Early that morning, Ragnar dressed and readied himself for the journey ahead.
When he emerged from the room he had occupied for days, Fala and her husband Callan were already awake and waiting for him. They stood together near the front entrance, and Fala held a bag which, when she pressed it into his hands, turned out to be food wrapped for travel. Ragnar accepted it gratefully.
"I owe you more than I can repay at present," Ragnar said. "What you did for me, allowing a stranger into your home without question, and caring for me— there are few who would have done the same."
Callan gave a small shake of his head as though the thanks embarrassed him. "Any decent person would have helped an injured man in need," he said simply.
"Perhaps," Ragnar replied. "But decent people are rare and hard to come by."
