<div class="floatleft">(http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7946/marcusdupont.jpg)</div><strong>Marcus Dupont</strong>, Outside Avonleigh Manor [Marcus Dupont, Richard Dupont, Frederick Martin, Gregor Brun, Marie Brun, and various servants]<br/><br/>Outside of Avonleigh Manor, both the elder and younger Duponts, as well as Frederick Martin, stood speaking with a gruff and elderly man. All around were sheep. Dozens leading into hundreds of of herd animals grazed the front lawn; another figure, smaller and feminine, stood further away amongst the beasts.<br/><br/>"My lord will flay my 'ide if I sell 'is beasts for less that seven gold libers each," the older man said, shaking his head. "Neighbors or not, I'd be in a great bit o' trouble when it came to reckoning time, if I was short three beasts without the right number of libers to pass along to 'im."<br/><br/>The men were apparently negotiating the purchase of some fresh mutton for the household. Out by the carriage house, there was more activity. Servants were leading horses from their stalls, and a pair carried one large and gilded, green chest. The sound of bleating continued to cloud the morning air, making it hard to talk, much less think.