"Aye," he says, frowning. "Relative peace here, which is a delight; why, I've not had a proper screaming match since I wound up here, let alone rapiers at dawn. Bit of a change, that."

Exaggeration is an honest pooka's best friend.

"You seem a bit out of sorts, stranger. Mayhap the forest-folk would be better company for us than the humans. They don't bite. Leastaways not unless we deserve it."