After a moment Sinine lowered her hand and composed herself. Despite his size Alastair seemed rather sheepish looking away every so often. For anyone else it may have seemed shifty but there was an earnest shyness to him that Sinine found rather endearing. Truth was Alastair had caught himself staring, the sight of the girl just as pleasant as her voice, and had been forcing himself to avert his eyes so as not to seem rude. 

“So aside from stableboy what other duties did the boss leave off the job description?” Sinine asked, dropping the joke but not her pleasant tone. 

Alastair looked back confused for a moment before finally noticing the maids uniform as he gave an embarrassed smile. While he certainly wasn’t a prideful man he valued the skills he'd honed through the years particularly his ability at observation. He could identify a hidden weapon under a coat from across a crowded bar yet had completely missed the girl's outfit. 

Although that was somewhat understandable. Despite being the same uniform as the other girls it seemed to fit differently on Sinine, Complimenting her petite frame modestly and seeming to blend with her beauty rather than clash with it. It was similar to her blue hair and pink eyes which, while eye-catching, seemed only natural on her. 

‘Unnaturally natural,’ those were the words that came to Alastair’s mind when he looked into those eyes as he gave his answer. 

“Well over the past couple days I’ve been a carpenter, janitor and for one unfortunate day a baker." He gave a small grimace remembering the thick black smoke that had poured from the oven. "Can’t wait to see what I’ll be tomorrow though.”

Sinine gave another small laugh, “Well I suppose that answers the question everyones been asking.”

Alastair gave a confused look as Sinine continued, “Well me and the rest of the town were wondering what a bouncer would even do around here, and the answer seems to be everything but be a bouncer.” She smiled as she spoke and even though she was teasing there was no malice in her words. She grew quiet for a moment, her expression softening as she looked into the man's dark eyes thinking for a moment they were rather pretty before blushing at the idea.

“Well, I’m sure we’re lucky to have you,” she said as she looked over at the horses now eating happily. “And I have to thank you for taking such good care of our special guests.” 

It was Alastair's turn to blush as he looked down with a slightly guilty expression. “Thanks but truth be told I’ve never been the best with horses,” he said, leaving out that he also had a slight fear of the animals. A feeling that seemed mutual based on how jumpy they normally seemed to be around him. 

Sinine gave a sympathetic smile, “Well then I’m extra grateful and I’m sure they are too.” As she spoke she extended her hand to give her first official introduction. “I’m Sinine,” she said with a slight curtsy, a reflex developed through her years at the inn. 

Her hand almost disappeared as Alastair took it gently in his. Like her laugh it was warm and soft, a contrast to the mans which was tough and scarred from years of rough use. Even so his touch was pleasant and Sinine felt her heart begin to beat faster as he bowed slightly pressing her forehead to the back of her hand. 

“Alastair,” he said. “At your service Miss Sinine.” The words might have been meant as playful or even flirty but they were delivered with a sincerity that had come so natural Alastair didn't notice. Sinine did though, her cheeks a deep red at the statement. There was a small pang of disappointment when he released her hand and she held his gaze for a long moment after.

“I’ll hold you to that,” she said as they looked back into each other's eyes seemingly lost before the sound of the Inns' backdoor slamming roused them. 

“Oh I have to hurry, I'm about to be late,” Sinine said, turning and rushing to the door. She paused for a moment at the threshold, looking back over her shoulder. “See you inside Sir Alastair,” she said before rushing across the lot into the building. 

Alastair watched as she moved lightly across the broken ground, her hair trailing behind her lithe frame like waves on a gentle blue ocean. ‘Unnaturally natural,’ he thought again as she passed through the door. Standing a moment longer he looked down at the hand that had held hers as if expecting it to glow. Something had happened the moment he’d taken it and while it wasn’t unpleasant there was something about it that left him confused. 

Shaking his head with a sigh he tucked the now empty bag under his arm depositing it into a bin by the door as he passed. He thought again about the words that had come to mind when he first looked into Sinines eyes. They seemed close to describing her but not entirely. There surely had to be a better description but the word eluded him at the moment. Even in their short meeting Alastair could tell there was something special about the maid something unique, one of a kind, something- 

“Magical,” he said out loud as he reached for the door with a smile. “That was magical.”