He listens, as he always has, and says nothing as Fitz speaks. Indeed, there is much he would question--had Molly only been gone some months, then, how new was his grief? How fared little Bee in her mother's absence, and Nettle? Yet he quiets the instinct to speak, and listens only.

Mention of a messenger causes him to sit up some. "I sent you a messenger?" he repeats, baffled, but not dubious. Then he shakes his head, waves off any clarification Fitz may offer. "My apologies, I should not have interrupted. Please, Fitz, go on."