CALIMPORT GAME

"Are you alright?" Ane asks, reaching out to cup the priest's hand gently. She recognises what he is going through, she has been there herself, trying to get clean. She does not know why she even has the drugs on her, she has sworn not to partake —especially not during a job— but, maybe, felt more comfortable with the crutch available.

"Do you need a little ..." Ane says dropping her voice and ending with a little double-sideways nod-tilt with her head, a fairly universal sign for 'you know'.

Ane both wants to get rid of her burden, and also does not want to part with it. Though, most of all, she does not want to be judged by her companions. So she waits for them to be distracted by collecting the package —and possibly even for them to be on their way out of —or out of— the room— before dealing with the priest.

She hesitates, longer than she is comfortable with, before fishing out the little package rolled in leaves and holding it far away from the priest, but where he can see it. She does not offer it to him, though, needing more motivation.

Ane is a little surprised by the priest's actions, leaving her 'without'. It was a comfort having the little parcel there, but she feels relieved to be free of the temptation. She decided a long time ago that she was no going to be a drug-dealer, so 'payment' was not what she was after... still she expected ... something, some show of gratitude, maybe... maybe the storm god will bless their way? Then again, probably not, knowing their luck.

Garrett will act like he has not seen them and whisper to Ane"Chili peppers on the roof tracking us. Let us move nonchalantly and find a place to ditch them."

"They are watching us?!" Ane squeaks —sounding a lot like a schoolgirl who has just been told the quarterback is looking at her— and quite obviously looks up to see before realising the mistake and looking away again.

"Why would they be tracking us? Does that mean they were there for us last time?" She suspected that (or was it: 'hoped'? They came right up to her!) and has to remind herself that these people are bad news. She really does not want to get caught up in the sort of trouble the Red Wizards bring ... but think of all the magic! She thinks with a barely concealed shiver that could pass for fear.

As they walk, Ane watches the rooftops for a while until she is sure they are definitely following. Then she pulls Garrett into a small corner coffee shop, and approach a table partially under an awning.

"Let's see how good you really are." She mutters, she has spent the last minute studying Garret's legs and lower body, and forming an image of the two of them in her mind's eye. Now, instead of sitting, she directs Garrett past the table and deeper into the shop, heading for the back entrance. Just as they step out of view, she releases the image she has been holding and a copy of both of them appear to sit at the table. If she has judged it right the Chilli-peppers on the roof opposite can't see their faces or hands —the hard part to animate— and will think they have stopped for a drink.

With the Thayans hopefully watching a phantasm of a fake date, they head for the back of the shop and a way out into the other street.

Everything here is riddled with magic! Ane's rough clothes and fishy smell might show her to be a fisherman, and her cooing with delight at everything she sees reveals her to be a tourist in this Sabban, but the sheer fact that she coos in delight at a supposedly 'unseen servant' or a clever illusion, coupled with the fact that she is floating a foot above the ground, prove she is in the right place, at last.

Garrett will just act normal and play the guide roll for a tourist."Right this way my lady. You will love this."

Fascinated, Ane drags Garrett over to watch. She has read everything she could find on the subject of magic —though so far she only found one spell to augment her innate tricks. The books made wizards sound like stuffy academicals, she had not expected this sort of sport.

"Do they do this often?" She asks one of the spectators.

"Hmm, never thought wizards would do this sort of thing. What is the goal here exactly?" He will look to Ane as she watches with a smile on her face. "We can stay a minute if you like but we do have a job to complete."

Ane glances down at her feet as well, and descends just enough that the hem of her rode brushes the street, still a bit below her feet. She had gotten caught up in the excitement and been careless, but that seems less likely to draw negative attention here than with the rustic folk of her home sabban.

"Yes. Quite new." Ane agrees. "It is quite marvellous here."