Barrow Fields staring in the eyes of my poor soul

Eleuthera made light of the encounter, which had the dual effect of both soothing the ruddy traveler and rubbing him the wrong way. Part of him wanted to laugh it off with her, because it was ridiculous to listen to the words of such a young, foolish creature. But at the same time, he was sure she'd said things she couldn't have known; things about him, and Nine, and about Eleuthera herself.

Well, no, he said at length, after sharing an uncertain chuckle with the young woman. She... well. She told me my fortune.

See? How ridiculous was that? Saying the words aloud made him doubt her all over again, and the male was ever more certain he'd been had by the young huckster. He turned an easier smile on his cohort, giving a few flicks of his sopping wet tail.

She didn't say nothin' about stayin' in one place, he added, but in reality, he wasn't quite sure. He couldn't remember all the details; only the ones that had played on his biggest fears.

I am gonna have to go back one of these days, he reminded her, his voice a little gentler. But that don't hafta mean nothin'. Ain't like I won't be back t'visit.