He notices the way she perks up when he mentions Kinloch, and makes sure to take note to speak to her again. He doesn't remember her (Elves weren't a total rarity but they were uncommon enough that he thinks he does at least remember most of them), but it's possible they only barely overlapped.

He's pleased when she steps forward to test his barrier. The candle flame leans away as if her hand was much closer than the few feet, but the barrier pushes back against her hand and the flame stays lit.

"Even though it's strengthened by the energy of the flame, it still recognizes the signature of the caster," he says, and demonstrates by carefully reaching out and putting his own hand through the barrier. "So it protects the flame from rain or snow - or bears - while still letting you go back and forth as you please. And when it's time to move on-" At that point, he snuffs the candle with a sweep of his robes, and the barrier falls with it.