No sense at all, he realized, when the mirror was next turned on him. He startled a measure at first, but soon grew fascinated with what he saw and how smoothly the movements mirrored his own.
Eles didn't need any convincing, really. He gave the trade an automatic nod. They had met with such a remarkable boy, after all — one who experienced moments far beyond the fathoms of their short little lives. He liked to think that Almadel was there to witness the birth of their universe, perhaps from the husk of the last, and he found every reason to delight in the treasures that he saw and experienced in all his travels. The real travesty, Eles decided, was that he was too inexperienced to imagine the breadth of delights that Almadel had the fortune to experience.
What a shame that he and Hybris had such fleeting lifespans. Would that they could watch entire worlds flourish and wither, then break apart when their cores spun down to cold, inert iron. Such finales they could have seen.
They might not have been able to get business cards, but a souvenir seemed just as fitting. Something indelible, something rather quite magical, that matched Hybris to exacting detail. Eles would be a fool to let it languish, especially since this boy only asked for a drawing that Eles had done from memory.
Are you sure that's all you want for it? Eles signed back. The picture?
Eles could have offered this boy all sorts of memorable experiences, but he supposed this was a fine start. Charismatic and chatty, the merchant had been a delight to meet.
lizbot
the space cauldron
