Money owns this town (PRIVATE FOR REDKITE AND SCARSMATE)

[Scars Mate]

Xavier rapped on the great oak door of the second inn they came across. A weedy man with grey hair opened the door and ushered them in, after spotting River. He led them up to a hallway, where he informed than that their rooms had a door joining them. The others went in, leaving River and the man alone. She leapt forward and grabbed him into a tight hug; it had been years since they had seen each other.

[RedKite]

(What about Hatari?)

[Scars Mate]

(In the stable?)

[RedKite]

(OK.)

Lana kneels down and strokes Ryder's long ears. The wolf's eyes relax as she searches the room for Matias. Lana runs her slim fingers through the wolf's fur and smiles. Giovanni looks out through the small window and sees Hatari being lead to the stables.

[Scars Mate]

'It's been too long!' The man said fondly. River grinned up at him.

'What are you doing, running an inn! You're a sorcerer, Kai!' She laughed. He smiled back, but there was a tightness to his face.

'Not anymore. I may have taught you, but I gave up after that. You were my finest student,' he said proudly. 'You can do so much! Do your -ah- friends know?' Her face fell.

'Sort of. I think they can guess- but they don't know the extent of my power.' She said sadly.

'What about the black haired boy?' He asked, wiggling his eyebrow suggestively. She flushed, but burst out laughing.

'Nothing!' She cried, but he just shook his head.

'Ring if you need anything,' he told her, lightly touching her shoulder.

[RedKite]

BAck in the room, Giovanni watches Hatari as he is put in the stables. Lana gets to her feet and stands next to him.

"He makes a good horse.." She jokes.

Giovanni nods slowly, still distracted. She looks slightly confused and raises an eyebrow. "We can go down and see how he's doing tomorrow?" She offers.

"We? I thought you said he was weird."

"Yeah, but- ok, you've made your point..."

[Scars Mate]

River slipped back into the room, to find Xavier thrown carelessly on the bed, reading a book avidly. He didn't even noticed her come in. She walked over to the bookshelf, and saw the gap where the book in Xavier's hand must have come from. They were magic books; River would have worked that out anyway, because now the black haired boy was trying to light a fire. She shook her head, a smile playing on her lips.

'You've got to start small,' she told him, breaking him out of his reverie. His head snapped up to her, as he gave her a puzzled look.

'Huh?'

'Like this.' She handed him a feather. 'Try and blow it off the table.' He frowned, looking down at the book. 'It's at the beginning,' she added, before turning around and walking to the en suite bathroom.

[RedKite]

Lana sighs and frowns. Ryder looks nervously around. An awkward silence floats between the two as they try to distract themselves.

[Scars Mate]

River quickly scrubbed her face, feet and hands before returning. She found Xavier, red faced, staring profusely at the feather, the book lying forgotten by his feet.

'That's not how you do it!' She scolded.

[RedKite]

Finding nothing, Lana sits on the edge of a bed and ruffles Ryder's silken fur. Giovanni leans against a vacant wall and begins to carve a piece of wood.