Jakob did what he could to prevent any further discussion betwixt Casidey and Laeris by taking cups and smiling at Casidey. "Tea, my dear. Thank you," again stated for her cup being handed to him.

Cup after cup was given out, then finished. As usual, Jakob found pleasure in the fact that none tossed remnants. They did not seek the last drops usually, but neither did they sip and turn away from the remainder. He had a bit of personal satisfaction from a "pot" well made.

He too, drank his tea. He stood as he did so, watching the camp break and the others finish, then make their ways to preparations to leave. For some, preparations were more extensive than others. For Jakob, it was much like getting out of bed in the morning. It was not cold enough to warrant more than a small woolen blanket which he had folded and used as a seat pillow while on watch. This had been bound and attached to his small pack of tea things, cup, and tools. He had but a handful of things which he found necessary for travel, even harrowing travel as this would soon prove to be.

He shook out the pot and rubbed it against the ground to cool it. Leaving it on some stones, he fitted the dipper into his small pack, just beside the trowel and a slender digging tool, looking much like a letter opener. His cup went into the dipper, nestling easily.

After a quick look at his water satchel, finding it almost empty - he would have to get some more when they found a nice spring - Jakob closed up his satchel and fitted the pot upside down atop it. After a quick strapping of pot by way of leather straps branching from tarnished copper button conches, he stood and set pack to his back.

All in all, it was but a breath or two before he was finished, not counting the responsibility to the fire which one of the others had tended to by putting dirt upon the flames to stifle them.

Humming, Jakob craned his head back and stared up at the now golden and purple canyon walls. The sun was alive, though they remained in shadow. He'd never been in a canyon, hadn't traveled this far ever before. But he'd heard of Canyon City and its particulars.

"I look forward to finally seeing the Canyon City stories come to life," the woodsman smiled about him, speaking lazily. "I've heard a great deal, though granted, the stories were very old even when I was told them."

__________________

‘What will my death be like?’ he thought- and knew at once
with abrupt certainty, that it would be just like his life:
... the same balance of bearables.
~Amis