“I…” Peter coughed, his hand keeping a tight grip on the sword that the Goddess of Death ‘gifted’ him — something he would have to ask about ter, for sure — and moved bad away from d’Zaier, “…I did what I felt was necessary.” “Necessary?” d’Zaier hissed, his tone disbelieving at what he perceived eter’s incredulity, “You felt it necessary to call upon every God and Goddess of The Family, including…” He sneered, “That one?” “sidering I spent a week being falsely accused of things I did not do or say and even after your intervention it tinued?” Peter asked, his tone sharp, grating against the edge of the elderly man, “Let me formally apologize, then, for invenieng you.” “In…Invenience…” d’Zaier seemed to swallow his tongue.Behind him, the shorter Vaunn was bug-eyed in his disbelief and also seemed to be stifling a ugh by biting his lip. “You dare…” d’Zaier hissed, his grip tightening oer’s tunihaling sharply. “Desperation, Shepherd, leads oo do… chaotic things… for survival.” “I. . imagine.” d’Zaier hissed dismissively, then cleared his throat and affected a stiffer posture tain his projected authority, “As I said — I think you have done enough for today, otherworlder.” The Shepherd growled under his breath, “Take the child aurn to the visitor’s suite. You are done for today.”He released Peter’s colr with a bit of a push to punctuate his statement.

  This did not phase Peter as much as Santis was hoping it might, perhaps.Peter did feel his hand grip at the sword’s hilt more tightly, but that was just out of reflex on his part — a way to keep himself from saying something before thinking about what to say. “As you say, Shepherd d’Zaier.” Peter’s words coolly rolled off his tongue as he gave a slight bow of his head to avoid any more ‘call-outs’ of ‘disrespect’.Turning his head he called over his shoulder, “Ennalyssa?”, He made sure to keep his tone soft, not everal, as he did not wao feel like he was mad at her in any way, “Let’s go.”

  Standing up from her kneeling position, something she took with the rest of the guard when Ilin'mam'kana spoke but uhe others did not move until she was addressed; standing up and going to Peter’s side when he called her. “Yes, Peytr.” She whispered, nodding her head and half-bowing to the two Shepherds before her, “Shepherd d’Zaier. Shepherd Vaunn.” She greeted respectfully. “Child,” Vaunn nodded iurn, his tole on his stern face, “You did well in practice today.” “Thank you, Shepherd Vaunn.” She whispered, cheeks turning a little pink.d’Zaier said nothing, only giving a sharp and short exhale through his nose before turning and making his leave of the versation.

  Ohey were alone Ennalyssa looked up to Peter, her eyes had been on the bck-bded sword sihe two clergymen had left, “Are… you in trouble?” “I shouldn’t be, no.” Peter gave a wry smirk.Swallowing nervously, “Am… Am I in trouble?” She whispered the words aer looked down at her and he could see the fear on her faeeling dow his free hand on her shoulder, smiling at her, “No.” He said gently, not asking why she thought that, though he was curious, that was not something for open pany like the training field. Plus she needed reassuranot an ‘inquisition’.She nodded and pushed herself into Peter, ing her arms around his neck, “I was scared.” She whispered to him, “I was scared you were gonaken.”Carefully ing his free arm around her he hugged her, “Shh.” He softly pat her back, “I’m sorry if that scared you. That… was done because I kept being accused of things I didn’t say or do.” “Like what?” She asked ily, which just further proved that rumors were falsely spread about him but only to specific people — unless no one simply aowledged Ennalyssa’s presence; something sad but entirely possible given what he had seen this past week. “No oually told me. They only told me things like ‘You won’t get away with it’ or ‘How dare you say those things’ before trying to beat me up.” Peter shrugged, he simultaneously wao be ho and straightforward with her but not weigh her down with such matters; the vagueness of it all did not help. “…” Ennalyssa shared Peter’s disappointed expression, “I don’t like that.” “her did I.” Peter agreed, “And even though d’Zaier spoke to people the other day… today still happened. And I… got upset.” “Well, you didn’t do anything wrong to anyone. So why were people saying that?”Peter only shrugged, “I only imagine someone doesn’t like me, and lied to others to get them to hurt me for them instead of doing things themselves.” “So, a coward.” Ennalyssa grumbled.Peter so badly wao agree but felt this was a teag moment, “Enna, hun, there’s usually a reason why someone does something others would sider cowardly.” He motioo himself, “I would be described as cowardly by everyone here, I am sure, because I wouldn’t want to front someone ht.” “But you didn’t lie to other people to make them hurt you in their pce!” Ennalyssa raised her voice a bit, indignantly, hugging him harder, “Why would ae you that much?” She asked, not l her voi her rising anger, “You’ve dohing but help me. Learning about everything you’re trying to teach me… you protected me…” She swallowed a shuddering breath at the still-fresh memories of her former ‘teacher’. “Easy, easy.” Peter whispered, hugging her a little tighter, notig the looks she… they, really… were getting. Another bit of evidehey had beeo, apparently, “Let’s go back to the visitor suite, Enna. Maybe we grab an early lunch or something.” He smiled, “I think there may be some fry-cakes left over too.” “How you be so calm?” Ennalyssa asked as Peter stood and held her hand as they started to walk off the training field. “I’m not.” He admitted, “I’m still hurting from all that. And I was still nervous while the gods and goddesses were here.” Peter lifted the sword, sighing as he tried not to think about the implications of being given this sort of bde. “You didn’t look nervous…” Ennalyssa looked up as they walked.Peter chuckled, “I am, apparently, a pretty good actor.” “You’re an actor?” She asked surprised. “Well… not really?” Peter chuckled, “I used to py games with friends where we’d make a character and a friend would take all our characters through a made-up adveo tell a group story.” “Sounds like ag to me.” She pointed out.Peter shrugged, “I guess you say it’s kind of like ag, yeah.” “That’s… kind of amazing, Peytr.” She reiterated, taking his hand as they walked off the training field.He could only chuckle at her adaman her statement.

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