The carriage rolled to a slow halt. "Sorry, missus, but I cain't get ya no closer. Seems ta be a ruckus wi' movin' wagon on yonder." Sliding forward on the seat, Sianna peered out the window. The rooftop of her brother's house could be seen, no more than a block and a half away. The incident her driver pointed out was indeed hectic. Several wagons, including a cart with crates of chickens, had become entangled in the intersection. "Dinna fash, Henderson. I think I can manage tae walk a bit wi' no' incident. But be forewarned that ye'll be sworn tae secrecy, aye? Ye needn't tattle an' fret m'husband wi' it." Bobbing his head in quick understanding, the spry man leaped down to assist her from the rig. Sianna patted the older gentleman kindly on the arm. "Thank ye verra much, aye? Now try and find away around all this and meet me tae th' other side." Leaving him to maneuver that task, Sianna set off down the street, weaving her way through the onlookers.

Net-scarred fingers ran back through dark hair still damp from showering while Hudson opened the icebox in the kitchen. He scowled briefly at its contents ? there hadn?t been enough time to run to the markets of late, and it was near empty. It would be a meal picked up at one of the street-side vendors on the way in to the Yransea warehouse, then. At least he was able to go out on the Mothan in the mornings, now; the scowl eased from his expression as he thought over the morning?s venture. It had been one of the rare perfect days at sea, the temperature neither too warm nor too cold, with a breeze just enough to fill the Mothan?s sail. A day to remind him how the sea could call like a lover ? he had been half-tempted to stay out until sunset.

The sight and smells of food vendors setting up to capitalize on the growing crowd triggered yet another craving. Stopping at the first stall, Sianna wasted no time in prattling off a rather large order. Hurrying to gather up the items and till the coin, the kindly woman chattered on about Sianna's belly and even gave her a small basket in which to load the savory pies, lemon cakes, and plum punch. She even added a cluster of grapes with a myriad of well wishes. Beaming her thanks, Sianna made her way along and in no time placed three very loud knocks to the wooden panel of the front door.

Hudson jerked at the sudden knock from the front door and let the icebox door swing shut. Black eyes were puzzled as he made his way through the house ? he very rarely had visitors, and during the middle of the day? It was unheard of. When he opened the door to be met with his sister?s beaming smile, he took a step back with surprise ? a gesture he turned to a welcome into the house. ?Si! Latha math, mi piuthar. What brings ye here in th? middle o? th? day?? While he asked the question, he was distracted by the sight of a chicken half-running, half trying to fly down the road with a lanky boy scrambling after. One dark eyebrow winged up, and he leaned out the door long enough to take in the chaos on the road.

"A carriage, a craving..." She cast a look over her shoulder with a giggle before pressing the basket's growing weight into his hands. "... and a commission, in that order, aye? Although th' latter will be far easier tae discuss in yer fine house instead of in th' midst of this mess." Grinning broadly, she stood on wobbly tiptoe to place a kiss to the plane of his cheek.

Kiss was returned to her forehead while he took the basket ? only then did he actually register its presence and look down with some surprise. ?Oh, aye, come ye in, especially saen ye come bearing gifts o? food. Be this all for ye?? It was a rather surprising amount of food if so, even considering her state. Still, he smiled as he shut the door on the growing noise from outside. ?I think there be jugglers setting up out there now, and th? intersection willnae be cleared for an hour at least. I?ll ha?e tae find a way around when th? time comes tae make my way over tae th? warehouse. What commission be ye speaking o?? I ha?e nae forgotten aught, ha?e I??

"D'ye really think I'd be daft enow tae bring food within reach of a Fraiser man in from his work and not hae enow tae gie him?" Nimble fingers reached up to lightly tweak his nose in jest before she crossed the threshold. Waiting for him to close the door, she leaned against the hall table, a smile pulling at her lips. "Only in Rhy'din do ye get a street fair with a strammash, aye? And nae, ye have no' missed anything. Rather hard tae forget something ye've ne'er kent."

With the door secured, Hudson gestured for Sianna to lead the way to the kitchen; he followed while investigating the contents of the basket. ?Ye ha?e guid sense tae ye, and guid fortune tae me besides. I?d just been growling tae th? state o? my cupboards. There be nae enow time in th? day it seems, and still twa days ?til Friday when I?ll ha?e th? morning tae visit th? markets. Sae what be this commission that ye ha?e, then? Ye?ll ken well that ye dinnae need but tae ask.?

Having adjusted to her bulk, Sianna walked with her regular state of grace, although one hand braced the small of her back as she moved. "If ye canna manage tae th' Market now that ye're back tae th' boat, I will gladly add yer shopping tae my lists and drop it off tae ye. Though if ye are pressed for time, th' timing is good for what I'm about tae ask ye." Settling in one of the chairs at the table, she leaned back, her hands splayed gently over the upper slope of her stomach. "Ye ken Tali Smith, aye? 'Tis Johnny's youngest sister. She has acquired a new friend in a young man seeking some employ and he says he has been tae th' water since a wee bairn." The corners of her lips twitched slightly at the memory of the two teenagers that night in the Inn. "Sae, Johnny and I thought that perhaps he could be of some use tae ye."

?I?ll nae ha?e ye making th? trip clear across tae th? other end o? town just for sommat like my market trips, sae that be one idea ye can take off yer mind.? Hudson shook his head as he set the basket on the table and then went to the cupboard to pull down a pair of plates. ?And I?ll only ha?e water in th? house tae drink, at the moment.? Warning, while he retrieved glasses as well. ?Sae this young man ? what be his name, then, and th? age o? him? And dae ye ken why he?s nae parents tae arrange what he needs?? He was already thinking over the scant information presented while he set up their places at the table.

"'Tis nae bother in th' slightest since I dinna have tae do a single thing but sit in the rig and ride while Henderson carts me about like th' Queen. So keep yer dander down, I'll keep my mind tae making sure my braithir is well fed if I wish." Grinning ever so sweetly, she pulled the bottles of plum punch from the basket and handed one to him to uncork while she went to divying up the bounty. "As far as I can tell, he's in his teens, but 'tis hard tae determine. He does no' look like he's had very much kindness nor decent meals in his life. Said he's been tae th' ships since a wee bairn. Th' matter of his parents is quite th' mystery." Her smile saddened at the thought of a child adrift without either parent or siblings. There had been a hole in the Fraiser household, but there were many to ease the ache of it.