Have a quick dinner.

You return to the inn and order some dinner for yourself and Kheden. The matron nods and doesn't bother to inform you of the price, as your bill is covered by the Town Council. The main tavern room is about half full, now that it's approaching dinner time. You an Kheden take a seat after asking the innkeeper to start a bath.

A young attractive couple enters, and you notice Kheden watching them for longer than he usually looks at random strangers. “Do you think you'll ever settle down?” you risk asking.

Kheden slowly raises one eyebrow and turns his eyes towards you, “How so?” He's not a man of many words, and talk of family or other deep topics is uncommon.

“Well, what settling down usually means. A home, a good woman, a job that doesn't involve ****, mayhem, and monsters? We can't do this till we're greybeards. Or, if we do, we certainly wouldn't have been good at it if we're still poor and hoping for better, someday. Say we make a fortune... what would you do?”

Kheden shrugs, “I'd find a woman who's mother is still comely and who doesn't know about my fortune. I don't speculate on details. I figure more realistic is that I'll have just enough to buy a cottage and put a woman in it that no one else would marry. Why do you ask?”

You let out a long sigh, then brighten up a little as your dinners arrive. “I'm getting tired of the cold nights. I think a cottage in the forest with a large fireplace is the best for me to hope for. Away from people for the most part. I could work as a musician which would keep me from becoming too much of a hermit,” you busy yourself eating.

“You could get a child,” Kheden doesn't look up from his plate as he eats. “I know you. You can't be totally alone. You'd go mad. The cities are full of unwanted urchins. You could give one or two a better life.”

You specifically didn't ask Kheden about children earlier because of is painful past. You find it odd that he mentioned unwanted children, specifically. He told you once about being taken in by the Rogue's Guild at a very young age after his unwed mother's ****. “Yes. Yes, I suppose I could do that. A full belly and a peaceful life would be a good gift for an unfortunate. At least I'd be sure to get buried instead of eaten by my dog in the end, eh?” You end on a joke to lift the mood.

Kheden snorts a soft chuckle, “Aye...”