History Aurin enjoyed, it was Theology that bored him to tears. Military history was usually a good read and one of the major battles of the last ten years was one of the things he had paid attention too. It didn’t make him any more happy though to realize that it would be Ostagar. The beginning of the last one, possibly the beginning of this Blight as well. He frowned with some concern before simply nodding once towards the woman. He couldn’t change where she was being sent, no matter how much he wanted to protect her. “Well,” he finally replied with his face holding a smile that his tone didn’t reflect. “That’s what you do now isn’t it? Go to places crawling with Darkspawn I mean. We’ll both find out, and I’m sure they’ll send me somewhere just as fun an exciting. The Deep Roads maybe.” He relaxed further when she didn’t pull back from any further contact.
“She’s a good person. One of the few I’ve met.” he agreed with her. “Don’t you dare tell her I said that though. I can’t have her thinking I actually miss her when she’s gone or else she might never leave.” He smiled once more towards Beth as he spoke. “And her company always does him some good, though he’s just as reluctant to admit it than I am. Maybe you can help her write her next book. As for Alderic, I’m glad that he’ll be there for you. I’d praise him too you as well, but you know what he’s like already. He’ll bring you all back safe. One of the ones I’d trust to do so at least.” His own thoughts followed along with hers, he hoped his old friend would be part of the leadership of the group.
The admission caused a warm smile to form on Aurin’s face as he watched Beth. It wasn’t his normal grin, but a quiet smile. Warm but full of regret as well. It was a tender look that no more than a handful of people had ever seen sit on the Templar’s normal jovial features. He had years to slowly accept the fact that it was a look that he wouldn’t have directed back at him. “I wish that too,” he replied in a quiet voice before he continued with a wry look replacing it. Humor was always an easy thing to fall back on. “Yes someone does, and that someone seems to be me. I make a terrible guard dog you know. Not a morning person, deep sleeper, I get distracted easily. No wonder they usually send me out hunting than anything else right. No they wouldn’t lump everything in one group…and Ashya…Maker. Its going to be herding cats with that one. Cats that are in a bad mood, and possibly on fire.” He paused for a moment. “And before you ask if I am stuck with her I’ll do my best to keep her out of trouble. She does have room to grow, and I don’t think she’s that bad a sort.” Thinking of younger mages though brought a question to his mind. “…you haven’t actually seen Desiderio around the Keep have you? He was the only person I didn’t find when I was looking for you. Well. Besides you of course.” He would have sent Kendric looking for the young mage, but the younger Templar wasn’t in any state to do that.
He made a sour face as she continued to tease him, though not a resentful one. He was more amused by that. “Yes, glorified babysitter and when we are on the road I can’t just lock them in their rooms.” He could have blushed if he knew the mage actually thought him to be a good man. He didn’t believe he was even moderately good at the best of times. “…and I’m sure there will be enough to keep me entertained at least.” He added with a chuckle. The laughter was easy to produce, even when he knew that this might be the last time he saw her for some time. He nodded towards the package on the table then and smiled once more. “Well, since its not going to be a surprise anymore. You might as well take it with you, open it now or later. Your choice.”