only one way up

So the handsome stranger had a name. Sebastien... something almost noble. Her shrewd eyes caught the hesitancy to his movements, almost as if he were familiar with a different set of greetings- not the ones he gave that layfolk were used to. Perhaps Sebastien was of noble blood and countenance, just misplaced? Disowned? Who knew for certain, really. 

Letting that train of thought slide, she focused in on his words. Shock ran down her spine as her status as a mage was all too easily seen- the horns most definitely gave it away. Reaching a shaky hand up to touch the base, as if to ensure that they were still there, she nodded, her lips turned into a slight frown. Yes, they revealed her as a mage, but it was the only thing she could keep of her true body, the one she had lost in her youth, so many years ago. She refused to lose them to the magic and its shifting pull. "Y-y-" she struggled for only a moment, the slightest trace of fear in her eyes at the oh so casual outing of her status as a mage. "Yes, kind sir, although I do not enjoy your bluntness in asking. I don't ask you if you are a disgraced noble or wealthy individual, although there are things that definitely display it in the way you act, your hesitancies and unaccustomed nature of the greetings of layfolk." She took a breath, letting the moment pass, and lowered her hand from the horn, gently folding her hands together in front of her. "But yes- I am a mage. However, my abilities are useless in a fight, and do not offer a way to avoid detection. I am afraid that we have no magic to aid us in our act of entering." 

She checked the hold on her magic again- the time was quickly slipping away. She had at most an hour, now, so much time lost by her gazing at the tower. Eventually, the man would see her magic, and see just how thoroughly useless it was. It was good for a distraction, but only to one person, and even then it usually warranted too much unwanted attention. It would simply take too long to lure out each and every person there by using a face that they most desired, and even then, there were those here whose attitudes were geared towards shoot first, ask questions later. She couldn't risk an injury- it would take far too long to heal and cut into her profits back in Faline. 

Slightly shaking her head, she forced her attention back to the man, coming out of her daze. "Since you asked me, I must ask you. Are you a mage? Might you have anything that can help us, or shall we need to, as you say, get creative?"

Patrons, she hoped he had something, even if it was weak. Otherwise they would be in for a fight, and she had nothing to help in that department.