A little wonder.

The Moons of Morning were soon high enough to tell that noon was approaching, shining down onto the earth from their distant positions in the sky. The rain that had gathered in puddles along the ground was disappearing, though the ground was still quite wet. Tic followed through the paths of the village, looking down to his feet every now and then to his new footwear. The bottoms of his pant legs covered the boots so that just the toes could be seen. He didn't understand why the priests gave them to him, or why they seemed to act so strange. And the memory of what the young priest had predicted didn't escape him just yet.

It wasn't long before he found his way back into the center of the village, passing by familiar buildings and shops. With the new attire, he didn't attract as much attention as before, and he found that quite comforting. The same faces seemed to pass by him, but without even a cursory glance. And all of it was done without even having to pay anyone. He hoped his luck wouldn't fade out anytime soon.

When he entered the tavern, a few faces turned in his direction, and most of those glances turned back to their whiskey or beer. The lunch hour wasn't very busy today, Tic thought, removing his hood and passing through the tables towards the bar. Miraye stood nearby, moving a mop along the floor. She was wearing something white, and tight around her waist, with black laces and black skirt to match. So she didn't have any problems getting new clothes, he thought. He wondered if she had run into anyone, like he had with the priests. But it didn't matter. They would soon pay their debt to the bartender and leave for The Sink, he hoped, safe and sound.

Without saying anything, Tic moved behind the counter to the sink. There was a new pile of unwashed mugs there, and he turned the faucet on. Unaware of the stare on both him and Miraye, he proceeded wash the mugs clean.