He glances at Lyanna, who has made yet another gentleman friend, miraculously, before turning back to Aella. "I am fortunate that my sister and I knew each other, it seems," he says thoughtfully. "We are Lyanna and Ned Stark." With a nod at his sister as he says her name, and a small lift of his mug at his own. 

Ned can already tell that his new friend will be full of valuable insights. She is the persistent type, he thinks, and her bluntness doesn't trouble him in the slightest. He nods and sips his ale. "I hope you have found some of those answers." Because gods knew there were plenty of questions.

He flashes her the inkling of a grin. "All right, you can't just drop a hint like that and not explain these 'strange and unusual' activities back home. Please tell me you're going to elaborate."