A small thing was that they were walking with almost eight feet between them. A coffin separating them. Ser Dalius had given her room at first, with a…[Knight]’s…courtesy. But that gap had been widening slightly. He glanced at her, but didn’t speak of it. After a second, though, he did cough delicately into an armored fist.

“Incidentally, Miss Cara…I would bring up one point with you. I am a [Knight]. I request, politely, that you call me Ser Dalius. Miss Cara.”

“Okay, Dalius. Whatever you say.”

The [Knight] looked put out.

“I fear you are japing me in some poor joke, Miss Cara.”

She smiled.

“It’s not a joke. Dalius. Feel free to ask me to call you Ser as much as you want. But I’m just Cara. That’s my name. And you’re Dalius. Why should I call you Ser?”

“…Because I am a [Knight]. Because I won my honor by over a decade of training, received a noble title from my [King], and have sworn to defend my kingdom against all foes? I own—owned land, you know.”

“Oh, a landowner. Good for you, Dalius. I was meaning to buy my own place when I had more money.

Why does that make you special?”

She glanced up at him, eyebrows raised challengingly. The [Knight] frowned. He couldn’t have known how much asserting his nobility would rub Cara the wrong way. He huffed.

“Have you no respect for skill at arms? Effort? Sacrifice in defense of kingdom and home?”

She rolled her eyes.

“I have all the respect for that. But you’re not above me. That’s what ‘ser’ means. Just like ‘Your Majesty’. I don’t believe in any of those things.”

Dalius looked extremely affronted. But Cara meant every word. The [Knight] floated closer. She didn’t quite walk away.

“I find your attitude offensive, Miss Cara. Would you not bow to a [King] if he stood in front of you?”

“How many swords are aimed at my neck?”

The [Knight]’s brow furrowed into his face.

“Don’t you respect royalty? They protect the land! They rule with wisdom and grace—as much as they are able. Surely that means something?”

She laughed in his face. Cara knew that was probably a dangerous move to do to an immortal ghost with a sword, but she spoke to him nonetheless.

“Kings? As bad as gods and the nobility! To hell with them all! I come from a land with no kings or monarchs. We won our freedom. And we bow to no one anymore. We are all equal. No gods! No monarchs and sodding kings!”

Ser Dalius stared at Cara with an open-mouth. And then sighed.

“Oh. Izrilians.”

He rolled his eyes, exasperated. Cara looked at him.

“Where?”