"You hired her at the age of eight?" Cecily raised an eyebrow at Shad's explanation.
It sounded like there was more to this story than what Shad was letting on. She could already guess that Shad was someone important. If he was the son a wealthy merchant, then Shad's safe house would have been more discrete than an abandoned castle: reputable trading guilds usually had their own hidden networks for less than savorable business. The more likely possibility is that he is from the higher social class.
Not that the answer is important at this point, since there are more pressing matters in the present, like the brigands that Maisie mentioned. The sound of a castle for a safe house was pleasant until that small detail marred its worth.
"Lovely," Cecily sighed to herself.
As Shad made his way a little ways up the path, Cecily wrinkled her nose as she smelled the scent of death. Then Shad vomited, prompting her to avert her eyes. With how powerful that smell was, it was a wonder how no one noticed it until now. She would like to think that it is just the turn of the wind, but an equally likely possibility was that everyone smelled terribly enough that no one noticed until now.
It was during Shad's outburst that she noticed the intricacies of his accent: an Etruscan accent. There was no way she could mistake it since the noble lived in Etruria for about a year for personal studies. Cecily recalled meeting the newly appointed Etruscan marquess Urai Zann, who spoke with similar peculiarities as Shad did in that moment.
As their guide went on his tirade, Cecily watched with a little sympathy muddled in her impatience. She also lost someone important to her: her loyal bodyguard from her youth, Theodore, who served her until he sacrificed himself to protect Cecily from assassins. It was difficult for her to blame Shad's reaction, but do they have enough time to deal with this detour?
"I do not know if your words are supposed to be inspiring or humbling, but I have my reservations on whether we all take this task upon ourselves. We have not agreed on a contingency plan in case we fail in our original task and we do not have an indication that there is time to resolve additional problems along the way," Cecily replied to Shad's request.
She raised a hand to stop any objection that may arise from her words. Cecily had no expectation that her point of view would be popular among her recently met traveling companions. Satsume's easily readable expression told her that much.
"However, the journey thus far has been long and I must rest a time before continuing on. Until then, I may consider a request," she added. "Let us take Paige's suggestion for now."
Cecily took the reins of her horse and continued down the trail as to indicate the end of discussion. Her lack of address towards Satsume's part in this, as her companion, was an intentional omission. If Satsume felt obligated to help, Cecily will not stop him: even allowing him a day or two to help before she will press on. But even so, Satsume is fully aware of Cecily's lack of prowess in battle, having protected her several times before. Traveling on unsafe roads alone is suicidal.
It sounded like there was more to this story than what Shad was letting on. She could already guess that Shad was someone important. If he was the son a wealthy merchant, then Shad's safe house would have been more discrete than an abandoned castle: reputable trading guilds usually had their own hidden networks for less than savorable business. The more likely possibility is that he is from the higher social class.
Not that the answer is important at this point, since there are more pressing matters in the present, like the brigands that Maisie mentioned. The sound of a castle for a safe house was pleasant until that small detail marred its worth.
"Lovely," Cecily sighed to herself.
As Shad made his way a little ways up the path, Cecily wrinkled her nose as she smelled the scent of death. Then Shad vomited, prompting her to avert her eyes. With how powerful that smell was, it was a wonder how no one noticed it until now. She would like to think that it is just the turn of the wind, but an equally likely possibility was that everyone smelled terribly enough that no one noticed until now.
It was during Shad's outburst that she noticed the intricacies of his accent: an Etruscan accent. There was no way she could mistake it since the noble lived in Etruria for about a year for personal studies. Cecily recalled meeting the newly appointed Etruscan marquess Urai Zann, who spoke with similar peculiarities as Shad did in that moment.
As their guide went on his tirade, Cecily watched with a little sympathy muddled in her impatience. She also lost someone important to her: her loyal bodyguard from her youth, Theodore, who served her until he sacrificed himself to protect Cecily from assassins. It was difficult for her to blame Shad's reaction, but do they have enough time to deal with this detour?
"I do not know if your words are supposed to be inspiring or humbling, but I have my reservations on whether we all take this task upon ourselves. We have not agreed on a contingency plan in case we fail in our original task and we do not have an indication that there is time to resolve additional problems along the way," Cecily replied to Shad's request.
She raised a hand to stop any objection that may arise from her words. Cecily had no expectation that her point of view would be popular among her recently met traveling companions. Satsume's easily readable expression told her that much.
"However, the journey thus far has been long and I must rest a time before continuing on. Until then, I may consider a request," she added. "Let us take Paige's suggestion for now."
Cecily took the reins of her horse and continued down the trail as to indicate the end of discussion. Her lack of address towards Satsume's part in this, as her companion, was an intentional omission. If Satsume felt obligated to help, Cecily will not stop him: even allowing him a day or two to help before she will press on. But even so, Satsume is fully aware of Cecily's lack of prowess in battle, having protected her several times before. Traveling on unsafe roads alone is suicidal.
![[Image: QddvI0w.png]](http://i.imgur.com/QddvI0w.png)
Insurrection - Lady Cecilia "Cecily" of Laus, third in line to the Laus marquessate