"Very well, thank you," He says, giving both his back legs a long, satisfying stretch before relaxing back down again, "Had something nice and warm tucked in under my wing all night long. And yourself?"

Viktor always moved stiffly, of course, that pained half-hobble that kept his cane close at hand. But Skan watches him a moment, contemplatively, to see if anything is any more amiss than usual.

"Sleeping half-sitting like that, isn't uncomfortable for you?"