"A man can hope," he tells her with a wide smile. Catchy, easy to remember advice is always the best, so her mother's phrase has a much better chance of sticking than his nagging. "Usually. Sometimes they climb for research, or to challenge themselves. A lot of people who get to the higher peaks are there for themselves, or occasionally for charity."

"They survive the cold?" He repeats it, surprised by the news. Cold climates aren't the most hospitable, and seems even stranger for a whole host of things to dislike the heat but be happy with the cold. "But they're so small, so... simple."

"He's with friends, isn't he?" Reynard reaches over to take her hand in his and squeeze gently. He looks her in the eye to make sure she can see he's being genuine. "This is good for him. He'll be able to focus entirely on his recovery. People like him... from what I know of him... they're too easily distracted by the needs of others. At least this way he'll only be able to work on his own needs, his own health."