Beatrice shifts uneasily on Swain's shoulder, moving back and forth on her perch and fluffing her feathers. "What's the matter?" the man says, turning his head to regard the bird. A few frantic caws later, and the robed human is leaning on his cane and bending at the knees (his back is not what it once was) to examine the cat under the booth. Animals are rare enough here that an unaccompanied cat is a curiosity.

"Well hello there. Where did you come from?" he rasps, not really expecting an answer.