Ahhh, a head wound, then. That explained much, and the bard's exasperation dissipated even as it was replaced by concern. "Then it is a good thing that our Infirmary is next to our tavern," he said, keeping a closer eye on his companion in case Are showed signs of dizziness or other difficulty. Head wounds could be tricky things, and a concussion wasn't out of the picture, especially if he'd been in the middle of drowning when the portal opened beneath him. "I won't make you, if you don't want to, but I ask that you let the healers have a quick look at you to make sure that oar didn't do more than give you a bump." With luck that was all that had happened. For a man to go from being hit on the head to drowning to appearing in a new world between one water-filled breath and the next must indeed seem like the transition between life and death, and Jigano exhaled a slow breath as he tried to think of how to convince Are that he was still among the living.
It might be that time was the best solution, in the end. Letting the man see for himself how different Caido was from the underworld he expected, with his own eyes. No matter how eloquent he was, the bard had only words to offer, and no reason at all for the stranger to believe him. Still, no sooner had he reached that conclusion than Are spoke up again, and Jigano chuckled and gave a slight shake of his head.
"I think it will make more sense to you later," he tried again. "But I am not from this land. I have been here for, oh, almost two seasons now, but your respect does you credit. The people who are native to this world are, indeed, a hardy folk and worthy of admiration." He had made friends of many of the naturals, and found bright minds and souls among them the equal of any Outlander from a greener world. Some were as hidebound and petty as the worst he had known back home... but, again, the same could be said of some Outlanders he'd met as well.
"You're a tradesman, then?" the bard asked, interest sparking along with a bit of that respect he had spoken of. "Those with a useful skill are very welcome! I'm sure a place can be found for you, or made for you." Maea's words from Long Night still stung a little with the reminder that, lofty as his ideals were, he provided neither food nor finished goods for his own services. "Do you do anything else, in addition to shoes?"
It might be that time was the best solution, in the end. Letting the man see for himself how different Caido was from the underworld he expected, with his own eyes. No matter how eloquent he was, the bard had only words to offer, and no reason at all for the stranger to believe him. Still, no sooner had he reached that conclusion than Are spoke up again, and Jigano chuckled and gave a slight shake of his head.
"I think it will make more sense to you later," he tried again. "But I am not from this land. I have been here for, oh, almost two seasons now, but your respect does you credit. The people who are native to this world are, indeed, a hardy folk and worthy of admiration." He had made friends of many of the naturals, and found bright minds and souls among them the equal of any Outlander from a greener world. Some were as hidebound and petty as the worst he had known back home... but, again, the same could be said of some Outlanders he'd met as well.
"You're a tradesman, then?" the bard asked, interest sparking along with a bit of that respect he had spoken of. "Those with a useful skill are very welcome! I'm sure a place can be found for you, or made for you." Maea's words from Long Night still stung a little with the reminder that, lofty as his ideals were, he provided neither food nor finished goods for his own services. "Do you do anything else, in addition to shoes?"
