Daniel
*She smiled.*

"It's good to see that there still is care in the world for the Arcane. It's... Saddening to see the attendance at the College of Winterhold. I suppose that's just... Skyrim. How it is here."

*She put Hopesfire back on her side. It was odd that a Dunmer was even the Guard Captain here... And from what she said earlier she didn't seem to care much for Tullius.*

"What brings you here to the courtyard? Odd for a civilian to be here... Though not illegal. Friend in the Legion?"
Mary
"Yeah, the Oblivion Crisis and the Great War both caused a lot of disdain for magic across Tamriel. It's... Especially bad here though," She lamented in response to Ayemnivi's remark.

"Just a guard, actually. Skjall. It's my last day in Solitude—gonna head out soon. Wander, look for work, that kind of thing. Wanted to say goodbye to him before I left." 

She looked to the door to the castle before her gaze returned to Ayemnivi. "What'd you do before you became guard captain though? I'm sure some past experience made you a candidate for the job."
Daniel
"Skjall is a good one. Honorable."

*She frowned slightly regarding "Past experience.*

"I was a guard in Mournhold fighting of the periodic An-Xileel attacks... Then the war started... And i wanted to get back at those responsible for those attacks, the Dominion. I fought at Leyawiin, a few other smaller battles. But they didn't take kindly to imperial veterans back home. I took this position here."

*She lowered her voice.*

"But between you and me my faith is waning... I went back to being a guard to be a part of a Community, not a Legion. I'm not going to fight for an empire, I'm going to fight for the people who live here. I'm supposed to help setting up the new life festival here soon."
Mary
"That's a good stance to have," She answered in an equally lowered voice. "No empire or monarchy will ever have the good of its people in mind. Some way to placate the masses, maybe, or some warped definition of what's good for them, but nothing... Genuine."

Then she spoke again, voice at a normal pitch this time. "But speaking of the New Life Festival—I'd actually considered staying until it's over. I'm already all packed, but... I dunno. Couldn't hurt to stay here a few weeks longer."