In all honesty, 'chestnuts' make about as much sense to Nerys as 'kastania', though she figures she can pick stuff up and show it to people to see if that's what it is--she doesn't want to bother Thorfinn with it under the circumstances, at least not right now. The 'nut' part of chestnut sort of narrows it down, at least.

"One day at a time--must be wisdom in many cultures," she says, and accepts two of the soap balls out of the jar. Usually she'd protest, for politeness' sake, but again, the circumstances make that seem ludicrous. "You're too kind, thank you. If you need more hands to make the lye, or more of this--" she lifts up the soap, "I am more than happy to help. I promise I work hard, stronger than I look."