Adam refocused and shot Wensley another deeply grateful glance. "You're a good friend, Wens." He took the tea and sipped at it. It burned his tongue a little.

Then he looked down at Pepper and nodded. "I think so. I promised I'd stay." His tone of voice implied that she couldn't be otherwise while he was there. But he looked up at Wensleydale, who he hadn't seen for a while except in passing. He'd missed the other boy. "What did you think of all that?"