Bastien hesitates before he says, "No," to that idea, with the uncertain air of someone who is trying to decide whether or not someone else is trying to be funny. To the other idea: "He's in pain."

Like Marcus said, he's coming back at all because he no longer had a choice.

"If he comes to Ostwick with us it's going to get worse. We could see if a couple of the griffon riders could meet us partway on the road back."