Blackfeather Woods i’ll take a pomegranate martini

he stood in wait, but it did not take long for someone to find him; he braced himself for the retrobution that would follow if he'd crept too far, was on the wrong side, or they simply did not like the look of him. none such rage came. he was greeting shrewdly. the old man turns his head only slightly, his ears doing the rest, honing in on the stranger's position. the stranger's scent is everywhere and sifu knows from his many years that he is speaking to someone important.

i am sifu, he murmured, dipping his nose towards the soil alongside his introduction. it seemed obvious that sifu was here for refuge so he did not state this part; maybe it was his age showing, but he did not feel it necessary to mention. he does pause long enough to add, i wish to provide my services. but what could an aged princeling give to someone so young and hale of health?