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It wasn’t entirely true, but Karigan blessed his quick thinking

The king, as if stunned by the sight of Karigan in anything other than green, esture “Of course Proceed”

With another bow, Braye, the older gentlean was relieved, with that audience looking on, that she hadn’t floundered too badly in the idiotic shoes, or fallen The carriage driver and Braye as effortless as possible

When all were seated, the driver snapped the reins and the horses stepped out s them from atop the steps He , and who the young man was that accompanied her

Good, she thought, not without a certain amount of spiteful satisfaction

The carriage ride proved stiff and aith Styles, Brayan down his nose He queried after Karigan’s chaperone, for surely the young lady must be accompanied by one, and when she inforrunted with an expression of displeasure, and spoke in rapid Rhovan to Braymer Braymer’s reply was sharp

Karigan did not know ist of the discussion Rhovanny was a far ard to its beliefs and customs, and a woht toil in the fields, bear endless children, or e a husband’s lands and household while he attended to “business” elsewhere, but it was rare for a woman to own a business, and unheard of for a woan did Wo swords were considered iarded as ill of mind, and were treated as such

Rhovanny tolerated the larger role women played in Sacoridian society It had to if it wanted to participate in cohbor Rhovanny also knew Sacoridia’s history: wo War to defend the deciions of Mornhavon the Black when so many of the menfolk had been slain on the field of battle It had widened the role of woh women could choose to continue on in traditional roles or to operate businesses or to serve the monarchy in many capacities, those who chose to carry swords remained in the minority

Rhovans were polite about Sacoridia’s perceived oddities, but they didn’t necessarily like thean was sure the absence of a chaperone placed her in the category of “loose women” as defined by Rhovan culture She wondered what Styles would think if he saw her in unifore that ca to be an interesting afternoon

The carriage ruhfare, the Winding Way, onto Gryphon Street, one of the city’s more artistic districts Here bookbinders and jewelers practiced their crafts, and sculptors and painters exhibited their work, hoping to attract the attention of wealthy patrons Music wafted fro down to the street below Fine harp music it was, s and a wail

“It is rubbish! Everything I compose! Absolute rubbish!”