[Birdland]

Bird sat down under the tree, admiring the careful grooming that Olo had done on the horses, and drinking the water gratefully.

She delicately wiped her mouth on her sleeve, then asked the halfling: "Olo, the clothes on my back have seen some hard traveling. Do you, perhaps, know if there is a rag man about where I might buy some new garments and a good cloak?"

"Of course!" said Olo, jumping up and brushing the leaf litter from his pants. "The innkeeper himself keeps a goodly stock of garments, mostly left behind by travelers who had to vacate their rooms in - well - a bit of a rush, for one reason or another. Since we get few ladies traveling through these parts, and his wife is so fat she would probably not fit into most of the things left behind, there's bound to be some fine things in the storeroom. Let's go take a look"

This sounded more promising then Birdie had expected. She followed Olo back into the inn, where the innkeeper unlocked a back storeroom, and bid Birdie to look at her leisure and let him know when she had made her choices.

There was an amazing selection, many of the garments were of the finest quality, and Bird wondered that people who could afford such fine garments would feel the necessity to skip out on their tab in such a hurry that they would leave all their luggage behind. She looked longingly at a beautiful embroidered cloak trimmed in fur, and a surcote of the finest Elven weave. But such things would never hold up on the trails and backroads that the skin-changer traveled. They were meant for fine ladies with homes and hearths. Reluctantly, she let them drop.

But in short order, she had found a simple but finely made split riding skirt, more than suitable for walking, or riding, if Bird should ever own a horse again, which seemed unlikely. A very suitable black bodice, and two shyrts soon followed. Then a simple, but warm and soft green cloak. Hose and some soft but sturdy boots finished the ensemble. The boots were probably made for a boy, but they were too good to let go, and fitted Birdie's small feet just fine. (Though she envied her friend Holly, who never had to worry about the expense of footwear.)

The innkeeper came back in, and studied the small pile that Bird had set aside. "Twelve silver pennies for the lot. And a better deal you'll not find. Those clothes are made of the finest materials. Couldn't do better if you traveled to Minas Tirith."

Bird fingered the coins in her pocket. Count as she could, they only added up to ten silver pennies, and even if the innkeeper agreed to the price, it would take every bit of money she had. She reluctantly picked up the boots, preparing to put them back.

"Pray, Miss Birdie, allow me." Olo gallantly pulled a golden coin from his pocket. "I had a bit of a windfall in the stable this morning, and I would be more than pleased to lend the price of 12 silver pennies to a friend of Miss Holly's." Bird started to protest, but he waved his hand, saying "If ever you pass through again, you can repay me, if only with more tales of your adventures."

Olo flipped the golden coin to the innkeeper, who studied it, then bit it, before turning to get change for the halfling. But suddenly Bird, who had been looking at the gold piece as well, (having seen so few of them) grabbed his arm and exclaimed "Olo! Where did this coin come from?"