THE LAND IS ALIVE, SO BELIEVE

To all of my children in who lives flow abundant
To all of my children to who death hath passed his judgement
The soul years for honor, and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after

"So I'd say that does it. What do you think?" The mature stylist said softly, as she stood back to admire her work. Green eyes of embers blinked curiously, pupils large and round gazed into the glass handled, cupped by skinny fingers. The girl's features were reflected almost perfectly in the large hand mirror's image. Long flaxen locks woven into braids, their length pooling along her neck and draping over her shoulders. It was the first time that Myra had been allowed to chose her own hair style, and something that the queen had put much thought into before making a decision over. Her daughter's hair was nothing if not unique, blonde hair so pale that it appeared silvery during the winters and white at nights.

Whether for her mother's or father's genes, the girl's hair had grown very long, and it was a lot to keep up with. The princess was a spry teenager and a little tomboyish. She somehow often found a way to ruin her dresses and tangle her hair. It was for the best, her mother thought. Beatrice to her credit for looking after the girl did a great job, but she simply couldn't keep up with Myra all the time. By allowing her to pick her own hair style, they hoped that she would take pride in it and take better care of it.

The young princess stared off into the mirror, her gaze fixated and entranced by her own reflection. She was fascinated by the difference in her appearance, and it almost seemed as if she was staring at another person. Her eyes focused more into the glass, fingers gently combing through the silk like blonde strains, only to pull free fast and without effort. She felt different as well, the warmness on the back of her neck was gone, and she could feel air gently touching her skin. "I like it.." Myra finally replied, as she moved to toss her hair about, and giggling at the way her braids swung like ropes from a tree.

"She really is a lovely girl." Elisaria said softly as she stood beside Kerr. The woman gently laid a hand on his shoulder and offered him a kind smile. " Our little princess is growing up so fast and into such a lovely woman. I remember the first time her governess first brought her in, I remember thinking that her beauty was nothing less than ethereal." Myra hadn't listened to most of their conversation, the girl was smitten with her new hair style and continued to shake her head about and admire her twin braids. She did however pick up on one word. Which caught her attention long enough to pose a question. "Ethereal? Do you really think so?" she asked curiously.

The woman chuckled, then elbowed Kerr to agree. "You most certainly do my princess." The stylist held back a chuckle and moved to Myra's side so that she could see her face. Satisfied, Myra placed the mirror back onto the table in front of her. The slip of a girl spun around, the fullness of her dress rippling in waves all the way down to her shoes. "What say you sir knight? I am not the embodiment of womanliness?"

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If one were to be a stranger, and look down upon the scene without context, one would be forgiven for presuming Kerr wanted to be just about anywhere else in the world. He was standing, at least, but with his back to his charge. Eyes idly taking in a tapestry hung on the wall by the entryway while he ate grapes one at a time from the handful he'd stolen without guile from a table in the middle of the room. He had his twin swords on his hip, the two matching daggers sheathed laterally on his belt at the small of his back, and partial armor on in the form of sturdy leathers, bracers, and greaves. Very informal, no ceremonial armor, no hawk-sharp eyes intently studying the shadows of every corner, no rigid stance of readiness. For all the world it looked like he didn't take his job seriously... but then one would be wrong. The grapes could be thrown or dropped, his swords were razor sharp and his draw well practiced, his armor carefully forged to stop swords of even the most sturdy forging.

Indeed, the tapestry was, as mentioned, right next to the entrance where he could intercept any interloper with his primary sword without even taking a step and well within his field of view. He just didn't care about anybody's damned hair. When the hair dresser drew his attention with a hand he gave her a look that hoped she was making a pass at him only to look mildly put upon when it turned out to be yet more conversation about the living center of her own universe, Princess Myra. "So I've heard and on many an occasion." He said in his enigmatic way, neither bitter enough to make him seem grouchy nor critical enough to sound quite like a disagreement. No opinion in the shape of an acknowledgement. Kerr Blackwood was a Knight Protector, whether she was attractive or not in his personal regard was completely irrelevant to his job. Possibly even hostile to it. He turned and stepped away, bringing her within his field of vision without losing sight of the doorway.

