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<span style="font-size: 9px"><i>dragon art by aleksi briclot</i><br/>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">&amp;</span></span></span></i><br/>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 22px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><b>SER. GRAEME KYNASTON</b></span></span><br/>
<span style="font-size: 10px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(179, 0, 0)"><i><b>paladin</b> of the matron's temple,</i><br/>
<i><b>slayer</b> of the edelwich wyrm,</i><br/>
<i><b>veteran</b> of the blasphemer's coup,</i><br/>
<i><b>guardian</b> of the crown.</i><br/>
</span></span><br/>
<i><i><span style="font-size: 12px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">&amp;</span></span></i></i><br/>
</span>​</div><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(191, 191, 191)"><span style="font-family: 'Allura', 'cursive'"><span style="font-size: 26px"><b>I</b></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 15px">t wasn't long after Lady Nerys turned her attention back towards the shrouded road ahead that good Ser Kynaston let his shoulders relax once more. The short ride to the Hare's Hide couldn't have drawn out any longer. As the icy wind whipped around the two souls, it was apparent that the snowstorm would more than likely come sooner than he initially assumed it would. He knocked his mount with the heel of his boot and the nag picked up its feet with slightly more haste.<br/>
<br/>
He thought ahead to the journey that they would undergo while his compatriot rode in relative silence. It was natural for him to not ride blindly into danger for the sake of getting a task done swiftly and surely. It came with his training. He was always reminded that he was always more useful to the Matron Goddesses alive to spread their holy decrees, not much unlike a mercenary being taught that his monetary reward would be more useful to him out of the grave. <i>Different strokes,</i> sure, but the same general principle. It could be that it simply sounded better to have a Paladin be a princesses' guide than a simple swordmaster that'd drop her right into the clutches of the nearest slave-trader if the coin was better. No, it was a matter of keeping up royal appearances. His feats had signed him on for something more than he bargained for when he chose this life.<br/>
</span></span></span><br/><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(191, 191, 191)"><span style="font-size: 15px">Kynastons' attention wandered, albeit momentarily, to the landscape around them in lieu of conversation. It'd been hard to imagine just how beautiful the land might've been before the tragedy that took the magic and good grace away. Still, it was always a little entertaining to picture it in his minds' eye. Beyond the path lined with gold. The white hills to the left that glistened with ice were once fields of wild brambleberry bushes - there were once rabbits and squirrels and roaming wild dogs across them, foraging for their keep. Their bellies were full and the threat of starvation never drove them to a state of erratic madness or extinction. The mountains to the right had peaks so majestic they could be seen on a clear summers' day and not perpetually shrouded in fog and mist. Even the trodden path ahead had weeds, wildflowers that grew from between the stone of its gilded glory. As per usual in situations like this, he'd found that he was thinking beyond himself. All of this thought about the trial of the Crown at the side of his Lady when his own personal growth wasn't even a factor in the grand scheme of things. What else was any of this but an act of selflessness for the great good? Someday he would make up his mind.<br/>
<br/>
Lady Nerys seemed eager to dismount and seek the warmth of the inn as the stableboy took the reins and he couldn't claim to think any different for himself. Trailing behind her at a good few paces, it occured to him that she would be used to all persons in her company dropping to a bow once graced with her presence. Life on the path meant getting acclimated to the fact that outside of the cushy halls of the castle she would be just another face trying to do what she could to get by. It was probably easier said than done in her eyes. As he would find it irritating to have to act prim and proper in front of diplomats all day long, she would find it irritating to not have access to people that would follow her every whim. Still - the way she shouted over the bustling crowd of travelers taking shelter from the coming storm made it seem like she expected everybody to know her behind a veiled visage. Luckily, her proclamation fell flat and nobody had turned to witness it. The embarrassment in her eyes was apparent to him as she tossed the coin in his direction.<br/>
<br/>
The Paladin was caught off-guard by the quick movement, but he reflexively caught the heavy pouch in a free hand. He took a moment to weigh the pouch in his palm. It seemed that the amount of coin she'd had on her person would be enough to pay for a good few weeks in the hovel if it was needed and there was never any telling just how long a snowstorm would wreak its havoc. Hopefully it would be all clear by sun-up when they would be able to get an early start to the day.</span></span></span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(191, 191, 191)"><span style="font-size: 15px">Ser Kynaston undid the straps of the pouch and procured five golden coins before approaching the silent princess and diligently passing the remaining amount back to her. His eyes betrayed just how exasperated he felt at her rash actions, the way she flaunted her full pockets. It was an excellent method of drawing attention to herself if that was her goal. Even with that simple action he would have to make sure she stood by his side closer now.<br/>
