The food was indeed excellent. The roast buffalo haunch was expertly seasoned and not over-cooked. The tubers were also excellent and had been steamed in a saltwater and spice solution that the twins had never tasted in Groakpod.
Despite Bismuth's assurances regarding their property, they divided their gold and silver into two pouches and each concealed one under their clothing. When it came time to pay Feldspar simply produced a single tear-drop size bit of gold from his sleeve. The server examined it, bit it delicately with her front teeth, then nodded and deposited it in the pocket of her apron. The twins added their sincere compliments, which clearly pleased the middle-aged female. She grinned widely, actually showing the sharp crowns of her back teeth. As with most Riotori of middle age and beyond, the bases of the back teeth showed the darkening of tartar.
A new invention—a brush for cleaning teeth—had gained popularity among the younger Riotori in Groakpod. The twins had noticed that the young people in all the towns they'd visited so far also made use of them. Feldspar and Gypsum each had one and used it regularly. Older Riotori thought it foolishness and most resisted the new fad.
As they sat at the rough wooden table in the rough wooden building that housed the kitchen and eating area of the public house they were aware of the many pedestrians that walked by the glass window and door that offered a sight of them from the outside. Children, parent-aged citizens, and older adults made no secret of the examination.
The twins were not surprised. They were the new arrivals. If two young men had arrived in Groakpod the reaction of the citizenry would have been the same. They returned the inspections in some cases but generally gave their attention to their meal.
There was one thing, though, that they were able to ascertain. The New City did not have a shortage of attractive female citizens in their age range.
Feldspar spoke quietly to Gypsum as they finished their meal.
"It looks, Brother, as though we should make ourselves as presentable as possible. I have seen at least three that would certainly be worth a courtship, and that is not counting that attractive red-furred one I saw when we were greeted."
"Agreed. Although the blonde-furred one I exchanged glances with in the street was very attractive, there are certainly others to choose from.
"We should definitely take our time here and look for the ones that will be as agreeable as companions as they are in appearance."
"Absolutely. Let us accept the invitation to tour the city. Who knows what, or who, we might find?"
As they emerged from the building to consider which way to go, they felt the eyes of many upon them. And more than one pair of those eyes belonged to young females that had hopes already of making a lasting impression on these handsome new arrivals.
The twins would be kept busy with courtship rituals for many days. They would not mind.
Despite Bismuth's assurances regarding their property, they divided their gold and silver into two pouches and each concealed one under their clothing. When it came time to pay Feldspar simply produced a single tear-drop size bit of gold from his sleeve. The server examined it, bit it delicately with her front teeth, then nodded and deposited it in the pocket of her apron. The twins added their sincere compliments, which clearly pleased the middle-aged female. She grinned widely, actually showing the sharp crowns of her back teeth. As with most Riotori of middle age and beyond, the bases of the back teeth showed the darkening of tartar.
A new invention—a brush for cleaning teeth—had gained popularity among the younger Riotori in Groakpod. The twins had noticed that the young people in all the towns they'd visited so far also made use of them. Feldspar and Gypsum each had one and used it regularly. Older Riotori thought it foolishness and most resisted the new fad.
As they sat at the rough wooden table in the rough wooden building that housed the kitchen and eating area of the public house they were aware of the many pedestrians that walked by the glass window and door that offered a sight of them from the outside. Children, parent-aged citizens, and older adults made no secret of the examination.
The twins were not surprised. They were the new arrivals. If two young men had arrived in Groakpod the reaction of the citizenry would have been the same. They returned the inspections in some cases but generally gave their attention to their meal.
There was one thing, though, that they were able to ascertain. The New City did not have a shortage of attractive female citizens in their age range.
Feldspar spoke quietly to Gypsum as they finished their meal.
"It looks, Brother, as though we should make ourselves as presentable as possible. I have seen at least three that would certainly be worth a courtship, and that is not counting that attractive red-furred one I saw when we were greeted."
"Agreed. Although the blonde-furred one I exchanged glances with in the street was very attractive, there are certainly others to choose from.
"We should definitely take our time here and look for the ones that will be as agreeable as companions as they are in appearance."
"Absolutely. Let us accept the invitation to tour the city. Who knows what, or who, we might find?"
As they emerged from the building to consider which way to go, they felt the eyes of many upon them. And more than one pair of those eyes belonged to young females that had hopes already of making a lasting impression on these handsome new arrivals.
The twins would be kept busy with courtship rituals for many days. They would not mind.
RSS Feed