Ned Payne -- who had been experimenting with lowering the pitch of her voice much to Podrick's embarrassed entertainment -- was a little late to the realization that something had changed. Silence settled over their small band. Silence except for Pod, who was taking a flying leap in boldness and trying to instruct his new 'brother' how to produce a manly grumble. She had to reach out and drop a hand on his elbow in order to stall his act, hissing a soft advisory to pay attention. So Pod sank into wordless penance.

She looked at Tyrion -- a quirk of her brow asking him whether he knew these newcomers.