💬💬💬!!

“You are to
do what?”

It takes a
lot out of Kynan not to cower before the stern gaze fixed upon him. The woman,
no, girl he is speaking to is a through and through confusing figure; he knows
she’s the de facto ruler of Whitestone, but also a girl younger than him,
probably. And yet she speaks with the easy authority of someone used to
command, has the stiff posture he’d seen on Emon’s nobles in passing, and an
overwhelming aura of competence.

All of this
made her disapproving tone feel like she was almost physically striking him.
The accompanying frown also called attention to the faint lines on her face
that shouldn’t be on a girl so young, just like the white streaks in her hair.
All in all, it seemed impossible that the young woman in front of him was
barely seventeen.

“S-Sir
Vax’ildan told me to… To guard you, my lady.” He kept his back straight, but
his eyes averted, like his father had taught him to do when the Emperor or his
family or any other noble passed by. He still saw how Lady Cassandra frowned at
him some more.

“He’s not a
sir,” she corrected him pointedly. “His sister is a Baroness and a Lady, but
none of that applies to him, for reasons no one saw fit to tell me.” She then
waved dismissively. “Forget I said anything.”

“As you
say, Lady de Rolo.” He bowed again, like a good guard was supposed to when
addressed by his noble charge, and yet he still saw her wincing at his words.

“Do not
address me like that,” she reprimanded him, yet not as pointedly as before. Her
voice had gotten a shade… Brittle, was the best word Kynan could think of.
“That address would be for my Lady Mother. My eldest sister Vesper, after
mother died. Percival’s wife, should he ever have one.” She shook her head.
“Not for me. I am Lady Cassandra. Lady Casandra Johanna von Musel Klossowski de
Rolo of Whitestone, Guardian of the Woven Stone, in a formal context. Lady
Cassandra will suffice almost always.”

[Unfinished and unpublished WIP. Because I like titles.]

Put a
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into my asks and I’ll post a bit of writing that I’m proud of!