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[Thrax]

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"They did what?!" the Archon exclaimed upon hearing Poppy's tale of her visit to Nujel'm. Scaramandine, who preferred to be called simply 'Scar,' was not one given to outbursts like that. He had even stood up and leaned forward across his desk. The sudden action startled the young girl and she took a step back. He quickly recovered composure and sat back down. "I am sorry if I frightened you. Please tell me all about it," he apologized, extending his left hand toward a nearby chair for her to sit.

She wordlessly complied, then continued her tale. "I met with several members of the Legion of Justice, some very nice men and a lady Alessandra. I cannot remember all their names; they were all very kind to me, and yes, the one named Vaen gave me the check. Here it is," she said, taking it out of a pocket, handing it to him.

He took it and looked and looked. He had never seen such an amount before, but there it was, a check for one million in gold. "I am nigh speechless," he remarked. Then his mind went to work. "And there was no condition?"

Poppy nodded. "Oh, yes! He said it was to be used for the rebuilding of Papua," she said, smiling.

"No, I mean, no *other* conditions? No favors, no talk of trade agreements or alliances and such?"

She shook her head, "No sire."

Scar looked at her. He saw a simple, but very honest young woman who could have taken the check and ran away with it, but did not. It humbled him, made him momentarily remember how that felt after a drought of many long years. It did please him that his appreciation for a paladin's virtues had not entirely disappeared during the years he served a demon-god. Perhaps, he mused, there was hope for him still. "You did well to bring it to me. I am going to give you an amount of it to continue your schooling or else aid you in your vocation, but the rest will go toward the reconstruction of the town and to the immediate aid of its citizens," he declared, placing the check in his own pocket. While he was not entirely above thievery, he was first and foremost an incorrupt official and meant to do with it exactly as was specified.

Poppy stood up as if the conversations was over. "I have taken up too much of your time already milord. By your leave I shall return to work."

"Oh, one more thing, and I have been meaning to ask you, Poppy," he said as she sat back down. She seemed a bit nervous. "How is it that you suddenly became such a masterful seamstress? I have looked into your background and found no such schooling; you are member of no guild and no one who knows you has any clue as to how this sudden ability came to be. I must know how you learned this skill so quickly. Please elaborate," he commanded, albeit kindly.

She began to stare as if she were looking straight through him. Then an out-of-place smile crossed her face, one that did not quite look genuine as her eyes remained focused and unblinking. "I have had the skill a long time, since I was a girl. My grandmother taught me. I just did not use it. But when the Inn was being repaired, I decided to give it a try."

Scar knew something was amiss. "And where did you obtain the material? This is no ordinary cloth you are using. The weave is quite unusual and the designs not entirely native to Papua; I have lived here long enough to know that. How do you explain this?"

Poppy shrugged. Considering the extent of her normal shyness, the motion also was not natural for her, he noted. "A merchant from Zento came through town recently and sold it to me for a small sum. I told him about my idea and he was very helpful. He said the cloth is mostly silk with something else added to help it fit well."

"What was his name?"

"I do not know. I cannot easily pronounce their words."

"Does he return here?"

"He hasn't for a long time."

"If he does, you will send for me that I may speak to him."

"Is he in trouble?"

"No, but I am interested in meeting this merchant. You will inform me when he comes. That is a direct order. Is that clear?"

Poppy nodded absently. "Yes sire. I will tell you if he comes back."

"You may go. Thank you for your charity and honesty Poppy. I know I can count on it," Scar complimented, but with a hint of expectancy.

Poppy got up, curtsied as was her custom, and left the room.

Scar remained in thought, thankful for the gift from Nujel'm, but he was now very concerned how a young girl who, by going completely against the grain of her shy nature, had procured it by a skill no one knew she even had. Something was not quite right, and, being inquisitive by nature, he would get to the bottom of it. First, however, he would inform the Baron of this meeting and made immediate preparations to journey to Thraxstadt.