Emmaline stared skyward in rapt wonder. She had some vague memories of the discussions about how different alchemical solutions could be used to make different colored flames. Normally such discussions took place between the other Gold apprentices, most of whom were fussy studious types who bored Emmaline to death. Albrecht usually found better uses for her than lounging about with her fellow apprentices however, and his own instruction was haphazard at best. She had never imagined that such boring academic knowledge could be put to such good use. Each bursting crack thumped in her chest an each flash of color dazzled her.

"It is incredible," Emmaline gasped, feeling the warmth of the vodka flowing through her body. She had taken to crushing berries into the potent liquor to give it a slightly sweeter flavor and her belly felt pleasantly full from the food she had consumed. Since she had become ALbrechts' apprentice Emmaline had rarely gone completely hungry, but there had been times when they had eaten such poor fare that she hadn't been able to quiet forget the privations of her childhood. Her own voice sounded muffled in her head and she reached over and pulled out the other piece of cloth, working her jaw to equalize the pressure. Reluctantly she had to admit that perhaps not everything in Nuln was inferior to Altdorf afterall.

Emmaline popped another of the berries into her mouth and chewed. Down on the Reik below they could see hundreds of boats, many illuminated by lanterns. It gave a beauty to the river that the muddy reality of daylight would dispel. She rolled up onto an elbow to turn sideways, resting her cheek on her palm.

"You sure know how to show a girl a good time," she grinned, gesturing to the remains of dinner as well as the pile of gold.