[ It all just seems like a harsh deterrent to Ernesto, but a pretty effective one. He's certainly not stepped a toe out of line, though it hasn't been just to avoid a beating. They're playing their games, and he's playing his own, though admittedly he's got a pretty weak hand to play against them at the moment.

He gives Flamebringer a curious look at the dismissal, vaguely wondering if they'll actually be allowed enough time for healing to even happen. ]

I hate to tell you this, but if they put a sword in my hand, you're not the first person I'm pointing the blade at.

[ There's a strangely good-natured laugh that follows that vaguely threatening confession. ]

I can't imagine they'll be handing us weapons any time soon though.

[ Though he could always be wrong about that. Ernesto has had enough time to speculate about why they were dragged here for a whispered ritual, but each theory he comes up with seems a little more wild than the last. Driving himself crazy trying in vain to figure out what they plan to do with the lot of them at least keeps himself from going crazy over thinking about what may or may not have happened to Terra though. ]