Falowik had spent long years schooling himself to allow little to be seen of that which lay in his heart. The Elf woman's curiosity did not amuse him, nor anger. Rather, his eyes closed, he had felt her approach as if she were a lodestone. None had been so to him in long years. Otherwise he would not have foresworn the troubles of friend and enemy so easily the day he'd left Breeland for the wilds. He did not understand why it was so with this Elf woman, except, perhaps, for that moment of clarity in the Inn when he had known that she held much deep inside; and that made for a kinship of sorts. Dangerous. Troublesome. Take care, he told himself.
"I do not mean to quarrel, but perhaps Derufin could find something as reasonably priced. I can ask him for you when he returns, if you wish."
She had left the choice with him. It was well that he had so warned himself, for her kindness unasked for threatened to undo his long schooling all in a moment. So he was silent, letting her words hang in the air, unanswered for a space. He could think of no cause for her to go out of her way other than mere succor. It was enough to melt any hardness.
"If this be quarrel, then war is laughter." He allowed a wry smile. "I do not lightly take free what others pay for, though I have done so twice this night. I will make the ground my bed. My thanks."
So many words, old man! Falowik was not given to wit, but it had been the only way to answer her fairly and at the same time dam up that which threatened to spill. He needed to get away from these civilized parts before the dam broke. It seemed he had much rebuilding to do.
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