She does not look up at his face. That measure of privacy, at least, he has. And besides, she hardly needs to; she can feel how his fingers tremble in hers. "Good." It is barely a whisper.

There is another pause before, with a sigh, she releases his hand and stands, walking back to her previous seat. "Canien intends to ride to see you whether you wished it or no, in truth," she says, and her voice is almost steady. Almost. "But agreed to let me meet with you first and give warning." She looks at him very briefly, and back again almost at once. "It is a strange thing to meet with one who knows you so well while you know them not at all. But I have found much in Canien to make me proud, and think you will also."