Dimitri turns pink at being called 'dearest', and has to clear his throat before answering.

"Not long at all -- only a day or so. If you've heard of the ship that many of the new arrivals escaped from, I'm another of those." He presses his lips together and shakes his head. "Anywhere would be better than that place. Marrow Island has animals, and that alone is ... it's an unimaginable relief."