Ithacles couched a hand under his chin and looked at her sidelong.
"It is funny, Captain. I'm just glad to have the whole affair behind me. Of course I didn't intend to get you exiled but..."
He shrugged with a distant sort of surrender.
"Anything to preserve my reputation, I suppose."
He laughed at her again, but with a bit more warmth than the frigid air provided. His breath hung around the low, heavy boughs and seemed to pour out of him like steam from a kettle. He clapped his gloved hands together with a muffled smack.
"So I now declare you officially Off the Hook and you may return to your duties at the castle."