“You have but a day now before your marriage?” Hoping to set her mind back to normal. Her response gushed out in gratitude as she revealed more than she normally would of her mind. “Yes, it’s strange though, I really do not know what is expected of me. I mean I will have no authority or position as such. At my father’s house I was always the princess, now what will I be?” She stopped suddenly as she wondered if she presumed too much on his acquaintance. She barely knew this man, how could she make so free with him? Her eyes grew large as she saw how he looked so intently at her and then he said. “Were you not even born to it, you would always be a princess.” He smiled in such a sad sweet way as he spoke her breath stilled in her throat. “Sebastian?” She asked, her manner cautious. “Yes?” His bluntness had a way of disconcerting a person but nevertheless licking her dry lips she dared further and decided to be equally as direct. As she asked she noted his strong face, the scowling brow over eyes that reflected a pure soul. His was a face that did not attract whimsy nor suffered folly. Again she swallowed hard but nonetheless asked her question. “Are you, will you be… my friend?” “Yes.” Again his candor lay as a deep ocean of steadfastness in a single word. But his eyes held hers with such a wondrous sincerity she felt it to be thrilling. She pursued the line of thought that seemed so very necessary to establish between them. “Would you always tell me the truth?” Truth, she thought, as she said it, it appeared she never before found it necessary to ask any for, so much she once took for granted. One thing she was sure of, with Anselm’s casual attitude toward her she would need an ally in this place and Ferret was too far removed from her station. “About what?” His small smile was growing, yet not denying his fine brow its right to form puzzlement at her request. “About anything?” Was she going too far here? “Ah well, anything covers too much territory I believe. Let me say this I will always endeavor to be honest with you.” His smile broadening as he realized she was not pressing for his secret. “Isn’t that the same thing?” “Is it?” He was suddenly serious again. No it was not the same and if she did not understand that then she needed even more of his protection. Trust Alfric to only supply the goodness in man to teach his daughter. What did he think she would be leaving him to go to? His sigh kept inward as he remembered the stalwart father of the girl before him. Was he so blind that he could not see that all men were not as he?