"As far as I know, things in the bar are well," says Amy. "I haven't been here all that frequently, of late. Things in Ambergeldar are . . . well, last year was a little difficult, but this year has been much better.

"And Susan is wonderful. Into everything it seems. Giving her nursemaids fits."

Not the way her mother did, though.

"Susaaa," Merry puts in.