Despite how outwardly prickly he was being, when Alanna embraced him he squeezed her back as hard as he could. Mithros, it was good to finally have someone here who he could talk to, who would understand him. Who could match him in power and in wits. Who knew him as well as he knew himself, and who knew Tortall. Being the only one from his world awake was lonely indeed.

Of course, then she started in with her scolding. "Obviously," he said. "Otherwise I wouldn't be standing."

She would notice he conveniently left out how much he'd slept.