She stared at him and just let her mouth drop open. After a moment of shocked silence, she shook her head. "Not everyone has the money to hire a bodyguard, mi'lord." She left it at that. Making jokes or denying it too hard might get her in trouble. Hopefully though she could deflect it, "and I heard in the village that the robber was a man." Raising an eyebrow dubiously at him, she asked, "You think a woman defeated them?"

*****

The young prince waved off his sister, "That isn't a good idea if you go alone. With a group, it is fine." Turning to the other four, he explained, "We have been having a robber doing solo attacks. Just him and his survivor." Then he proceeded to detail what had happened to him that very day.

In the growing dark of dust, Derrick arranged for lanterns to be lit. They created a pool of light that allowed the young nobles to bask in each other's company more comfortably.