She gave a little twirl to bring herself to facing him and asked him directly, presenting a social problem in so doing. Best defense, plead ignorance. "As a lowly, common example of a man I fear I lack the frame of reference to pass such a judgment, m'lady." He figured it was the wrong thing to say but he also figured whatever he said would be wrong anyway so he simply chose the option that would make any ensuing argument about him and not her. In other words, he was teasing her.

THE LAND IS ALIVE, SO BELIEVE

To all of my children in who lives flow abundant
To all of my children to who death hath passed his judgement
The soul years for honor, and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after

"Oh but you do. Sir Knight? Does man not worship the gods? Does he not praise their name and beg for their blessing? Does he not worship the rising sun, and write poetry of her beauty and of her fair lands? Surely if they can do that then you, so common as you are, can say if you like a dress." Elisaria held back a chuckle, and turned to her combs and brushes. Myra smiled and as she spun around again, she started to sing. "But if I know you, I know what you'll do, lalala." She hummed as she glided away to look into the mirror again.

Elisaria smiled, lifting a hand to gently touch her dark hair. "I remember the days when my hair was full and grew back quickly. But even then, it wasn't as rich or long as yours m'lady." The stylist retrieved a broom from her closet and started to sweep up the hair on the floor around the chair where Myra had sat. "I think this is some of my finest work. Why I'm sure that you'll have the boys all in a fuss when they see your new look." Myra gave herself a final look over in the mirror before laying it back on the table again. "You sound like my mother. I'm barely eighteen and she'd already trying to marry me off. I have no interest in suitors. I want..."

Myra walked towards the door and looked out into the world. Her gaze stretched out across the streets, falling upon the different houses, and people moving about them. The sun shined brightly that day, and the cool winds brushed against her skin and toyed with her hair. The princess looked around when a tapping sound caught her attention. Further along the street was a young boy turning cartwheels on the opposite side of the street. The boy continued on, flipping about, one cartwheel after another. It was a game of sorts, and he looked to explore how many he could do in succession before falling.

"I want my freedom. To do as I please and go out into the world. I want adventure, and I'll find it. I'm going to do something amazing, something grand. After I'm done, maybe then I will settle down and marry." She half turned towards Kerr. "I'm ready to leave, but there is one other place I must visit before we return." Then she snapped her finger twice and walked out. "Come along now. Don't dottle."

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"This man doesn't," Kerr's faith was an odd subject for most. His deity, such as she was, required but one thing in the form of worship. Unending competition. But that was accomplished just by going through the necessary struggles to live. But in return for being so undemanding you basically couldn't expect her to be helpful either, at least not beyond whatever physical form she gave you at birth. He'd gotten a pretty good one so he was content to live, make the best of it, and invite her to his celebrations of her world should she be inclined to take the time. "It covers the subject matter, it's made of fine cloth, but it looks hard to run in." He complimented the dress in as unpoetic a manner as he could manage. Language was invented for one reason, and one reason only: To woo women, and she wasn't for him so he tended to take the laconic position when dealing with his ward.

He turned his head when she glided away, looking over the hairdresser in an obvious way and giving her a wink that said more than words before turning back to his examination of the tapastry. "Nothing wrong with your hair, Madam." Though it was more to cover the long pained look that he was sure crossed his face when the woman spoke of the young men that courted the princess. They'd always been around, though it had been pointless enough for them to do so when they were all younger. More than one had a pointed dislike of him from her middle teens when hormones began to run strong and he'd been forced to interject and even admonish a little lordling that had never had occasion to hear no before, least of all from a man who'd been common until his knighting. He'd bruised one from the south, for taking her ladyship by the arm too roughly, and that had led to quite the scandal after the boy's uncle had challenged him to a duel... duels were supposed to solve things but they never did.

