"Oh, Shepherd, you could bring me a hundred more and I'd be glad of 'em not dying in the cold," Vervain says fervently--and with a grin for ... well, it's not really Tuo's direction, but. He's trying.

"You're welcome, all three of you. I've got to go get ready for the morning homily, but stay as long as you like, all right? Stay warm."

And he will bustle off to do just that, and try not to think about how he knows exactly which of the acorns he's pocketed has worms in it.