Watching from a distance, Gerard suppressed a laugh when he saw her reaction to downing the entire cup of ale in a single gulp. She probably accepted the drink without realizing what it was and thought it was some barley water. He wasn't a drinker himself, but it was still amusing to see how other non-drinkers reacted to a surprise. As he came over he discreetly wiped the smile off his face before looking at her, then at the cup she was glaring daggers at. "What's the matter? Oh, I see. That's ale, and a particularly strong spiced one at that. It has a higher proof and concentration than that disgusting, cheap watered-down excuse they serve at Vilpamolan taverns, so it has a bit of bite to it. There's milder drinks around here, but take care not to enjoy them too much. At least for this one the sting'll let you know when you've had enough."

Taking a seat beside Eden, he told the chef: "I'll have those two pieces of strip steak to your left there. I prefer my meat well-done over rare. Hold the ale, I've got a drink already." Lifting his glass to show the man, he waited as his order was plated and served. "There you are, your strip steak sir." The man set the loaded plate before Gerard with silverware. "So are you abstaining, or are you holding off until after the wine judging is over tomorrow?" Taking the knife in hand, the bard carefully sliced through the thickest portion of the pieces of meat, and was satisfied when he saw there was no hint of pink in the center. "I'm waiting for the competition to conclude. If I taste everything now, I'll ruin my appetite. Once the judging is over I intend to sample everything starting from those that ranked last all the way up to first place." Cutting a smaller slice off the tip, he found it to be tender and juicy with a hint of lemon and herbs. "Rosemary, thyme, and…sage is it?" He mused, trying to guess what blend the chef had used to season it. It was very fragrant and very floral, but the lemon's acidity gave it a brightness that he liked. 

He occasionally would glance over at the beast woman to see how she was holding up with her meal. The ale had caught her off guard, but would she put it down or give it another try?

Her ears flicked towards the voice that interrupted her stare-down with the mug, recognizing it before turning her head over to see the man before drop by, checking up on her while getting a meal for himself. She paused at her own eating, eyeing the silverware he was using before looking down at her own plate, seeing she had a pair of her won… Was she supposed to use these? It did not stop her from ripping another chunk using her hands and fangs, but she did chew slower than before, thinking about it…

But then her eyes moved back to her drink. She needed it, but it burns her throat so much… The stare-down began again, having the guy behind the grill sigh before waving down one of the sharers walking by. "Hey, can you drop by Cheviz's stand and get one of his lighter drinks for the lady here? She could be a New Blood!" Receiving a thumbs up, he laughed once more before continuing working his station. "Don't worry, we recognize not everyone can drink the strong stuff. But you know… You do remind me of something I heard circling about…"

Eden could feel his eyes upon her, and returned a gaze back as well. It was not a malice upon her, but a curiosity with an overwhelming power. Even when he broke her gaze, she could still feel it. "So pal," the chef said, redirecting himself towards the gentleman, "what's your relation with the missus here? Seems you are on some familiar terms at the very least."

"Oh us? She's someone I hired to help me transport my hard cider and red wine to the festivities. Kept those unsavory types off my cargo while it was in transit, if you know what I mean. I didn't expect to have so much company out on the highland plains this time of year. They did a number on my hired driver out in the infirmary tents back there." Gerard motioned towards where the clerics were with a nod. Taking a few more slices, he slowed his chewing to fully savor the taste. The bard considered his own cooking skill to be a bit above average, but this was something else. Not everyone could cook meat past medium rare to perfection, and normally it ended up slightly on the dry side if it wasn't marinated in brine. Taking another sip from the tart currant and lime cocktail in his cup, the citrus acidity renewed his appetite. It was good, sharp and refreshing. If he hadn't picked the highlands to build his home, he most definitely would have chosen a place where he could purchase limes every day.

