At times like this, he had learned better than to ask “why me”. The other man chattered away at his ear like a woman. In fact, his companion might have been flattered by the comparison. He didn’t know.

The real question is why he had let the man accompany him at all. It certainly didn’t help with business. He wasn’t even sure if it made the travels appear faster. Perhaps it was his way of making his life seem longer. Gods knew how short people tended to live when constantly on the road.

“-and that’s when I said… are you listening?”

“Of course I’m listening,” he replied automatically. Looking at the other man, he couldn’t tell if the expression was that of delight or disappointment.

“Darling, that was part of the story.”

Why him indeed. He should have kept his mouth shut.