[ catching the way her eyes go to the empty mug, sam tries to catch the eyes of one of the bartenders. he's not quite able to manage it, or at least isn't totally sure they understood why he was trying to get their eyes, when ciri continues, tone defensive.

sam doesn't think she's lying to him, but he gets a sense that maybe she does know more than she's telling him, but then again. there's not much he can do if she doesn't want to talk about it.

instead, he just nods. takes it in. tries to place what she says there with what he saw on that horseback, riding into the city gates. the look he saw in her eyes when she left. he can piece together enough, from that, that the nod seems more firm than not. like he actually does get a full enough story. ]

Makes sense - hell, I don't know the first thing about magic, but I do know that a lot of things that take practice generally can be dangerous, too. [ which is true. weapons, fighting, and apparently magic too.

and then, as if timed, their food and another ale for ciri arrives and is set - unceremoniously, on the table between them. sam thanks the two who had come with the bowls and turns back to ciri, gestureing. ] Go ahead, eat.