Eula
"I entirely understand why you would conceal such a secret. I cannot seem to be the most.. Forgiving of people, given the way I dealt with the Agarvarans and... Other problems of note." *He spoke quietly but firmly, thinking of solely motivation and action, reconciling this concept of Roesia with the old. It was not too hard to do, he supposed, and she was still the same person regardless. He simply knew more about her now. Did it change how he thought of her? Perhaps. But on the other hand, it wasn't as if she had killed anyone, and disagreements with family, while he preferred to get along with his, were somewhat common among nobility. It was both plausible and explanatory. He could not fault her for following a sense of adventure.*

"I do not fault you for lying. I wish only that you be perhaps more truthful in the future. If there is information you wish to conceal still, I must ask that you at least provide a reason. But now that is done with, and we shall simply... Enjoy the hunt." *He stated with finality, letting the silence fall between them as they traveled along, hooves beating along the path. A picture, like a cloudy reflection in his head, was becoming clearer of who she really was, and he at least could expect more of the same from her if it came. There was no reason a person wouldn't repeat their past actions.*

"As a matter of fact, I have not. They are magnificent indeed - I have seen antlers taken as prizes in the halls of the castle by my father, but I have not had time to hunt myself. As for the golden harts... Perhaps if we continue, we may see one, though I doubt it. It is better to expect a common outcome with an uncommon twist than an uncommon outcome with a common presentation." *He quoted.* "Herinor likes to remind us all of that particular fact whenever he is finished reading a new medical journal at Association meetings. He has devoted his life to the practice of medicine, and I expect he thinks we should as well."
Martin
The many senses of dread had begun to completely wash away as Astalios spoke to Roesia calmly. The change of subject was one that was more than welcome, and while there was still more that Astalios did not know of her, she simply couldn't afford to reveal her deepest secret. The Lycanthropy that drove her from home. She was only a girl at the time, barely 18 years of age. A blink in the eyes of elves, but young nonetheless. Perhaps now that nearly twenty years had passed her parents would believe her dead. Maybe even *They* Were dead and gone... The thought wasn't something Roesia could dwell on long. All she wished was to see her father again, beg for forgiveness at his feet. But there was more she needed forgiveness for- those four Findaran knights, slain at the hands of a beast she never wish had climbed its way inside her.

As Astalios spoke of elk and golden harts, Roesia had barely caught half of his words. Realizing he was speaking of a member of the Association, she smiled with a light chuckle, the worry in her eyes fading away as a façade took over her expressions. "A reasonable devotion, I might say. I can't say I've dabbled much in the practice, but I do know very minor healing magic. I've had to learn, given where I live and all. If I had to return to the capital each time I got a bump or bruise, I might as well buy a house there." Roesia spoke with a slight huff, shaking her head at herself in the process.

_ _
The sun had soon risen over their heads, casting dancing lights onto the two as it did its best to peek down on them through the thick forest canopy. Basking in what little she could, Roesia glanced to Astalios quietly, the thoughts in her head nipping at her like the horse flies that nipped at Angus's hide. She held her tongue regardless, if only to keep her head literally and figuratively. The ride to their destination wouldn't be too terribly long, perhaps and hour or so. Plenty of time to discuss recent events in the world, perhaps have a race or two. Nevertheless, Roesia was happy the worst was hopefully behind them.
Eula
*He wondered if she knew too much about the goings-on of the Association, but there was not much to speak of there besides various scientific articles he had quite a lot of interest in, but rather less confidence that she might like to hear them. While Herinor's treatises on the importance of learning medicine from the anatomy of the species outwards were sometimes tedious, it had helped him on multiple occasions in battle. With a knowledge of where each creature's heart was, it was easier to target the points one needed. With a knowledge of lizardlike creatures, specifically, he had managed to do away with the giant lizard on short notice with the use of a judicious application of steel to the brain.

But how to convey that to the woman that was riding alongside him? Did he start speaking as if he was a scholar, full of terms that she might not have related to, or simply skip the subject entirely? Perhaps there was a middle ground in terms of diction.*

"Healing magic is a wonderful tool, though I cannot perform it. An absolute necessity for a large army." *He noted, head bobbing, expression still impassive. The need for a staff of healers was an old logistical problem in the deployment of armies, and Alynthi had a massive staff of them ready to reclaim as many troops as possible from the brink of death.* "As a matter of fact, however, his lectures came in handy recently on reptilian anatomy. A Kaladon in the Ghanimara desert recently took only a moment to dispose of. When you recall the placement of lateral skull gaps in similar lizards, it becomes a straight shot to the brain for, say, a steel rod one can fire through building up tension and letting it go."

*It was one of his prouder moments, he supposed, and perhaps he was a little too proud of it. It had been a huge beast, enough to threaten even Winrae, and he knew perhaps the little glow of pride was not only his own, but food for the hungry god that lurked inside his mind.*