The shaken fae girl managed to regain some semblance of composure. "My name's Kirin Cobb, I'm from Eira… I was on holiday with my cousin and we were traveling to Darja, but we went off the road and our cart was trapped in a bog. My cousin tried to save the horse but… they both got stuck." Her voice choked up, "They drowned. I didn't know what to do. I tried to find my way back to the road, but then it got dark…" Fresh tears started to roll down her pale face. "Please help me. I'm so afraid."

Her lower lip trembled as did her crumpled wings. She glanced nervously from Ada to Fritz, seeing the doubt on the gypsy woman's face. "Please. My father's a rich merchant in Eira. He'll reward you generously for your trouble."

[u]Laakari[/u]

"Why do I have to wear shoes?" Novell complained as Laakari laced up the soft leather slippers on her tiny feet. "I never wear shoes. My feet are tough!"

Laakari chuckled. "You're more like an elf than a fairy." He finished and tousled her tangled hair. "Out here in the forest the earth is clean, but city streets are dirty so you must protect your feet."

"I want to be an elf like you and never wear shoes."

"Even I'm wearing shoes today," said the ebony elf, lacing up his own boots. 

"If I ride on your shoulders do I still have to wear shoes?"

"Yes."

Novell pouted as Laakari gathered his supplies, but she was too excited about the trip to stay indignant. At Laakari's bidding, she skipped through the open door and together they began the trek up the mountain to Eira. In a little more than an hour they had entered the city gates and had to undergo a customs check by the guards, something that had never before happened on any of Laakari's visits, and from the tidbits of information the guards provided him he deduced there had been some kind of affair about some very important political figures and… poison? It was all very vague, but in the end they let him and the girl through, due to the fact that one of the lieutenants knew the elf through a previous encounter where he had sold the man a tonic for his ailing wife. 

He warned Novell to stay close and she clung tightly to his hand as they navigated the bustling city streets, stopping first at the local pharmacy that bought most of his home-made medicines and remedies. With that money, he then visited a glassmaker to purchase more small bottles and another shop where he picked up miscellaneous supplies. Lastly, as a special treat, he took Novell to a seamstress and had her fitted for a new dress, one he allowed her to choose herself. The little girl was overwhelmed with all of the choices, so many colors and fabrics and styles, but finally settled on a knee-length one richly patterned with dark green ivy leaves and gold trim with a matching ribbon for her hair. She insisted on wearing it right away and marched along proudly next to Laakari, taking each turn as a chance to spin and watch her skirt flair out and flutter around her legs. 

As they waited on the street corner to traffic to thin out, she twirled around, spreading her little gossamer wings an balancing on one foot. "Shall we visit your parents today?" Laakari asked, interrupting her little game. "I'm sure they'll want to see your new dress."

"Yes!" she beamed at him, "Can we go to the market first and buy mum some fresh fruit and bread like last time?" Laakari nodded and Novell did a giddy little dance. They went and did so, picking up a basket and filling it with fresh fruits and vegetables, bread and cheese and a whole smoked salmon. Their course changed then, taking the pair to the outskirts of the west side, where the houses gradually became less and less beautiful. An air ship drifted by overhead, and Novell stared up at it in wonder. They came to a ramshackle little house on a narrow street. The smell of garbage mixed with soot hung in the air. Laakari knocked on the door, which looked like it was ready to fall off its hinges. 

They waited a moment or two, then the door cracked open a few inches and a thin fae woman peered out. Recognizing the elf, she threw the door wide with a smile, and Novell ran forward to embrace her mother. She bade them in and scolded Laakari for giving her so much, insisting that they stay for dinner because there was no way she and Novell's father could eat all that he had brought them by themselves. They stayed several hours, Novell did all the talking while Laakari resigned himself to merely observing them. Novell's parents were poor, but they managed to do the best with whatever they had, and expressed their gratitude to Laakari for taking care of their daughter at every available opportunity. He always just shook his head and said it was because Novell was very smart and it was [i]his[/i] pleasure to be able to teach her. The reunion was over all too soon though, goodbyes were exchanged, and Laakari and Novell were again on their way. The sun had sunk low in the sky by now, they would have to hurry to make it home before dark.