He hadn't meant to frighten her, even if it was perhaps just as well that he did. Having learned all this now, he felt warier than he had been before when it came to being away from the castle. He was carrying the most important currency to be had in this world and the only way to be free of it was to lose his life. It was a poor exchange for being able to draw a little extra power from it.

"You just need to be careful, is all. The castle is as safe a place as you'll find, never minding the pests it has now and then."

That was the extent of comforting advice he had available.