**Marius**

**"Sir Marius I leave you in charge, I have matters to attend to."**

“Yes, Sir Jacob, you can count on me to keep everything in one piece.  For just as Chrom of legends old could count on Frederick, you can count on me.  Although don’t expect me pick up every pebble in your path.  I’m a knight in your service, not a butler.”

When Jacob turned to leave, Marius felt relieved that he could, at least temporarily, get away from some of the ‘crazies’ that had accumulated in the new “Shepherds”.  Marius’ first task was to head down to the barracks and the armory and take inventory of the supplies and gear that would be available for the “Shepherds” to use on this journey.

Marius was about ready to head out when he heard a quiet voice trying to address him.

**"Hello. Are you also accompanying Sir Jacob on his quest?"** Marius heard the timid voice say, **"As fellow knights of Ylisse, I look forward to working with you, Sir..."** However, there was this short, awkward moment where someone could not remember the name of the person whom she was addressing.

**"My apologies. Um, my name is Thalia!"** She seemed to have tried to redirect attention back to herself so that Marius would also introduce himself, **"I’m a member of the Ylissian Pegasus Squad, and I will be serving as Princess Caroline's guard on this journey."**

“You’re apologies are accepted.  I am Marius.  Sir Jacob has deputized me temporarily while he attended other matters.”  Marius paused for a moment.  His better judgment dissuaded him from pressing on the matter about her being so young and how the perils of this journey would endanger any grown adult, let alone child, knowing that it most definitely would insult the young girl.

“Well, since there are quite a lot of you young folk” Marius said, trying to be as less offensive as possible, “and since I was heading down to the barracks to take inventory of our supplies, why don’t you round up any stragglers who intend on going with us and have all of you meet me down at the barracks for inventory?”