Sometimes, he'd been envious of Evalynn -growing up on his own wasn't very fun, and it pushed him to make more friends with animals than with people- but today wasn't one of those days. Her brothers were dreadful; if he were their brother, he would have left home ages ago. Then, he realized that Evalynn probably didn't have that choice. Girls who did that ended up rather poorly, at least that was what the village gossips and his mother said. He wondered how many rats he'd have to kill, if he had to help her hide away somewhere. The thought fluttered away soon enough, as the bobbing of the cart and the sound of Merlin's hooves against the dirt called him back to the present.

"Oh, when I just stand around, he gets a little more gentle on account of being bored," he laughed back, striving to find humor in his father's little rages. It was easier with her, and at least, it made her smile. "We should get our fathers in a match. Then they'll be too battered to give us trouble, isn't that right?"

The hours passed quickly, whenever they spoke, and it was always a delight to hear what she had to say. For the most part, Eldwic listened more than he spoke, but he didn't mind. There was something about the way Evalynn gave voice to her thoughts that reminded him of the deer or the foxes he watched. She always told the truth, or at least, Eldwic chose to believe she did.

He leapt off the wagon and put Larder in his large pouch, which was now free of the rats. Then, he proceeded to lead the way to the tavern... before slowing his pace and letting her lead instead. Eldwic didn't like how people stared to watch, when one opened the door to enter.

"He should be. My father's staying in because he hates the bard's songs," he replied, snorting in amusement as he spoke. "Says they're too sad. I don't know. I think those are the best kind. Aren't they, Evy?"