[Anora Eventide]

When her glass was filled, Anora went through a brief ritual of inhaling the scent of the wine and swirling it in the glass. The small gestures were not overwrought, and spoke of a true appreciation and evaluation of something her hands had helped produce.

Anora's face turned both pleased and sly at Hanzi's reaction. Her answer was a caramel hum.
"I'm glad you like it, or at least feign to." She lifted her glass, "To appease my pride I will assume you are rife with sincerity."

His following question was quickly hedged in an answer.
"Oh I would like to brew wine someday," she sipped her wine and in a softer voice added, "Very much so."
Her voice brightened, leaving the moment of introspection behind, "But Cloudkiss goes to my brother, Austin, or rather half-brother. Any vineyard I tend will have to be from my own ingenuity or gleaned by marriage."
She sipped her wine again, yes, this was a very good year. A memory blinked in her mind, the white stone of Cloudkiss set against crisp skies. Their traditional jaunt in the wine press. Her and Avrie's hems stained plum. The future she had charted then was a duller but brighter thing, pieces of her wondered if she could return to such plans. These past few months were like drops of wine in water, coloring her in new shades.

"The library is not an aspiration, but work to fund my visit here. My host is very generous," She absently pulled at the pendant she wore, "But I do not like relying on him overmuch."
"Apart from necessity, I chose the library because I'm given over to the habit of reading. Learning is a mild thrill for me, like clustering new talents about oneself."

His toast to her health was quickly parried as their glasses clinked, "To your luck."

After another taste of wine, Anora gave a slim, mysterious smile, "You should visit the library, it is not as lively as fighting gangs or gambling, but it there is an excellent section on warfare you might enjoy. Not to mention, the basement is rumored to be haunted by rather foul things."

Her final phrase was delivered off-handedly, like a comment on the fluctuating price of grain, and she was soon summoning the server again with a pretty look.

When the server stood beside her, she regarded him politely and gave her order.
"Could I have the rack of lamb, please, rare."

After Hanzi ordered Anora, murmured to the departing server, "We may have another in our party, who will order later."

Turning back to the Air'riela, Anora continued to take a sketch of his character with interested questions.
"What do you do amidst your kumpania, Hanzi? Are you a guard of some sort?" Her tone had a touch of flattery, "That would be my guess after yesterday's events."