<strong>Scene 2: Tamaa and Princess Aishah</strong><br/><br/>"Yes," Bill said as he was assaulted with questions by the two women.  He was actually flabbergasted by how many questions emerged from their lips.  One question after the other, without a moment for him to reply.  It was maddening.<br/><br/>"Yes to what?" asked Gregory.<br/><br/>"I think the first question," Bill said.<br/><br/>It took some doing to get things straightened out, but here it goes:<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"So ye have the ability to drop the barrier and raise at leisure?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>No.  We do not open the barrier at our leisure, thank you very much.  But we can open it.</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Did the magi, Twin put this up?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>We do not know.  We didn't see the mage put the barrier up, but he taught us how to open it.</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"And why is that?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>Why is what?</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I mean, you clearly have important job, if you two are the only ones that can lower and raise the magical barrier..."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>Uh... we aren't the only ones opening the barrier.  There's about fifty of us who let people in and out.</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">But can it be flied over? dug under and or crossed from the sea?</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>Not that we know of, except there is a channel that is navigable from the lagoon and into TIDE POOL.</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Seems pretty wasteful if those were ways to circle it, does it?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>We, uh, respectfully disagree.  We've seen what's out there.  Those things even attack the barrier, from time to time.  Just yesterday, a crab the size of a boulder and with pincers the length of a man tried to attack us.  The barrier keeps us safe.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/>Addendum, in response to your edit:  The results of the Knowledge (Local):  Princess Aishah, these young men aren't soldiers.  By your estimation, they're scarcely any better than a pair of fuckups.  They seem polite enough, and they aren't particularly aggressive.  By your estimation, their spears aren't even sharp.  Why they even carry them, you don't know.