No answer unless, of course, you counted pitter-pat of little feet behind him, rapidly turning into the thundering approach of galumping idiots. A phenomenon that was explained when Gabe came pelting out of the darkness, running down the hill from the castle. He squawked when he saw Ryland, dodged wildly to one side (while clapping a hand to his head to keep hold of something bulky and dark) and ended up finally splashing to a halt knee-deep in the lake, where he avoided falling over purely by virtue of some serious arm-waving. It was an action made even more strange by the extra length of metal in one hand, reflecting moonlight and distant candlelight.
"Shit," he declared, when everything was more or less under control. "I'd thought I'd stay dry a little longer than that."