It was something of a surprise, when Alcuin reached to embrace him. But Vax let the boy have his grasp, then shifted arms from under his cloak to fold around him in kind. He would never begrudge a friend in earnest need of some support, a kind word or a reassuring touch - and he'd already decided that Alcuin was that. So he held him fast, shifting the fall of feathers to drape over Alcuin's back, wrapping him up for some moments.

"You're right," he agreed, a sincere murmur. "It's a lot."