Jigano hadn't turned to encourage Samuel to mount, only to give him something to hang on to while he pulled himself off the floor, but when the bookmaker seemed to have something else in mind the bard didn't argue. Using his best diplomatic tact he also didn't comment on his friend's lack of a plan, sternly reminding himself that Samuel was doing the best he could given their very unusual circumstances.
At least he'd found a sense of humor about it, and the horse snorted wryly. "I've looked better," he said, voice dry as he turned his head to watch his friend from one eye. "But the 'woods-wise hunter' look suits you! Maybe you'll take up archery after all this is over?" He was only half-joking. It wouldn't hurt the skinny man to pick up a more outdoors-y hobby, maybe get a little sun now and then.
It was a little awkward having Samuel leaning on him like that, but that rather described their friendship in a nutshell and Jigano had to restrain a chuckle at the thought. "Well, once we picked up the feather and started moving we got here rather quickly, so... probably time doesn't pass normally, no. We can try to move where we need to be for the next part of the story, though, and see if it happens again." He didn't restrain his laugh this time, though it came out more as a whicker. "And the vizier said that you, my fancy friend, have quarters here, in the stable with me. Probably a room at the end of the barn, or upstairs in the lofts." His tail swished with humor and he gave a gentle shake to disengage the other man, since it appeared Samuel didn't have a plan for riding after all.
"But first we'll need to collect our net and bait. And speaking of bait... forgive me, Samuel. I pushed in the heat of the moment and didn't explain myself clearly. I had been thinking more symbolically than the metal. Golden corn, to bait a bird to our net. If we scatter the corn around the clearing and wait for the firebird to return, you can hide in the bushes. When the bird lands and begins to eat, throw the net over it to catch it. Then we should be able to bring it back to the king. What do you think?"
At least he'd found a sense of humor about it, and the horse snorted wryly. "I've looked better," he said, voice dry as he turned his head to watch his friend from one eye. "But the 'woods-wise hunter' look suits you! Maybe you'll take up archery after all this is over?" He was only half-joking. It wouldn't hurt the skinny man to pick up a more outdoors-y hobby, maybe get a little sun now and then.
It was a little awkward having Samuel leaning on him like that, but that rather described their friendship in a nutshell and Jigano had to restrain a chuckle at the thought. "Well, once we picked up the feather and started moving we got here rather quickly, so... probably time doesn't pass normally, no. We can try to move where we need to be for the next part of the story, though, and see if it happens again." He didn't restrain his laugh this time, though it came out more as a whicker. "And the vizier said that you, my fancy friend, have quarters here, in the stable with me. Probably a room at the end of the barn, or upstairs in the lofts." His tail swished with humor and he gave a gentle shake to disengage the other man, since it appeared Samuel didn't have a plan for riding after all.
"But first we'll need to collect our net and bait. And speaking of bait... forgive me, Samuel. I pushed in the heat of the moment and didn't explain myself clearly. I had been thinking more symbolically than the metal. Golden corn, to bait a bird to our net. If we scatter the corn around the clearing and wait for the firebird to return, you can hide in the bushes. When the bird lands and begins to eat, throw the net over it to catch it. Then we should be able to bring it back to the king. What do you think?"
