i tried not to stare at him , but it was hard . he had n't shaved recently , the scruff of his beard covering the planes of his face . they stayed with him and tried to nurse him back to health , but progress was slow . almost as if she had to be ready and alert to throw her things in a bag and head off to the next town at any moment . the lion caught la on the shoulders , shoving her down beneath its body . he picked up her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm . 