Gertrude winced at the thought that she'd given Fionn more credit than he probably deserved. The stupid git had put his life on the line for a moment of idiot-glory when Gertrude could have finished the thing from range. The main thing stopping her was probably that she thought it would've been funny if the man had been mortally wounded.

But again, she wasn't about to upset a princess. Stories were meant to entertain, after all.

"Aye, Sir Fionn is very-"

Bloody stupid.

"-Brave. But with the guardian defeated, we entered the Fey Realm of The Moonlit Queen and her coterie. Despite her grandiose title, she was actually no taller than you," she related to Maletha, "she was tiny, pale, and beautiful. Dark, enchanting eyes. Hair so long that it pooled like a waterfall. It turned out she had taken the duke's wits because he didn't seem to have time for her any more. Apparently, they had met when he was young and played together. Now an adult with responsibilities, the duke had allowed his friendship to lapse. Needless to say, if either of you befriend a powerful Fey, maintain a good relationship."

---

"Oh? Are you jealous, Yaya?" Gretchen asked, a mischievous grin on her lips, "I don't pat just [i]any[/i] paladin. Only the small and cute ones."

Gretchen reached out her other hand to pat Tyaethe.

"Well, Fleuri is the knight I'm least acquainted with, so I look forward to seeing what he's capable of. Still..."

Gretchen frowned slightly in thought.

"Haizea? If not for glory, why would [i]you[/i] fight in the tournament if given the chance? Anyone can see that you are eager. Is all of that on behalf of your goddess, or do you desire the pleasure of a good fight? Is it worldly desire, or entirely outside of yourself?"

Gretchen went back to grinning as she looked down at Tyaethe, and thought about how excited she had looked in her fight with Rozenalt. The way she selfishly demanded a duel she wasn't completely certain she would win. Prideful and bloodthirsty in a way Gretchen hadn't seen before or since. She wondered quietly if there were many paladins like that.