Us, as well. When I was your age and size. Well. Maybe a little bigger, even then. [ this bit of teasing is delivered with a cheeky smirk. ]

Still, this place ain't filled with as many rogues and villains as where I'm from. Or if it is, they've as good as lost their claws. Oh, there are folks to avoid -- but mostly, folk here are too kind for their own good.

Take the smithy lad, eh? I hear he works for favours.