Ephrim studies him for a moment as he turns away, considering what he knows of the boy and if he cares enough for him to glean his intentions or, of course, if he's angry enough with a child to seek him out again for vengeance. (He's too tired for it, but he'd muster the energy for it if he could. The heart is more than willing, et al.)

He isn't following Haein to shore necessarily, but he does need to get out of the water at some point, and he isn't so wounded that he'd rather it be after the boy left than before. So he wades, idly unpinning the sleeve on his right arm, letting Haein outpace him.

So he's up to knee level in the water, Haein's back already receding into the dark, when he begins to laugh. It's soft, not meant for Haein's ears at all, but it is there, should Haein happen to catch it.