic shaped chests Norlan makes. The items needed just are not practical to move. Heck our area is smaller than most because the size of our items. We should likely settle but the road is to deep in our veins.”

Rod said. “In the cities the crafters usually sell there good to shop owners who then spread them though their shops where customers pick them up, or perhaps other shop owners agents. Though usually the agents go to the crafters. Here it sounds like the traders work as both?”

Shaid said. “Yes and no. A lot who buy from us are buying for shops; we are part of their suppliers as are any local crafters. We will by from the shops and sale what we buy in a different city. We are the shippers, the crafts we make are just an exter source of income and work. Travel can be dull without something to do. The interior uses gates to move goods. But this closes to the border it is not safe to trust a permanent gate and temporary ones must be set with extra care. There for it is better to use wagons to move goods around. They tried machines for a time, but they were to costly. So wagons were used and then some decide they could make a living simply by hauling, and the traders were born. And we are boring you.”

Sam said. “I didn’t know the boarder interfered so much with magic.”

Thanel said. “It doesn’t as much now as it did. The edges have relaxed a bit. Still though the stories of what happened makes everyone reluctant to try it. Gates are touchy things they are easily tampered with.”

Rod shudder. “I was in Albain waiting to gate when someone moved it last year. It took a bit work before I would use one again.”

Shaid said. “So that is what the charm is. I was wondering. I could tell it had something to do with gates.”

Rod nodded. “Time to change the subject. You said something about being promised but it should have been called off because he was in love.”

Shaid said. “I thought you had forgotten. It wasn’t that he was in love, he wasn’t, more like lusty. It was who he was with. His lovers name was John.  But his family chose to ignore it in favor of our mirage and rely it didn’t matter to anyone as long as I had someone’s child after we were married. But he left before I was old enough. And I left before anther match was made for me. My Father just would not hear me. I never planed on have any children. That just is not for me.”

Sam said. “Are such relationships common among you?”

Shaid said. “Um which? Well the answer is yes to both though. There is nothing wrong with people having lovers outside of the marriage no mater the sex of the other person. Just as long as the woman has a few children no one cares what goes on. And yes some get by without marrying. But mostly younger children. I mean fourth or fifth or latter in the family not young as in age. That is not tolerated, a person is fifteen before any relationship, beyond friendship is thought to exists. And if and adult is found with a child they will not see another sun rise. There might be some kissing and fumbling amongst kids, but nothing serious.”

Sam said. “Marriges for us are not arranged and having others is looked at as cheating. As doing wrong by your partner. And relationships that are of the same gender tend to be looked at as wrong. Though the degree varies. Some places have outlawed such, others let couples marry, but fill the news with stories of the disaster such relations bring, forget the same disaster in the traditional relationships. I don’t know that our way is any worse, but it is not any better than yours.”

Shaid shook her head. “I can see where if you pick the other person in the relationship and bring anther in with out consulting the one there it could be hurtful. But the other. Well no society is perfect. Thank you for the cocoa. We will have to talk more. But If I don’t get home I am not going o get my work done.”

Thanale nodded. I had better go to. I have to carvings I should be working on if I am to get them delivered on time. As well as a ton of reading to do. We will have to do this again. Give you a chance to see my house.”

They made the way back to their own houses and waiting jobs. Once in hers Shaid put on a pot of cocoa, then went and looked at the tapestry. It was starting to take shape. She thought the lady would be pleased. By using her picture of the mountain as well as the one the lady had given her to use she was able to get a lot more details into it. Though she was going to have to add some beads to get the light right and a bit more highly priced threads then she had thought. The profit would be lower then she had planed, but at lest she was still making something. She sat her schoolbooks on the table near by then went to get a cup of cocoa before setting to work.

Over the next few the visit repeated. Soon they were all at home in each other’s houses. Shaid’s wards recognized them all as belonging there. Not even the guards triggered them. If one of them found their own pantries short on something they just raid their neighbors.

Shaid nodded as she looked over the finished tapestry. It had washed and dried better then she had expected. She rolled it and put it on the bottom of her bag, carefully put the print into a hard case and then into the bag with her books. Looking at the address she realized she had no idea where it was. No problem though, someone in Sam’s bunch would she would just ask them. She made sure the address and card were in her pocket then headed out to class.

After her second class she spotted Sam and his bunch. They were a bit more used to her, but still looked a bit odd when she joined them. When she was close enogh to hear the one talking said. “Well I bet she will agree. Won’t you?”

Shaid said. “Agree with what?”

“That winter is going on to long and it is time to hit the beach.”

Shaid said. “I don’t know about a beach, but I would love a road trip. Sadly there is still a month yet before it will be safe to be out overnight. Now then I was wonder if you all would answer a couple of questions. First what is a scooter-wagon and why is it funny for a man to be in one? I just do not understand, but Prof Barnes was going on like it was something important.”

Sam said. “I have no idea why it is important. But I can tell you what it is. In the bigger cities out west the ladies were these dainty little shows. You see a few out here, but not as many. Anyway they are not made for walking, but the cities have the same rules about animals being only in there streets early morning and late night. But the ladies need a way to go visiting. Now they do have handcarts that can be pulled by servants or slaves. But they will only take one per cart, or need more people pulling then the city will allow.  Some ladies wanted to be able to travel in groups. This led to a mortised cart puller. It doesn’t move any fast, in fact it can be slower. But it can pull a wagon that will hold four ladies at once. But the roads have to be smooth and it is no good for more than six blocks every two hours.”

“They have been in use for years. You’ve never seen them?”

Shaid said. “The first west I have been is Norlet, and it was four years ago. I saw some of those handcart things. Still don’t understand why they don’t just put on decent shoes and walk. I could see if there was something worn with there legs, but because of shoes? It just doesn’t make since to me. Well I will just have to say I do not understand that work as it is out of my realm of experience. Thank you.”

“You mean you have never seen the ocean? Now we have to go!”

Shaid said. “Not me. I found I don’t do well inland. I don’t want to get that far away, little own further. Sorry, but I can’t be your reason. Too much lost lands taint in me for it to be safe for me to go west, or so the healers said. If I see an ocean it will have to be east.” She had to smile as some took a step back. “It is not catching and I am not going to turn into a monster. Now then will one of you be so kind as to tell me where this address is? I am to make a delivery there, but didn’t think to ask for directions.”