"Ah, I imagine I'd have time to run away while they finished you off," Asra returned, turning enough to give Symon an enigmatic smile, one that made it hard to tell if he were laughing at a joke or not.

Fortunately it wasn't particularly far to the cave and once inside and certain it was clear, Asra gestured for Symon to take a seat while he dug through his bag.

"Muriel was always better at this than me," he murmured, as much to himself as Symon as he fished out a wax-sealed jar containing a thick paste, the colour of fresh turned earth. He broke the seal and a smell like rain on green filled the air.