"I can't believe you're going to break his heart like this."

He was going to break into full blown, breath stealing laughter in a moment. But for now he calls on all his training, years of discipline and sacrifice, to keep his face almost straight, lips twitching uncontrollably back up into a grin.

Assan, for his part, looked back and forth between the two of them like he was following the conversation, waiting for someone, anyone, to help this poor, starving griffon.