#bergen_county

Thistle (and a few Nevers) is fiddling with a clockwork apple.

One of the Nevers is fussing after trying to take a bite out of it... and then gives the thing a tiny kick... only to then fuss over it's foot.

A little snicker. "C'mon, silly."

Noticing the sidhe, she smiles. "Hey! You find anything good, Art? I got a book about nockers!"

"I found some books, but they all cost more than I have. Gwen gave me these "Pennons bucks?" But it looks like they may not actually hold much true value."

Art looks disappointed, and a bit frustrated.

But, he perks up a bit. "You got a book, though? That's great! Can I see?"

"Sure! How much was the book? Maybe they'll haggle?"

She offers out the book from Margalita.

"Haggle??" He seems baffled by the concept. "Wouldn't that be insulting to the merchant?"

Looking over the book with interest.

She shrugs. "Depends on the market. Here, it seems to be the thing. Like, if they wants fifty bucks, don't go in with five - but offering forty would be a fair opener?"

From the kithbook of nockers... a voice speaks in a voice ourr sidhe deosnn't know...

"But you don't share it with ANY Non nockers... don't show it to em.. it's none of their bussiness!" It YELLS repeating what she was told before

and stings arty's hands

"Ack!" He fumbles, closing the book, but doesn't drop it, even if it stings.

"Oh, (*^&^@! Sorry!"

He passes it back over to her, rubbing his hands together. "It has attitude!"

"So do nockers, it seems."

"One FURKING rule, noob... just one..." the book grouses "Now I got to iniiate the self destruct sequence... entter nnocker counter destruct to cancel..."

And... the book seems to havee a timer going in the corner...60 seconds

59.. and so on

"What?"

"Fifty eight... "

"Furkin' stop! He didn't even see nuthin'!"

"How do you make it stop?? I'm sorry!"

"Fifty seven..."

But as she tells it to FURKIN stop, the countdown hiccups, and says 57 THREE times, before "Fifty six"

"Try insulting it again?" Arty says, eyes gleaming.

She glares. "I said (^^%$ stop, you glorified mimeograph!"

"Don't you dare blow up on me, or I'll take your spine and... " Well, THAT seems physically improbable....

"Countdown cancelled, Nockerhood confirmed..."

"Hunh."

Mind you, nearby mothers may have taken their kids away

Art laughs! "That was fantastic. Do you think the book was programmed to behave that way, or does it have it's own personality?" His fingers itch to know more about it.. he actually holds his hands behind his back, otherwise he'd be reaching for it again.

"I dunno! I'll have to figure that out, I guess."

"What about the book you saw? Can I see it?"

"Oh, it was over here. Maybe I should just look for some cheaper books. It was really cool though."

Leading back to the book tent.

The Spheres Know more than one Song, the cover is of the Seven Sisters Constellation, but if you tilt it, they seem to dance... and yes, there it is

"Mistress Bookseller?" He asks, "Can you direct me to your less expensive books? I am supposed to purchase them for a new library, and..." One last glance at it in longing, but he focuses. "It would probably be better to get a few books, rather than just one."

"Well, that is a rare book" She says sympathetically, "I'm sorry you don't have the hundred and five dollars or dross"

She continues "We have some wonderful fantasy novels.. not exactly what you hoped for but going for good rates"

"Oh, that's it? One-oh-five?"

"Listen, would you turn down a chance to get ninety versus not selling it at all? Especially to two fledges who could benefit from proper magical education?"

"Heck, since Pennon bucks are from the Count, you could tell him what a good thing you did..."

The woman looks a wee bit amused "Aren't you two part of he Silverwolf crew, outSIDE of the County?"

"Yup! We're guests here, but Silverwolf has been doing real respectable in competition - hence the prize money to spend!"

"Right, so our opinion means more, since we're not locals."

"I'm not sure I agree," She looks amused, "However, we do barter.. I'll tell you what ... I'll lower the price to 95, but in exchange for that extra 10 dollars? Sometime in the future you help someone else who cann't afford a book"