He'd heard the speech that was to follow before, no interest in suitors. Just freedom. The girl had no idea what she was asking for. He turned to face her when she was done and declared she was ready to leave. He merely inclined his head and looked to the dresser when the girl was out the door. "She's the most free person in the room, doesn't even know it." He then turned and followed her out. "Don't be in such a hurry, it makes you miss details." Like the ones that made it possible to spot an ambush. Those were his problem but if he was rushing about trying to keep up with her it was just the same as him rushing about on his own. Her parents were content with his efforts to protect her, even when they ruffled the feathers of others. The problem was, he'd ruffled so many feathers by this point in her life he was certain that her getting married was the end of his career as Knight-Protector in this realm. He'd saved up quite a bit of coin against that eventuality, of course, but it was still a pain.

As soon as his position was taken he was going to be fighting an uphill battle. No point in doing that on an empty stomach.

THE LAND IS ALIVE, SO BELIEVE

To all of my children in who lives flow abundant
To all of my children to who death hath passed his judgement
The soul years for honor, and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after

Myra looked at him and her expression was one of unimpressiveness. He refused to even humor her and seemed almost bothered to say a kind thing about her. The mercenary seemed bereft of any fondness for the princess, although the stylist seemed to have caught his eye. "The subject matter as you put it should always be covered by only the finest cloth. It's not as hard to move in as you think. Not for someone who knows how to move in a dress. I suppose it matters not, for I have no reason to run." She was guarded day and night and spent more time in the castle than anywhere else. The queen and her governess had berated her many times when she was younger about running around and by now, the lessons had mostly sunk in. Kerr had also been enlisted to admonish her boyish behavior early on leaving the princess little room to tray.

"Why thank you sir knight. Tis a kind thing to hear even at my age." The stylist smiled and touched her hair with her hand. People asked why she didn't style her hair in a more flattering way given her skill and trade. The truth was she didn't see the need anymore. Widowed at a younger age, she never remarried and was now set in her ways that would surely turn the nose of any man interested. Instead she used her money to take care of her business and support her child. However, she didn't appear slovenly, appearance was important in her profession after all. Elisaria chuckled at Kerr's comment about the princess and waved to them as they left.

Outside Myra took in the air, a deep breath that arched her back just so that the casual on-looker might notice that the youth had blossomed since the last summer. "Miss details? Is that not your job? The keen eyes of a warrior vetted? His skills and every step honed like a predator ready to strike?" Off she went further along the path. There was a bounce in her step, a lively energy in her body that boasted of excitement. The princess went into another building that was covered from the inside in even more tapestries. Inside they were greeted by a tall and slim man with long dark hair. "Greeting, greetings." He said as he bowed to the princess.

"Good day. Is it ready?" She asked excitedly. "May I see it?" The tailor nodded, and turned with a sweep of his leg before he sauntered behind the velvet curtains. "As you know. Tomorrow is the celebration of my birthing day. There will be a grand feast, music and dancing, and all sorts of fun. Now I know that you don't enjoy dressing for parties, but this time I must insist. After all, a woman only reaches the age of one and eight once in her life. It should be special."

The tailor returned soon carrying a bundled mesh of gold and white. He laid the bundle on the table in front of them and as he separated the pieces it turned out to be a blouse and pants set. "Surprise!" Myra said clapping her hands lightly. "Oh, don't you just love it?"

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Kerr's outfit

"Of course," he responded to her little routine about needing to be covered by only the finest of cloth. He figured that if shiny enough, and properly draped on her bony frame, it might even distract from her personality and boyish build. Not hard to move in? "I'll bow to your superior experience on the matter, Princess." There was always a reason to run, especially if one wanted to be actually free. A lot of folk in this world that would take exception to even the desire for such a thing. The tax man, for instance. "You got up your father's apple tree when you were eight, after all." He'd heard no end of that, the dress had been 'ruined' he was assured. Repeatedly. By multiple people. He'd just thought it wonderfully entertaining watching her manuever herself and all that silk up the branches. The folly of youth, his and hers, he supposed.

