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Rhydsar entered the library first to assess its size: large, but not as large as he expected if it was supposed to hold all of the Order's lore. Perhaps there was a private collection in the captain's quarters, or a senior knight's. "[color=#f1b1e3]It's homely, at least,[/color]" he said, about as pleasantly as he could.

"[color=#e3ed74]The far corner,[/color]" said Gütta, "[color=#e3ed74]that-a-way.[/color]" He was pointing off to the right of the entrance.

Rhydsar followed trustingly as if taking orders. "[color=#f1b1e3]Here?[/color]" he said, a note of excitement in his voice.

Gütta noticed the bookworm, so he spoke in hushed whispers. "[color=#e3ed74]The holy codex,[/color]" he hummed, "[color=#e3ed74]a generic one on the top shelf. No gold leaf or nothing. Figured all the knights already own a copy, and if they don't, they'd want an easier copy to get a hold of.[/color]"

Rhydsar climbed to grab his “present” and it wasn’t quite clear who was enjoying this show of innocence more, the bulky criminal or the child himself. The book felt too light in his grasp; he realized quickly that a secret compartment was cut away into its pages, for in his hand it rattled; of all forms of heresy, perhaps this one was the most mysterious and intriguing Rhydsar could fathom. Gütta crossed his arms as he watched Rhydsar climb the stepladder, waiting smugly. Up there the boy smiled as he opened the book. "[color=#f1b1e3]Just like the good old days, only now we [i]both[/i] have a palate for it.[/color]"

"[color=#e3ed74]The finest money can buy, doll. They use a fancy yeast or something. You wanna crack it open?[/color]" 

"[color=#f1b1e3]But we have nothing to celebrate yet except our reunion, and your generosity! Let's drink this later, to our victory.[/color]"

"[color=#e3ed74]Sure, baby. Anything for you.[/color]" Gütta was eager to sit; though not particularly tired, he made fanfare of placing his sword and his satchel of knives on a beaten old table. "[color=#e3ed74]Gods of earth and heaven, it's so nice and quiet sometimes. You really come to appreciate it.[/color]"

"[color=#f1b1e3]Aye; there's an air of lunacy around this place. I suppose it comes with giving the most high-risk and esoteric jobs in the kingdom to witches.[/color]"

"[color=#e3ed74]'Most high-risk and esoteric.' Heh. Well, that's what they like to tell themselves. But guarding royalty is as exciting as you expect, even if something went down. The bandit king was exciting, I guess. But I knew I didn't want to be in some palace somewhere. Ducked out of that well enough.[/color]"

"[color=#f1b1e3]So you didn't see how she commanded that?[/color]" The [i]she[/i] now only meant the captain in Rhydsar's mind. Despite the order having many noble she's only one of them seemed to matter.

"[color=#e3ed74]'Command!' Command what? You stand there in a suit, hold a spear, and look pretty. If someone starts trouble you stick him.[/color]"

Any other commander in training, or really, anyone at Rhydsar's age, would have taken that personally. After all he had heard this doctrine spewed by his own troops until he found half the mind to prove them wrong. A commander who was hesitant to draw enemy blood would turn the bravest men into cowards. That was Rhydsar's first lesson, and maybe the first doctrine of his moral code. "[color=#f1b1e3]By her choice or her advisors'?[/color]" was all he asked, trying to not show a preference either way. He hesitated. "[color=#f1b1e3]Sorry. I don't expect you to be an expert on all the inner workings here. I suppose I'm asking if she commands the respect that her legend wants me to believe. Perhaps the order has been insulated from this, but ever since the bandit king she's been talked about. Now that she's saved a princess that's only going to grow.[/color]"

Gütta sighed. "[color=#e3ed74]She's pre-ordained by the Gods or some crap, ain't she? Holy birth? That's got to inspire at least a [i]little[/i] respect.[/color]"

"[color=#f1b1e3]I've been meaning to ask you. I think I won your attention before you knew of my name, and perhaps your loyalty after you did. It would be arrogant for me to assume you owe me anything.[/color]"  

"[color=#e3ed74]Sounds like you're asking a favor, m'lord; not a curiosity.[/color]"

"[color=#f1b1e3]I can get caught up in myself, and I want to ask if there is any payment I can offer, via rank or money, that you would want. Not for anything immediate, but so we both remember that if you serve me it is because I benefit you in some way.[/color]" It was a cold sort of bargain. Affectionless even. Mercenary. Different from the boy who was offered the present, different even from the boy who had to learn how to walk through slums without drawing attention to himself. While it wasn't intended, the message that he judged even his only friend on utility may have become abundantly clear to the aging man.

Gütta felt compelled neither to correct the boy on his course—unlike Rhydsar, he did feel a debt gnawing at the back of his skull—nor to turn down tangible evidence of his service, precious and valuable coin. He lowered his head; he balled his hand in a fist and scratched his scalp with the knuckles. "[color=#e3ed74]Whatever you can afford me, m'lord,[/color]" he said. Sadness stuck in his eye like a single speck of dust, glittering just there in the corner. Not that it surprised him, at the end of the day, that he was with Rhydsar to do a job, not to play cards and drink. Those were just byproducts of their agreement.

"[color=#f1b1e3]I promise I won't let you down, then.[/color]" Rhydsar's life had been governed by debts, oaths, and promises. Despite his hatred of ordering men to die for another's glory, it was his duty to repay a debt he took from his father. Despite those men having free will, they consented to die for the same reason. It wasn't right, Rhydsar knew, but knowing was only half the battle when you're raised that way.

"[color=#e3ed74]Any idea what the meeting might be about, then? Having someone to drink and card with makes marching easier. Maybe I'll even look forward to it.[/color]"

"[color=#f1b1e3]I don't know what I'd [i]do[/i] without someone here to drink with.[/color]" Rhydsar looked at the ale, and for a moment, was quiet.