At her instruction he turns away from her scrutinizing stare and removes the kettle from the heat, fetches two mugs, and pours the mulled wine into both of them. He doesn't spill a drop, not even when she mentions the heavily armed contingent of soldiers now garrisoned within the parish's walls.

"I heard about the fighting near the border," he replies, then walks carefully over to Johanna and offers one of the mugs out to her. "I didn't realize whatever petty game the lords are playing would bring an army into the village."