"Why you're welcome, Miss. I think I might be by when I'm not working to have my own hair trimmed if you wouldn't mind the visit." Might even actually do so, depending on how she received him when he did. "Fair thee well, til then." He waved in returns as he headed out after the Princess. There was nothing for it but to follow her along until she pushed her luck far enough that he could be justified in throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her back to where she ought to be. It'd happened once or twice over the years, he thought to himself as he scratched at his chin. The widow woman would be a good time. She'd know which way was up in the bed, appreciate the attention, but have other things to concern her in the days that followed. No dreams of a better life as the lady wife of some wandering knight or the delusions the younger ones had of somehow finding themselves dressed in finery wandering around royal events finding a much higher ranked noble to fall in love with them at his expense.

"You are the last line of defense for your life, and the one that will fight hardest if not best. You should always be looking out for yourself, especially at your rank. Politics being what they are and the very real eventuality that I will no longer be in your service minutes after your inevitable marriage, you might find yourself the only person you can trust with your safety one day." He tugged at his armor, settling it into a more comfortable position for the walk ahead. "And that's to say nothing of watching out for the show we present to the outside world. I'd like to last until your wedding, and to some extent that means not giving people a reason to think we might be more than Princess and guardsman. Thus I avoid banter about your appearance." The last thing either of them needed was some hairdresser running around telling everybody the Princess' bodyguard was going on at length about her poetic beauty. He'd end up on the headsman's block and her locked in a tower.

Kerr followed her into the establishment with a roll of his eyes. He busied himself inspecting the place and the man that stepped forward to greet his charge. Ever ready for the worse. The man disappeared behind some curtains and Kerr moved forward, prepared to put his armored form between her and whatever came out from behind the curtain. And while they waited for the return she started foreshadowing the worst possible purpose for this visit, causing Kerr to side-eye her. "I've been part of the security arrangements for the last year of the planning for the thing... I dress in uniform like everybody else working on those days, in my case that's armor..." He gave her a look that said everybody only turned any age once in their lives. They were all special and thus none of them were. "What did you do?" He looked at the bundle that was brought out, then laid out, and tilted his head. "I like them better than your dress but those are too big for you and there's no way your mother will let you wear them... practically anywhere." Hoping that her reference to his clothing preferences was to cut off him using it as an argument against her dressing thusly for her party.

Please don't let those be for me, he thought to himself. He genuinely did hate pretending to be one of the important people though he had to do it everytime there was a dinner with special guests as he was technically part of the King's Household.

THE LAND IS ALIVE, SO BELIEVE

To all of my children in who lives flow abundant
To all of my children to who death hath passed his judgement
The soul years for honor, and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after

"Oh don't patronize me Sir. Blackwood, you sound like everyone else at the castle." She gave him a look of disappointment. Between the two of them, she was likely more informed on the matter of fabrics and dresses. However, it was his tone and mock surrender that she took offense to. The mention of her adventures in the apple tree when she was little brought back fond memories of the time. Myra pursed her lips to hold back a smile and shrugged her narrow shoulders. "I thought it was funny."

Outside, the princess walked ahead of him as she looked around but she stayed within eye sight as well as ear. She could hear him going on about how she needed to be ready for anything, and learn to protect herself. Myra was only half listening as she did most of the time that he said anything, but she picked up on a few things. "My inevitable marriage? Can't be rid of me soon enough can you? Ready to pass me off into the hands of a stranger as soon as possible....You sound like my father."

If there was a law, or by will of her parents that he left her service upon marriage, Myra had never heard of it. She assumed that he would stay with her as there was no better work in the kingdom. In passing, she had amused herself by thinking of using him as a literal body guard in times when her husband was in the mood and she was not. He caused a stir of tittering when he mentioned the idea that people might think them more than Princess and guardsman. "Oh! Tis the stuff of a woman's dreams! Oh my brave and gallant night! Thou's love for me must be of the truest heart to brave the oppressive and scrutinizing gazes of the people!" she said a bit to loudly.

