"Well, it smells wonderful, if that helps any, so I wouldn't give up the coffee making just yet." She liked the woman's accent, even though it reminded her a little of Alastair and the fact that he left them to their own fight once he realized she was making contingency plans for Ness and Jacob.

"Have you been here long?" she asked and waved a hand around the room to indicate the hotel itself. "I've met some that have been here for weeks and some just for a few days, like me."