"Hey, mate," Tam tipped his hat as he leaned on the counter. "Whacha drinking there?"
The man inspected Tam from the atop his bar stool. After a few moments of consideration, he turned away from him, only to come face to face with Miranda.
Some time later, the two were walking side by side, unsuccessful.
"So, we can cross Austria off the list then?"
"Yup. I'll write to Dumbledore later, tell him we're still looking. Did the Court find anything else in Germany?"
"No. It's like the kid doesn't exist."
"We'll just have to keep looking. I'll send out owls, telling them to do the same."
"Right. Nothing in Portugal, nothing in Italy. Poland next, then? Good liquor."
When Miranda got back to the inn where they'd rented rooms, she found a packet on her doorstep.
"Words unheard. Our best discovery yet. Use with care." a note attached to it said. Miranda opened it and found a pair of stubby looking quills, with emeralds attached at the end.
-------------
Miranda cocked an eyebrow as the witch entered the ring. She provoked a wave of cheers as she raised a fist to the crowd. She was a petite and slender woman. She'd secured her hair in two braids, tied with red and orange ribbons. Her eyes and lips were painted a deep auburn. Ruby was her nickname.
The dueling arena had been built underground, and the only source of light came from floating glass orbs, suspended in mid-air. They were bewitched to change color based on what suited the duelist best. The ring was a round platform covered with sand, erected in center in the middle of the arena. A red outline marked the edges of the fighting area. The seats around it rose in progressive steps, tables and chairs being placed for spectators. Waiters in uniforms scurried about, taking orders, bringing drinks, and noting the bets placed. The crowd was shouting and the sounds reminded her of the past. Wand in hand, craving victory.
Ruby didn't have quite a good history with regular jobs, Miranda had learned. She'd begun traveling through Europe a couple years ago, leaving Britain behind, in search of better offers. She wore duelin grobes. The top part was styled like a vest, leaving the arms free, and they were tighter around the waist. The bottom part fell to the knees in the front, and to her ankles in the back. The robe had slits that went up from the hem of the skirts to the waist, giving the duelist more freedom of movement, and separating the material into four different bands. The material for the top part was rougher, more stiff, while the bands were flowy and filmy.
"So, who do you think will win?" Tam asked, scratching at his beard.
"For our sake, I hope she does. I heard she's got a temper. We might not get much out of her if she loses."
Ruby was stretching her wand-hand and doing some last-minute repetition.
"Huh. Well, I'm still rooting for the other one. Wouldn't be healthy for my pocket if she wins."
"You placed a bet?"
"Sure. Dedication to the mission or what not." Tam said happily. Then he somehow managed to get his feet up on the small table between them.
"Tam, I find myself in awe of your dedication and your stupidity, both at once."
He grinned, and then winked at a waiter that was passing by.
"You wanted-" the waiter began in English.
"Liquor," Tam said, in Polish.
"Would you care to be more specific, sir?"
