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"Oh um..." Matta made a visible effort to sit up and appear as though he was interested in the mess of food that was on his plate. He just stared at it for another moment, not even recognizing what he'd ordered since he's mixed it up so much. But the visual of his plate made him laugh. He didn't realized he had been thinking about this so hard.

"Oh dear... I'm fine. Apparently more interested in making a mess than eating." His spirits had lifted considerably in those few moments. He smiled at Setara. She was odd, she treated him nicely. And it was something he could get used to. Her little pet however, kept glowering at him, but he smiled at the little vixie too.

"I've been meaning to ask... but you seem to have a way with animals, don't you?"

He nodded as she mentioned she was different. He had noticed that very quickly. and he smiled as he watched her interact with the little creature. It seemed neither of them was that interested in food after all. But at her question, his smile didn't fade, but there was a different look to it.

"No, I can't say I keep much company at all." His tone was emotionless at that. It didn't really hurt him to say so, but it wasn't something he was proud of either. "I'm too afraid of letting anyone get to know me. But it's because I'm afraid of hurting people more than their reaction to me"

Matta carefully set down his fork, took a moment to wipe his hands on the sides of his trousers, and then reached forward to take the object from Setara. He looked at it, and turned it over in his hands a couple times. He'd never received a gift from someone who really meant it. Mostly just cold thoughtless 'thank-you'money. He had to admit, he was extremely well off. But then he was well off before he'd started his apothecary profession.

"Is this really for me?" He questioned almost as like how a child would question a gift. He smiled warmly, enjoying the feel of the carved stone in his hand. He didn't know the boy by anything but what he looked like, but he imagined the boy would grow into an opened minded person like his sister. "Nomi has my deepest thanks at such a gift."

He nodded thoughtfully, still marvelling at the small token that had been given. He was really touched by it, though he didn't fully understand why. He grinned watching the little vixie's antics, and how Setara caved into the little one's demand for attention.

"Ah. Shall we get going?" He pulled out a little retile-hide pouch and put down enough coins to pay for their meals and to see that they weren't going to regret having fed a nomad.

"If you don't mind accompanying me a little longer there is a dresser I have to replace, and I would like to keep you and your entourage's company a while longer." He stood up, then added thoughtfully, "If it's not a bother, of course."

((for the sake of mayhem I'm moving this along and doing a bit of auto-moving. Just say something and I'll cut it off after the 3rd paragraph))

He clicked his tongue at the word sir. But he was still smiling. He was happy she wanted to come with him. Perhaps he might be on his way to actually making a real aquaintance. That was something he had done without for quite some time now.

"Matta.... Matta! No more of this 'sir' business." He chided gently, and the smile never left his eyes. But then he shook his head, and chuckled. It was not like he was much past calling her 'miss' still. It was something that might work away with time. he was hoping as much anyways.

"Well then, I need to find myself a good furniture maker." He waited for Setara to round up her troops then lead them further into the city where the crafters shops lay nestled.

They walked until the street was filled with people bustling and a number of small craft shops had swallowed them in. Matta wandered from store front to store front, finding himself to be more content with just looking through the windows than actually going in to see what merchandise was offered. He was wary of being stuck in doors like that, so saved himself the trouble of getting trapped.

The sun was reaching it's midday point when he finally decided that some refreshments were in order. He ran off to fetch some berry drinks from a nearby vender, leaving Setara, Lorkhan and her new vixie to wait by the fountain. After a short and socially polite exchange of words and coins, Matta walked back over to the waiting group, carrying 4 berry drinks.

"Now I wasn't sure if your companions wanted some too... But they offered four berry-juice flavors, and well I couldn't decide. So you get to pick." He held them out for Setara to chose which che preferred.

Matta grinned from ear to ear as the animals had each claimed on of his arms. He waited until Lorkhan had finished with his treat before finally taking the last cup for himself and took a sip of the green liquid it held. It was probably the only tart juice of the bunch, but then remembering the green berry it was made from was tart as well, he sipped at it again. He was sure to keep his arm that held the vixie and the cup the little creature was lapping from steady.

"What is the little guy's name?" He watched in bemusement as the little creature enjoyed the sweet treat. He had run across vixies before, but only in the cages they were held in at the pet stands. He was fascinated by the gossamer wings.

