Although he hadn't come seeking company there was something almost comforting about Ianto's presence, however rocky their acquaintance had been. The bard had been alone more often than not lately, by choice and by the increasing instability in his temper, but solitude did not come naturally to him for long periods of time. When before he might have found Ianto's closeness annoying, now he tolerated it willingly. "If we are not, we'll run," he assured his fellow fox with a wry smile. "I can shift to a raven and guide you out from above if we have to. That's how Remi helped me escape from here, before I had a winged form to fall back on."
He had, admittedly, not expected the foxy man to be so perceptive, and Jigano revised his opinion of him up a few more notches at the direct statement. "I..." he hesitated as he turned a corner of the living maze, absently noting that it was to the left - though it would do little good if he tried to retrace his steps later. Ianto's words forced him to confront his purpose for the trip and the reason behind it, though he would have preferred to let the vague hope remain a little longer. "I don't... no," he admitted with a sigh. "Honestly? No, I don't. If the mastered healing magic of the Fae can't budge it, I don't expect the efas herb will. But if I don't try, I won't know for sure, will I?" He smiled weakly, using his staff to absently bat at a speaking squirrel that scurried too close. It dodged and chittered disapprovingly, bounding ahead as if daring them to chase it further into the labyrinth. "But even if it doesn't fix the blight, it will be useful for the settlement during Deepfrost, and especially Long Night." Old Smitty and his wife would appreciate it for their arthritis for a certainty, and having some on hand for Rory's farm was also a good idea. The rest would go to Vai and the Infirmary, for all the ailments and ills and fevers that the cold weather would bring.
But if it did help the blight...
No. Best not to get his hopes up too high.
"It's on green stems, like grass, but with brown bumps, almost like little berries, on it," he described with a wry smile for Ianto's offer. Isuma chirruped helpfully, too, but he reached up to quiet her gently as the fox spoke of weightier matters.
"Ah... I am sorry to hear that." He had seen the fair side of the Lady of the Wood, and a hint of the steel that lay beneath, but he had never truly witnessed her ruthlessness. He had been warned of it, and more than once, but Ianto's words were still sobering and a frown of concern furrowed his brow. "I hope you weren't punished for losing," he said quietly with a wince. He had knocked Ianto out of the tournament, after all. Though Delah's display of ferocity had been intimidating enough that he wasn't sure any of them would have been a match for her, had they made it through to the final round. Remi, perhaps... but the alchemist was gentle by nature, and Delah's fierce assault may have more than made up any difference in their physical and magical powers.
He had, admittedly, not expected the foxy man to be so perceptive, and Jigano revised his opinion of him up a few more notches at the direct statement. "I..." he hesitated as he turned a corner of the living maze, absently noting that it was to the left - though it would do little good if he tried to retrace his steps later. Ianto's words forced him to confront his purpose for the trip and the reason behind it, though he would have preferred to let the vague hope remain a little longer. "I don't... no," he admitted with a sigh. "Honestly? No, I don't. If the mastered healing magic of the Fae can't budge it, I don't expect the efas herb will. But if I don't try, I won't know for sure, will I?" He smiled weakly, using his staff to absently bat at a speaking squirrel that scurried too close. It dodged and chittered disapprovingly, bounding ahead as if daring them to chase it further into the labyrinth. "But even if it doesn't fix the blight, it will be useful for the settlement during Deepfrost, and especially Long Night." Old Smitty and his wife would appreciate it for their arthritis for a certainty, and having some on hand for Rory's farm was also a good idea. The rest would go to Vai and the Infirmary, for all the ailments and ills and fevers that the cold weather would bring.
But if it did help the blight...
No. Best not to get his hopes up too high.
"It's on green stems, like grass, but with brown bumps, almost like little berries, on it," he described with a wry smile for Ianto's offer. Isuma chirruped helpfully, too, but he reached up to quiet her gently as the fox spoke of weightier matters.
"Ah... I am sorry to hear that." He had seen the fair side of the Lady of the Wood, and a hint of the steel that lay beneath, but he had never truly witnessed her ruthlessness. He had been warned of it, and more than once, but Ianto's words were still sobering and a frown of concern furrowed his brow. "I hope you weren't punished for losing," he said quietly with a wince. He had knocked Ianto out of the tournament, after all. Though Delah's display of ferocity had been intimidating enough that he wasn't sure any of them would have been a match for her, had they made it through to the final round. Remi, perhaps... but the alchemist was gentle by nature, and Delah's fierce assault may have more than made up any difference in their physical and magical powers.
