Koe could see the answer forming on Horon's face before the man answered, but he let Horon speak. It was important that she hear the truth - and Koe did believe that it was the truth - from the knight, and not from Koe. Because it was going to be extremely important for her to believe that Horon did not intend any harm to them. He was telling this story to explain his powers, but Koe was already impatient for the rest. What was the creature they'd been fighting? Not another dragon, surely. He would have known. But perhaps some kind of magus? A vampire, even? The truth was going to be far more interesting than anything Horon was saying right now. At least, in this instant, it was.
"I did not have the means or the desire, then or now, to take a dragon's life when it was not offered to me," Horon's dry rasp betrayed his emotion even if his face did not. "Since our order was founded it has been thus for every knight who prayed at the temple. I did what my oath required of me. And afterward, I wept. My life exists because I honor that oath - and my life, the magic I wield, is testament to the dragons who believed I was an honorable creature. Deserving of a tenth of the power a dragon might wield. Please understand, Lady Dragon. I have no designs on you. If you commanded my life's blood on the floor of this inn, I would give it, and then I would meet Bahamut in the heavens. I would have no regrets."
"None?" Koe asked with a slight tilt to his head.
Horon's glance found him, and it was bitter, but the ugliness of the glance was not meant for Koe himself. "You see much, sir."
"Call me Koe. She is... Vedette. We gave true names."
"Of course," and Horon's great whiskers flared as he exhaled. "I will try. Koe."
"I believe what you tell us regarding your order," Koe went on. "I have never heard of such a thing, but I will not pretend to be in tune with the pulse of the entire world. I play music, and occasionally I find myself in situations such as this one. Which brings me to the question which is truly important. What is it that we were fighting? How did it evade my magic so easily, and yours as well?"
Horon's face was hesitation given form. Koe wondered if Vedette would say anything to jar the truth from him.