Afterwards, Severin and Gabriele are lying in the tent and talking. She tells him about how during the rains of ash her village was starving to death, and she and Sol had struck out together, doing what they could to survive. Now that he's got a position of power, she's in a great spot. Better than in, well, her whole life. And she ain't going to give that up, although nothing lasts forever, she's loyal to Sol. Unlike some of those other jerks, hangers-on, who haven't known him their whole life. She says Beauregard is too stuck up and full of himself, and Renn the Chiseler is just a thug; useful to keep the slaves in line, but not for much else. Brandmeister Ethan is a mercenary Sol picked up somewhere, he runs most of the boring ****, taxes and supplies and whatever.

As far as losses are concerned, she and her crew o' halfings are mostly outcasts and outlaws from the halfling villages scattered around the Southern Ranges. None of them were down in the mines so they haven't lost anyone. As far as Sol's losses are concerned, she doesn't know for sure, but she does say "There were a bunch of deserters from Otto's crew a while back, give em' a club an a place to sleep and they'll do for grunt work. Wouldn't trust them as far as I can throw them..."

About the river bandits she blames Otto's crew for that. Says they got real vicious all of a sudden, sinking boats and killing the crews. Some northerner named 'the Drunken Weasel' had signed up with Otto and was leading the gangs. Seemed to want to shut down the river trade, because it's all but stopped lately. Turns out that means there's more work that Gretchen has to do since all the trade now goes overland through Nirena and the Tileans instead of the halfling clans of Appledel. Although she heard things are starting to start back up back Stralwald way after Otto's failed invasion. There's mostly been quiet peace between Otto and Sol, but she says "There's not really any peace with a rabid dog, ya just hope he's distracted by easier targets..."

The next morning she is in a good mood and slaps Severin on the back as bowls of mush are served. "We're packing out, see you next time yer in town, Proudfoot," she grins as the other halflings are striking camp. "Try not to get eaten by flippin' lizards, OK?"