A Soothsayer, Truly? [COMPLETE]

[Cailean Aridia de Sable]

A cruel thing to say about one’s mother.

It certainly was. Though there wasn’t much that Miss de Sable could do about it. She’d told Joscelin the truth, and there wasn’t much else to it. Even if she were to lie to him, certainly the girl wouldn’t have discussed the possible death of the handsome young man’s mother. No, she wouldn’t have. Despite being a liar and a cheat, the young woman was well above those low-blows. Or at least she thought she was. Hell, she was positive that she was.

And still, Joscelin was standing, “I realize that, sir,” Cailean replies, though perhaps her silence would have been best-received. She should have kept qiet within that moment, allowed Joscelin to pay her and leave, and never come back. Part of her hoped he never would. While his face was a pleasant sight, Cailean was none too sure if she could live with being blamed for his mother’s death; that accusing sort of look within his blue eyes.

Perhaps it was best that he leaves, though. She was doing naught more than digging herself into a deeper hole, and there were simply no words she could offer to make this situation better.

She shakes her head quickly despite, her brows furrowing yet again as she silently dismisses the coins that he was shifting from within his purse, “Keep your coin,” the girl utters, feeling all too guilty within that moment. Perhaps she should have taken the coin, though, after all, it’s not as though she were as well off in the world as Joscelin was. And still, it was her attempts at making up her poor news to him. It was all she could do for him, after all. It’s not as though she could take her words back, nor offer him anything else from within that meager shop.

Nothing useful, anyway.

“I apologize,” Cailean murmurs, “Again,” she clarifies then and there. Though soon enough she was left to sauntering from within the back room, leading Joscelin toward the front once more, only to shift that heavy wooden door of hers open once more, and gather up his cloak.

She felt like some scolded child within that moment as she offered up that piece of fabric toward Joscelin. She manages to keep quiet for the moment.

[Joscelin Trevalion]

Joscelin wasn't certain of what he was waiting for. Maybe he was partly expecting her to fess up and tell him that she was lying. That she had been upset over his skepticism, and that she loathed those sort of people. That his mother was well and that tonight he'd find himself within a warm bed and have a long sleep. Instead, Cailean didn't, and Joscelin knew that his day and night would be rather ruined, and every day after that, too.

At least she realized that though albeit that didn't soothe him any. If anything, that made things worse and Joscelin felt a tightening within his chest. Idly Joscelin wondered of what he'd tell Aemon when he did leave too. There's no doubt within his mind that the man fifteen years his senior would have questions. He shook the thought free of his mind and found himself looking back to Cailean as she told him to keep his coins. That, too, did not help.

Then she apologized and shifted to saunter past him. He was left there with her scent mingling with the rest of the room, and any amusement Joscelin had entered with, would be abandoned here. He followed her without a second glance, but not without setting the coins down upon the stand for her to find later. When he had found her again, she was offering his cloak, and Joscelin took it without a hitch before drawing the fabric across his shoulders.

"I must thank you for your time, Cailean, and for humoring me," Joscelin says suddenly and attempted to play off his upset mood. It's with that which Joscelin turns from her and steps toward the door. When he reached the door, though, he looked back to meet her gaze evenly. Idly Joscelin wondered whether or not he'd see her again. He prayed he had no reason to.

"Good day, Cailean," he says lastly and pushed out from her shop.

Outside, though, Aemon awaited him whilst tending to their mounts. He stirred and looked to Joscelin who didn't spare him a glance before catching up Aquilon's reins and swinging himself up and onto the saddle. Aemon was left staring for a moment and noting the change of demeanor before doing much the same. All the while he had a question fluttering at the end of his tongue; aching to be free. Joscelin knew that too, and awaited the query.

"What did you think, Joscelin?" Aemon questions and leans toward his charge.

"Beautiful woman," Joscelin murmurs. "It's a shame that she's terrible at what she does."

Joscelin feared that she wasn't though.

It's then Joscelin was off with Aemon trailing after him.