āOh aye.ā The old man at the tavern scratches his chin ponderously as if the subject were concerning the sale of sheep or cattle. āWoulda had me first spell the first fortnight after that feller in England brought magic back, I reckon on the dates. Could feel it in the air, bit like fergettinā somethinā ān knowinā yer reit close tā rememberinā but yā canāt yet.ā
Normally the old man didnāt spend time in town, doing his trade in the forest or even making a longhunt in the woods of the territories, but you happen to catch him on a rare night out to the tavern to enjoy a pint after selling his goods.
āāSa bit like... listeninā to a song, once ye know how.ā Old Ed chews on a stalk of timothy grass as he speaks, pronouncing his Sās rough like old bark. He turns his head and spits the stalk out only to take out a pipe, using one of the complementary sulphur matches most taverns provide. Using the long thin match, he holds it over his pipe and takes a few puffs.
āYe feel it. If ye canāt pay attention, yer never hear the song, but when ye do, yeāll know. Like the other day, was on the peninsula and I saw a reit queer sight: was a ship, run aground. Woulda been out oā sight fer you all in the city, but on the peninsula I was farther out, so I could see it.āĀ
He adjusts himself, nodding as the tavernkeeper puts your drinks before the two of you.
āGotten themselves stuck onna shoalĀ ān from the looks offit through me telescope, theyād been through weeks oā trouble; mast is broke tā hell, think their rudder cables are shot, ān itās keelinā tā one side. So I step out onta the beach with alla them pebbles,Ā ān I listen. I wantĀ the ship tā be released,Ā ācause Iām worriedĀ ān they look like deathās gottis eyes onāem. So I put me hand in the water,Ā ān I close me eyes. I wantāem tā be free,Ā ācause Iām scared. Scared maybe they aināt gonā tā make it if they wait fer the city tā spotāem.ā
He chuckles, removing his pipe and taking a drink.Ā āāN the water listened. Came up, real soft, lifted the ship up like the tideāad come in.Ā āParently they had themselves a weather witch--a reit iffy one though--ān she gotāem the rest oā the way tā port.ā
Thereās a look in his eyes, like he finds something funny and is trying to keep it to himself.
āMagic like that... ye hafta know what ye really want. Not in yer head, but in yer heart. If yer head tells ye tā clear the sky, but yer heart tells ye tā hide ān beat back whatever scarinā ye, well.ā
He chuckles.Ā āItās goinā tā listen tā yer heart; not yer head.āĀ