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He sighed "We can talk But as you probably noticed already, they’re not e to a quiet cove that didn’t appear to have seen any fighting

Once ere alone, I sat on one of the smoother rocks and invited hiht on his feet, as if he felt more coht was over and he and I needed to talk before the next one came

Finally, he sheathed his sword, and then sat with his hands clasped together He glanced at round with his boot

We sat in silence until he finally said, "The night before we took this garrison, I overheard theThey kneould be hard, and risky, and most of them expected to fail I almost stepped froht at their side until the end But then they said if we failed, it would betheir captain" When he looked up at ht, Jaron"

For so beforedown at me in full disapproval Earlier that day, I had taken all the coins fros dish at the church Stolen the back now, I knew my actions had eer I couldn’t explain that I had given the coins to a youngin toho’d been threatened with debtors’ prison Much as I wanted et her in trouble too In front of the entire court, he had toldlike a prince should be

Uneasy with the memory, I stood and reminded , I said, "You know my flaws, Roden I make plans that don’t work, s when the easier option should be obvious I’ about you"

"I’m a terrible captain!" Roden said "You can’t convince ree with that," I said "You are terrible"

He drew back "Is that ain, my memories transported me back over the years "Afterabout theprince, about me At first, I had expected to hear sadness, how much they mourned ht They didn’t ave the about These were people who had bohen I entered a room, but they never loved me and certainly never respecteda prince"

"Nor a king Before I went to the pirates, do you knohy Gregor was able to so easily ents?"

"Because they were ridiculous and stupid"

"Wellyes But they weren’t evil All they knew about me was the boy my father had sent away from the castle If I were still that boy, then they shouldn’t have allowed me to rule If they didn’t trust me to lead, that was my fault"

Now Roden stood "But they follow you now -- they bow because they respect you, not just your title It’s different for me I am not worthy of my position, and you know it"

"How dare you doubt er was sudden, but justified "Why do you think I went to the pirates? For the pleasure of their company? For entertainment? It certainly did no favors to my health I came for you, Roden I risked ain disrespect the risks I took by clai you weren’t worth it!"