Even knowing that the compliments were likely just intended as statements of fact in the wake of their conversation, Rance still felt a little spike of pride. His literacy had been useful more than once and he'd been paid for those skills before, but it had always been seen as lesser to his ability to efficiently nail a board in place. And while Jigano probably had uses for that as well, the fact that he was inviting Rance based on his passions first was flattering in a way he'd never quite encountered before. Something to turn over in the back of his mind as he asked about feathers.
The answer surprised him all over again, making his heart skip a beat, not hiding the reaction from his face. Another raven. But... not. Because Jigano was like him in the sense that he'd been a fox before anything else, no matter what shapes magic had given him later. So, surprise faded almost as quickly as it came, replaced by the crooked smile. "A white raven has to be a sight to see, though."
He turned to face Jigano fully, holding out his hand. "You already had me with the offer of a place to store any books I accumulate, but how can I turn down another raven?" There was humor in the narrowing of his eyes and the widening of his smile. The idea had been settling into place over the course of their conversation and voicing his thoughts seemed only natural. "You have yourself another Loreseeker, sir fox."
The answer surprised him all over again, making his heart skip a beat, not hiding the reaction from his face. Another raven. But... not. Because Jigano was like him in the sense that he'd been a fox before anything else, no matter what shapes magic had given him later. So, surprise faded almost as quickly as it came, replaced by the crooked smile. "A white raven has to be a sight to see, though."
He turned to face Jigano fully, holding out his hand. "You already had me with the offer of a place to store any books I accumulate, but how can I turn down another raven?" There was humor in the narrowing of his eyes and the widening of his smile. The idea had been settling into place over the course of their conversation and voicing his thoughts seemed only natural. "You have yourself another Loreseeker, sir fox."
