[color=silver]"Just wait until I get my hands on a proper flute,"[/color] Aust said with a smile in reply to Alan's compliment. While he was familiar with many instruments and had a deep, smooth singing voice, the woodwind was what he preferred. Unfortunately, he had been forced to abandon his silver flute some time ago in a hasty escape from an ambush along his way back to the Ytharien. Since then, he had been unable to find a suitable replacement.

While Annara defended the quality of her performance, Aust simply smiled and went on sharpening the long dagger that he usually wore at the small of his back with the hilt within reach of his right hand. His longbow, already strung, rested against the log he was using as a seat. He had already changed back into his usual clothing and donned his armor and covered it with his cloak. The feathered ends of a handful of arrows were visible over his right shoulder and the strap of the quiver cinched his cloak tight to his upper body.

For his part, Aust thought Annara sung and acted rather well. The dress [i]was[/i] small for her after all, not that the roguish swordsman he portrayed onstage would find anything to complain about there. When she showed off her form in the circle of firelight, he was forced to admit to himself that he shared that sentiment on some level. After so much time in Areta he often found himself more comfortable in the company of humans than with his own kind.

When the human woman spilled some of her wine and closed her eyes in prayer, Aust glanced her way and raised an eyebrow. It was a custom he knew of, and mostly he was curious as to why she seemed to prefer not to do it openly. Lost in thought, he only managed to turn his eyes away when she started to open hers. If she did not want others knowing or speaking of it, it was no business of his. Her compliment, combined with his thoughts over the past several moments, brought a mild tint to the elf's usually stoic features. Hoping that the ruddy glow of the fire would hide the color, he finally spoke up about the task ahead of them.

[color=silver]"Let us just hope they have the sense to leave quickly and peaceably. Nobody has to die tonight, but neither should we hesitate to defend ourselves. Remember, a broken rib or slashed arm is likely to get our message across and send any but the bravest running if they confront us."[/color] It had taken a little practice, but Aust had become used to fighting non-lethally when the situation demanded it. It was unfortunate and understandable that people would defend their homes, but it did not mean they had to pay for it with their lives.