Inside the tailor's shop, Myra watched his expression as he looked over the outfit. She had hoped for a better reaction, but he didn't seem pleased. "There will be enough guards all around the castle as it always is. One afternoon without armor won't kill you...or me." She giggled when he thought the outfit was for her and she shared an amused glance with the tailor. "Of course not silly, it's not for me. It's for you!" She picked up the shirt and held it out at shoulder's length in front of him to get a better look of it. "I think it blends nicely with the color of your hair."

Myra smiled sweetly at him, eyes as full and round as a puppy seeking affection. "I think it makes you look noble. I know the maids will approve at least. Box it for me, won't you?" she said glancing at the tailor who was all too happy to finish their arrangement. "Alright then, we can go back to the castle now. Unless you want to stop by and see the stylist again?"

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"I could have sworn you were just admonishing me for not patronizing you..." he said whilst putting on a show of appearing as if deeply pondering his own memories of the recent past. "The tree climbing incident was hilarious, the response to it afterward less so. Especially given my gross tendency toward irreverence not mixing well with repetition from management." The knight that had been over him at the time, the queen's guard, had since taken his retirement leaving his charge in trust to the Royal Guard legion in general. Which now left Kerr pretty much unsupervised in his efforts to keep the royal princess from getting herself killed. His technical orders were to protect her from outside threats, which was why he didn't already have her locked in the tower he was about to mention.

"Oh no, Your Highness. You can remain the most eligible bachelorette in all the kingdoms for as long as you wish so far as I am concerned. But you are a royal princess and you will be married off, eventually. They may well have to hobble and gag you to get you through the ceremony, then lock you in a tower to keep you to your marital duties but they will steadfastly see you there for the sake of the kingdom itself. I, for reasons inherent to my previous sentence, will be promptly let go from service upon the official pronouncement of your nuptials. Your parents find me effective, you find me tolerable, but most of the candidates for your future husband either have no interest in keeping me around to protect your virtue or otherwise favor your orders over theirs and the other half actively wishes me dead. Regardless of who gains your hand, the latter half will be out for blood as soon as I am no longer in service to your family." He'd be hard pressed to survive even if he got a jump on the actual dismissal, but that was a bridge to cross only after his duty to the Princess was discharged.

Kerr turned in place with her outburst about feelings for her and addressed the handful of people that were given cause to look at the two of them. "Yes, this is what I have to deal with." He then turned and continued following her. "Yes, the Royal Guard will be lurking all about. And yet, you still have a personal knight assigned to you for some reason I'm sure has nothing to do with the sneaking suspicion they aren't up to the job when it comes to your personal safety." He glared at the clothing as she told him that one afternoon without armor wouldn't kill him. "But won't you feel just awful if it does?" Best not to risk it. "I can wear the shirt under my armor, the collar will still blend nicely with my hair." He sighed, knowing it was ultimately a losing battle but still tempted to find a way to spill wine on the whole thing. "When I stop by to see the stylist you won't be in tow. And I won't be home before morning." He'd dallied with enough of her handmaidens, servants, and a few noble wives that had been ignored a bit too much by their noble husbands while in the Princess' service that she was by this point well aware of his personal pursuits.

THE LAND IS ALIVE, SO BELIEVE

To all of my children in who lives flow abundant
To all of my children to who death hath passed his judgement
The soul years for honor, and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after

"Then perhaps you are mistaken." Myra retorted instantly following his comment about her admonishing him. She narrowed her eyes as she watched him pretend to be deep in thought. The princess wasn't buying it. "Oh you mean your hatred of authority even when you are authority as well? It's like...hatred of one's own kind. How does that work?" Back then then royal guard was in charge and he treated her as if she were pure gossamer shaped like a snowflake. Not even a twig was allowed to brush her delicate cheek, and even the wind wasn't given room to toss her hair about. Ker was a very different soldier and he'd never treated her as if she were the King's diamond. Maybe people didn't like that including her parents. She was the future queen after all, but only if she survived long enough to take the crown.

