In reply, Marcoulf raises a single hand and continues on his way, the mare slowing her pace to something less likely to spook the herd and quick enough to head them off so that between him and Athessa they might bend the trajectory of the meandering animals back in the correct direction.

(If that happens to be back toward Edgard, it is luck and not consideration.)

Outside of easy earshot of the other Orlesian, he says to her, "I'm impressed he survived soldiering."