[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben,[/color] [color=#63ccff]Lene,[/color] and [color=#a34686]Anders[/color][/h2][/center]
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Lene glanced back at Anders once, before following along beside Izayoi at his nod. She was left (rather understandably) without much to say in response, though luckily for her and Izayoi both the samurai didn't give her a chance to respond before returning to the rest of the Kirins. Esben had stepped aside to chat with Anders while she was pulled along, so she couldn't follow it with more browbeating her older brother to take care of himself and try to communicate with his family more often. That left another moment before Éliane stepped up, pledging on her honor that she would [i]also[/i] keep watch over the two young men that she was worried about.

That, at least, provided her a chance to return to form. [color=#63ccff]"Oh, is that so?"[/color] she murmured, with raised eyebrow and a small smile. She'd been left wondering just [i]where[/i] the dame commander's story about her brother was going, but after catching how often Esben was glancing back at her, and now hearing this spontaneous pledge to see to his and her just-about-betrothed's health...

[color=#63ccff]"Well, I'll just have to entrust you with their safe keeping, then. I'm sure my brother will appreciate having you at his side, hmm?"[/color]

She glanced at Esben, after replying [i]just[/i] quiet enough she was certain he wouldn't hear. He caught her glance, looked back with a raised eyebrow, and she waved him off. [color=#63ccff]"Don't be too good to him, though, I'm sure he deserves more than I've been able to catch up with just now!"[/color]

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There was something dangerous about having those two together, Esben could feel it in his bones. Especially talking about both himself and Rudolf. [color=#b3ccff]"Don't take too long now,"[/color] he called out to Lene and Éliane, before turning to Anders himself. [color=#b3ccff]"Herr Anders, a request for you, if you would."[/color]

[color=#a34686]"Young master?"[/color]

[color=#b3ccff]"You remember old professor Villamont, don't you? Do you remember any of his students—say, any that were a head or more taller than me?"[/color] Anders frowned at him. He didn't expect an immediate response, anyways; his family's loyal retainer—and sometimes-spy, sometimes-Garden instructor—wasn't the sort to answer off the cuff if he wasn't entirely certain [i]of[/i] his answer. [color=#b3ccff]"Well, if you do remember anything, make sure to write it down, let us know when we see you again. I'll likely ask after it if I can get ahold of any of the others at the Garden, too."[/color]

[color=#a34686]"As you wish,"[/color] Anders replied, with a sidelong glance towards Izayoi. No surprise there; traveling with a samurai, asking after an older fencing instructor that liked to use Ospreyan blades, it was inevitable he would start trying to piece together what Esben might actually be getting at.

He patted his old tutor on the arm, walking back to the rest of the group. It was nearly time that they should all be off.