"Trust me. Words can't express my gratitude for that adequately," he assured her. He knew that she was teasing. He wasn't. No Fereldan in his right mind wanted to have to fight a mabari. "Just as I'm sure he'd protect you now if he thought you needed it." He had no intention of putting the idea in the animal's head it would ever be necessary when it came to him.

"Hmmm. For some reason I think I like the sound of that. Another time." As stiff as he had been when he had thrown up the professional facade for the benefit of any shadows, he was relaxed now, as much as he had been with her on the boat.

"Already you're ahead of my game. I'd have dumped the whole lot in and probably boiled them over in your hearth."