"Pastries," he starts, with Some Authority, "are an under-appreciated art. But nothing's better than the blueberry ones from this little place in Val Royeaux. I had to travel through there one time for an assignment. Volunteered for every damn trip to Val Royeaux after that that I could," he admits, finished with a rough laugh.

"And yeah. He thinks pastries are 'adequate,' too. I think his vocabulary's a shade more colourful than yours."

A shake of his head, and excuse him, he's just going to take a moment to get over a particularly steep stretch of path before he continues, breezily casual, "You might be right. Never figured it was much of anyone else's business, truth be told. Benuta's choices are her own."