“That’ll be three bits: one for the room at the north corner facing the gate, and one each for food and drink if you’re here for the leisure,” Joph quoted.
Jacob reached under his right breastplate and retrieved another small drawstring bag, dumping some of its contents onto the bar. They were small, flattened glass beads of different colors, about the size of a pea, each encasing a speck of something. He slid three of the trinkets across to Joph.
Joph placed a clear glass bottle on the counter that contained water and some type of black, dust-sized particles. He gave the bottle a good jostle, stirring the mixture into a gray cloud, then passed the glass beads near the bottle one by one.
Each time one of the beads neared the bottle, the particles inside arranged themselves into a fan of spikes.
“Magnetic field,” Felix said aloud, awed by the innovation.
“Your pet has a pretty voice, Jacob,” Joph joked. “What’s its name?”
Felix moved to answer, but Jacob kicked him under the bar.
“We call it Gibberish. ‘Cause that’s all it speaks.”
Jacob leaned in to whisper to Joph. Joph’s eyes grew wide, then sympathetic—almost sad.
“That’s an unfortunate turn of events, and I apologize for the joking. You’re a big boy, and I was really mean.”
Joph produced a lollipop and handed it to Felix.
Felix looked to Jacob, who was smiling and waving his hand at Felix, indicating that he should take the gift.
“Yeah, put that in your mouth so you can shut the fuck up,” Jacob nodded.
Felix bit back his incredulity and took the lollipop, glaring at them both.
Joph smiled sadly at Felix.
“That’s a kind thing you’re doing for him, Jacob.” His eyes grew misty. “Right! Grog tonight is a berry mead. Dinner is roast hen and veggies. Music will be starting shortly. Jacob, you know that group that bangs the drums and has the fiddle thing that gets everyone dancing around in a circle?”
Jacob sighed.
“I do, unfortunately.”
“Yeah, it’s them again. The folks love it. Helps ’em get the blood flowing. They love it, but I have to wear swabs in my ears, otherwise I’ll go deaf by tomorrow. You both want some?”
“Please.”
Joph slid four tightly rolled fiber swabs across the counter.
“That’ll be one bit.”
“Fuck off.” Jacob laughed, taking the swabs.
The two men shook hands.
“Come on, Gibberish. Let’s get you situated.”
Artavus Quill 