"Oh. Right," the elderly man nods, shifting slightly so that his bones creaked. "Never can tell with you newcomers.." he mutters half under his breath, shaking his head.

"Well, the first time we tried it, it was that ball of burning brush, and it just swallowed it all up like it was nothing. Tried another and the dang thing started growing like crazy out to where the catapult was. Nearly got that poor Oswin fellow in the process. Horrible mess that was," he sighed, shaking his head.