Could Vervain but do it, he'd look comically between Tuo and Dain at the former's reassurance. A Shepherd? From whatever strange far-flung place Tuo had come from?? It beggars the imagination--but gods knew stranger things had happened. When you lived by Turn, stranger things could always happen.

"He's all right, then," Ver assesses, and armed with Tuo's reassurance--and a good thick coat of small-town shamelessness--he doesn't appear the least bit worried at the possibility he'd been overheard when he raises his voice to respond to Dain.

So bad at subterfuge.

"Tuo used to visit us out in 'Thwaite, when I was a kid. He got on with most everyone--even Gram, and Gram's our parson." See?? He has TWO clergy who think he's Just Fine. Two clergy and a Shepherd.