The purr that had become subdued with his concern picked back up again as Thrass took his hand, becoming a content rumble deep in his chest. His affection for the Chiss was likely clear just from that, and though perhaps someone else might have found it a humiliating display when in the presence of one's lover's family, Azrael saw no sense in hiding how he felt about Thrass. He was pretty sure that how he felt was already clear, anyway, from the way he'd come rushing to defend him.

His gaze shifted from Thrass and to Thrawn and Eli, interested in their conversation. The way they spoke to each other made it clear that the two were close. The way Eli apparently picked up on Thrawn's train of thought and jumped off of it to come to a conclusion was fascinating. The detail of the weapons was one he would definitely have missed himself, certainly.

"They weren't locals, I can tell you that much. And while I could sense plenty of aggression, I could also sense greed beneath it all."

For the aggressors to hesitate to run even when obviously outclassed..., "Someone must have promised to pay them a great deal of money to try to kill you."

From what Thrass had told him, and the attitudes of modern Imperials toward anything they saw as an other, Azrael supposed it wasn't strange that Thrawn had earned himself a few resentments.

"I don't think we've seen the last of them, either. Should they make another attempt while you're with me, I can pry some answers from their minds, if you'd like."

Not that it would be nearly so violent as that perhaps sounded. A simple mind trick should be more than enough to get any answer they might need.