Lucas tore a piece of seasoned meat from the bone and slipped it into his mouth, chewing slowly as he watched the flickering lanternlight dance across the polished wooden walls of the inn. The warmth from the mug of ale in his hand mingled with the rising noise of conversation as the room gradually returned to its earlier rhythm. Moments ago, she had stolen everyone's attention. Now, things had begun to settle, and the raucous energy of the alchemists was returning, little by little.
He remained still, sipping his drink now and then, not so much because he was thirsty, but because it gave him a reason to sit quietly and observe. There was no need to speak, no need to prove anything.
But once again, the atmosphere shifted.
He felt it before he even saw her, another subtle hush that spread from the hearth to the farthest corner. The woman had returned, descending the stairway in slow, graceful steps.
This time, however, she wasn't simply passing through.
