(his eyes drifting from the pale lavender of her tunic to the glimmer of gold and stone in her hair. )

"Is that Shuriman, girl?" 

(He caught the protective glare of her companion and laughed it off.)

 "Would have been rare once".

"It's a bit more common now that your people's  lost city has risen."
"Word has it the rivers flow backward too."
(The merchant waved a hand in the air, poking fun at the mysteries of a far-off people he considered simple.)

 "All because your bird-god has returned from the grave."

"Good thing you're here and not there, girl"