Kian's face lights up at seeing the dog. Ashton's goes very still. There's a few moments of silence before she nods slightly as if she's come to a decision, then she takes a breath.

"You'll want to be careful with that. We have a few mages who work as chandlers; I hear some scents can damage a dog's sense of smell." Her voice is pitched as if to carry past their immediate group, but she doesn't look around. Kian's expression becomes dismayed as he looks at her before he's schooling it to stillness.

"Keep your dog with our group," he suggests. "He, she, nothing will hurt them in the house."

Ashton doesn't comment on that, simply turning her back to them and leading the way.