[ He knows what she means, and it makes him quiet for a moment. He tries to think of this place in practical terms, most of the time. But he doesn’t always succeed. ]

There is. It’s a shame we’re not here under better circumstances. I’d rather explore, not destroy.

[ He pauses, and then lets some of the tension out of his face. This puts him in mind of travelling in that carriage with her, as they were being brought to Os Alta. The place where they’d begun to talk, really, and where she’d started to know him as Nikolai and not Sturmhond. This feels similar, to him. ]

I thought I’d given that up. Travelling and exploring. That’s not why I agreed to this, obviously, but I have to admit that it’s not a bonus I dislike.