[ An itch? Probably. That's a good way to put it. ]

I'll take it as a compliment that you think I have senses to come to.

[ There's a gently teasing lilt to his tone as they mirror each other for a moment. Is he in a better mood than she's seen him in before? The possibility of war lingers on his mind nearly constantly, but their forced trip had been good. He got to see Inej in person, and there'd been the exchange in gifts with Jack when they returned. And everything with the negotiations went, all things considered, as best as they could.

He straightens and grasps the shaft of the shovel again, shoring himself. One eyebrow raises. ]

I heard an interesting rumor about the Tertiary Settlement while on our trip. A fisherman was speaking to a guard, he mentioned a lack of offerings after the omens. And how the seas have been roiling when the moon is full.

[ He doesn't know enough about their people to decide if it's superstition or not. But the part about the fish had turned out to be true - Thorne was now helping the settlements with that. ]