Soon his plate was cleared, and he was thinking of what else to try. Any alcohol was off limits for today, but there was plenty to sample otherwise. Eating something salty left him wanting something sweet, and he remembered seeing the tent serving baked green apples back from last year. "So, what's new this year in the stalls? I've been so busy in the past months that I haven't had the time to ask around on any news relating to the Food and Wine Festival this Ignius." Striking up a conversation with the chef, Gerard hoped to glean any useful information on the event. Whether it was a new guest, a returning brewer who had been absent in previous years, or a new face advertising their represented eating establishment, all of those things were tidbits he was interested in. If possible, he could find a few new buyers for his fruit that ripened in Venti and sun-dried raisins.

His stock of goods was lower thanks to saving the best grapes for making his wine, but he was always open to finding new ventures. Most of what he produced at his estate were sold to local markets or Arri. He couldn't afford to ship anything further than that. The Sarchu valley and Laeto Rainforest made transporting anything to the south and west difficult, costing more than what he would likely gain.  Also he simply did not trust trading ships to keep his goods in proper and sanitary condition. He absolutely despised rats, those filthy disease-ridden vermin. That was why he would leave snakes alone when he found them, they ate the pests keeping his place tidy and more importantly–clean. He didn't say anything about Eden's lack of table manners. It was probably due to her upbringing, or lack of. Now when civilized folk who had learned how to use utensils ate in such a way, he had plenty to say about them. Ignorance he could tolerate, idiocy not so much.

"Hmmm…" he muttered to himself before shrugging it off. "I must be imagining things, then. The only thing terrifying about her is her eating habits!" Again, he laughed it off, but it was enough for Eden to glare at him, feeling where it was coming from. However, it was not long before yet another glass was placed in front of her. While she was still cautious, her need to drink told her to try anyways and washed down the meat still stuck in her throat. It still had that weird feeling in her throat, but at least it did not attack her as harsh as the other. She could at least handle what bite the drink had.

"New faces, huh?" the chef repeated, as he thought over. "I think the biggest news would be the Troy Brother's stand. They wanted to debut with a highly diverse assortment of goods, but it seemed they, too were unfortunate with bandits as well. At the very least they could salvage what they had… Then again, Crews and Barney did not show up at all because of attacks… Either bandit attacks have been on the rise, or there is something fishy with those new guys…" However, it was not long before the two saw the chef deck himself right in the face suddenly, hearing him mutter to himself, "C'mon, don't think like that! All new participants should be greeted with open arms, not daggers…

"A-Anyways," he forced himself, "if its drinks you are not interested in, I would advise Kale's stand. She and her sisters worked hard on making some grand desserts for the festival. I plan on dropping by myself to try out one of their tarts." The rest was noise to Eden as she laid the steak down and took the glass in hand, taking a sip as her ears flicked around, listening to the noise around her. Something… did not feel right.

There were eyes…

"Confound it…" Gerard muttered bitterly. "Things weren't as bad last year. Does that mean next year's festival will have to be moved to a new location? It's always been held here every Ignius. I suppose it was bound to happen in the end, seeing as cutthroats and thieves flock to places of meeting like buzzards." Yet in spite of his words, he wasn't going to take this lightly. The Food and Wine Festival was a long-standing tradition, celebrating the bounty of the season and the fruits of one's labor. While it was open to anyone for sampling and participation, apparently that wasn't enough for these highwaymen. He did find more than what he was looking for however, and made a note to check up on the 'new arrivals' as well as pay a visit to the Troy Brothers before the event was over. Upstarts in his summer festival? Absolutely unacceptable! Not wanting to pry for more from the chef, he nodded as he was given a recommendation to one of the returning vendors.

Finished with his food, Gerard left his used tableware and cutlery in the bins designated for washing. Giving his compliments to the chef, he was back to strolling the festival grounds with his glass in hand. His first stop was Kale and her sisters. Lovely pastries topped with streusel and finely powdered sugar were sitting in baskets waiting for be picked up. Giving a smile, he asked for two apple blossoms started digging into them right away. Washing down the last piece with the remainder of his fruit cocktail, he started making small talk with one of the girls. He wanted to know more about what had been happening to the vendors this year, but he started with a question on who was new here this festival. Word of mouth traveled quickly, and he had learned the painful lesson of the destructive power of gossip in years past. Thus he chose his words more carefully, as to not arouse suspicion from those around and whom he asked. Pretense was the name of the game, and it was one he knew well.

