"Good morning. Lothar just came back from the woods. Sorry about the mess on the table, we'll clean it up."
Mrs Hofstadter blinked, dumbfounded by Pieter's matter-of-fact attitude. She seemed at a loss for anything to say.

'It's ok, we managed to find his way back.' The elf said, 'apparently it takes a lot to kill some people.'
Staring at Lothar lying on the table, she still seemed to make a moment to take it in.

"Good gods, the poor man," she said. Coming forwards, she leaned against the staircase and covered a cough. "But, if... if he's back, what about the others?" There was a sad little edge of hope to her voice. "His lordship?"