"It takes a considerable amount, these days," Caleb said thoughtfully after a moment, shrugging one shoulder. The last few months had been difficult, but he could manage. He had to. And having Essek helped. He would manage. He had to.

"This is a very different sort of place than Mammon's domain," he confessed, his voice only a little strained. The village and castle had been familiar, in some ways, things that Caleb knew in certain ways. And this place was unlike anything he knew.

"But I found the clinic and the greenhouse. It is nice to see that something grows here." Caduceus might have chastened him; there was much living in this place, even if it wasn't what he was used to. What he meant was, it was nice to see things that were more like what he knew of growing things.