O' course it'll be mutton. She answered with a grin, holding a paw to her chest as if she could hardly believe anything else was under consideration. If she meant to spoil him for his victory, might as well go all out, or what was she Captain for?

The girl, on the other hand, hadn't earned such prime vittles and Lyra had no particular attachment to her beyond Lonán's entertainment. Comes from sheep. Lyra explained, 'Ardy beasties what live up in our mountains, with big 'orns fit te send ye off any cliff an' 'ooves what can scale a sheer rock face! Very difficult t'hunt. Expensive t'procure. But te Howff 'as its ways.

Eh... why not give the girl a taste? Ampoule would be footing the bill. Surely she'd be grateful in manifest ways for them having feasted her sister. And tended her wounds. And given her shelter.

I know yer sister. She'd been at the rowdy celebration some time back, when The Wisp had found that bloody rune under the floorboards. Mal had been making doe-eyes at her. Lyra was relatively sure they were a family of means, and potentially magic. An' I'll not be riskin' 'er ire by leavin' ye in pain an' 'unger under me own roof. Not neighborly.

Lips pursed, It'll take a few days t'find 'er, mos' likely, if she don't show up 'ere 'erself. In the meantime, ye'll be our guest an' all that entails. So ye can rest easy, pup. Ye'll be well looked after.

A brow cocked at Lonán, half expecting him to volunteer to do the looking after. Would she be wise to allow it if he did? He had a good head on his shoulders. Still, Lyra knew well enough what a pretty face could do to a man. If the girl had ill-intent, or meant to take advantage of goodwill, would Lonán think to question it?