The tavern itself seemed to not mind the newcomers much, even Dominic feeling a little more cheerful when the monk asked for something stronger than water, for Maker's Sake. For his trouble, Nicolo was served a weaker ale: a local brew favored more by the working class who wanted the taste of something hard but couldn't afford to be stumbling through the streets throughout the day.
The issue was the magic: the second the monk's hand had sparked, it had raised several heads over to the sight. While most patrons ignored it, even Dominic cast a queer glance over at his customer, unsure if it would be worth making a scene. He almost thought to ask him for his papers, but disregarded the notion: unregistered Mages had an uncanny habit of being caught and strung up at some point. If the boy was bold enough to perform such a charm in public, he had to be registered.
The rest of the bar seemed to come to the same conclusion, leaving Nicolo alone for now, though it was clear that a repeat of the behavior would be viewed with suspicion. The Thunderclap outside, however, definitely caused quite a stir. Some of the more inebriated patrons shot straight up in their seats, and one or two went to peak outside, coming back in with confused expressions and explaining that it was still sunny as could be. Though it was discussed at length on what the hell had just happened, nobody seemed quite intent on causing a disturbance, not even the bouncers: people were here, people were drinking, and Dominic wanted to keep it that way.
The raven-haired woman was served quickly by the barkeep, wanting to distract himself from the possibility that he had a bunch of bloody mages running around his very reputable establishment. A tankard was set before her, the same local beverage that claimed to incorporate the incredibly floral hops that grew at the base of the Celestinas, as well as a bowl of some type of soup; a cream base, chunks of sausage, onion, and kale as well, all served with a hearty piece of bread on the side.
Between herself and Nicolo sauntered a sailor. Well, he appeared to be a sailor: he had the colorful bandana about his head, the thigh-high boots and a curved cutlass. His skin had certainly been weathered from sun and salt, his greying beard patchy from a life hard lived.
" You were talkin' 'bout that tower, Mage?" he asked of Nicolo, keeping his back to the raven girl behind him, " Nobody is getting in. I heard some spellcaster just waltzed in there! Waltzed, like he was at the Duc's ball! Undid the wards with a word and went in like he owned the place. A mate of mine says he was working late at the docks last night, Captain's pushing the crew like he would one of them brothel girls, eh? He says he hears all sorts of commotion at that tower. Like there was a fight. And they're trying to cover it up!"
He emphasizes the last word by smacking a piece of silver onto the bar, which is quickly traded for a mug that the sailor lifts to his mouth as if he were dying of thirst. When he finishes gulping the drink, he continues, trying to talk and swallow at the same time.
" My friend, see, he says they don't want it getting out because it weren't no foreigner, it weren't no bastard thief: it were one of the Noble houses!"
" Cut your tongue before I cut it for you, Enizio," Dominic barked, not wanting the conspiracy theorist drunk to push away someone who actually ordered food from his kitchen.
" It's true! Me mate wouldn't lie to me!" Enizio declared, settling his wild eyes hard on Nicolo, " They're all so worried about those Toriscan dogs (may their mothers mate with devils!) making a deal with the guildsmen here, and they're out to steal a spell or some artifact from The Before to show 'em who is still boss!"
" That's enough! Leave my customers alone or I'll have you thrown out!"
Enizio sneered at the proprietor, but wasn't inclined to stop drinking and so relented. For the moment.
" Careful in Fossice, boy," he warned Nicolo as he departed back to his corner, " While gold may rule here now, 't weren't always so, and some folks'll do anything to change that."