She was taken back by his outburst, her pale eyes going wide. However, as he chastised her a small smile bloomed on her lips, and she shook her head slightly. She said nothing, and let the tiny quirk of her mouth say it all. His words were raging, and she could see how upset he was, and were they in opposite positions she would have reached out to comfort him, but instead she let him vent. Once he was done and he sat down hard with a sigh, that smile faded. "I am mad, but you're going to get us found-out if you keep calling me "my lady"."<br/><br/>There was a brief moment of silence before he was standing once more and pulling on his gloves, she was told to remain where she was, but every part of her wanted to follow, sword in hand, just for the chance to spill some blood. Valerius was right about something, she should be madder, she should be raging through the streets killing any who dare call her a liar. But no, they had to think this through, and it left her feeling dirty.<br/><br/>The Cousland sword hung on her hip, a constant reminder of the weight she now had to hold. Her home was burnt to the ground, her family dead-- of course her brother had gone to Ostagar and not yet returned, and was likely dead as well, any friends she once had probably thought she was a traitor, Maker only knows what kind of stories Rendon Howe was telling. She felt the urge to empty her stomach after a few seconds, this was the first real time Valerius had left her alone on the whole journey there, he hadn't even given her privacy to bathe, and the thick layer of grime under her armor and across her face was proof of that. But now her thoughts returned to her dead family, and she<i>was</i>angry.<br/><br/>The night before the attack was normal, if not pleasant. They had welcomed Howe like an old friend, given him food and ale, and then he murdered her brother's wife and his child in cold blood, they hadn't even gotten the chance to get out of bed. Had it not been for the old warrior showing up at her door and throwing orders her way, she might've ended the same. Even know Aimil could hardly put together the night, it was a blur of fire and blood, she did remember breaking into the treasury-- a metal boot to the door seemed to work-- and taking the heirlooms she carried now. But the heraldry on the Shield of Highever had gotten badly burned, only traces of her House's sigil still remained.<br/><br/>Valerius returned without her noticing, she was staring down hard at her hands, wishing for not the first time, that she had the powers of a mage to burn the whole place down, yet there was not even a spark. He spoke, and she finally looked up. "I did," she admitted with a nod. "Though whomever said it would probably be less friend, and more enemy.<br/><br/>"Perhaps we should sleep on it," Aimil offered, "A good night's rest on an actual bed might make our heads work a little better."