The traveler slowly made his way to the side of the carriage with measured steps, missing the open doorway several times before he could find a solid grip. It would have taken a fool not to realize that he was blind, but Mathis maintained a respectful silence. He didn't enjoy it when others told him that he couldn't feel, or smell, or taste, as if he somehow needed to be reminded that he was missing out on entire worlds of pleasures that he had lived happily ignorant of for years, and he imagined that a blind man would feel the same. After all, the people who reminded him didn't seem to enjoy being reminded themselves that he was an immortal, superhuman being who could literally change the world on a whim, and that they were as significant to him as a mound of dirt, but without the humility to remain silent in his presence. The world truly would be a better place if every man could see himself from Mathis's perspective.<br/><br/>...Or at least, it would be a better place for Mathis, which was definitely the most important thing he could think of.<br/><br/>The man sat beside Kenneth with his staff propped up against one shoulder and sighed. Up close, he seemed much younger than a lone wanderer had any right being. His staff was ornate, and adorned with what appeared to be carved amethysts. It wasn't something that a poor man could have held onto, especially one who spent his time traveling. Mathis idly wondered where he had found it, but couldn't remain interested for long. True stories were rarely dramatic enough to be worth hearing, and he had business to conduct besides.<br/><br/>"I am grateful, sirs. Tis' a long way to Colen. What sort of questions do you want to ask? I do hope I can be of some help to you although I am but a traveler myself. I do socialize with the locals quite a bit, however."<br/><br/>Kenneth was the first to respond. "Travelers abound today, it seems. Perhaps the roads are simply less dangerous in these parts." he said, his gaze trailing over the man appraisingly, much like a predator would eye its prey when deciding which part to eat first. "At least you are familiar with this place, though. We come from far, my companion and I. My friend comes from even farther than I originally."<br/><br/>"Indeed," said Mathis, looking somewhat predatory himself. "both of us are foreigners, unfamiliar with the customs of this place. What is the king of Colen like? Is he a tyrant, perhaps?"<br/><br/>"Tyrants are always such a bother to bargain with, what with their misconceptions of what power they have and whatnot. Though I hardly have an issue with puppet rulers, of course. All you have to do is burn their strings in that case." Kenneth offered, leaning back in his seat.<br/><br/>"You might have guessed that our interests are strictly political. Ambassadors claiming to be from here have been giving us no end of trouble, so we've come to give some back. Nothing<span style="font-style: italic">serious</span>, of course."<br/><br/>"No, nothing serious. That wouldn't be diplomatic at all, would it Mathis? This sort of tit-for-tat thing is an unfortunate linchpin of inter-kingdom politics." Kenneth responded, his head tilted sideways slightly as his gaze remained as intense as any bird of prey could muster.<br/><br/>"I'm sorry," Mathis smiled at the traveler, a falsehood he had mastered through years of practice. "do go on. No doubt you have little interest in the prattling of distant lords, but we would be very pleased if you could tell us something of value."<br/><br/>All the way to Colen, the carriage trundled, the phoenix and the serpent grinning at each other with hunger in their eyes.