Your assistance is all the thanks I need

Awkwardly, Stewart pulls himself from his sister’s loving embrace and says, “Your assistance is all the thanks I need. I am most grateful for your help. Now we must prepare for our journey. For our attendants, I thought we would bring Dathan and Dreyvel. I will send word to them at once.”

Adella’s look of concern causes him to pause. “What’s the matter, Adella?”

“I just question if it is appropriate to bring the captain of the Royal Guard and the captain of the archers on a mission of peace,” she says. “Besides, are you comfortable with assigning me a male attendant, now that you are king and charged with keeping my maidenly virtue in tact?” She asks the question with a playful gleam in her eyes. “Or are you willing to do away with that antiquated custom, as well?”

Stewart frowns. He hadn’t considered that. “Whom do you suggest?”

“I would like to bring Courtney; is my attendant, anyway, here at the palace, and I trust her completely. As for you, how about one of the commoners who serves here at the palace? Maybe someone like Horace?”

Stewart’s forehead wrinkles in confusion. “Horace? The only Horace I know at the palace is the stable boy.”

“Yes, that’s who I mean.”

“Seriously? I mean, the fellow does a good enough job with the horses, but he’s never impressed me as being particularly clever.”

Adella responds. “But he is a perfect example of a common, everyday Mirantian. What better way to show Althesire that you are being open and transparent by bringing regular people with you, instead of trained diplomats or skilled warriors? Besides, if there is any trouble, Horace can help. Have you seen how strong he is? He has incredible muscles!”

“And no measurable IQ to go with them,” says the king, doubtfully.

Then his thoughts turn to the day’s correspondence and a letter he had started to read. He picks it up from the table and says, “Here’s a fellow — a commoner, who is a recent student at Häzadertroth’s Academy. He is looking for employment. His name is Xabar Greether. Maybe having someone who has been trained in a sanctioned magical institution would be helpful?”