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	After an uncomfortably long period of Theolan receiving no answer to his question, he decided to persist with further enquiries. Directing his first to Jack.

‘Soon after I left you by the side of the road, I did hear a rather large blast-like sound. It did come from roughly your location. At first I thought it was a call of a Huntstan, perhaps, though it did not take me long to think better of it. Although it has happened before, it is ever doubtful a Huntstan should be wondering these part. May I ask what the sound was, do you know, Mr. Jack?’ 

Jack appeared a little bored, a result of his mild disdain for the man. He slightly shrugged one shoulder and replied. ‘I don’t know.’ 

‘Very well.’ Said Theolan, turning his prying glare toward Amber. ‘And how about you, my dear lady? Did you hear the sound I speak of?’ 

Amber had heard it, yes, while taking a bath earlier. But she somehow didn’t feel right in that moment telling Theolan about it. More than anything, like Jack, she just wasn’t appreciating his self-important presence. 

She said, ‘I didn’t hear anything, either.’ 

‘Intriguing,’ said Theolan, ‘because as it happens I have already taken the liberty of asking a few others in town if they had heard the noise, all of whom had indeed heard it. Seems odd that neither of you did.’ 

‘Intriguing, sure.’ Jack said, voice flat, a note of mockery. 

‘Were the two of you acquainted before today?’ Asked Theolan, looking to Jack, then to Amber. ‘Previously friended? Lovers, perhaps?’  

Amber snorted. 

Jack chuckled. 

‘Excuse me?’ said Amber, ‘I don’t see how that is any of your business, stranger.’ 

Jack’s body continued to jiggle a little, quietly chuckling. 

‘I mean no disrespect, naturally.’ Theolan sipped his drink. ‘Despite Jack’s obvious need for attention and his general lack of attractive qualities, I did not find it too farfetched to consider the prospect of intercourse with the opposite sex. Possibly.’ He paused to look Amber up and down, slowly, undressing her with his eyes. ‘Love making, after all, is perfectly natural. Is it not?‘ He smiled something wet and unpleasant and sleazy, and then introduced himself to her, apparently still in love with the sound of his own name.  ‘My name is Theolan, Sir Mallicone [i]Starlip[/i] Theolan.  And you might be, [i]pretty[/i] lady?’  

That was it for Amber. She was already put off by Theolan inviting himself to their table. Rude still was the unneeded insult to Jack. And now Theolan was quickly turning into a pompous sleaze. She stood from her chair without answering his question, and gave Jack a soft jerk of her head to suggest they should leave. 

‘We were just about to leave,’ she told Theolan, ‘enjoy your trip to wherever it is you’re going.’  

Jack smiled, still a little humoured by the whole event – not insulted by Theolan’s remark - and raised from his seat as well. He took the bag from the table and slung it over his shoulder. He followed Amber out the door. 

Theolan watched them leave, saying no more.