Tehr chuckled as he finished getting dressed, "I apologize Lieutenant Whitestone.  I admit that I am being shocking simply for the sheer joy of seeing your pretty face contort with the conundrum.  But you're right, it would be disrespectful.  Maybe some other time," he added with a wink.  As he made his way to the stables, with the blonde guard by his side, he added, "Please let the queen know that I will return today, and as always if she should need me, she can send for me and I will come as quickly as possible."<br/><br/>He bid the one eyed guardsmen fairwell at the stables, making one last request of her before he did.  "If it's not too much to ask, can you please send my regards to Captain Lilian?  I would like to call on her when I return later to thank her for saving my life and see how she's fairing."  Tehr knew that she had saved his life by drinking the poisoned wine, just as he had by his quick actions to seek help.  But as a noble, it would be acceptable to ignore a hired guard for simply doing their duty, but that wasn't his style.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Upon arriving at home he brushed out Blondie and made sure she had fresh hay and water.  Though she seemed uninterested and he rolled his eyes, wondering how well the stablemaster in the palace had been feeding her.  He pat her flanks and chided the steed, "Probably nothing but the finest oats grown in fields of golden sunlight, blessed by priestesses before being reaped by large breasted farm girls, eh?  Well, don't get used to it you beautiful nag."  Then before he left, he pulled a dried apple from the box near the door and fed it to his friendly horse.  Looking up into the morning sky, he felt like the weather would be nice enough.  The weather had the nip of cold autumn air, but the sky was fairly clear.  So instead of penning her in, decided to let her roam the back yard at her leisure.  The front gates were closed though not locked, and she should be safe enough.  Besides, he noticed that the duke's and Rosalyn's horses were both gone.  he regretted not being able to see them off, but such was life.  He certainly hoped to see either or both of them again soon.<br/><br/>Quietly walking towards the back door, he heard the two maids talking before he entered.  He smiled at their playful banter and was glad that they were getting along.  "Good morning my lovelies," he announced as he entered the kitchen.  The smell of fish and bread filling his nostrils made him smile.  His mother always insisted on cooking with her own hands at least once or twice a week.  Rolling up her sleeves and putting on an apron before standing beside any of the servants to punch dough or gut a fish.  She was from Italia after all, a land renown for it's cooking.  It was, unfortunately not a skill Tehr had ever picked up.  but the friendly banter and strong kitchen smells made him feel more at home in this new hall than anything else.<br/><br/>He moved to the bread box and pulled out a loaf of yesterday's bread.  Slicing a thick piece off he smiled again at the girls, "I need another hour or two of privacy," he informed them, knowing he needed a little more sleep and some time to prepare his day's spells.  "Would one of you please draw a bath for me around 8th bell?"  Chewing on the bread he he added as an after thought, "Oh, and let my sister know I hope to speak with her today before I have to leave again on business.  My day will be very full and so she may wake me up if she arrives home before 8th bell."<br/><br/>Before he left the kitchen he'd finish off his slice of bread and then bow lightly to the two women before heading up to his room to get a little more sleep.  If he was awoken, fine, but otherwise he planned on sleeping for another hour or so, then memorizing his spells before bathing and getting ready to face this new day in light of the plans he'd made last night.