Aeotha felt her mouth go dry and could not think of anything to say to him. She honestly thought that there was no other way, but if his answer was any indication of the general mood of their party, well, she was more afraid that should she suddenly stay down here they'd all come rushing back to drag her up the rock face against her will. She thought priestesses were stubborn, but apparently she hadn't been on enough missions with knights. She felt uneasy, both about the story and with the way he was looking at her, so her gaze dropped from him and slid back to the soldier's who were trying to climb as fast as they could. Eibhear was still barking at them but it seemed like he was very far away.
"If we don't get back to the King." She finally said, while looking up towards where theyd be climbing to. "Talmus will." It was what she feared the most, right then. Not death. Not the Drow chasing them. The happiest of them, from the beginning was now a traitor. Now he had a good chance of ruining their home. Killing their King. Destroying the hopes and dreams of many just by returning before them. "He asked me if I found this hard to believe, that someone would war with Astarii." Aeotha looked back then, her eyes held all the sadness she'd been feeling, and not so much of the fear.
"Of course I find it surprising. Of course, I find it alarming. Of course, it's unbelievable. If someone had told me Talmus would turn against us I would have laughed, I would have thought they were joking. Maybe I think too kindly of everyone, and maybe the wool has been pulled over my eyes. But. Now that I know, now that we all know." He had said to reassure the men. He was one of them, wasn't he?
"We can't give up. We can't let them win, or allow Talmus to return. He will stay in the underdark." She looked back. "Because we're going to make it, whether or not you allow me to watch our backs."
It reminded her, vividly, of her older brother. Her own words reminded her of Glari Easaahae. What a proud archer. He'd always thought that no matter what came for them that he would be there to protect them. Glari was not here, in fact she was sure he was off in the company of their father somewhere. Defending Iasa, or perhaps back at home enjoying a dinner her mother had prepared for them upon their return. How long had it been since she'd seen Kusanar? She felt as if she'd never see it again, and that all hope was utterly lost if she allowed the darkness to blind her gaze. But when she thought of a prayer, or simply of the night sky she felt.. hope. A distant thing yes, but hope nonetheless.