“That is not necessary in other nations, Lord Lantal. Rest assured, we took precautions. But animals and people do not…rise. People more than animals, yes, but a zombified bear as you fought recently is a rare, rare thing. Mostly, the undead rise after battles or great calamitous events that are not disposed of.”

“I see. How strange.”

Lantal shook his head. Seraphel wanted to ask him to reverse his thinking.

Then again, she wondered if he thought they were irresponsible for not beheading every creature that died. Perhaps they were.

“I know of undead in general, Lord Lantal. But would you care to speak on the subject ere your bath is drawn?”

They’d have to draw it from the keep’s wells, and then heat it up. Plenty of time for a chat. Lord Lantal agreed, and his children reluctantly let go.

“I thought we were going to ride. You promised!”

The boy whined. Lantal turned to them, sternly.

“Later, Culin, Sasi. I must speak with Her Highness. You would not want to embarrass Afiele, would you?”

That wasn’t what Seraphel had intended! She felt guilty as Lord Lantal washed his hands, removed his armor, and then sat in the outdoor garden around the keep. One of the [Handmaidens] fanned Seraphel, and a [Thronebearer] stood watch.

It made Lantal patently uncomfortable, but Seraphel only remembered they were there because he kept looking at them. Different lives indeed. She had never touched a corpse. She didn’t think she’d even hauled a bucket out of a well, not once.

“I thank you for your time, Lord Lantal. It seems you’re kept busy at all hours, tending to Afiele.”

“It’s my duty, Your Highness. It’s not difficult work.”

“Surely you jest! I don’t know many [Lords] who ride to combat at least once a week!”

He half-shrugged, looking embarrassed.

“Zombies aren’t hard to kill, Princess Seraphel. Even bears can only lumber so fast. A child could outrun them for an hour. It’s escaping them for a day or many of them that’s so tricky.”

“So you say, so you say. But Afiele’s people seem a…resilient lot to me. I can’t imagine one of Calanfer’s children being prepared to kill an undead chicken.”

He was surprised at that.

“You mean they can’t?”

“Won’t, Lord Lantal. I don’t know if I could myself.”

The man blinked at her.

“It’s not hard. If you don’t want to kick one, you can find a rock or brick and…”

He didn’t seem to get it. Lady Risel, on the other hand, sighed as she joined them.

“The bath’s warming up. Lantal, I think Princess Seraphel means that it’s not something one becomes used to outside of Noelictus.”

“Ah. Of course, forgive me, Princess.”

“Seraphel.”

She corrected him gently. He stumbled over her name. Risel smiled.