When Altima stated she did not wish to return to her homeland, though Valen's statement was less of a suggestion than an order, they simply had to go and request aid, or at least warn them to fortify their borders and strengthen their walls. "Altima, we have no choice in that matter, we need to at least warn your people of an impending assault, Kali's brother is spreading his rule quickly, he will likely focus on those resisting him first, but eventually, if we do not stop him and his forces nothing in our world will be free from his rule. In a sense, Valen was glad Vayne wasn't as bad of a tyrant as he could be. For some time Valen had actually respected Vayne, his methods weren't something he or Kali approved of, but he took the lawless nation of Lassadar and destroyed all forms of crime there. Valen had heard stories of how horrible Lassadar was before Vayne arrive, though that was before his time... murder, rape, looting, poverty, death, all on a daily basis, Vayne took all of those things away, which at the time seemed truly noble. Valen hadn't seen Vayne's true goals however until Gandrian murdered the beloved Kali.<br/><br/>Valen took another puff from his pipe, stifling another cough, before looking to Brand, listening to his words intently. He knew about brand's distaste for his habits, though he had no idea how deeply he resented it. The pipe and the tobacco inside eased Valen's pain, it helped him relax, calmed his nerves, and helped him think, or at least those were the excuses he used to justify his habit. Valen also knew Altima didn't care for it, or he would have asked her to light it for him.<br/><br/>"We can handle Cam on our own, though I would hope we would be able to get the general to travel with us, she is a woman of great skill indeed, I have fought by her side before. If we find what we seek here I will speak with the elven council, attempt to get them to ride with us against the king" Okay, the elves didn't often 'ride' but Valen had the word worked deeply into his brain. Valen's eyes turned to Brand as the younger male walked towards him in the water.<br/><br/>Valen's eyes softened when Brand muttered that he was scared. The admittance kind of put him into older brother mode again. Fear was natural, and though Altima was quick to assure him that he had nothing to be afraid of, she was rather incorrect in that, there was much to be afraid of, though fear was not a weakness, something to shun, it was something to overcome.<br/><br/>Valen chuckled briefly "It is okay to be scared, brand." Valen started, his voice again returning to it's soothing state "We are all scared, even I am scared, but we have to face our fears if we are to  be victorious. Being afraid is natural." Valen seemed to forget about his pipe for a moment as he moved a little closer to Brand and Altima, who was now squished up against him. The squishing made Valen chuckle, though he made combat by gently resting a hand on Brand 's shoulder.