His grip tightens - almost painfully, before he gets a hold of himself - and his expression turns raw and vulnerable. For a long moment he's overcome with a desperate, desolate yearning that hasn't consumed him since Evandrin faded to nothing in his arms.

Feeling Neal weaken beneath his hands is enough to jar him into the present, and he kneels down with him just as he hears that voice. It's a familiar one, but that doesn't put him at ease; Neal will see the flash of annoyance and then a stern mask of professionalism as he looks up.

"Hello, Lieutenant." Findras's second in command is a powerful eldritch knight, but not a particularly kind or delicate one. Zerxus isn't exactly popular with the Spellguard - a terrestrial paladin being promoted over their heads never would be - but most of them are at least subtle about it. "I didn't realise you were doing night patrols."