<br/>
He turned to wade his way through those that huddled around the hearthfire, but not before inviting Lady Nerys along in a hushed tone.<br/>
</span></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff99"><span style="font-size: 15px">"If my Lady would follow me..."</span></span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(191, 191, 191)"><span style="font-size: 15px"><br/>
Through the crowd of tired patrons he caught sight of the innkeeper and made quick work of squeezing past a group of reveling drunkards. Kynaston addressed the elder man - voice rising above the noise. He put on an expression of faux joy, a smile wrinkling the corners of his eyes, but before he could speak the barker looked up at him with a no-nonsense glare about his blind eye. There was a passing look of examination as Kynaston was looked up and down. Though he'd stopped in at this inn before, the ownership of it must have changed hands. The man in front of him was unfamiliar.<br/>
</span></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffa64d"><span style="font-size: 15px">"Ah' know what ye' knightly types're after. Well, if yer' lookin' for a whore yer' in th'wrong place. This's an inn, no' a brothel. Try th'Wretched Wench down th'path. Ah'm sure they would warm ye' up nice and proper."<br/>
</span></span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><span style="font-size: 15px">Not a even a word was allowed by the Paladin before the innkeeper procured a rusty stein from somewhere behind the counter and turned towards the kegs - muttering as he went.<br/>
</span></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffa64d"><span style="font-size: 15px">"<i>Bleedin' knightly types</i>. Always <i>sooo</i> chivalrous 'n pious until th'fools are left to their own bloody devices fer more than a few ticks. <i>And then what is it</i>? 'Oh, innkeeper. A few more rounds of yer best imported ale! Put it on th'old tab. <i>Paladin's honor</i>!' Lyin', blasphemous dogs'll run me dry."<br/>
</span></span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><span style="font-size: 15px">A slow, prolonged sigh escaped Kynaston's lips. He sure was damn tired, and the last thing he wanted was to get into a barfight with the innkeeper tonight. He snuck a glance at Lady Nerys who seemed to be watching this whole scene unfold unabashedly. Was that a gleam of amusement?<br/>
<br/>
The innkeeper passed the stein to an outstretched hand which offered a single coin in return before turning his attention back towards the Paladin in furs.<br/>
</span></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffa64d"><span style="font-size: 15px">"<i>What</i>, ye' daft? Ah' said ah' don't 'ave no whores 'ere -"<br/>
</span></span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><span style="font-size: 15px">Kynaston jumped at the chance to interject. If he allowed the inkeeper to continue rambling on the way he did they'd be standing there all night. He quickly flashed the coin in his palm.<br/>
</span></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff99"><span style="font-size: 15px">"I don't suppose you have any empty beds for an old knight and his squire, good man? All we seek is shelter from the storm and a warm bed, like anybody else here."<br/>
</span></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffa64d"><span style="font-size: 15px">"A room? Why didn'ye jus' say so? Here ye' had me on a bleedin' tirade... but ah'm afraid we're all full fer the night. Ah'm sorry."<br/>
</span></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff99"><span style="font-size: 15px">"Yes, well - you do look like you've quite the full house tonight, but the storm is just overhead as we speak and there isn't another inn close by. Isn't there <i>something</i> available? We'll only be staying the night, <i>Goddess-willing</i> we'll be out of your hair by dawn."<br/>
</span></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffa64d"><span style="font-size: 15px">"Well, ah' s'ppose ah'ave <i>somethin' </i>available... but if yer seekin' two diff'rent rooms fer two diff'rent bodies yer out 'o luck."<br/>
</span></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff99"><span style="font-size: 15px">"We'll take whatever you have, good man."<br/>
</span></span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><span style="font-size: 15px">The innkeeper hastily took the coin that Ser Kynaston offered him before giving the pair directions on where to find the room. The Paladin turned back toward Lady Nerys and admonished her for her earlier actions. Tone low and firm yet again as he came closer to her ear, public decency be damned. She needed to hear what he was going to tell her eventually.</span></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(191, 191, 191)"></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 153)">"If it pleases my Lady, might I suggest that you allow me to do the talking? The citizenry here can easily tell a noblewoman from one of their own. I wouldn't want you to catch the attention of some that wouldn't hesitate to empty that bag of yours before morning."</span></span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 153)"></span></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(191, 191, 191)"></span></span>​</div>