When Thistle finally stirs awake, clean and somewhat restored to the land of the living, she finds the preparations already underway.
Art and Madern occupy the main worktable amid neatly organized travel supplies. The wine carrier of carefully packed urns sits secured beside cold weather gear, lanterns, small packs, and a few items that have clearly been included because Art cannot emotionally survive a journey without them - notebooks, pencils.
Madern is wrapping sandwiches in wax paper with practical efficiency while Art adjusts the straps on an overstuffed satchel that has recently been argued down from even greater excess. He looks into it and says, somewhat broken heartedly, "I suppose I can leave this behind." Reluctantly taking two novels out and setting them aside.
“It was a bit of an ordeal convincing Marigold not to pack for a traveling feast,” Art admits as Thistle appears. “But I think the sandwiches Madern threw together will travel considerably better.”
"Sometimes less is more." Though he still casts a longing glance at that book.