Landing in the calvary commons Chronos found Lyla before she could leave the ship for the church.
"Lyla come with me, I'll buy you a dress as a gift for everything you've done for me." Chronos said, giving her his best innocent smile.
To which she smiled right back.
"You want my help with the earl don't you."
And cut right to the heart of his issue.
Chronos's expression stiffened, he hadn't thought she would realize what he was doing so quickly.
"Well, yes but you get a free dress. And maybe a chance to fight someone depending on how our discussion goes."
If he couldn't trick her, he would have to tempt her with what she loved most.
She contemplated that for a bit, then agreed. If nothing else, it was something to fill her time until they left in a couple of days.
"Sure, but you better make sure that you get a good dress. From what I've heard Earl Malric is a stickler for decorum."
"You're right. The last time I was here he kept scolding mother for not using proper table manners."
Laughing at the thought of the glorious silver spear maiden being scolded they started descending the gangplank when a voice called out from behind them.
"Oi, we're coming with you. This can serve as practice for when we're in the capital." Sariah called out as she and Gregory chased after them.
Chronos scowled, buying four sets of noble clothes was going to put a dent in his wallet but he'd rather have all of them there to distract Earl Malric from his anger over his son.
"Alright, hey bus carriage, wait for us!" He waved at a stretched carriage that was used to ferry a couple dozen people across the city.
On the carriage's side was a list of stops the carriage would be going to today. The fourth one was the noble gate that led to the inner district right after a couple of stops in the north market.
"It's 5 gild per person." The driver said.
Chronos nodded and handed over 20 gild for all of them. Taking their seats they had to wait an hour before they reached their stop. Hopping off the carriage they found themselves in a square with high class businesses on every side.
As they were looking around a young boy acting as a courier came up to them.
"Excuse me sir. This letter is for you."
Handing over the letter the boy rushed off before they could ask him any questions. Opening the letter Chronos found that it was exactly what he had feared.
An invitation for an afternoon meal with the earl.
But it seemed the earl wasn't as upset with him as Chronos had thought he would be. At least he had been kind enough to direct them towards a respectable secondhand clothing store to get some noble clothes at, and it was in a corner of the square close to where they were.
Walking across the square they entered the shop. Chronos wore his seal ring, then gently rang the bell, leaning against the counter as he waited for the shopkeeper to arrive. After a couple of minutes Sariah got bored and rang the bell again before Chronos could stop her.
"Get lost! I don't care if you're some wealthy merchant or an upstart noble, we only serve those of proper rank." A voice shouted from the back of the shop.
"Why's he think we're low ranked?" Sariah whispered to Gregory.
"Because a proper noble wouldn't ring the bell a second time so soon, they would assume that the shopkeeper was on the way and wait for at least ten minutes. Noble etiquette and all." He whispered back.
"Shopkeeper, I'm Chronos Ulv and I require proper clothing for an afternoon meal with the Earl, both for myself and for my companions." he spoke with respect in his voice, but the tone said that he wouldn't take no for an answer.
A bald head poked through the curtain behind the desk, scowling at the thought of having to deal with another upstart, then he saw the ring on Chronos's finger and his face lit up with a smile.
"Of course, Sir Chronos. Is this a formal event or a more relaxed affair?"
As he stepped out of the curtains, they saw a skinny older man that was well-dressed enough to fit in at a noble gathering without looking out of place.
"A relaxed affair though it might become violent with what we're discussing."
The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, understanding how noble gatherings could work, "Of course, of course. Then we'll need some dresses that are easy to move in while still being elegant for the ladies and for the young lord perhaps a military cut, nothing else I have will look good on a man with such a large build. As for your friend... I think I can find a few different suits that will fit him.
Dear, come help me with the ladies," he called into the backroom.
"I'm coming, let's see what I'm working with." Said a portly older woman who had leaves braided into her hair as she came out of the back.
She took one look at Sariah and immediately shook her head, "No, this will not do. We have no dresses that will fit her body, if you want to hide her outrageous figure I will need to borrow a coat from next door. You ladies go into the back and choose a dress you'd like. I'll tailor it to fit your figures as best I can once I'm back, but you should know that most of our clothing was made for older women."
"Thank you." Sariah said quietly as the older woman walked past her.
"Of course, deary. I can only imagine what you and your lover must go through, having to fight off young noblemen can't be easy." Then she had left the shop swiftly heading to the coat shop next door.
Seeing both Sariah and Gregory turn red as beets upon being exposed, the old man spoke with them.
"Forgive my wife, she is a druid and a midwife. She can always tell who is together even when you don't want her to."
Gregory coughed as he gathered his wits, "It is fine, sir. Now I believe you should start with Chronos as tailoring his suit will take some time."
Looking at Chronos's broad shoulders and his height that was nearly 30 centimeters taller than a normal plains resident he nodded in understanding.