The magpie looked straight into Laina's eyes. He wondered what would her reaction be if he did not agree to the trade.
"No," he said as he leaped off her hand and flew into the air.
Thorne, who remained in the shadows throughout the entire duration of the conversation appeared before them. He reached out his hand to catch the magpie but Maximus dodged it at the last moment when Laina stopped him.
Laina was up on her feet, glaring. She was glaring at Thorne. Maximus was taken aback. The nobility had never shown him courtesy when they wanted something from him. They often threw their wealth at him and expected him to agree to their demands.
He liked seeing them act out, seeing them reveal their true faces. Laina's reaction was quite unexpected.
"Thorne! What do you think you're doing?! Harming my guest?" she nudged him on the arm as she chided.
