" The hermit takes a long wooden spoon from the table and then stirs what must be her dinner for a solid week. Her slow mixing sets loose even more of the mouth-watering meat and herbs aroma of whatever is stewing over the fire, and my stomach rumbles—long, low, and loud.

She slants me an unnerving, bright-green look before moving her slightly contemptuous gaze over to Griffin. “Does your man not feed you?” she asks.

I sense Griffin bristling beside me, as if his shoulders grow a foot in width.

“Of course he feeds me. More importantly, I feed myself.” Sort of. I can pick berries. And maybe catch a fish. I can definitely start a fire. Sometimes.

I glance at Griffin, and he looks back at me with a definite hint of Liar, liar, tunic on fire in his eyes.

I shrug. I guess that’s why we’re a team. I’m Elpis. He cooks. "

― Amanda Bouchet , Heart on Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles, #3)