Snippet #2746750

It were as if Callion had suddenly fallen asleep again and woke to find others around him. She felt him suddenly close to her face, and jumped when he began reacting with surprise when he suddenly put the pieces of who she was together.

Mara's face very nearly matched the red of her dress when he exclaimed something about her being beautiful after a scrub. Mara glanced up at him meekly and was met with another warm smile, but he seemed to be a man with a flighty mind for soon he was ranting about other things. It seemed Garos was not the only one trying to be kind to her at this table. Sir Lightson might be a little...mad...but it made him in her mind that much more genuine. It was obvious he cared little for social norms, and Mara found herself deeply respecting that in spite of herself. Callion's antics nearly made her miss the arrival of another guest.

Mara couldn't help but smile at him. Ah, this was the way Sir Lightson felt when he was stunned by her difference in attire. Thomas Burgundy, the man who had arrived in chains, was a far cry from that poor wretched man they had met earlier. Mara had only known by his eyes that they were the same man...a look she knew all too well in them...hunger..as if in response to her thought, she faintly heard his stomach complain. Since arriving, Mara had not cessed hoarding food. Even though they had taken most of her clothes and prettied her up: this had not changed.

Demurely, Mara withdrew a handkerchief from her blouse and with the familiar fluid motion of someone who sometimes stole to live...discretely pressed the clean handkerchief into Thomas's hand as if offering her hand to him in polite aquaintance. Simple enough with most attention on Sir Lightson. Inside she had stashed dried fruits from her breakfast in case she grew hungry. Having seen Thomas that morning, she felt he may need it more. She had eaten twice--twice!--already today. Mara risked a glance into Thomas's eyes, her green eyes flashing knowingly for a moment before she cast them down again.

"S-Sir Burgundy...is it not?" She said in her somewhat soft, unused voice. "With me in shoes and your chains gone...we must hardly be recognizable..to these fair folks..."

She would have said more, but Callion chose that moment to put his hands on her shoulder. Mara froze instinctively, like a hare when sighted by a hawk. First one. Then both shoulders were touched, to which Mara flinched away, more than unused to any touch that didn't immediately lead to being struck. Especially when it happened unexpectedly. Though, Mara knew that Callion meant her no ill will, she had to force herself to unclench her shoulders. Not wanting to look like a dog cringing before his master's boots. She was somewhat relieved when Callion moved his attention to the unwitting servants.

In spite of herself, she found herself smiling a soft bemused smile as she watched Callion. She had never met his like. But when he began to cast magic, a rune glowing over the water, Mara momentarily forgot her meekness. Magic.

"Spell..chucker..." Mara murmured in awe, voice barely a whisper. Mara straightened to see better as the contents to the pitcher became the dark tint of wine, her neck curving, her lips pursed in thoughtful curiosity as she drank in the sight. She thought as much! Those tattoos were magic! Mara's mind whirred with questions. How did he learn that? Could he teach her? Oh, how she wanted to show him her candle-lighting progress! Though, surely, blowing a candle on was not as impressive as turning water to wine.

Mara took the cup he offered gingerly, as if it contained the secret to all magic-learning itself or..horrifying poison... As a rule, she didn't drink...seeing the mess her father was from the drink...just the smell of most alcohol made her feel queasy most days. She politely pushed the cup in front of her out of smelling distance. Only the use of magic here made this any more paletable for her. When Callion looked to them for "life stories" Mara was immediately somber looking. She was sure that after him pressing liqour onto them that the least uplifting thing he could possibly hear would be for her to talk about growing up taking care of her alcoholic parent and broken life.

Mara took a sip from her water glass as she thought how best to approach this. Ah, there it was. Mara lifted her eyes to Callion's cheery face. They were eyes wide with curiosity.

"Sir Lightson, if I may....i'd much rather hear your story." Mara said softly. " I have never met a real spell-chucker before, and though you say that spell was simple...I would love to know how you came to learn such magics."

What she really wanted to add was, "and I want to learn. Show me!" Or " I have always yearned for a gift like yours." But both of these phrases were kept locked inside her heart. They did not seem appropriate to throw at someone she had only met...though...she doubted such a thing would even phase a man like Callion. Still, getting people to talk about themselves was usually the route Mara took. She would almost always rather listen than talk.