"If you don't mind me asking, are there any newcomers this year? I've missed the first two days of the festival and was running late, so I haven't had the time to browse everything."

"Well, you have us," the sister responded, giving him a quick wink. "Why not enjoy what time remains here?"

"How about because we don't have any wines, Silkie," an older sister responded, not afraid to give the other a quick chop. "Sorry for her rude behavior. This is her first time to the event, so we are using this to teach her how to handle customers…"

"Aw, c'mon, Sandy! Are you saying I cannot use my sweet charm to woo everyone in towards us?"

"No!" Another chop was quickly delivered, this time with more force on the same spot, having her hold her head.

"Enough, you two!" Kale stated, walking out from the back. "Now is not the time to present family issues to our guests, now can we? Not only that, but he asked a question, so it would be best we give our opinions. Sandy?"

It took her a brief pause to think things over before saying, "Koolre's hand has a surprisingly sweet drink to those who are interested. Sure, it has a bitter aftertaste, but none of it is overwhelming."

"But what about the Troy Brothers?!" Silkie bursted out suddenly. "They got sooo much to offer! And not just in flavors, but styles as well! You'd think they were made from other people! Not only that, but they said they were expecting some last minute supplies to ship in to fill in what they lost. They got me sold on their brand!"

Kale was the last one to offer. "Kodo would be my recommendation. He had to fly his items in from Ataiyo to display the sake his land is known for. But of course, what you decide to see, we have up to you. I hope this helps you."

~~~~~~~~~~

While Gerard was busy investigating the stalls, Eden was more on the prowl. Her eyes kept shifting around the region, passing by the folks as the sounds of chatter melded together into a massive mess. She knew there were eyes on them while they were eating. They were targets to somebody, yet she had no real way to track them. Her ears caught all the commotion and her nose was filled with the scents of fermented drinks and fruits. All she had were her eyes, having to filter through the movement of everyone else along with her natural feeling, which itched at her.

The feeling was the same as back then… back when they were in the cart…

Gerard gave the girl a wry smile, which was the best he could do. It was difficult for him not to look sarcastic or sardonic in general. "You have my condolences. It seems many of us have had a hard time on the way here. It truly is a deplorable thing, these thefts." Looking at the young woman named 'Silkie', he continued. "Luckily for you, I would've stopped by to pick up a few apple blossoms regardless. I'll have a gander at all of the wines you've recommended. I myself am especially curious on sampling the Troy Brothers' wares in particular." Taking his order in hand, he thanked the girls as he moved on. To the average person, the fair was bustling with activity. However for someone with sensitive hearing like him, it was mostly noise. He could tell the girls had been sincere in their chatting, and that the loss of their wines they had intended to showcase bothered the eldest the most.

Leaving the stall he moved on to visit Koolre. As much as it was irritating, he couldn't make his interest and suspicion too obvious. For all he knew, it was possible the culprits could be posing as visitors to the festival. It was open to everyone, and unfortunately that meant anyone could come in. Although the trust of the people to attended was founded on good faith, there was no doubt that someone would abuse it. He kept his ears and eyes open to any tidbits of information relating to the robberies. A little complaint here, a disappointed comment there. Having been an attendee for several years he knew the stalls that were regulars and which ones came and went. There hadn't been any problems until this year, so either the perpetrators had been planning for the long-term or it was a recently devised plan. Ultimately he made his way to the Troy Brothers he had heard so much about today. Most people couldn't afford to carry such a large selection of wines if they were promoting them on the winemaker's behalf, as the cost would be more than the return. Only the idle rich had such time and money to burn, but this too was highly unlikely. Gerard decided he would find out soon enough.

There! They were for a brief moment, but her eyes caught a figure quickly moving into the shadows as she turned her gaze over. It was certainly night a simple movement. There was a jolt of panic, enough to peak her curiosity to head into that direction. Certainly enough, a she caught a quick shadow taking a corner. Whoever they were, they were running. And if they were running, so would she. Abandoning the cup of wine in her hands, the tigerkin's eyes slitted sharp as she gave chase to the running figure, making quick scans around to catch her target at each corner, ensuring she would not lose them!

