[Keith tenses when she coughs. That’s never a good thing with this sickness. He frowns and reaches down to his belt. Only his Marmora Blade and the Bayard. He has no weapons he could offer her. He takes her hand gently and sets to tending it with barely a pause.

His voice is lower as his brows come down in concentration.]

It’s a bit like a forced confession. You have stuff you just don’t say, right? [He lifts his head to meet her eyes. He’s calm and watching her carefully.]

Why don’t you want a guard? Let’s start there.