The confidence that Galt displayed about their afternoon ride made Silke raise a brow. "Oh, I didn't realize you had become a master horseman since we last met. I'll keep that in mind when planning our outing," she replied with amusement. A mischievous smile alighted on her lips that offered no hint as to whether she was teasing or seriously plotting to test his limits. Truthfully she was undecided. The Kasper lands had more difficult trails that the family took when they were feeling adventurous. While the forests at the edges of the property were preserved partially for privacy, and because it would be costly to domesticate them, there was a beauty in the wilderness that everyone enjoyed. Only their finest, and most spirited, steeds were able to be taken on these barely-marked paths. If she wished to show the count the best sights of her home, he'd be challenged more than he had been with the older, calmer mare he had after the feast.

"Well, since I am outnumbered on the matter of my exercise," she said with a sigh and unladylike roll of the eyes, "I have no choice. Franz, may I rely on you to pass word to the stables?" Silke inquired, smiling gently as he nodded his head in acknowledgment. It was easy to see why she was reluctant to leave her desk. With so many administrative matters awaiting her review, approval, and response, there was no shortage of work. Noblemen would delegate tasks they couldn't complete, or prioritize time for themselves, but over the years the youngest Kasper's identity had been nothing more the pillar that supported her family. She lived and breathed her duties, be they social or tangible.

Vincent watched the exchange quietly. He was terrible at reading a room, and even worse at making small talk, but he knew his sister. Using Galt to get her to leave the office irritated him, the little tour could easily become [i]romantic[/i], and he didn't entirely trust any man who wasn't dumb, deaf, and blind around Silke. Despite his reservations, and the former thief's wandering gaze, there wasn't anything objectionable to the man... yet. He was serving a purpose, not an idiot, and wasn't arrogant about his fighting capabilities. This was someone he could work with.

"Let's go before she finds a way to talk herself out her commitment," he mumbled to Galt.

"What's that, elder brother? You think [i]I'm[/i] the one trying to escape commitments? I can always reply to these invitations with promises of your attendance instead," she threatened, waving one folded piece of parchment for effect. Franz kept his composure as Vincent retreated out of the room, roughly tugging Galt along, all too afraid that Silke would carry through on her threat. The tips of his ears burned in a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.

Once they were down the hall a bit (and Silke's laughter that immediately followed their departure had faded away), Vincent slowed his gait. Clearing his throat to regain his composure, and squaring his shoulders, he soldiered on verbally. He had never been an eloquent man for most topics. When it came to athletic endeavors, however, he was well-spoken and confidant, without being overbearing. There wasn't as much ambiguity to weapons training as there was to dealing with cunning courtiers and coy maidens. "There isn't anything shameful about handling a crossbow," he said pragmatically, "but it has its flaws. Bows come in a variety of draw weights to capitalize on the strength of the wielder. In addition they are quieter, which is why they are used for hunting, and have a greater range."

Vincent shrugged to himself as he led Galt down the corridor and towards a different set of stairs that were in the rear of the building. "Pompous, lazy fools call them a coward's weapon, but in a real war, the enemy won't care about your sense of honor. I'll teach you any weapon you want to learn," he said, genuinely passionate about empowering others to defend themselves.