Altair had been smiling triumphantly, feeling he'd won some invisible battle with Syris. She was as driven as he'd remembered, perhaps even more now that she was a woman.
At a table within the tavern, 'Blue Pheonix, ' the gathering of various dishes, most of which Altair did not recognize but ordered nonetheless, had begun to fill the table. However, he still began brooding whenever he began to eat, turning to Reina with pleading eyes as though he were a child.
Syris was attended by her aide, Lady Lyain Orsteen, whom Altair had tried talking to but was met with silence. He figured she was mute or just stupid; either way, he'd lost interest in her despite her giving the same feel to Vaiga.
"So I've got to ask, what did you do to piss off the Realm Lord?" Syris asked, but when she saw Altair's awkward smile, she felt like she might have made a mistake.
