A trait learned from his father - not because [i]he [/i]was good at it, but because he said so little, yet expected so much. Listen to what people tell you, because it's always more than what they're saying. 'Leave me alone' too often means 'I want to cry on your shoulder but I dare not make myself more of a burden than I already am'. 

"I think," Tristan is achingly slow to say it, keenly aware of how many wrong ways to say this there are, "We owe her more help than she earns - not 'as much as', but more. Kindness begets kindness, and if we scorn her attempts to make good, then why should she try? Most of all..." Tristan looks back towards the banquet hall. "I think it's important we prove to Constance she wasn't wrong to see something in her. Even if Sir Coilleghille is to fail the tasks ahead, Constance deserves that she be failed right this time." 

Tristan stretches his arms behind his back, touches his fingers together across his shoulderblades, and thinks some more. He wishes he was there, now, to see what was going on. On the other hand, he's very happy he isn't. "I'm in the dark about so much of this, though. How much do you know about what has to happen?"