As their party cleared a hill, and the light of the campfire came into view in the distance, Alderic was pulled out of his thoughts again. Like Aurin, he'd long since removed his helmet -- seldom practical outside narrow stone hallways -- and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the solitary camp. It was rare to see such a thing in the Bannorn.
Of course, he wasn't surprised in the least when the more enthusiastic Templar volunteered to investigate without a moment's hesitation. Nevermind that it might not be a good idea, that it might be a trap, that maybe he ought not to go entirely on his own. That was Aurin, after all. Alderic watched the man ride off, with a longsuffering sigh.
At Bethen's question, Alderic turned in his saddle to look across the group to the Templar she'd questioned -- an older Templar that, he supposed, was the authority among them, being the oldest. Ser Maddock was a great beast of a man with an ugly scar running along his jaw and down the side of his neck that had, truth be told, always vaguely concerned him. He was temperamental, and wasn't always all... there. He was a skilled Templar, though, and Alderic knew the man had been sent for the purposes of intimidation.
The Templar frowned down at Bethen disapprovingly for a few highly awkward moments, before looking up at where Aurin was quickly disappearing.
"I suppose we should," Maddock grunted, and kicked his horse into a trot, rounding in front of the group as though to make it perfectly clear no one was going anywhere without going past him. "We wait here, until Aurin has returned."
"Are you sure it's a good idea? Letting Aurin go alone, I mean," came a voice from the back, and Alderic looked over his shoulder at the younger Templar who'd been bringing up the rear. A new recruit who'd only taken his vows several months before, Ser Trevan wasn't incorrect, but hadn't quite learned yet that not every concern needed to be voiced. Least of all to Maddock. Alderic could already feel the elder Templar fuming up, and decided to step in quickly, lest an argument break out.
"I'll go make sure the fool doesn't burn half the forest down," he sighed, and hastily urged his horse on towards the campsite once he'd received a nod of approval from Maddock. It wasn't an inaccurate offer, of course. He could just imagine the other Templar fetching out the flint and tinder, lest there be Blood Mages lying in wait near the solitary tent. Never a dull moment.