Katherine offered him a wry look at his question but said nothing. He was still wet about the ears, literally. She felt the wryness take on a tinge of amusement as she reached behind her and pulled up two wooden bowls from the pack. They were crude and cheap and not particularly well designed but they would do. She used the tip of her eating knife to flick a generous pile of it into his bowl and then filled her bowl with a reasonable amount. He was too skinny and he’d fair better if he put on some weight. 

She handed him the bowl and then stretched out her weary legs, picked up her own bowl and began to eat with the single-minded devotion of someone well used to the road and well interested in her meal. It was well earned to say the least. She wasn’t much of a hand at cooking, simple one-pot camp fare was the best she could do. But there was something about the open air and the beginnings of a journey. No matter how troubled its start eating on the road added a spice to food that was unparalleled. Perhaps a cruddy start only added to the taste, she mused as she munched contentedly. 

Life was all about the little things after all, the taste of food on one’s tongue, the warmth of wine and fire, the touch of a lover, the company of friends. Her mood soured. Friends. Big Jim should be across the fire, tossing bits of too charred onions into the fire, missing them by “accident” and hitting her with them all while reminiscing about some job or other he’d performed for Lord Pantywaiste or Lady Bungplug, using crude nomenclature to keep with his promise of discretion for all that it was transparent. God she missed him, she missed them all. 

She didn’t hide the flask she pulled out of her pouch and put to lip for a healthy swallow. What was more natural than taking a drink with dinner? She held the flask out to him, courteously, giving or keeping as was his inclination. 

“When you finish up I’ll see to your back and legs, it should help though it won’t keep you from hurting tomorrow I’m sorry to say. It will just make it hurt less.” 

She speared, chewed and swallowed a carrot before speaking again.

“You did well today, you covered more ground than I would have expected.” And he’d done it without fuss, she was honestly impressed but to say as much in so many words was a trifle condescending. 

“If you can manage half as well tomorrow and the day after then we won’t be all that late.” 

Provided she didn’t get them lost. But she wasn’t going to mention that little possibility.