Not all of the Talonius heirs were aboard that freight vessel, however. Edmund, born and raised like a scion of a noble house - albeit a bastard scion - was not one to simply book passage aboard a freight vessel if a more elevated means of transport would avail him, and he had arrived earlier in the day aboard a vessel not for transport of cargo, but for transport of passengers.<br/><br/>Still, the man who steps forward with letter and ring is dressed practically: long, slender blade resting comfortably at one hip, balanced by a buckler on the other, sturdy boots, his chain shirt of mithril hidden beneath his clothes - though those with especially keen sight might catch a glimpse of gleaming metal. His eyes sweep over those who approach Ehren appraisingly. He himself is square of jaw, with hair of ebony, and his skin, white as snow and so very far from sun-kissed, makes it plain to any peasant or commoner that he's not one to have worked outside a day in his life.<br/><br/>A halfling? His eyes linger on the small one a moment longer than the rest. He's never seen one before, though he's heard of them. He remembers his great-uncle speaking of how Gaius had not only concubines, but adopted orphans as well. How many of these, he wonders, are orphans, not even of the same bloodline as him? His eyes turn to touch on the pointed ears of one of the blondes, the one attired in silks, rather than armor. An elven orphan? Or a half-elf scion?<br/><br/>Well, perhaps the halfling is a servant, an attendant. Even the other two, certainly more human than the halfling and the woman with elven features, look more the part of attendants or bodyguards than noble bastards.