Esme wasn’t sure what to make of that grin. Perhaps it would be more charming if he hadn’t so recently been vomiting into a bush? He seemed to think highly of it, in any case.
“Well then. Alright, I will. And I’d ask what you mean by nuisance but, honestly, I’ve already got a sad fuck of a mage to worry about. Don’t need another one.” That was, perhaps, unkind to Byrne – who was miles away and in no position to complain. Besides, unkind wasn’t untrue – he had sad, wet eyes and an aura of pervasive loneliness. Except when they were in a fight.
She watched Ruth stack up his coins, mentally tallying the sum against what she’d paid originally. A markup was reasonable, considering the increasing rarity of lyrium and the immediacy of Ruth’theran’s need for it. Unless the stones were exceptional, there wasn’t enough there to really pluck at her heartstrings too badly. Still, Esme leaned forward and halved one stack of coins with her free hand, pushing five back to him.
“Give me the stones and take these back so you can eat on your way to wherever you’re going. We can call that square. Although …” She tilted her head, considering.
“I’ve never been tomb diving before. Cut me in sometime and I’ll let you know if I can get my hands on more. Family name's Lachance – got a room at Harlin’s in Starkhaven you can write to.” She offered him the vial, passing it over in her palm.
“Take it outside if you’re gonna open it.”
“Well then. Alright, I will. And I’d ask what you mean by nuisance but, honestly, I’ve already got a sad fuck of a mage to worry about. Don’t need another one.” That was, perhaps, unkind to Byrne – who was miles away and in no position to complain. Besides, unkind wasn’t untrue – he had sad, wet eyes and an aura of pervasive loneliness. Except when they were in a fight.
She watched Ruth stack up his coins, mentally tallying the sum against what she’d paid originally. A markup was reasonable, considering the increasing rarity of lyrium and the immediacy of Ruth’theran’s need for it. Unless the stones were exceptional, there wasn’t enough there to really pluck at her heartstrings too badly. Still, Esme leaned forward and halved one stack of coins with her free hand, pushing five back to him.
“Give me the stones and take these back so you can eat on your way to wherever you’re going. We can call that square. Although …” She tilted her head, considering.
“I’ve never been tomb diving before. Cut me in sometime and I’ll let you know if I can get my hands on more. Family name's Lachance – got a room at Harlin’s in Starkhaven you can write to.” She offered him the vial, passing it over in her palm.
“Take it outside if you’re gonna open it.”
05-26-2024, 09:11 PM
