"It said, and I am going to paraphrase, 'I had relations with your sister.' From the guilty look his sister gave him as he read it, it wasn't just a groundless insult."
	"Oh ho ho ho, someone's in trouble! That sounds like a recipe for war. How'd he take it?"
	"With that said, the recipient lord did not believe in the idea of not shooting the messenger, and I had to flee his land. I have not set foot on even the farms under his control since. From what a fellow courier in the fold told me, he has a portrait of me in a black book he carries. This courier also told me I am not the only courier in it. The feud had been that petty and laden with so many angry messages back and forth."
	"No way! Wow. If he keeps that up, no other couriers will deliver messages for him. Which might be a good thing, because when all the available couriers run out (no pun intended), the messages will stop coming and he might think everything blew over. But honestly, is it worth risking your life over? I mean, if you were paid a cartload of money for it, heck, even I'd risk my life over that, but it doesn't sound awfully rewarding."
	"Sorry about that. It's not too often I have someone to tell a story to. It's refreshing."

Rose reddened a little and scratched her neck. "Well, you know, that's what I'm here for. I'm just a bundle of refreshing. Oh gosh, what am I saying? I'm making it awkward. Why'd you have to go saying nice things like that?" She gave him a playful shove on the shoulder and chuckled.

A shrill call got Rose's attention. She looked back to see Princess Amalthea wave at them. The princess jogged up to them and wrapped herself around Solomon's arm. "Hi everyone! I have had the most wonderful time exploring Tinsdale. You and I absolutely must go shopping, Solomon. The downtown market is positively stuffed! Shopkeepers were offering samples, letting me try out their wares, and being all around wonderful people. You should come!"

Rose folded one arm and looked away.