somewhere-in-the-dungeon:

Knott winked. “Nah, I’ve been in a party of two before. It works. Just a little messy sometimes.” He waved her off. “Nothing else I need from you. Anything you need from me?” His tone turned serious. “Or want. Or aren’t sure which. Whatever’s got you worried, no skin off my back. Only thing I won’t treat with are things that threaten my daughter. Anything else? I can be flexible. Listening ear. What have you.”

“No, thank you,” Marian said. “As soon as this is all fixed I’ll be fine. I just have to tough it out a little while longer.” She hoped she was right. If things went smoothly and this plan of hers worked out she would finally feel like she had control again. She just needed to prove she could make a difference, that she could fix problems instead of causing them.

“But, thank you. For listening. For agreeing to assist me. It means a lot.” Also true. She couldn’t do this on her own. There were too many parts to this to work by herself.

Marian opened the door and headed back into the tavern.