Her reply makes him smile; he appreciates the bright kindness with which she approaches so much of what she does here, be it cooking for the village, running the Inn, or apparently tending to the sick.

In some ways, it's a relief from the fevered visions in which he'd been barely able to tell sleep from wakefulness and present from past. With the newly-dawning clarity, he can remember what is important about being here, and the reasons he's had to learn to accept this place instead of his home and his people.

He takes the drink she offers gladly, and though the temptation is to swallow it all, he listens to her advice and sips, once, twice, then a third time, appreciating the coolness on his throat.

"The water is good, thank you." He's careful to keep his sips small as he drinks some more. His head still hurts, but it is not so bad as it had been before he'd taken the snake venom.

"How long has it been?"