[color=c4df9b]"You be careful, Acrius' 'teaching' has been known to leave men with broken bones,"[/color]

[color=#FF9900][b]"That's a tad mean... [sup]even if somewhat valid."[/sup][/b][/color] Acrius said the last part in a whisper.

[color=c4df9b]"Zatana and I have work outside the walls tonight. The Guard will be two short, so be extra vigilant. But don't spread that about."[/color]

Oh was this an easy out? Acrius could simply excuse himself back to the keep in the guise of guarding Prince Leonidas. [color=#FF9900][b]"Got it, report back to the keep to keep an eye on dear old Leo."[/b][/color] 

Zatana would soon appear on her mare, seemingly glaring at the red-headed girl. The drow greeted him and would leave as soon as she appeared however. Acrius would stay silent at the girl's exchange with Faira. His arm was squeezed on-and-off during their conversation, like a child's plush doll.

"[color=f49ac2][b]Hey Acrius, you don't have a girlfriend or anything at home do you? Are you involved with one of those women?[/b][/color]"

[i][color=#FF9900][b]What in the hells is a girlfriend?[/b][/color][/i] The boy thought, [i][color=#FF9900][b]Something like a friend whose a girl? Somewhat arbitrary but...[/b][/color][/i]

[color=#FF9900][b]"In a way... yes? I would say Zatana and Faira to an extent?"[/b][/color] Acrius said, confident that her quandary was answered. He took no heed of her spinning back and forth, simply excusing the movement as exercise, [color=#FF9900][b]"With that said, I'd have to take my leave, the prince has summoned me."[/b][/color]

The boy's voice was pseudo-confident at the end; hopefully she would buy it.