She takes her role seriously, which speaks well to her character, Ned thinks. He lifts his mug. "Long live King Bhelen." He doesn't know the man, but he will trust Aella's judgment on him.

"Then you have eight or nine months on me here," Ned says, amused. "I know none of the places you have been. I saw a few of the names on the road signs. I would like to see them for myself, on a map, and in person too."

He glances at Aella, brows raised. "But first things first. My sister and I will need a place to stay. I don't believe the powers that brought us here, brought us with any money of worth in this world. Where did you stay, when you first came here?"