Tales of the Jewel

''Yes, the Maze is far more vulnerable then the other districts because few care for the downtrodden'' he had to agreed ''Yet no district is quite safe.''

He raised a hand

''Like I said...I'll ask around delicately. None will link this to you or your friend from my actions''

Sora nodded, trustingly. She knew people who knew this person, and he seemed kind to her, so why wouldn't she trust him?

"Very well, sidi Bazir. I will hold you to that. And... thank you, for listening. And not laughing at me or taking advantage of my being unsure of myself. I can be a rare set of traits to find in someone, I've found."

She sounded a bit relieved, but also weary. Like a weight was off her shoulders, but the effects of it were still there.

Bazir simply nodded

''If you wish not to remain alone I can remain here to talk for a while. If you wish to have your peace then you can remain here for as long as needed: the Cat's Tail will not close tonight.''

"I have somewhere to be in an hour, actually. So I shan't be too long. Well, relatively. Fortunately where I'm going isn't too far away, less than half way between here and the gates to the Palace, in almost a straight line but a bit towards the river. And it isn't as if you don't have plenty of customers; I kind of like the ambiance. Especially compared to home."

''Hmm'' he seemed pensive ''I will have to check on some people in an hour or so as well. If you do not mind I can accompany you part of the way. One must not travel alone at night''

She tilted her head to the side a little, looking up at him, "It's not that late yet though, it is? I suppose it is one of the shortest days of the year; Lady Sun did sink below the horizon almost an hour ago now... But it would still be a bit early for sleep or such."

''I sleep in daytime during the festival sayyeda.'' he sighed ''One cannot be too careful. Perhaps it is merely my paranoia but still...I have to leave for an hour or two to check on some folks in the city who might need a landing hand.''

Her eyebrows went up a little, "Cafe owner, information broker, and savior of the people now?"

She kept looking at Bazir as she took another sip.

He shook his head in protest

''No, no. I am just a member of the community. I have been helped when I needed it most in the past and I just want to do the same to others''

"Is that not the same thing? I suppose I just never get to do that sort of thing. Who am I going to help, the Palace guards? ...not that I even see guards about the Palace, oddly..."

She gave a small shrug before taking another petite sip of coffee.