after trading a few words at Olympia, Dutch was quite eager to meet the rest of the packs that resided in Boreas. she had been too late to the beckoning call of this one, but its scent was quite fresh. she had passed this lake on the way to Auster, but when she came back around it was claimed. how odd. how curious. how... interesting! grinning from ear to ear, she'd pause at the new border. was this the beginning of a new pack? what friggin' luck! the Hjarrandi should be payin' her to be an envoy. er, well... they were in a sense. free room and board. food. drinks. all that good stuff. but this was different. she had a chance to meet with this pack before anyone else did. Dutch quickly lifted her head and let out a howl, her back legs crunching against the dry earth as she raised herself up to appear taller. dangling briefly, her front paws touched back down. Olympia aside, she now called to meet the leader of this place. before she had met one of the civilians and was feelin' a bit more confident with her words. "c'mon... c'mon" her snout lowered to breathe in the pack scent before uttering a few impatient words. she still carried with her that pretty stone that Dei-Dei gave her. it was stashed a few steps away from the border too. maybe... oh shit, really? maybe she could present the alpha with this stone in a good gesture? or even offer to make something for them. now she really couldn't wait.

Her Highness strode confidently over the border of her packlands, decorated paws pacing softly over the sandy soil when she heard the call at the border. Mismatched ears perked at the sound and her ivory splashed form shifted in the stranger’s direction. Her pace quickened, and a few moments after the call the woman came into sight. Deathbelle approached slowly, her alabaster tail draped dominantly over her hips and lower back.

”What do you seek here, wolf?” Her voice was serious as magenta gaze took the stranger in. She was a tiny little thing, pretty despite her size. Belle didn’t let her guard down, but relaxed slightly knowing her height advantage. ”Speak quick, don’t waste my time or your own.”

Her Highness strode confidently over the border of her packlands, decorated paws pacing softly over the sandy soil when she heard the call at the border. Mismatched ears perked at the sound and her ivory splashed form shifted in the stranger’s direction. Her pace quickened, and a few moments after the call the woman came into sight. Deathbelle approached slowly, her alabaster tail draped dominantly over her hips and lower back.

”What do you seek here, wolf?” Her voice was serious as magenta gaze took the stranger in. She was a tiny little thing, pretty despite her size. Belle didn’t let her guard down, but relaxed slightly knowing her height advantage. ”Speak quick, don’t waste my time or your own.”

well, what an awful first impression. lousy, even. Dutch felt her usual barbed tongue trying to poke its way out of her mouth, but held it fast. her high shitness may think herself great, but at least the dwarf was no 'servant' of hers. "I was gonna congratulate ya on yer new pack" from the demeanor of the other, it was clear this was a leader. the scentlines were all awash in her scent too. despite the woman's tone, Dutch lifted her head up, chin high. she wasn't afraid of some lady who thought she was great cause of her rank. "and even offer to broker a trade deal on behalf of my band and its leader, the Hjarrandi." she let that sink in before rising to all fours, turning away from the other female. but if you think I'm so worthless, why bother? she let the words remain unsaid. "but if you're busy with your alpha work" she'd keep her civil tongue, looking over her shoulder at the woman with an arched brow "I can come back another time." or not at all. that'd be fine with her too. let Valkyrie or Dagfinn or someone else play royalty. Dutch wasn't even part of a hierarchy. it wasn't in her nature to bow before others because someone happened to be strong enough to make or take. and she also didn't like to play around. if the alpha here was curt and impolite, the dwarf was going to be too.

Deathbelle peered at the stranger as she took her suggestion of preserving time as a personal affront. Light brows furrowed at the reaction but otherwise dismissed the rude behavior she received. The name of the Band the girl mentioned was unfamiliar, but she didn’t doubt its existence. She was here for a trade deal, or not. Belle pondered for a moment, debating seriously about sending her on her way. However, even if it turned out only a promise for the future Belle would take her chance.

”That wasn’t so hard, was it?” She asked absently as she shifted her weight from paw to paw. ”Ashen is willing to trade.” Despite not having any supply lines up and running or craftsmen to make them. She didn’t give much worth to traders in the long run, merchants were the lowest caste because they only profited off the work of other people. ”What do you have to offer? I see no wares.” Was this a waste of time?

