"Yes, that is very true." Valerie pauses for a moment, deep in thought. "Is there anything else you wish to discuss, Lord Urbien? I am afraid I am not as young I once was, and no amount of padding seems to be able to completely stop the incessant bumping as that carriage goes along the road."
Urbien smiles and nods. "I think that is all, for now. How long do you plan on staying?"
Valerie picks up her cane from where she lent it against the desk, and starts to stand. "That remains to be seen. Until the kingdom is in a more orderly state of affairs, I expect."
Urbien smiles and nods. "I think that is all, for now. How long do you plan on staying?"
Valerie picks up her cane from where she lent it against the desk, and starts to stand. "That remains to be seen. Until the kingdom is in a more orderly state of affairs, I expect."
Urbien starts to stand as well. "I had hoped that would be the case. I have taken the liberty of commanding the castle guards to select half a dozen bodyguards for you while you are here. By this time, they should be waiting outside."
Valerie picks up her cane from where she lent it against the desk, and starts to stand. "That remains to be seen. Until the kingdom is in a more orderly state of affairs, I expect."
Urbien starts to stand as well. "I had hoped that would be the case. I have taken the liberty of commanding the castle guards to select half a dozen bodyguards for you while you are here. By this time, they should be waiting outside."
"Thank you, that is most kind." Valerie starts to walk towards the door.
Urbien starts to stand as well. "I had hoped that would be the case. I have taken the liberty of commanding the castle guards to select half a dozen bodyguards for you while you are here. By this time, they should be waiting outside."
"Thank you, that is most kind." Valerie starts to walk towards the door.
Azril, standing with his comrades, straightens nervously at the appearance of Lady Valerie.
Lord Urbien turns to Lady Valerie. "I will leave you to get acquainted with your new bodyguard. I will have a servant show you to your rooms when you are ready. Your things have already been brought there."
Azril, standing with his comrades, straightens nervously at the appearance of Lady Valerie.
Lord Urbien turns to Lady Valerie. "I will leave you to get acquainted with your new bodyguard. I will have a servant show you to your rooms when you are ready. Your things have already been brought there."
Lord Urbien turns to Lady Valerie. "I will leave you to get acquainted with your new bodyguard. I will have a servant show you to your rooms when you are ready. Your things have already been brought there."
Valerie smiles at all the guards as they name themselves, keeping her eye on Azril slightly longer than the rest. "Not to worry, Madoc."
She glances back along the line, then says, "Lovely to meet all of you. Now, I've been sitting down all day and a good part of the night, so I think we might take a walk on the walls, if that's alright." She pauses to give the guards a chance to respond, and starts walking at a sedate pace if there are no objections.
Valerie smiles at all the guards as they name themselves, keeping her eye on Azril slightly longer than the rest. "Not to worry, Madoc."
She glances back along the line, then says, "Lovely to meet all of you. Now, I've been sitting down all day and a good part of the night, so I think we might take a walk on the walls, if that's alright." She pauses to give the guards a chance to respond, and starts walking at a sedate pace if there are no objections.
Madoc breathes an obvious sigh of relief.
None of the guards say anything, and they follow her as she heads to the walls.
Valerie smiles at all the guards as they name themselves, keeping her eye on Azril slightly longer than the rest. "Not to worry, Madoc."
She glances back along the line, then says, "Lovely to meet all of you. Now, I've been sitting down all day and a good part of the night, so I think we might take a walk on the walls, if that's alright." She pauses to give the guards a chance to respond, and starts walking at a sedate pace if there are no objections.
Madoc breathes an obvious sigh of relief.
None of the guards say anything, and they follow her as she heads to the walls.
