Ashton's eyebrow began to twitch at Amaya. She refused to respond to anything he said, as far as he realised. One of those noble-haters? Ashton wasn't nobility through blood, but having the privilege of adding a 'sir' in front of his name was a nice feeling to have.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Not that it'll make a difference to this lady.</span><br/><br/>And this Nathaniel was demanding. Saying 'you better show us now' probably meant 'I want to sleep in the same place as the pigs', Ashton thought.<br/><br/>"Ummm... Ash?" whispered Roy, his hand still in front of his face. The pain had already faded away, and his palm lowered a bit to cover his lips.<br/><br/>"Roy? W-what is it?" Ashton whispered back.<br/><br/>"If he really is a demon, it's bad form inviting him back home. The punishment for harbouring demons is-"<br/><br/>"Death." Ashton looked briefly at Nathaniel, and blushed. "Though he is good-looki-"<br/><br/>"Weren't you supposed to give up those thoughts, Sir Ashton Cromwell?" Roy jabbed Ashton lightly on his chest, his hand no longer in front of his face. Ashton shot a glare at Roy; he looked back and shrugged.<br/><br/>"I can change my name. I can change my face. I can change my past. I can change my future." Ashton paused, looking at his hands. He could feel liquid upon them. No, it wasn't there at all, he realised. But he could still feel the blood. Innocent, guilty and those in between all bled the same colour just before they died. Rich, poor, soldiers, nobility, peasants, artists, priests and cooks all bled the same.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Will no one know the real me before I die?</span><br/><br/>"Yeah, you can't change your insides." Roy gave a nonchalant shrug right after he whispered. "But I don't think anyone will find out, Sir Ashton Cromwell. Besides, I don't foresee ourselves with them for too long."<br/><br/>"Yeah. I'm worrying too much." Ashton gave a smile that could almost be described as... demure. "So unlike a knight."<br/><br/>Ashton adjusted his collar, then gave a polite smile to Aris and the rest. "Certainly. Sir Ashton Cromwell will be your host. But do take kindly that you are bound by Dalmatia's rules of hospitality. I will protect you, feed you, and shelter you, for long enough for you all to make a journey elsewhere, but you are not to harm my people, my guests, my household, or my land as long as you are my guests."<br/><br/>"Sir."<br/><br/>Ashton glanced in the direction of Claude. The white had disappeared from his face, but he still looked nervous.<br/><br/>"I'm not cutting your pay<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>much, Early." Ashton smiled, his eyes closed happily.<br/><br/>"Thank you, sir."<br/><br/>"Just enough to buy bread and water for dinner for the month." Ashton winked at Claude cheekily. Claude's face turned white again, and he fell over backwards, almost like a stiff statue.<br/><br/>"Uhh.. Ash. You're taking the joke too far." Roy whispered into Ashton's ear. The young knight could only meekly smile back.<br/><br/>"Oops."