"I can ride," Nin says matter-of-fact. "Though I am more accustomed to goats," she adds.

"I am not sure what to make of any of this, and that bothers me." Nin hates everything she can't make sense of. Such things can hide a trap or a trick or just important facts that one ought to know.

"The beast is the source of the corruption of this place, though I also believe it may be possible to calm it, challenging though that might be. But this King is determined to kill it, that much is clear. Perhaps at any cost, which makes her as dangerous as the beast itself. I am certain, at least, that we want no bystanders near the battle when those two meet."

"I think we should learn as much as we can about both King and Beast before deciding on a course of action."

*

She [b]sizes Mort up[/b] as he approaches and speak to them.  

4+1+2 = 7

I'd like to ask a question of my own: Is he trustworthy? And I'm holding my other question for now.