However, the decision to take a break proved to be against them. For at that moment, a group of the Nomad guards had come into the crafters market on an order for more items for Malak. Remembering the details of their bloody attacker immediately they froze and their eyes caught hold of Setara. The mumbled amongst each other for a moment, then one of them ran for more of their troops who had stopped at the tavern for some of the local brew. The handful of guards that remained melted out of plain sight, and watched the pair from their vantage points. There was no denying that the two couldn't just have merely passed by coincidence. One of the guards, who served directly under Setara's father cursed under his breath.

They watched this exchange between Matta and Setara for several minutes while the other troops came back. Now 10 in number, they split a little apart to slip through the crowds with stealth. Matta felt the tingle of warning on the back of his neck, but just a moment too late. Two of the troops had snuck behind them and jumped onto Setara, doing their best to secure her. Matta felt a solid object make contact with the back of his head in a sickening thud, and his vision blurred as he fell forward onto his knees. A hand quickly went to the spot which go impacted and he felt a warm liquid. When he looked at his hand, his thoughts were confirmed. Blood. His own at that. He felt a solid boot thrust itself into his side, and he went rolling. He shook his head, and half propped himself up. His vision was still dulled from the first blow, and now a horrible pain was in his side. He watched as blurred figures were converging on him.

At this point, the crowd around them had erupted into screams and scattering. Though most didn't want to get involved because it seemed like a fight between nomads, the fact that there was a non-nomad involved made a few of them run off to find the local guard rather than escape.

The assailant who had recieved the nasty gash on his shin cursed but was the one to continue pinning down the unconscious girl. The man who'd been kicked by Lorkhan was probably suffering from broken ribs by the way he cursed. But a couple ot the other guys had backed him into a corner at spear point so he couldn't hope to kick them

That left 6 that had Matta surrounded. Considering he'd killed more than that in their camp the other night, they felt power in numbers. However, instead of killing him, they wee torturing him. Kicjing him in turn, jabbing the blunt ends of their weapons at him. Matta was barely given a moment between blows. But finally one kick landed him against a crate. He grasped for the side of it, quickly laboring to pull himself half up. He glared at them all through glowing red eyes, which made them hesitate. He spat out a mouthful of blood, then pulled himself fully upright. He steadied himself in such a way that one would have thought him uninjured if not for the blood matted on him.

He grabbed the spear of the first nomad who thrust one at him, yanking it in a swinging motiontoward the wall. The nomad unfortunately had not let go fast enough and slammed into the wall with an audible crack. He fell to the ground limp. Matta looked at the others challenging them to attack him. And two of the sword bearers did so. Matta managed to disarm one of them by side stepping and grabbing the mans wrist which he squeezed and twisted until there was a crunching noise and the man let out a scream. He'd not be quick enough to avoid the other and felt the slice of steel across his back.

He let out a half-choked gasp as two crossbow bolt stucks themselves through his left thigh. Apparently one of the guards who'd stayed back had taken the time to load up his projectile weapon. Matta's leg gave out and he crumpled down to his knees again. The 4 nomads who still held there weapons converged on him, but in that instant, the shout of the local guard was heard, and one of the nomads now had an arrow in his shoulder. Completely outnumbered and scared. The remaining nomads scattered, grabbing their injured allies and doing their best to get away from the town guard. Matta had shot one a very threatening look when he'd approached Setara, and deciding she'd get punished soon enough, the last nomad slinked down the alleyways. The Local guards scattered to pursuit the nomads, and only a couple stayed to check on Matta.

"She's with me... She was attacked also." Matta said as the remaining few eyed Setara warily. He let out a great sigh. Apparently they wouldn't hesitate to attack him in public, and Setara had been exposed as well.

It was was the strength he had from the side he loathed which he needed now. Looking at the position and angling of the bolts in his leg, he calculated that neither had hit any vital veins and were almost full through his leg anyways. He grabbed the first crossbow bolt by the end and shoved it the rest of the way through his leg, then pulled it out. He did the same thing to the other one, both time letting out a little gasp. However, he would be able to move more freely without hunks of wood and metal in his muscles. He forced himself to his feet and walked the painful steps over to Setara and knelth down next to her. Looking at the signs of damage, he frowned.

"I think I need to have your wounds looked at at my shop, if not a better healer." Then without waiting for permission from either of the pets or their mistress he scooped her up. He could walk while she couldn't.