Blacktail Deer Plateau Under cloud and under star

Ramsay, if he stopped and thought about it, didn't know why he was investing his time in Mal. He didn't know at the time why he had attempted to protect Averna, either. He didn't allow himself to think about it much. In terms of benefit, there didn't seem to be much of one, but nevertheless he allowed himself to step forward, further up the hill, in the lead. Mal could have taken him from behind then, but Ramsay's confidence never faltered. He was, after all, probably a better fighter than any kid, not that he thought less of Mal for that.

Everyone gets to have a base, Ramsay said, lurching toward the top of the plateau with his strange, stunted gait. Everyone needs a safe place to return to. He wished he and Euron had spent more time finding themselves a base, rather than wandering about at the brink of starvation until desperation drove them to learn. One could argue for that lifestyle, but Ramsay wouldn't be the one to do it. Your base can always change, he added over his shoulder, the best he could with his truncated neck.