So maybe the cards were a little magic after all, no matter what Alys said. If nothing else, at least they were lucky if they'd somehow brought the two of them together, and the courier's pale eyes widened with surprise and relief at the little bird as it winked into existence and then winked out again.
"Hey, it's good enough!" His dour scowl lifted until it was perilously close to a grin. "I just need to study 'em," he explained, tapping the goggles that hung around his neck and then, after a moment's hesitation, lifting them over his eyes. Sure, it made him look pretty weird, but he'd done stupider things on quests before. "Illusions. With these, t'strengthen the enchantment on 'em. I don't s'pose I can get you food or a drink or anythin'?" Barter came as easily as breathing to the courier as he peered eagerly at Alys through the smoked lenses of his snow goggles.
A server slid up to the table at that moment and set a steaming breadbowl in front of him, filled with a hearty ningo stew. A mug of ale followed and Tal nodded to the man, already familiar with the usual price he paid in service at this particular inn.
"Hey, it's good enough!" His dour scowl lifted until it was perilously close to a grin. "I just need to study 'em," he explained, tapping the goggles that hung around his neck and then, after a moment's hesitation, lifting them over his eyes. Sure, it made him look pretty weird, but he'd done stupider things on quests before. "Illusions. With these, t'strengthen the enchantment on 'em. I don't s'pose I can get you food or a drink or anythin'?" Barter came as easily as breathing to the courier as he peered eagerly at Alys through the smoked lenses of his snow goggles.
A server slid up to the table at that moment and set a steaming breadbowl in front of him, filled with a hearty ningo stew. A mug of ale followed and Tal nodded to the man, already familiar with the usual price he paid in service at this particular inn.
