Well, she had certainly not expected an insult for tracking him down without a coat on in the blistering cold to return money she hadn't earned from him, so Beve could not help but frown as he began talking, implying she might have lost her marbles.<br/><b>"The point, <i>sir</i>..."</b>she began, her lips shivering slightly as the temperature got to her:<b>"...is that I have not earned this money. It is a lot of it. I do not mean to be rude by returning it, but it is too generous regardless of how responsible you may feel about interrupting my playing."</b>Beve retorted, trying her best to stay the shivering she could feel would soon be upon her.<br/><br/>She held her tongue as the smith returned and greeted the orc woman with a nod and a smile. They were not very close by any stretch of the imagination, but they were well, neighbourly, given the proximity of their work places.<br/><b>"It is your money. It has no bearing upon my mood what you choose to do with it."</b>She said, shrugging a little - although the motion might have truly been a shudder.<br/><b>"That's one good-looking sword. Whoever made it for you is a true artisan."</b>No sooner had she finished the sentence, that she had to instinctively back away from the motion the elf made with said sword. It came uncomfortably close to the girl and she looked at him as though personally offended:<b>"Really?"</b>She was about to give him a earful when he made her an offer she would never had seen coming.<br/><br/><b>"W-what?"</b>At this point, Beve wrapped her hands around herself, trying to conserve as much body heat as she could.<b>"Is that a joke?"</b><br/>She had no idea how helpful she would be on a difficult journey - particularly so in physical altercations. With the mention of Undead and Necromancers, Beve was not entirely sure she was the best-suited for the job of helping out on anyone's travels.<br/>But then a thought occurred to her - she was still due for a sponsor.<br/><br/>While the elf was not necessarily of noble birth (that she knew of), he certainly seemed well-off, which would mean that her career could be positively influenced by a partnership with him if she played her cards right. She might have even been able to get a brand new harp or some other stringed instrument - perhaps a lute? - out of the endeavour.<br/><b>"I suppose that is one way to earn the money you've offered me."</b>She said, a dose of reluctance in her voice, as though she was expecting him to take his offer back any moment.<br/><b>"Then a month from now I will be out of your hair and three mithril richer."</b>Or, she thought, she'd have both of those things and a sponsor for at least a little while.<br/><br/><b>"Although I probably need appropriate attire for the road and... are you sure you wouldn't rather spend the night in a warm bed at the inn? What has you in such a hurry?"</b>