"'course you see no wares" Dutch replied, though she still kept her tone civil despite wishing to throttle her "I'm just here to see if your pack was willing to trade and if you wanted anything in particular. it'd be stupid to let one wolf carry everything. we could get attacked and robbed. we take orders too" she added. her neck twisted to view the spot she had stashed her gemstone before shifting back to the alpha lady. "we have a big festival-type deal comin' up, so we're gathering food and furs and recreational brews... herbs too. but I do have something that I brought with me. hang on." without another word she'd walk further from the border and dig up something from the disturbed earth. coming back, she'd deposit the ore before the alpha lady. though it was a bit dirty from the ground, the blackened ore with the silver gemstone was clearly seen. "I'm a crafter. I'm usually taking orders and makin' shit from instructions. I specialize in jewelry and accessory makin'. I was gonna present ya with this, see if you wanted a necklace or a bracelet... somethin' to commemorate yer new rank. or if you just wanted it to add to whatever stores you have, so you can trade with other packs." quickly brushing off access dirt, Dutch would push it forward for the alpha lady to view properly.

Belle thought she’d gotten the trader caught up in her own words, however, she was quick to explain the reasoning of not bringing at least an example of their wares. There would be a festival approaching soon, and the Empress felt her attention perked. Now she was really gaining her interest. Not that she was impressed with the individual, but the prospect had all of Belle’s attention.

She felt herself tense as the woman stepped away, Deathbelle didn’t exactly feel comfortable in the woman’s presence but she gently dug at the earth and returned with a tiny trinket. Belle perked mismatched ears forward at the explanation and the gem as presented. The Empress looked at it for a long moment, wondering what it might be turned into. Also what the catch was to being offered such a piece. Goodwill? Surely not. Belle was interested in the crafting part however.

”I am in need of a good cape,” She mused slightly, half forgetting about the offered gem. ”Can you make reinforced leather? Like armor?” Her interest wasn’t hidden as she drilled the young woman. In her minds eye she saw herself with a leopard cape with padded shoulders for armor.

the dwarf could tell the alpha lady wasn't exactly thrilled with her. but this was what Dutch had to look forward to; bartering and trading and using her wits to work better. some people may not like you and she didn't rightly give a care. it was a learning process. one she was half grumbling about and half excited about. and though the other woman looked at the gem with some interest, she was more focused on something else entirely. a good cape. armor. leathercraft. that was probably better than shooting around in the dark, swimming without a proverbial paddle. an idea was better than nothing. "ja" she'd reply easily "I suspect you have a pelt to work with then?" because she wasn't exactly built for hunting down large animals. she'd need help - and that wasn't something she ever did ask for. she only hoped the alpha knew that she needed to provide the materials so Dutch could work with 'em. she'd reach out, pulling the gem to her body once more. whelp, that was a bust. but she did have an idea. "orders - specific orders - need materials. that takes time to gather. tell you what, I'll polish and mold this gem as a brooch and you give me a hide." but before the other woman could go on, Dutch added in shrewdly; "the brooch is free. consider it an investment; if the other packs see it, you tell them where it came from. my band gets more business, ja?" she gave a small wink "the cape's on the house too. but the armor will cost ya. how about some meat? a few tender flanks of meat for some battle armor..." it sounded like a good deal to her. she was literally giving away her crafts for meat. meat was easier to come by with when you had a pack. but as nomads, food was scarcer. "but I'll wait until you see the finished cape before you order more. gotta know the worth before you commit."

The Empress received a quick affirmative as she asked about her more specific request. She visually perked, and though she didn’t much care for the little used leather (car) salesman before her a deal could be found. A good deal or trade leaves both parties satisfied. Ashen empire would need to produce the pelt however. The pack was only just starting, and her stores were nowhere near where she wished them to be, but the prospect of having her cape..

”No, I don’t have it yet.” She admitted, ”the animal that shall give it to me has been picked out.” Her voice was full of amusement as Dutch continued on about the gems, Belle perked her mismatched ears and listened as she went on to lay out the terms as she saw fit. A few cuts of meat. Not even organs, but a few tender pieces. Belle wasn’t sure what a few were, nor what species the viking wished them from. Surely not buffalo. There were more antelope species in and around Ashen than she could count, and likely would make up the majority of her payment. With the amount of time it would take her leather dealer to prepare she would have the pelt and the meat which would also likely include some cat.

”I can agree to this deal. By the time you’ve finished your tasks I will have both your payment and my desired fur.” She peered down at the stranger again, still unsure about the woman, but eager for the trading partners that might be gained. ”You may call upon the Empress Deathbelle Klein upon your return.” she offered her a name so the woman might not have to make up her own title when accosted at the border next time.

