Kara took his hand as they walked downstairs. She enjoyed having Smith around as a lover, a mate, and as a protector. Part of her actually enjoyed the notion that he was vulnerable too in some ways and needed her help, although she didn't want him to be injured or held back in any way. The draconess looked forward to the day they'd be married, and from there, when they'd raise hatchlings of their own. But for now, she was content to spent their time together in these little excursions.

"Watch your step, love. Your wound might act up if you strain yourself."

@Aristocles

Smith nodded his head making his way down the stairs and into the foyer of the house, Basket still in his one hand walking towards the door opening it slowly. He was blushing a bit form when she called him my love because the concept of this was foreign to him, Ever since he was a child he was unloved and contentiously beaten for being himself.

Within a few minutes, they were in the grassy fields which surrounded the farmhouse. Adykon was busy working with his herd of goats, but he took a moment to wave to Kara and Smith before resuming his duties, and she waved back at him. A moment later, she turned back to Smith.

"I also brought some lotion for our feet, we you need it. I put a vial of it in the basket. I understand that while you aren't fully human, love, you may gets sore feet almost as easily as I do. It was part of a batch of lotion I mixed last week, y'know." She put her hand on his shoulder and gave it a bit of a squeeze. "And really, what better is there to show love than by making your lover feel good?"

@Aristocles

Smith was blushing even more so by her comment just nodding his head in a comical manner, "Of course thank you Miss Kara" He said with a bit of a nervous tone in his voice. Starting to walk towards the direction of the forest giving a quick wave to Adykon his eyes looking back at Kara.

A few minutes later, the grassy fields began to give way to the cedar forest, as evidenced by the increasing frequency of trees and the large amounts of twigs and logs strewn across the ground. Kara knelt over by one such log and examined the mushrooms. They were red in color save for a white circle around the edges, and were about the size of her thumbs.

"White Rims. Useful as a reagent. A good find. Smith, could you get them?"

@Aristocles

Smith was nodding his head bending over trying to grab the White Rims, Although he was careful with getting them since his wound was still causing him with a soft pain.

Kara looked down at Smith. "Er... maybe I should get that, my love." She knelt down and quickly picked the White Rims, placing them in the basket. "Feeling alright, dear?" Once again, she put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

@Aristocles

"Well the wound is acting up...perhaps some healing magic will help" He suggested to Kara feeling a bit bad, He wanted to not be tied down by his injury and wanted to not seem weak in her eyes. Holding the basket with one hand while trying to keep to subside for the time being.

@Eviledd1984

Without hesitating for a moment, Kara applied more of her magic. "Sorry that this is taking so long for me to heal you, love. If I were as good as a temple healer, this would be totally fixed in a second. How's that feel?"

(I may be able to draw Smith this weekend, when I get a little time. Would you like that?)

@Aristocles

"Thank you i think that should be good for the time being, You are a very good healer much better then myself i can say" He said smiling at Kara. He wanted to make her not feel so bad about his injury, As they walked along the route he made sure to carefully pick up what they needed.

(That sounds good, Link me when you are done thank you).

"Alright. Let's just be careful, alright?" Kara implored him, not wanting her lover to be hurt on this excursion. It was not an inherently dangerous trip, but in his condition, Smith could still be hurt if he strained himself too much. For a while, nothing remarkable happened; Kara picked some wildflowers, a few toadstools, even some moss scrapings from the side of trees.

(What does he look like, exactly? I have down that he's got blue eyes, brown hair, and some description of his clothing; loincloth at home, robes outside, used to use sandals but barefoot now. What about skin color, build, weight, height? Plus, what are his clothes colored?)

@Aristocles

"Sure,Ah what else is on the list?" He asked her trying to look at the list she had in her hand, Looking over at his lover with a sad sort of expression on his face. Not wanting to worry her he tired not to strain herself.

(Mmm well he is pale, with a lankey build, weighing around 142 pounds, And is like 5'6. His clothing would be colored green).

"Quite a few things, including some high-up leaves from some of the Pacomy trees in the woods. I think I should get those myself" Kara replied. She scanned the area for any more of the ingredients which were easier to get. None were in sight. "How are you holding up, love? No problems with your feet yet? Mine are okay for now. Probably gonna be sore after all the climbing."

(Good details. Thanks)

@Aristocles

"My feet? I mean for now they are fine, I mean they will be sore later on. I can help you with your feet" He said really hating himself because of his wound.

"That's good to know. Just watch your step, please. And don't worry about me. I can handle myself out here. Been traveling around these woods since I was a hatchling." Kara remarked a moment before turning her head around and giving him a naughty smile. "You can tend to my every need and whim when we get home. I expect, no, I demand it!" she told him, laughing at the notion.

@Aristocles

Smith was looking down at his feet feeling his face becoming red from blushing, "Very well..i can do that" He said softly walking along with Kara.

"Oh, I was being sarcastic, dear" Kara remarked with a little chuckle. "I don't expect you to do that for me!"

"A good soldier, like the grand prince you described, would not be scared of a bit of sand," Rebat chuckled. He was not too keen on revealing his true doubts about bathing. He knew well enough he cannot enter water up to his neck, recalling a harrowing moment when he was rapidly approaching the mouth of Hetuis after diving into a lake. A lesson he had to learn the difficult way, but a lesson he learned well. It was truly a miracle of Scen that he survived his own foolishness. "I am anxious to finish the task His Might has assigned me and return home. I am as frightened of the guards here as I hope you were when kindly visiting us in Xigyll." True enough, guards lined the city walls like banners, all accustomed to a dangerous and treacherous life. They glared down at everyone, most of all the little kobolds that scurried around the feet of the larger dracons.

@Aristocles

"Oh right" Smith said still looking at his feet feeling embarrassed, "Sorry" He said softly still walking along beside her.

@bloonewb

"As long as you keep good behavior, there's nothing to worry about. The guards know who I am and that I would likely be returning with an envoy from Xigyll" Mazdak replied. "And if you don't want to wash off the sand, you could at least clean up a bit before meeting the Grand Prince. Even if you just wipe yourself off with a damp washcloth, that would be better than nothing." They proceeded through several neighborhoods, with every transition between districts requiring an inspection at a gate separating one of the other. Mazdak's credentials allowed for quick and easy access, but even he took notice at how the security grew tighter and the guards became more numerous every time they grew closer to the royal palace.

Eventually, they found themselves staring at a huge gate over 30 meters tall, reinforced by two portcullises, which separated the palace drawbridge from the gate. The bridge itself overlooked a deep moat, a concentric body of water surrounding the palace which was shallow enough to ensure that anyone seeking to swim through it would have to dive at least 15 meters down before hitting the water. If they swam across, the would-be invader faced a smooth palace wall on the other side, with no point of entry. Of course, the moat serpents would likely cut any question of invasion by that route quite short; even the feeding shafts through which meat was dropped into the moat were far too narrow for even a kobold to crawl through.

The palace doors were wide open at this time, the guards having been informed of Mazdak's approach.

"Looks like they've got the welcome mat laid out for us. Come on, Rebat. No need for us to delay, though I'm sure the Grand Prince won't be seeing us until tomorrow at the earliest."

___________________________

@Eviledd1984

"Not a problem, my love" Kara assured him, briefly pausing to give him a little peck on the cheek. "Now, please keep any eye out for any more plants on the list. Some should be easy to find at ground level, and I don't want to have to make two or more trips out here when we could just as easily complete it all in one go." She stopped for a moment. "Besides, I'd rather spend my time 'with' you, not hanging around the woods picking flowers" she gave him a little wink to emphasize what she meant.