Hello! I just to say that that I don't own David Edding's Characters nor do I own the poem recited later in the story it is by a Robert Burns.

"Hello!" A young woman yelled into a crowd of people who were occupied with their shopping. They, in return, looked at her wearily. Her dark brown hair blew around her face in the wind, and her light eyes swept across the growing crowd of curious people as she extended her arms. "I extend my hand to you, all of the people of this fair Nypharian ocean side town, in friendly greeting from the Temple of Ul, for in his eyes we are all equal…" She smiled warmly at the crowd which mostly consisted of Nypharians, a race of greenish light skinned people with dark hair and light eyes. When she said she was from the temple almost everyone narrowed their eyes already suspicious of her intentions. The woman seemed unaware of this and continued undaunted by the looks she was receiving. "I am a priestess from the temple on the outskirts of your fair country, Nypharia but I am new to this town."

"Oh spare us of your long winded speeches and tell us what you want" An old man yelled from the crowd which was followed by a chorus of agreement. He continued as his light tanned face in wrinkled into a sneer. "Is it money? We can't give you any! With all the taxes now enforced since the new king came into ruling, we can't spare you even a copper penny! You're wasting your breath and our time!"

"No, I wouldn't dream of begging such good people such as yourselves for money! I only wish to spread the word of Ul and hope that one of you kind handsome people can take me and my brother in for the night. Sadly, we do not have the money to spend in your humble inns." The crowd groaned and started to walk away the woman looked at them in confusion. "Why did my question cause such a reaction?" She asked to no one in particular.

The old man who spoke earlier looked at the young woman with his face contorting into a deeper sneer, "Haven't you heard? The king made it Illegal to house even for one night the holy people from any temple of Ul."

The young woman licked her lips her eyes were in deep thought and then they brightened with a sudden Idea. "Wait good people," She yelled at the crowd some stopped but not many. She looked at them sweetly and in a sugary sweet tone she asked

"Seeing that there is no hope of having a warm place to sleep for me and my brother I was wondering if at lest one of you kind people could supply us with a warm meal?" The groaned again but louder. The woman looked undaunted as she bowed dramatically "I will sing for mine and my brother's dinner. I can't also recite poems from all the masters…"

The Old man looked at her sharply but his scowling face brightened a little, he took out his money pouch, "If you say a poem to my likin' I might consider it." He crossed his arms keeping his money pouch in sight but closely guarded.

The woman looked at him questionably but bowed again, clearing her throat she started, "The poem is called "To a Louse on Seeing One on a Lady's Bonnet at Church." It will be told in an old Dialect so do try to listen carefully…

Ha! Whare ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly,
I canna say but ye strut rarely
Owre gauze and lace,
Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.
Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her --
Sae fine a lady!
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.
Swith! in some beggar's hauffet squattle:
There you may creep, and sprawl, and spr
Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle,
In shoals and nations;
Whare horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle
Your thick plantations."

The crowd grew as she spoke; a couple of people giggled while others listened intently, covering their amusement with soft coughs. No one noticed a slender body weaving in and out of the crowd carefully and graciously reliving them of their money.

"Now haud you there! ye're out o' sight,
Below the fatt'rils, snug an' tight;
Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,
Till ye've got on it ---
The vera tapmost, tow'ring height
O' miss's bonnet.
My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose ou
As plump an' grey as onie grozet:
O for some rank, mercurial rozet,
Or fell, red smeddum,
I'd gie ye sic a hearty dose o't,
Wad dress your droddum!
I wad na been surpris'd to spy
You on an auld wife's flainen toy:
Or aiblins some bit duddie boy,
On's wyliecoat;
But Miss's fine Lunardi! fye!
How daur ye do't.
O Jenny, dinna toss your head,
An' set your beauties a' abread!
You little ken what cursed speed
The blastie's makin!
Thae winks an' finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice takin'!
O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion!"

When she was finished the crowd clapped for her but left no money for her performance, sighing as the crowd dissipated she noticed the old man was laughing, "It's a long time since I heard anyone say a poem with such mastery. Do you know the meanin'?"

The woman thought for a moment then nodded, "Even though you might think you look grand and perfect, others might see a different story, like the woman in the poem. She was rich and thought her self different from the poor but she had lice and didn't know it. The others did because amongst her finery they saw the single louse. The poet wishes people like that woman can see how they really look and maybe they would act differently from those who can't afford finery."

The Old man nodded in satisfaction with her answer and opened his pouch taking out a few pieces of copper.

"Here," He held his hand out to her "this is enough for a couple of pints of ale or maybe some roast from one of the inns. With this and the money your brother pickpocket you will be set for the night." He lend into her ear, "Priestesses and priest of Ul don't recite poetry or sing songs unless its one about god. They find any others sacrilegious."

The man Hobbled away leaving the young woman alone in mild shock, "Tate?" she called softly. Behind her the young man who earlier was picking money out of the Oceanside town's pockets appeared, coming out of the shadows of an alleyway. She didn't have to look around to know he was there. "We have to get new disguises; the current ones won't get us very far"

"As I have heard, Ki" He opened a pouch full of ether copper or silver she put the money the old man gave her. The young man's light eyes were full of amusement as he put an arm around her shoulders, "Guess what else I heard while you were giving your pretty speech." He started to guide her to the ally way he was hiding in. "I heard a ship arrived today carrying people from across the sea and rumor has it that they are very rich."