"can I ask what animal?" because furs were as different as night and day. it didn't hamper her abilities at all, but she needed to know what medium she was to be working with. as the woman agreed to the deal, Dutch felt a grin come to her features. hot damn, she had her first order! her first chance to prove herself and to the Hjarrandi that her skills were worth something. alpha something, for that matter. "I also need to measure you. that ok, Empress?" she added as the woman introduced herself at last. Deathbelle, huh? someone was trying too hard. "won't do any good to have some nice armor and it doesn't fit, eh?" she felt her insides squirm at the thought of calling anyone 'empress' or 'emperor' when she was a free woman. but it didn't stop her. she knew it was just politeness, that this lady was proud of what her accomplishments were. Dutch wanted to be called a Master Craftswoman at one point, so she could relate somewhat. she rose from the ground, tail swaying behind her idly as she awaited Deathbelle's permission. "call me Dutch, by the by" she added in. nomads roamed, but she'd know where this border was and find the time to travel here once the order was complete.

”A leopard tom.” Deathbelle said with a grin. The cat was at the end of his prime and had been in residence in the pack territory longer than the wolves of Ashen. He needed to go, and provide the Empress with her cape. ”I will allow it.” The Klein royalty spoke softly as she stepped over Ashen’s borders. ”I would be highly disappointed.” She answered to the comment about having armor that didn't fit. She gave the woman a hard glance before she looked ahead and evened her stance so the crafter might take her measurements.

”Thank you, Dutch.” Belle’s voice was serious, it was genuine thanks as she awaited the promised fitting. Likely this meeting would take only a few more moments and she could get to planning a few hunts. The most important being that of a leopard in need of slaying. A few of their warriors would do the trick. Maybe they’d even run out a couple of his girlfriends. Their generous gifts would look dashing on her kin.

a leopard. that was an easy enough coat to tamper with. she was in full work mode now, walking toward Deathbelle as she crossed the border. the woman immediately widened her stance so Dutch could look her over. "any pigments or dyes you want on the armor?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she mentally mapped the new empress's measurements. following along the woman's spine visually, she'd eventually step back. "I can work some black into it." she recalled the day she stood on that charcoal sand beach with Valkyrie and Dagfinn. who knew she was already finding good ingredients? "if I do, it'll wear off eventually and you'd need to see someone to reapply it" Dutch didn't say 'you needed to see me again' because any crafter would do. "but the leather will be sturdy enough, and I can totally add some jaguar fur inside to make you look fiercer once you give me the pelt" she grinned, eyes shining with her various ideas. it was up to Deathbelle what she wanted though, and Dutch would respect that. when she was thanked, the dwarf paused before shaking her head. "thank me when you actually have the armor and cape." there were no illusions. this was a business deal, and it was polite to thank someone when they were done the order. "I'll be back under a month. a few weeks at least. maybe sooner to see if the measurements do you justice" she added in with a slow and thoughtful nod.

”No dyes, thank you.” She told her, wondering if the crafted had her full vision in mind. A leopard cape, with armor built into the shoulders. ”Is there an extra charge?” She asked with a critical eye as the woman boasted jaguar fur as padding on the inside. Belle couldn’t deny the appeal of it, and even if she did give her a higher price she might have accepted it. ”You will have your thanks and your payment.” The Empress assured the crafter. The measurements were fully taken and Belle could let the woman be on her way. Her armor would be done by the end of the season. ”I look forward to your return and the display of your work.” She mused as she stepped back to release the free woman to be on her work.

"since you're giving me the pelt, I can probably use the excess fur after I make the cape" so no pigments and no dyes. that was simple enough. "so nope. free of charge. whatever makes the armor most comfortable. I'll add the fur when the cape is done. just let me know if you want the armor changed in any way while I edit it." Deathbelle would have plenty of time to get comfortable in the armor before the cape was done. Dutch was trying to impress, and she would pull out all the stops to get the Hjarrandi some more work. she had no idea what Valkyrie had in store but the dwarven woman felt she had to do something. something other than eating their food and drinking their brews. she wanted to be useful in some way, to someone or some people. that's how she was raised; to be hardworking and getting rewarded for it. "well, see ya in a season. bye, empress!" she tipped her snout down politely to the woman. without another word, she turned to leave. /EXIT & END