Was it wrong of him to feel such a sense of relief at the Prince's refusal? Emris muttered something under his breath about not making Bazel wait too long before he hurried back into the house. He stopped short when he noticed his sister. A sharpness in her steel gaze as she glanced from the now closed door to Emris. Neither of them spoke and Emris forced himself to move, avoiding her gaze as he took care not to wake the rest of the house while he went about gathering his things.<br/><br/>"You're leaving." There was resignation, a finality to her statement that caused Emris to flinch. She thought he was running, abandoning them. Like their father had done. That she could even think that he'd do that to them. He breathed out slowly, trying to ignore the niggle of guilt that lingered on the edge of his mind. He was doing this for them.<br/><br/>"I may have a job," he said still avoiding looking at his sister, "the castle is in need of a royal huntsman."<br/><br/>"That's a good thing." She said her voice wary as she glanced towards the door, again, "But why you, why now?"<br/><br/>"You remember the noble from before?" Emris looked at her then and when Willa nodded, he explained as much as he dared. Careful to leave out witches, what it was the prince wanted him to do. As Willa listened, her expression relaxed thought there was still a glint of reservation in her eyes but whatever it was she was thinking, she didn't voice it. Just nodded slowly, before she let out a soft sigh.<br/><br/>"What do I tell mother?"<br/><br/>"Exactly what I told you." He said stepping over the hound, to pull her into her hug, "I'll come back...you know that." So long as he didn't end up dead, but he left that part out.<br/><br/>Willa turned her face into his chest, her voice muffled as she said, "Promise me you will be careful."<br/><br/>He let a low thoughtful hum as he stepped back, his smile light. Lighter than he felt. "I'm always careful." Well, at least he tried to be. Crouching down he grabbed hold of the underside of Nia's muzzle, tilting the hound's head up until they were eye to eye, "Stay." It was only when the hound sat back on her haunches did he let her go, taking a step back and glancing towards his sister, "Tell Alec to look after her."<br/><br/>It was there on the tip of his tongue to tell her the truth, the whole truth. But what good would that do? It'd only leave her more worried than she already was. Grabbing his bow and arrows he left, before he said too much. "We can leave now." He said as he headed to the barn, figuring the prince would follow. It didn't take him long to saddle up the brown mare, who he then led out the barn. "I'm assuming you have a plan for introducing me to your family." He pulled himself up into the saddle, giving the horse an affectionate pat on the neck.