<em>Phrase your words carefully</em>"I am.  Have been traveling for a while.  Was going to head home back east but..." he stopped and shrugged, exhaling a resigned breath, "nothing back there for me."  He smiled to her.  "Haven't been able to find too much in the way of honest work around here.  A couple performances at a few taverns displaying my unique gift, a few day to day labor jobs but nothing that really stuck."  He looked around, making mental landmarks of the surroundings.  "I hope your father won't mind a guest coming home with you...especially if..you know..." he gestured to her hand.  "I don't know how your father feels about magic but my mother always taught me to keep it hidden."