"Are you sure, noble lady? Why are you here? How can we help? Don't you need any messengers or spies?"

"Or a nice broom maybe?" suggests the 9-year-old, gesturing vaguely back to where the old woman is arranging her brooms around the stoop...

Ariadne pressed her lips together, suppressing the urge to yell.  She didn't want to be "the evil rich lady who yelled at children", both because it would be a terrible thing to do,  and because the kids would almost certainly use that as emotional blackmail to get more money.
"No, we're fine, thank you.   If we need you, we'll let you know"

Jon thanks Jade and smiles as Ari handles the kids.  He then stops towards them "Thank you for your offer, as she says, we should be fine." he then turns to Ari, then Jade and Janessa "Ladies, shall we be on our way?"

Ariadne was wearing a somewhat stylish long coat, a la Highlander, to help hide her weapons somewhat, and hopefully hide her money pouch as well.  It was weird holding her money in a bag of coins rather than just her wallet.  It made the weird and magical aspect of her new life very apparent.

Jade follows Ariadne and asks, "Is it normal to spy on people like that?"
She looks kind of surprised as she asks her cousins.
"I wouldn't even know who to spy on."

"Er, shall I wait here? Or shall I take the carriage and horses and wait at Amber's Embassy here in Tanus? Or...?" asks Osbert.

The kids start petting the horses.

The horses tolerate the kids petting them.

Ariadne nodded to the driver with a grateful smile
"Going to the Embassy would be good, I think.   We can meet you there"

She looked at Jade with a chuckle, as if asking "why are you asking me??", but she remembered King Randoms comparison, and then nodded thoughtfully
"Yes and no.  I'm not totally familiar with this area, of course, but in many large cities, especially when there's political trouble, infighting, or just poverty, you can hire children to watch a location, or sit nearby a specific group so they can overhear an important conversation.  Usually, no one who's important pays attention to children.   It's why maids, butlers, and secretaries are useful sources of information.   Though, with kids, that spy work might not be reliable "

Jade nods, "Ah yes, I am knowledgeable in the social invisibility of being a maid. It can at times be as good as magical invisibility." She smiles understanding now what Ariadne explained.

Osbert takes the horses one direction down the street.

The Amberite cousins head in the other direction.

(As they walk, the four kids follow them.)

With each street they walk, more and more people are visible on the streets-- here, a man carrying a keg of something on his shoulder, there, a woman wearing a sword, over there, a woman selling brightly-colored scarves.

Everyone's interest when they see the cousins is great, but they seem a bit afraid to approach, like they don't want to bother you. Instead, some people start waving the children over, apparently to ask who these handsome/beautiful strangers are. The kids start doing business, asking for coins (or candy, where available) in exchange for telling what they know (which honestly isn't that much, but it's more than the askers know themselves).

Ariadne looked around, not sure how to feel.  She was flattered, but also nervous about what happened next.
"We're making a bigger impression on this city than I'd realized.  I'll admit that I'd been hoping to blend in a little better, but coming here in fancy Amber style clothes made that impossible, I guess. I should have realized that."
She shook her head, sighing with resignation.
"Next time we do this, we should pick out local fashions, and work to be more subtle, I think.  We're already a local 'news of the day' for the neighborhood people."

She looked at Jade and Jon with a wry smile.
"On my Earth, I'm not a huge celebrity, but I'm known to many people, especially in certain communities.  So when I go out in about as myself, it can sometimes cause a crowd.  Crowds of admirers or fans can be very good for ones ego, but it can also make it inconvenient or even impossible to get anything done in town.  I remember one time I stopped at a store to buy a leather jacket, hoping to get in and out in half an hour at most.  Well, a couple of people recognized me, and wanted to chat for a bit.  Other people joined in, and before long my short shopping trip turned into a two hour public event.  And, if I remember right, I never did get around to buying a jacket."

"Do you think it's my hair? Should I change the color or is it too late?"
She looks to Ariadne, "I hope we can get about without hours of talking to people like that, though King Random did say we were known here. At least Amber was known here."

Ariadne chuckled darkly
"Oh, it's FAR too late for that.  I'm sure word that 'strangers are in town' has reached several blocks in every direction.
The Good news is, we have a chance, or, to be more honest, an obligation, to be Ambassadors for Amber to the people we meet here.   That might help Amber, or at least our reputation, though, if we play our cards right."

Jade nods, "I would like a good reputation. I think we would all want that." She smiles.

"It seems the children are making money off of us anyway." She laughed lightly, "Now, I don't feel so bad."

In reply to Jade (msg # 26):

Ariadne grinned.
"Yes, like many kids in some of the cities on Earth, these kids are dedicated entrepreneurs"

She leaned close to Ariadne and whispered, "Uhm, Ariadne is Earth so hot and dry as this shadow ? I am just curious." Her face showed some concern though.

Ariadne looked around, taking a whiff of the air that smelled of dust, cooking fires, and too many people.   She smirked.
"Earth is a big place, with many different environments.  There are Many places as hot as this normally, including summers in Los Angeles, where I live most of the time.  And there are plenty of places that are warmer and plenty that are actually uncomfortably cold.  But hopefully this place will have enough of a breeze to keep us cool."

"Oh, ok." she nodded slowly and once again stayed under her parasol.
Her eyes taking in their surroundings as she looked for the children again.

Jon has been keeping pace with his cousins, but his attention has been dedicated to keeping an eye on their surroundings.  Especially as they reach more populated areas.  Jon keeps his expression pleasant, but it is clear that he is not relaxed.

"I agree, we definitely drew more attention than expected.  Perhaps we should've ridden to the Embassy and then seen about 'slipping out'." *shrugs* "But, as they say, it is easy to see the flaws of the past with the knowledge of the present."

"I would love to buy some of those lovely scarves. Can we buy a few things or do you want to head to the embassy as quickly as possible?"

Ariadne looked around. "We may be swamped soon with locals trying to meet the 'tourists', but we can buy a few things now, before the onslaught of 'helpful citizens'."

She also looked for a quick souvenir to buy.  Perhaps a brooch or pin of some kind

Jade smiled and went to buy some colorful scarves.

"I would love to purchase some of these lovely scarves please."

"Certainly, noble visitor, certainly..."

Ariadne finds a jewelry-seller selling-- amongst other things-- some pins and brooches.

A well-fed fellow approaches the cousins, and targets Jon. "Noble prince, might I interest you in a truly rare purchase-- a living almiraj, horn intact? Such a worlds-savvy traveler as yourself surely knows how useful such a beast can be when hunting, yes...?"

Jade makes her purchases and feels the fabric enjoying the sensation. smiling she bundles the scarves away.

When she see the man speak with Jon her curiosity is piqued, "What is an Almiraj ?"

Jon smiles at the man "Indeed. Such a beast, in its element, would be a fearsome ally." he nods "But where I hunt most often, the almiraj would be a detriment to me.  I do appreciate the offer." Jon says with a note of finality, indicating that he is not open to further discussions.

In reply to The GM (msg # 35):

Ariadne, while not being judgmental about hunting, looked for something less hunting related to get.