Maruiin. She heard of such a place before, though the mage couldn't quite recall where it was. She was distracted by the grace that accompanied the snake-faced woman's every movement. Even the way she set the package on her lap looked like a dance. It made Catarina realize how much she lacked on that aspect.

She smiled at the stranger, but her eyes lingered on the edge of the table where the package disappeared into. "I hope the ale would not disappoint," she said, then listened carefully to the reasoning behind the conclusion that she could be the Dragon.

The snake-faced woman had a point. It could be that the description on the posters were all wrong and the Dragon was a woman, or a dwarf, or maybe a real dragon. Catarina did not think to try and track the target using means other than his alleged physical appearance. She took a mental note to do so. But thanks to the snakr woman, Catarina was a little more certain that the Dragon was in Padstow. 

"Thanks," she murmured when the bartender approached theit table. Absently, she reached for the wooden mug and took a sip that was longer than that of the other woman. 

[I]"I've brought my part of the bargain. Do you have yours?"[/i]

There it was, finally,  a crack on the snake woman's perfectly polite mask. And there sat Catarina who thought that the woman was a fan of the Dragon who could possibly share with her what she knew about the man, or woman. But the snake woman talked about a bargain with the Dragon. What could she be holding? Regardless, it was something the Dragon wanted.

Smiling, the mage put the mug down ever so slowly. It was easier sweet-talking men than women. This particular woman, Catarina thought, was not the type who was easily fooled. 

"Ah, straight to the point. Maruiin should learn to take it slow and savor the moment." She took another long drink from her mug before she continued with as much edge as the other showed. "Will you show me. Then I will decide if it is worth what I offer."

"But before that." She raised a finger, silencing the protest that was about to come out of the other woman's lips. "Another round here, please," Catarina called sweetly to the waiter.