~~~

"Ah, why hello," greeted Gerard as he came up. "Welcome to our booth. Please, make yourself at home and enjoy yourself. I am Brigard Troy, a pleasure to meet you." He seemed eager to greet him with a handshake, but instead he seemed more like he was offering up a business card. "I have not seen you since we have been here, so let me tell you what we have… Although that can be a bit tricky. How about this: Instead, why don't you tell us what you want, and I am sure we can see if that is what we–"

"Help!" a cry suddenly came out as a younger man charged towards the booth.

"Whoa, Grex, calm down," he said, catching his brother's shoulders as he fought for breath. "Catch your breath and tell me what is wrong…"

All he did was point back to the view of a certain tigerkin on a hunt…

"Hm, quite. Now about your wares…" Gerard gave a smile, albeit one with a sarcastic tinge. He could've sworn he heard the man call himself 'Brigand', if Brigard was his real name. Courtesies aside, this man's slick overeager attitude was a different beast from the other greetings of the previous stands he had browsed. And not to mention his wording was oddly specific. You didn't need to tell someone that you hadn't seen them before, unless you were trying to pull something. He was about ready to test whether or not this man knew his own stock when the screams of a man came towards them. Another man, probably the man's partner in crime was fleeing from a pursuer. A quick glance and he recognized the tell-tale ears and tail. But for the two men here he feigned surprise. "Did you get into a heated discussion with someone? By the looks of her she doesn't look too happy with your brother here. But I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding." 

He knew a keen hunter like her could pick up on the smell of a rat when she found one. While the men were distracted he looked to see if there were any identifying marks or seals on the casks of alcohol here. The bard had no issue with letting Eden do as she pleased, but if things were looking disadvantageous for her he'd step in. There was still time before the judging. It would be ideal if they apprehended the thieves red-handed before it began. Watching the younger brother catch his breath, Gerard tried to think if any of the highwaymen who had attacked them earlier had anything which could prove or disprove the brothers' connection to the string of robberies. "I don't mean to be rude, but whenever you're ready I'd like to have a sample of what you have. I'm not particularly well-read on wines and the like, so if you could introduce each one to me I'd greatly appreciate it." Now, let's see how these two could worm their way out of this one.

"I-I don't know. She saw me and all of a sudden gave chase, like she was getting ready to maul me!" the younger man stuttered before the older one shushed him, patting his head, whispering to him, "There there. It is alright. She doesn't have her weapon, so there is little to worry about," before looking back up, talking louder, "And besides, if she gets any more aggressive, we will simply call in the staff to detain her. Under the influence or not, it would still me assault on our poor booth and name. After everything we had gone through, too."

Eden did act as a decent distraction to let Gerard investigate their wares. While nothing seemed off at first glance, a careful eye at the bases would show a slight unevenness in the barrels. Nothing too strange for a single plank, but for multiples next to each other? And not only that, but one of them was showing a bit of ash… but it was deep in the shadows to find.

However, as he spoke up yet again, the older Troy spoke up, "Just a moment!" before sending the younger one off to fetch a guard before heading into the tent. "Forgive my delay. If you don't mind, may you watch the lady outside before we have the staff pick her up? I shall reward you with one of our specialties: an orange wine, carefully taken care of and aged for sixteen months before we brought it here. Its natural acidity gives it a nice punch, if I do say so myself," he told him, scooting him off to Eden before heading through the selection, taking a moment to locate the barrel before pouring the drink.