[not so different from the free cities, then. bigger, probably. cleaner, almost certainly. he frowns as she explains what happened to the animals. how can goats be expensive? he can't imagine a more economical way to manage vermin than with cats, and it seems like it would be harder than not to kill off rabbits. he has questions, but they're pushed to the back of his mind when she warns him. he lifts his brows and smiles. what had ygritte said? a thief had to be clever and quick, but a king only had to be born? he doesn't remember the words, but the sentiment seems appropriate to these circumstances.]

I was never able to figure out what I was owed before. It's nice of you to tell me.

[he sets his beer down and corsses his arms, sitting back in his chair.]

I won't cause trouble, but I won't see innocent animals come to harm. Human or otherwise.

[he hadn't really considered people animals before, but well...they're not plants. having experienced ghost's memories, it makes sense to him. anyway, he wouldn't be able to live with himself he left a cat or dog (or horse, or rabbit) under poor care.] `

You look after all these people. You must know what it's like.

[she must also know what it's like to put the good of the many before the betterment of the few, but he's not the lord commander here; he can afford to be his mother's son.]