Myra took a stand, hands on her hips as he talked about her being forced to marry against her will and being locked in a tower. The princess already had a mouth full to say to her parents on that subject and she didn't mind sharing that with Kerr either. It was a little hard to keep a stern face when he said things like "marital duties" which made her smirk. "Don't I have a say in all this? What if I wanted my virtue protected longer? I shall have a talk with my father. If you're not protecting me you should be allowed to leave in peace." He was tolerable to say the least but over the years she had grown to not hate him so much. As queen it wouldn't do to let her old protector die at the hand of anyone else besides her. After all he had been there ruining her fun for the past years if anyone was going to give his just desserts it was going to be her.

The little princess had expected him to rail against wearing the outfit and she was enjoying this more than he knew. "You're being a baby. It won't kill you...and if it somehow did, at least I know what to bury you in." Myra was having a ball teasing him but she could see that he wasn't going to wear it unless she forced him too. That wasn't what she wanted, it was her birthday and she didn't need a brooding muttering shadow following her around all day. "I'll make you a deal. Wear this, as is during the ceremony then afterwards you can change back into your own clothes and never dawn this again? I think that is very fair of me."

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"Hm, best not make a habit of that..." He chortled at her gas-lit comment. Then he shrugged when she asked after the hypocrisy of disliking authority while being a form of authority. "We're all contrarians in our time... but honestly, at least in my case, it's just more evidence that none of us are truly free. I was chosen for my task, trained to it, and have been living it for so long I'm not sure I'll ever be good at anything else. Even my irreverence is a side-effect of my experiences in all of this, familiarity with the subject matter has bred contempt for its exercise." He'd seen too many petty people wielding far too much presumed power over folks who were told they had to accept it for it to ever be of interest to him. He was fortunate enough to have an out, he just had to be skilled enough with a sword and swift enough of foot to survive that exit and he'd be closer to free than he could ever remember being before. If he was lucky, he'd let her grow tough enough to wear her future crown with a steady brow but it would no longer be his business either way.

Kerr grinned at her as she stood up a little taller, hands on her hips, testing her steel against his mostly friendly demeanor most likely in preparation for a hoped for repeat in front of someone actually attempting to treat her... well, poorly. "There would be a great deal of people who'd say you do not, but I imagine you will be quite verbose and emphatic in ensuring they hear it anyway." He waved off her offer to talk to her father. "I serve at the pleasure of the King. He has been nothing if not content with my service else I would be gone already. His favor, and my own competence, has been more than sufficient to keep me alive to this point. When he dismisses me, when my task is done, it will be to keep happy the face of the other half of whatever political maneuver he is using your marriage to execute. I have no doubt that, should I linger long enough, he'd be happy to hand me a parchment or some such guaranteeing my safe conduct where-so-ever I wish to travel. Or a deed to some property. Perhaps even an appointment in the royal military with no small measure of authority... the people I have angered in your defense will still strike."

It was the nature of things, especially in a world populated with petty rich men unaccustomed to being told no by a poor commoner like himself. Sometimes, he'd had to say it quite forcefully. Embarrassment, bruises, even a couple of broken bones in 'men' who'd never thought to feel so much as an undesired breeze. But they'd deserved it. There were even a few that when the time came he hoped they tried to collect on their imagined debts personally. So he could finish the lesson in gentlemanly conduct he'd offered them in the first place. An idle fancy, but something to keep his smile alive. He enjoyed smiling. Alas, she wasn't letting go of the ridiculous outfit thing. "Burn my body, Princess. Let the winds take me to all the places you dream of," he said simply. He then narrowed his eyes. She was compromising. An important trait for a leader and he didn't really care about the clothes. He just hated being forced to wear them. "....... I'm still going armed. And no more interfering when I flirt with the redhead amongst your ladies in waiting." But diplomacy was never going to be easy so she had to haggle.

THE LAND IS ALIVE, SO BELIEVE

To all of my children in who lives flow abundant
To all of my children to who death hath passed his judgement
The soul years for honor, and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after

"It would be wise not too." she retorted while trying to impose upon her countenance an expression of seriousness befitting the statement. His words struck true and never in her life had she felt less free and fought so arduously to achieve it or to reclaim some semblance of what she once thought it was. "It's a time of contempt for many I suppose. Contempt for my family, contempt for my position, contempt for me. That is the way of the world I suppose." A world she barely knew and yet felt a rising disdain for as the years passed and she was pushed closer towards the unyielding truth.

