"That earthworks ain't fighting," Thrust points out, even if it's not quite as roughly as usual, for him. "But all right."

Love and logical thought do not always get along-- Thrust knows this. He also knows it sucks to miss people you're not likely to see again.

So clearly it's time for a change of subject.

"How rare's this earthbending stuff? I mean, I get you're real good at it, but can anybody do it, where you're from?"