"Say nothing," was her response as she looked at his jaw. Gingerly, she put a hand against it, to assess the damage. "You have done a number on it. Raw meat, if we had any, would do some good."

He was her companion, now. And he had apologized. That meant, in her mind, that he was good, even for the pain. Even for her Marius.

"We shall find some, in one of these places, injured as we are." Her tears had quieted enough that she could speak.