Livda found Nairo practising forms in the courtyard 🟠 I've decided. You're my bodyguard now. ⚫ No 🟠 I wasn't even finished ⚫ You were, ginger. Let me train She lifted her chin, doing her best impression of someone important. 🟠 Listen to me now. My teacher said I have talent. Real talent. She said it in front of the whole class! ⚫ Congratulations. 🟠 It means I'm going to be an Emthal. A great one. Do you even know what that means? ⚫ That you'll yell for a living. 🟠 Excuse you? It means I tell stories, Nairo. Real ones. On a stage, in front of actual crowds, with actual VOICES for every character. It's a whole tradition. Emthals have been doing this for hundreds of years. We're basically actresses AND historians AND keepers of memory. People will pay money just to hear me speak ⚫ There's a better chance people pay you to stop. 🟠 My teacher said the greatest Emthals get remembered for centuries. Centuries, Nairo. This is EXACTLY why I need you. You're a swordsman. Your whole family is important. You already live two houses down. You are practically destined to be my bodyguard. You're too slow to even realize you already are. ⚫ I'm not slow. 🟠 You're a little slow. It's fine. Not everyone can be gifted. ⚫ Say that again. 🟠 You're. A little. Slow. Do you need me to say it again slower? Because that would be ironic. Nairo grabbed her ankle and yanked. 🟠 WHAT ARE YOU—PUT ME DOWN ⚫ Say I'm slow again 🟠 I WILL, YOU CAVEMAN He dragged her toward the house, entirely unbothered by her flailing as she did her best to kick him 🟠 HELP! HELP, I'M BEING ATTACKED BY A BRUTE ⚫ As your bodyguard, I am taking you back to your room 🟠 STOP PULLING ME, I CAN WALK! A BARBARIAN HAS SEIZED ME! HELP! ⚫ I am dragging you because you are making a scene. Your "bodyguard" is protecting your public image 🟠 A bodyguard is NOT supposed to manhandle the person they're guarding! That's the OPPOSITE of the job! OUCH, OUCH. He threw her inside her own room and shut the door without responding. ⚫ I'm going home now!