Time was moving so fast. She couldn't believe she'd be taking people to see Secak in just a few short days. It was time to go shopping!

"Anne!? Tina?! Come on get up! Let's go shopping!"

She ran down the hall, banging on Anne's door then on Tina's door and finally going into her own room to change her clothes. She was still in her nightgown. It was Early in the morning and she wanted to get a good head start on the crowd, getting to the market place before anyone else did. No doubt, Jonathan probably heard her as she came down the hall. It had been the night before that they finally caught up with each other in the Inn for a quick chat. He was all for the trip.

"Huurrry up you two! We gotta beat the crowd!"

She quickly got herself dressed.

Dressing was a breeze putting on a light green and yellow robe and slipping on her sandles. She headed for the bathroom, hearing Tina open her bedroom door to the hall.

"Oh no you don't, cupcake." she chuckles. "You forgot to brush your teeth. Come back in here and do that or you'll have dragon breath for sure."

Her laughter was soft, yet could be heard as she began to brush her own teeth.

Oh heavens, the girl was so adorable, Sha'uri nearly brushed her nose instead of her teeth, trying not to laugh but the laughter escaped anyway. She quickly followed suit and out the door behind Tina she went, picking Tina up and putting her on her one shoulder. She went down to Anne's room and pounded on the door, loudly.

"Psst... Tina... Tell her to hurry up." Grinning, she coaxed Tina to give a good yell.

"Anne!? Tina?! Come on get up! Let's go shopping!"

What a thunder! Annelise grumped aloud at the beckoning and shoved the pillow resolutely o'er head. It took merely a moment for dreamscape to flash behind closed eyes.

"Huurrry up you two! We gotta beat the crowd!"

Head snapped up, and pillow plummeted off the side of her bed. She peered through the mass of tangled auburn hair towards the closed door. Then chin tilted, cheek met mattress, and she was lost once more.

"Miss Anne hurry up we going to miss all of the fun shopping and I really really really want to go! "

The dashing nobleman with great hair and perfectly rounded rump yelled this as he courted Annelise...then disappeared from her mind's eye in a flash. Crystal green hues peeled back once more to regard the weak sunlight that poured through her window.

Hell and damnation! Just when she had gotten into a nice, comfortable, REAL bed. . .

"Gods above, Sha'uri. Your mother wasn't the Goddess of BLOWING HOT AIR!"

Well, at least they knew her to be awake now. Grudgingly, Anne rolled from the comforts of her bed and clambered to her feet. She pulled out some of the few clothes she had managed to bring, and pulled on the standard fair of tights and airy cotton blouse. Boots were jammed onto feet, and brush found its way through to tame auburn tresses. A stop to the bathroom saw to her hygienic needs - luckily, Sha'uri had given her a private bath.

In less than ten minutes time, she emerged. The routine had not only sharpened her appearance, but brightened her mood.

"Alright, lets go shopping, Ladies! Now that I've got a closet, I could do with some new clothes."

Some, of course, meant a lot. As heir to the Blueflame fortune, and with the breeding of nobility, there was nothing this girl loved more than to hear the bell of a register.

"Oooh, food." Her past months had been filled with tin can gourmet and bad tavern cooking. Freshly made cinnamon roll, then, was second-place to ambrosia, as far as Anne was concerned. She snatched the treat up eagerly and took a large bite.

"Fank yoo, Saoori." Chew. Swallow.

"Thank you, Sha'uri. Lets get this show on the road!"

Weighty coin purse jiggled as she ran to the portal and leapt blindly through it. Suddenly, she was in the midst of a bustling market. It made her think of the markets of home, and the thought brought a smile to full lips.

Anne then turned about, and gazed at the duo on the other side of the portal. She waited, and indulged in finishing her roll.

Sha'uri laughed watching Tina go through for the first time. That giggle, it was contagious! She waved from the other side, then stepped through to join the two, closing the portal behind her. They were in RhyDin's little market square. The crowd was there but not wall to wall yet.

"Ah, Shopping! I haven't been for so long I think I forgot what it was like."

In that, she could relate to Anne; it was over due for her, too. She picked Tina up and put her on her one shoulder.

"Okay, Cupcake, We need clothing stores. Take a look around and tell me where they're at, if you can see them. Oh, and... a place to buy you an instrument. I've been meaning to ask you which one you'd like to learn, so.... you can think about that one, too."

Shifting her gaze to Anne,

"You in need of a lot of things? I'm thinking I may have to hire someone to help carry the stuff...."

The Headmaster is seen walking away from a stall that seems to posses books and small trinkets. He has one of these books and his nose is buried in it. He seems to not be paying attention.

The Headmaster looks up at his name being called and smiles at the little girl.

The Headmaster seems to be improving, he doesn't seem as tired anymore, his eyes are regaining their bright blue color, and his hair is completely back to sleek black. It seems that he regaining the youth that was robbed from him.

He closes his book and crouches a bit, bracing himself for what he knows is coming.

:: As soon as she was let go she ran to Master Briarius hugging him as he stayed bent over giggling and smiling away::

Master Briarius how are you?!..And what are you doing here?! Sha'uri,Anne and I are looking for dresses for Se..Secak! your coming with us aren't you

:: her large green eyes looked up at him smiling as she spoke awaiting his answer and looking curiously at that book every moment or so::

"It should be. He was my mother's first husband. I think he came to the Castle Woodshadow once or twice but I don't know if you were even born, let alone met him before. He used to be half elven... part drow if memory serves me. Though, he's been through hell and back and had some changes, obviously he seems to be a full high elf. But, it is him... it's his soul."

She refrained from saying more as they came closer, pausing there beside Tina and Bri to watch them with that warm smile for their greeting embrace. Though, it seemed she was biting her lips from the inside ... and was... actually, trying not to laugh picturing Bri shopping with them, trying on dresses as they would be. She bit hard until the pain got rid of the mental image, leaving that mirthful, devilish grin in place.

"Bri, this is my cousin, Annelise Woodshadow. Anne, this is Briarius Ravensheart, Master of the School, and my good friend."

She held her arms out for Tina, so Bri could have his arms free to greet Anne.

A gentle smirk as Bri obviously didn't want to give Tina up. She didn't mind, though. However, that sarcastic mirth glinted in her eyes. She just couldn't help it.

"Well, Bri ... you could wear my Silver dress, long v-neck and cut low in the back, with the light bluegrey and black trim round the edges. With your black hair and blue eyes you'd be just stunnng in that outfit. I might even be jealous."

Snicker ... Wink.

It was just the wee tip of her tongue she stuck out at Bri ever so briefly.

"So, where to ladies?"

She glanced round the place again.