Kate waited for him to finish getting his winter clothes on. She held up her cloak with both hands extended to her sides, "Sorry, appearances only. Is a custom thing males are expected to dress a female with outer clothing. Your a gentlemen first, protector second. You already know both, just have to learn our customs and my dear sir, I want you to know, your not always to be serious and all business. Jasper, you will learn how to have fun. I will not allow you to be serious. I like you smiles."<br/><br/>She took his right hand and led him out to the floor. The mage met Heidi, "Thank you. Put this on Papa's tab, please. She handed her three, large, silver coins. "Good Bye and Happy Winterfest!"<br/><br/>Heidi smiled widely looking at the coins, "Kaattee, thank, thank you. Happy Winter Fest. Jasper, Happy Winter Fest to you. Come again, anytime."<br/><br/>Kate led them to the door and stood back. The afternoon sun shone directly into the inn.<br/><br/>The swordsmith shop was partly indoors and the forge, workshop was outside in a large roofed covering. A burly man hammered at an anvil beside a large billowed forge. He dipped the steel into a bucket of water; wiped his large, muscled, hand on an apron hanging down, underneath a thick, leather, full body apron. He took a long look at Jasper, raised a suspicious, admonishing look at Kate.<br/><br/>Kate noticed his scowl, "Sir Arron, I can explain, this is my Protector, Jasper. I am here because Jasper arrived. He was sent from the Forbidden Castle. He needs to be armed sir."<br/><br/>The knight hobbled over with a stiff left leg. He grumbled in a deebp voice, "Your Lordships been scouting ya. Wondered who this stranger is. Ya knows ya not suppose be here. Since yor here I gots that blade you ordered. Now yor here, whats ya need young feller." Whooee! Yor a long ways from that DAMN Dark Lord. Ya knows is illelake to fight."<br/><br/>Kate chimed, "He knows, and he will not fight. He was sent by my Aunt unarmed. I chose him to be my protector."<br/><br/>The knight held his sides, "Haa Hee, Katie if yor a smart one. Yor yorn Papa's daughter. Marcus will be mighty jealous. He was goi'n on tha he was gonna be yor'n Pro..tec..tor. Well go on Lad, I'm gussen ya knows yas weapons. Gots more inside, Me son, Marcus is inside. sorry Kattee he arrived from tha border early."<br/><br/>Kate looked down and shook her head, "Perhaps we should come...."<br/><br/>At that moment a tall man of 21 stomps out of the wood building, he sees Kate, picks her up, like ske was light as feather, and spinns her, "Put me down, put me down" she pounds he hand into fists on both his shoulders. "I will turn you into a rat for a day. Put me..."<br/><br/>The young put Kate gently down, "Aren't you glad to see me?"<br/><br/>Kate slaps him across the face, "No! I am not. I warn you. Do that again, and you will have a rat tail for a week."<br/><br/>Marcus rubbed his cheek, "Simmer down, simmer down. I just happy to see you, is all. Been sweltering for months, in that swamp."<br/><br/>He looks over and sees Kate his now standing beside, Jasper, "Who's this stranger? Looks like you've been beaten to a pulp. What happened to Y O U? Anyway what you doing with my girl."<br/><br/>Kate gave Marcus the meanest scowl, "Stay away, Marcus, you do not want to mess with him. He is no soldier. He fights differently. He knows skills Papa refuses to teach you or Jonn."<br/><br/>Sir Arron, pulls his son away and by the collar, "Heed her boy. I mean it. You'n best get in an help yor Ma. Jasper is new in town, so's I lett'n him buys. I sees o hears ya ain't gett'n along. I'll taks ya to tha woodshed. Don't think I can't whop ya."<br/><br/>He is tense and she feels every muscle bulge. Kate rubs Jasper's back and places her left hand over his right fist. She whispers, "Not here. Not know. He is not worth it. Do harm done. I am alright. Forget him. Get your sword and leave." She pulls his arm toward a rack of long swords."