The ale that was brought to her was strong. Admittedly, Jaya was not one to commonly drink ale, so perhaps her perception of it was not a learned one. But, the meal that came with it -a thick stew of rough, salty meat and the sort of root vegetables that could survive even the harshest of winters- was also something that she could describe as strong. Hearty, at the very least. So she supposed that this was simply the way of things here. And it made sense with everything else she'd seen and heard in the Anderfels. It was something she'd need to acclimate to, and sooner was better than later.
She'd just taken her first bite when someone spoke just over her shoulder. As she turned, a plate came into view. It was followed by an arm, which set the plate down on the table. Jaya's eyes continued along the arm up to a shoulder, then the neck and face of a man who, by no stretch of the imagination, could be local.
"Hmph?" she managed, processing his words while trying to place his accents. He must also be traveling to the griffon sanctuary, surely. After a moment, her self awareness returned and she set her spoon down a bit too quickly, clanking it in the bowl as her other hand covered her mouth. She chewed the rough meat quickly, then swallowed and cleared her throat. "Oh, umm... th- thank you?" she finally managed, not quite meaning to make it sound as much of a question as it did. The bread would be lovely for soaking up the stew, though, so she did reach for a piece.
"Will you sit?" she asked by way of invitation as she gestured toward the empty chair beside her. "I take it you are traveling to the Highwing Restoration Initiative as well?" Her eyes caught the title of the book he held. While it did not seem relevant to griffons or the Anderfels, it furthered her assumption all the same. He was an academic of some fashion, at least.
"My name is Jaya Zeudi." she quickly added, hoping he'd not found her rude.
@Iggy Icarius
She'd just taken her first bite when someone spoke just over her shoulder. As she turned, a plate came into view. It was followed by an arm, which set the plate down on the table. Jaya's eyes continued along the arm up to a shoulder, then the neck and face of a man who, by no stretch of the imagination, could be local.
"Hmph?" she managed, processing his words while trying to place his accents. He must also be traveling to the griffon sanctuary, surely. After a moment, her self awareness returned and she set her spoon down a bit too quickly, clanking it in the bowl as her other hand covered her mouth. She chewed the rough meat quickly, then swallowed and cleared her throat. "Oh, umm... th- thank you?" she finally managed, not quite meaning to make it sound as much of a question as it did. The bread would be lovely for soaking up the stew, though, so she did reach for a piece.
"Will you sit?" she asked by way of invitation as she gestured toward the empty chair beside her. "I take it you are traveling to the Highwing Restoration Initiative as well?" Her eyes caught the title of the book he held. While it did not seem relevant to griffons or the Anderfels, it furthered her assumption all the same. He was an academic of some fashion, at least.
"My name is Jaya Zeudi." she quickly added, hoping he'd not found her rude.
@Iggy Icarius
01-09-2025, 04:57 PM
