"It would be a frightening rope indeed which could noose any ward-witch," Pela says impishly. "But since your attitude seems predisposed to the worst of everyone and everything, I don't think I need to be concerned about that being the cause without evidence of it."

The clerk returns and "Cintri, Pela!" is among the calle out. Thus named, she slides back a few inches in order to clear his cane tip, the fabric of her shirt still minutely concaved where he'd had it pressed.

"Thank you for the diverting company. Perhaps we'll run into one another again."