Is that because you are used to pain, so it is comforting with its familiarity? [He made a noise, and he expected they had very different views of drowning.] There is peace in water, but there is violence too. A rage and a quiet working in opposites.

[The little temptation of the moment was broken with Richard moved away, and he stood back to his full height as he gave himself a few second to reorganize his thoughts. He ignored the brief current of disappointment; there would be other opportunities, of course. He would see what Richard was capable of eventually.]

Yes, trust and loyalty require sacrifice and time. [He turned from facing the younger man to start back on the path. Darkness never frightened him; he was the monster out here more often than not.] Oh I have no issue traveling in the dark; after all, I brought no such light source for cave travel. I can manage perfectly well without. [He had grown up in the mines of the Undercity, but he could understand how most would not feel as comfortable as he with that.

So he walked, passing by trees, rocks and underbrush as the evening deepened with each step. He tucked his hands into his coat pockets and walked the path he had many times before. The mouth of the cave emerged as the tree line fell away, and he simply kept walking to the dark maw of stone.]