He wasn't about to help a criminal flee the region, but Eden's easy answer soothed the courier's ruffled feathers and he relaxed again, accepting her explanation at face value. At her description of the land below, however, a crooked grin tugged at his lips. "Guess y'really haven't been out much since the War, huh?" He reached up to run his fingers back through his hair as he gave his head a little shake. "Half o'Torchline's floatin' in the sky, too, an' the other half is islands. Half the Hollowed Grounds an' most o' the Greatwood is more or less underwater, for that matter. An' Halo would be, 'cept all its water is mostly frozen." He chuckled. "Tween th'Draig, th'Climb, an' th'swamp, you'll be takin' airships or seaships one way or t'other in all your other travelin', too." What had once been one continent largely traversible on foot was no more since the War had broken the regions apart into large islands.
But she could figure that out later, when the time came. For now, the question was Torchline: how many, and how much.
He considered her offer with a furrowed brow, glancing back to Boreal and weighing the risks. "Could do," he agreed slowly. 'Long as Boreal knows th'rabbit's really a people she should leave 'im alone." It was always awkward when his companion tried to eat his cargo, much less his passengers!
It was tempting to accept the full payment, for that matter, but Tal's pride wouldn't let him and besides, business was doing well enough that he didn't need to gouge. "Mmm... one an' a half," he countered. "Is that all you're bringin'?" He nodded to the pack slung over Eden's shoulder.
The deal was soon concluded to both parties' approval, and before long the Peregrine was under way towards the island paradise, blissfully unaware of what the future held in store for Torchline, and all of Caido beyond.
~fin~
But she could figure that out later, when the time came. For now, the question was Torchline: how many, and how much.
He considered her offer with a furrowed brow, glancing back to Boreal and weighing the risks. "Could do," he agreed slowly. 'Long as Boreal knows th'rabbit's really a people she should leave 'im alone." It was always awkward when his companion tried to eat his cargo, much less his passengers!
It was tempting to accept the full payment, for that matter, but Tal's pride wouldn't let him and besides, business was doing well enough that he didn't need to gouge. "Mmm... one an' a half," he countered. "Is that all you're bringin'?" He nodded to the pack slung over Eden's shoulder.
The deal was soon concluded to both parties' approval, and before long the Peregrine was under way towards the island paradise, blissfully unaware of what the future held in store for Torchline, and all of Caido beyond.
~fin~
