[@PaulHaynek][@VitaVitaAR]

He chuckled in kind with Sir Jarde, before giving a small nod to the blonde jokester knight.

[color=goldenrod]"I'll see to it, then."[/color]

He was fairly certain he'd noticed at least one or two tied up near a fence, but if push came to shove— his own was well-behaved enough to manage a different weight on his back without trouble. Walking alongside the caravan wasn't something Gerard would mind overmuch— a long march in armor was, in a way, good for the soul. Nice and humbling. Good time for introspection.

Though he would certainly miss the wind through his coal-colored hair. So sticky...

He returned his gaze to Captain Fanilly, meeting her eyes for a moment before he spoke. They seemed... searching. As though attempting to puzzle out an answer that continued to elude her.

So that was what it looked like from the outside, then?

Probably not. Her responsibilities were a wholly different beast from his idly daydreaming. 

[color=goldenrod]"As for our flank, we largely fell upon them like wolves, Knight-Captain."[/color] he began his report with an affirming nod, in spite of his mouth having settled into a much more stoic line than moments prior. [color=goldenrod]"No real unexpected resistance, and nothing I believed any one of our number couldn't handle. I'll have to verify it wholly now that the battle is done, but before I..."[/color]

It fell further, into a bit of a frown. He'd lost sight of his position quickly. Worth acknowledging, but he didn't need to put distrust of her own choices in the girl's head. Not now,in the direct aftermath. Emotions ran high, everyone questioned whether their decisions could have been made better... it would be ill-advised to press the issue before she had a chance to really process everything. He had seen companies of fighting men fall apart many times when their leaders hadn't the necessary faith in their judgement.

The Iron Roses would not be one such.

[color=goldenrod]"...[i]rushed to be the tip of the spear[/i], as it were— we suffered no casualties to our number. None that I could see. If that's all you need from me right now, ma'am..."[/color] he started forward, stepping one leg up onto the ashen log before looking back towards her. [color=goldenrod]"I'll get a certain number back to you as soon as I can. Additionally, we [i]did[/i] find one of their prisoners— I'll check on her as well."[/color]