"Chits-? Ah. If you think it important then certainly, though I don't doubt your talents."

Curiosity warred with practicality, hands idly spearing meat and vegetables in a growing stack on his fork. If she truly had seemed untrustworthy, he would have walked out, desperation aside. Not to mention that throwing suspect on her abilities wouldn't necessarily lead to her choosing to help him. But who had she happened to work with in the past? It would be interesting if he recognized the marks on some of the chits she held, especially if any belonged to the nobles or courtiers he knew of. 

Not that recognizing some of them would be a [i]good[/i] thing... but again, desperation.

"As for the trip," Alexi eyed the stack of mouthwatering food before him, contemplating diving into his meal right now and ignoring the conversation. Good manners persevered in the end, however, and he managed to tear himself away from the sight readied upon his fork, and upon Katherine instead. "They say to allow three days, though with fair conditions and a good pace, we could likely make it there in as few as two."

With one hand, he began idly tracing an unseen map on the table between them, finger winding out an arcing line between imaginary points.

"We skirt the edge of the marshlands that way, small risk of boglings or the like in addition to the usual bandits or foul weather. Other roads go too far out of the way, or are footpaths that wind through the marsh itself..."

Alexi shook his head as he spoke, picturing the poor souls that had tread through that place to wear down even a rough path. A marsh was never a place you wanted to stay in for long, surprisingly easy to get lost in, with treacherous ground and territorial creatures. 

"...So our best option gives two-to-three days. I'm on a... rather short deadline, so arriving within that time would be perfect."

Nope, the conversation could wait a little now. The food he had speared looked far too delicious, and finally he had to resign to hunger. He ate quickly and neatly, food vanishing down his throat seemingly as soon as he slipped it into his mouth. Eyes widened at the taste, and he allowed himself the luxury of a second mouthful, hoping Katherine would not find the pause offensive.

"That, is... exquisitely delicious Ham... Ah!" Right, there was still a bit left to say. "In terms of leaving, I would defer partially to you on that. Personally I would like to leave as soon as possible -tonight, even- but it's been some time since I traveled like this. Would it be better to wait until morning? Haste is imperative, but I suppose patience is a virtue, as well."

It was also something he was quickly losing the ability to afford, but that didn't need to be voiced. He had gone out to the square at the last possible moments, rushing on his own to find an escort instead of having listened to Charles input before. His position was desperate, but of his own making, there was no need to engender sympathy or pity by commenting upon it.

"I don't think I left anything out... did that answer you well enough?" Looking questioningly over at the one he hoped would escort him, Alexi's lips parted in a silent 'ah' as he noticed his still-winding finger. "I... do have maps of the area, too, and you mentioned being familiar with the surroundings?"