"If I was any slower, wouldn't you threaten to fight me in the garden again?" But there's some amusement in his tone as he recalls that time of their life, even as there's only the briefest of hesitation at seeing that wing out. But it's fine, he reminds himself, even as his Herdier trots along at his feet.

Carefully, he moves around the bench so that he doesn't accidentally disturb any of the applins. "They're rather cozy for so late in the day," he muses.