The pair took a flight of steps at their right, circling around the circular stairway. A carpet was carefully laid from top to bottom, step to step. The railings felt cool in Ashton's hands, just the way he wanted it.<br/><br/>"So... what do you think of them?" Roy asked.<br/><br/>Ashton blinked. He hadn't expected such a question to come from Roy. Roy was pretty good at guessing what Ashton thought.<br/><br/>"I... don't want demons or angels around." Ashton shook his head. "Trouble magnets."<br/><br/>"Do you think they might find out about your issue?"<br/><br/>Ashton drew a finger to his lips and pointed to a maid walking by. She bowed towards Sir Ashton, and continued walking past them. The knight smiled at the maid, then shot a glare towards Roy and hissed, "We do not<span style="font-style: italic">talk</span>a single word about it until we are alone. I have spent years plotting, suffering and destroying for you-<span style="font-style: italic">our</span>sake. I cannot let it be undone by spoken words and the tradition of knighthood."<br/><br/>Roy stopped in his tracks, his face stunned at Ashton's sudden outburst. "Err... sorry, sir," he mumbled, averting his gaze from Ashton's eyes.<br/><br/>The young knight stopped as well and turned towards Roy.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Crap.</span><br/><br/>Ashton reached forward and grabbed Roy's fingers, tugging him upwards. He leaned forward at the same time towards Roy's ear.<br/><br/>"Sorry, big brother. Little Ash is sorry," he whispered. Ashton felt a tinge of tears welling up in his eyelids. Blinking a few times, Ashton managed to push the feeling back.<br/><br/>Roy smiled, and whispered back, "Apology accepted."<br/><br/>The air around them felt deathly still and silent. The two of them did not move from their spot, as if deep in thought.<br/><br/>A second later, Roy opened his mouth again.<br/><br/>"Little sister," he whispered again.<br/><br/>Ashton grinned. It was a while before<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">she</span></span>heard Roy call her that.