"I met one of them, yes," Jigano said slowly, his usual wry humor fading and a shadow falling over his blue eyes. He turned his gaze to his tea, frowning as he turned his cup in a precise manner, a nervous gesture designed to help calm his mind. Samuel's odd eagerness seemed to go unnoticed for once as he took a deep breath, then released it with a sigh. "I had thought to play a song at the shrine upstairs. I... didn't really have a desire in mind. It was simply a whim. I thought that, perhaps, a gift of music might be appreciated. Or... no, I did pray while I played, I suppose. For my friends to be safe this season and through the Long Night."
He took a sip of his tea, but his gaze remained unfocused, not really seeing Sam or the tavern beyond him. "It was Ludo who came. She... he... is not particularly kind or good, I think. Something more primal than that. Less... civilized than 'goodness.'" He fell silent again, jaw tightening grimly. "Suffice to say, my song was... insufficient." He exhaled sharply, blinking away the memory with difficulty, but at last his gaze focused on Sam once more.
"I'm sorry, Sam," he said quietly, barely audible over the sounds of the tavern around them. "It... isn't something I'm ready to speak of yet. Is there something else you'd like to ask instead?"
He took a sip of his tea, but his gaze remained unfocused, not really seeing Sam or the tavern beyond him. "It was Ludo who came. She... he... is not particularly kind or good, I think. Something more primal than that. Less... civilized than 'goodness.'" He fell silent again, jaw tightening grimly. "Suffice to say, my song was... insufficient." He exhaled sharply, blinking away the memory with difficulty, but at last his gaze focused on Sam once more.
"I'm sorry, Sam," he said quietly, barely audible over the sounds of the tavern around them. "It... isn't something I'm ready to speak of yet. Is there something else you'd like to ask instead?"
