Her reaction was everything he could have hoped for... well, aside from nearly hitting herself with the rock she was holding. Jigano couldn't snort as a bird, but he chuckled to himself on the inside as her delight turned out to be infectious. It was so rare to see someone so genuinely happy in the dark day's of Zariah's rule that for a moment he let himself forget his stress and be carried along by Papillion's genuine cheerfulness.
Clever? Oh, if only she knew! But that was his fault, not hers, and he tried again with two of her own words. Flattery? Perhaps, but sincere enough. And he was rather charming when he put his mind to it, wasn't he? The white raven dipped his heavy beak to preen himself a bit at the compliments, knowing he'd have to reveal himself eventually, and perhaps sooner rather than later, but for the moment this wasn't such a bad way to renew their acquaintance with each other.
The rock vanished, but a shiny pendant took its place, and Jigano laughed inwardly again at the ploy. It was a good one, he had to admit - and so did a pair of the other ravens in the flock, two young birds dropping off their branches to land near to Papillion, eyes on the glittering prize. For his part, the white raven peered over the edge of the ravine at the woman down below, calling out in a bright sing-song: "Pretty pretty Papillion!"
Clever? Oh, if only she knew! But that was his fault, not hers, and he tried again with two of her own words. Flattery? Perhaps, but sincere enough. And he was rather charming when he put his mind to it, wasn't he? The white raven dipped his heavy beak to preen himself a bit at the compliments, knowing he'd have to reveal himself eventually, and perhaps sooner rather than later, but for the moment this wasn't such a bad way to renew their acquaintance with each other.
The rock vanished, but a shiny pendant took its place, and Jigano laughed inwardly again at the ploy. It was a good one, he had to admit - and so did a pair of the other ravens in the flock, two young birds dropping off their branches to land near to Papillion, eyes on the glittering prize. For his part, the white raven peered over the edge of the ravine at the woman down below, calling out in a bright sing-song: "Pretty pretty Papillion!"
