She plunged the sword into the ground and sat down stifling a sigh. “Why?”

“All my life I’ve heard other people talk about Rizel, like they were savages. I heard the stories of how many people they killed and how they’d steal our food and kill our women. When I was little I heard that there was a Rizel living in Alura and that he was a Lord.” Lilly clenched her jaw as he continued. “I know my grandfather respects him and my grandmother does as well. But the king is known to disapprove of him. I just want to hear the truth from someone who knows.”

Lilly sighed relaxing back to look up at the sky. “Growing up I never really knew about how other people in Alura felt towards Rizel. My father told me but I don’t think I really believed him. I couldn’t fathom anyone seeing Jaden as anything but a good man. He watched me grow up, he taught me to fight and hunt and tried to help curb my temper. I know about the raids and the deaths of Aluran people but I also know about the Rizel deaths that we caused them. The whole thing has been a vicious cycle that Jaden is breaking. The raids have stopped and peace is so close now. It makes me furious when anyone, human or Rizel judges another life on what another has done. Each person is different and should be given a chance to prove themselves friend or foe, honorable or disreputable. But when it comes to Jaden, there is no one, not even my father, that I trust more.” She picked at the grass beside her meditatively.

“I want to meet him.” Rak said as if he decided something. Then after a few moments of silence he changed the subject. “I can’t believe my grandmother hasn’t figured our that you’ve been coming out here for the past ten days.” He laughed all the way back to the ground putting his hands behind his head.

“Mistress Clara…believes that I am antisocial and says that at the Aluran ball she expects me to mingle as a Lady should.” She imitated Clara’s voice making Rak laugh again.