"Not at all," he admits, and slides a small cup towards her. He pours out a measure of the warm, sweet alcohol. "In my experience, it's rarer to find someone familiar with your home and its charms than otherwise. You are recently arrived?"

He hasn't seen her before, but that doesn't mean much. In truth, he'd spent a great deal of time in Serthica split away from much of the group. She could have been here months and he may well have never seen her.