"That I would. That I would." she stated and stood just a little taller. Myra wasn't the least bit enthusiastic about marrying a stranger, a man she didn't love, or moving into a home that wasn't hers. She was little more eager to lose Ker or see him put to death because of his service to her family. "If they strike then they shall do so at their own peril. I will not be silent about things that matter. I will make them listen." she stated ignoring his hand wave. "I didn't think about it often, but I thought it would be nice if we were to meet again in the future. You could tell me about your travels and adventures, and you could see that I have grown into a princess fine and true."

It came to her in a dream once, and at a time that felt odd to dream of such things. Still, it instilled in her an a idea of a future event that she thought highly of and wished to see through her real eyes. Alas, he wasn't eager to dress for her party, but the princess wouldn't be talked out of it. "I will do no such thing. Besides I am sure that your friends would wish to see you off and to have a nice way to remember you by." Myra joked, but she was as serious as she decided to be about Ker dressing properly for the celebration. "I never interfered!" Myra exclaimed louder before waving the matter off with her hand. "She wants a husband and children in time and those are things I am sure you do not. Just as I am sure that she will find it hard to marry well if she's not a maiden but that is her life and I shan't advise her again."

Myra picked up the doublet and held it up to his chest. "By my silence you shall endeavor to remain properly attired for the duration of the day's events and until you see me to my room." What he did with the redhead afterwards was not her concern nor did she wanted to know as long as nothing happened during the celebration.

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"You hit that nail on the head. People resent limitations on themselves while demanding those same limitations be placed on others. The average person lusts after the power to hold tyranny over others while carefully never admitting it to themselves." The peasants wanted the nobility to keep them safe and shower them in gold, preferably while paying nothing in taxes in return. The nobility wanted the commoners to slave to death producing all the goods and services they felt entitled to, fast enough to require nothing in return but slow enough to ensure there was another generation of workers right behind them. Selfishness was the nature of existence, even Kerr selfishly desired to be able to wake up and choose what he did with his day.

He nodded solemnly at her agreement with his prediction that she would loudly and emphatically argue her point. He could also see her being gagged and carried to her rooms. Again, by the time that came up it would no longer be his business. "Just remember to spread my ashes before you embark on your quest for revenge on my behalf." He chuckled softly as she continued on. "When you marry, and if I escape with my head, I'll make a point of stopping by at some point in the future. Maybe I'll start a mercenary company, or ride in with a merchant caravan... but you're already the best princess I've ever met." Of course, the only other princesses he'd ever met were there to meet her and he'd barely gotten a look at them before he'd been forced to worry about things beyond them.

"I don't keep friends, Princess. It would compromise my ability to protect you. Just acquaintances." There was a lot more to it than that. He spent exhausting amounts of time out of the castle while she tended to lady things and slept, haunting the city and cultivating contacts that would keep him informed of a variety of matters. The hope was that if something like a foreign assassin arrived in the city he would find out before that individual figured out a way into the castle proper. Defense started long before the enemy was trying to beat your shield aside, something his mentor had taught him as a child. "You never interfered??" He scoffed in mock dismay. "I saw you give her those little shakes of your head, and who knows what has been said when my duties forced me out of earshot... and there are a lot of things that can be done that don't put her maidenhood in any danger." Things her future husband might well thank him for teaching her.

At least he didn't pretend that he could be her husband or father her children, he hadn't the station to do any such thing even if he wanted to. Nor would she be interested in leaving a life of luxury to be the wife of whatever he would end up being after the royal wedding. Unless the King married him off to some noble daughter, maybe a distant royal cousin, as thanks for his years of service.... no, that would cause a revolt amongst the nobility for sure. "I wasn't planning on stripping in the middle of your party, even if some of the dowagers would very much like me to." Now they knew how to have a good time, he thought to himself. And he could probably sneak a light chain shirt under it, like that fine Elven one he'd acquired a while back.