"I know a thing or two about hiding, you know," she said with a flippant tone used to offset the severity of their topic. "I just don't want to have to do it all the time with people I like." Her smile was faint. "I'll say something if I need to. Likewise, you'll need to say something to me if I do the same. Or if I talk too much."

She smirked. "I could have done without the disgusting bait or the trek out of the docks...but I'm sure these will be entirely worth our trouble." It went without saying that she could have just as easily settled on bringing him back without a basket between them.

"Very brave. People look at me and they think I'm the valiant one who runs into the Deep Roads to make my fortune. But my mother ran away from family and fortune to marry for love. If I'm even half so bold or lucky in my life, it will be a life well spent." She doubted she would be. The past several years had made that all too clear. But if she could content herself with something, that would be all right too.

Lips pressed into a thin line to keep herself from protesting or asking too many questions, she nodded. He had his reasons, and good ones, for not wanting to contact them. "I'm sorry, Cullen." What else could she say?