Ghede wasn't sure he would have left even if he could. It wasn't every day someone like him got to watch someone like her in battle and live to tell the tale. It was a rare opportunity to study her approach, her methods. He'd never have admitted it aloud, but he hoped he'd never have cause to meet her on the battlefield for several more years, at the least. His black eyes flicked from the woman to the beast and back. He wasn't sure what emotion he might have worn if his face weren't so well-controlled; would he appear eager, or anxious? In truth he felt both, but not because he had any doubts that Croe would handle the situation - one lone woman, that's all they sent against her? Fools.

The battle didn't last long, but then he hadn't thought it would. He wasn't sure if more would come, or when they would come, but he dared to break his defensive stance long enough to pat at his sister's cheeks lightly. "Nettie, you need to wake up now."

He glanced up when Croe turned her attention back to the siblings, one hand still on his sister's face. He wasn't sure how to react when she neared, when she knelt on Nettie's other side. He wasn't sure how he felt when she began to heal, when the wounds on Nettie's body began to heal. Gratitude was not a mantle he wore easily, or comfortably. His father had believed in keeping your word, in repaying debts. And now he and Nettie owed this woman, this Croe, a great deal. He hesitated at her question, his head starting to shake.

"He's our brother," Nettie said, her voice dreamy and a little dull. Ghede's gaze snapped back to her, finding her eyes partially open. She was looking at Croe with something akin to hero worship, a look that made him a little uncomfortable. How much had she seen? "Half, that is. Through our mother."

"I don't know anything about that," Ghede frowned down at her. "Where did you get that from?"

"It's the truth," Nettie answered a bit defensively, the color drained from her cheeks, her gaze flicking as if remembering something terrible, something she didn't want to remember. She looked away from Ghede, almost guiltily, so she could look back to Croe. "Thank you for your help. We owe you a great deal..."

Ghede inclined his head in agreement, though the motion was noticeably reluctant.

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