#bergen_county

"I gotta talk to you."

"Uhm. I'm kind of working"

"I know. It's about stuff."

"Table for one" She moves him to a small area. "Okay. Talk while you pick something cheap ... unless you really wanted food, of course"

"Garlic knots and a coke. And one of your sibs is juicing my sister."

Her brow raises, "Garlic knots and a coke it is. " She writes it down, "Diet coke or regular? And.. do you know which sib?"

"Regular and no."

"One of you, though."

"Regular ice?"

"No ice."

"no ice" She says "Okay. Be right back"

Adam sits, waiting.

A few minutes do pass.

He starts thinking about garlic knots. They ARE good. And hey, he could eat. Maybe order something else? He's got about $30 on him. He takes the menu Lucia dropped and looks it over.

If you like Italian, you'll love this.

She returns and brings him his knots and coke "here you go."

"Thanks. So?"

"thanks for letting us know. Is your sister going around telling non- enchanted about us?"

"Uh."

"I don't think so. She just told me, and I'm fixed up so....."

"Okay. Good. Then no problem"

"No? Just gonna let her wander around like that?"

"Your sister? you want us to brainwipe her or something?" She says surprised

"NO!"

Adam coughs. "No, this is fine, thanks, nothing else."

"Keep your voice down"

"Just don't understand the difference. But, sure, whatever."

Then she says "Look, Adam... sometimes Kithain enchant Kinian... why is okay for you to get it and not your sister?"

"S'fine."

"Thanks."

He puts a knot in his mouth.

"Look, she doesn't see things when not enchanted like you do. Does she?"

A shrug. A muffled comment.

"I'll take that as a no. So if you're mad at the fact you took an Oath, that's why you took the oath. Because you have a rare and powerful gift most kinain don't."

"Your sister doesn't, so she's not as dangerous. Make sense?"

He swallows bread. "Didn't ask her if she does, so I don't know, but I guess you do. So ok. Cool."

"No, we appreciate you telling us. I'm pretty sure it was one of my little sisters and that I know which one. Mom and Dad will talk to her to make sure the right of ignroance isn't endangered. I DO thank you for telling us." She says

"Welcome." A slurp of soda.

"Nope, that's not the end of it. You get a free meal for you and your family. We repair all debts here." She hands over a gift certificate

"Lucia, I can't come home with something like that. I mean, not and give it to them and use it and stuff."

"What? After you won it fair and square by being our random lucky winner? Relax. It's clearly a promotion." A wink

"So what, I came in here for a snack? Lucia......"

"Well don't order it now. " She say drily "Seriously, are you complaining about a prize?"

"Didn't do it for a reward. I came here 'cause I thought it was the rules. Nevermind, whatever. Thanks for the prize." A shrug.

He takes the certificate.

"I know you didn't do it for that" She says "But good things should still be ..well, good things you know? "

"You did good, so good should happen to you. It doesn't work that way enough in the 'real world' so" A shrug

"Thanks."

"We try to make it happen in ours"

A smile "Welcome. Did you want anything else?"