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"Well of course. I may be a social deviant, but I know that the proper ettiquette for serving human tongue is always to begin with the soup." She gave him a look as though she had been insulted, though it was obvious she had not been. "But it would have to be thicker, for I am sure a simple broth would just slip right out of the mouths of all the past suitors who ahd their own tongues served to them in similar fashion."

"Yes, well, for someone my age I suppose I am rather well built." The earl attempted a statuesque pose, trying to look suave. He followed the duchess's gaze when she looked behind her. "So what do you make of it?"

"Well it is not as though I chose them. They are paraded in front of me." She waved her hand to the side. "Just like a procession of baffoons. It is quite amusing, I must say, to find the faults in each and dismiss them before they can even tell me their name."

"Do you really think so?" The earl was curious now. "Terryn has never shown anything but pure disgust towards any male of the marrying age. It seems a strange thing to change now."

"Oh well aren't you cheeky? I shall have you know that the only relief they are rewarded is that of escaping with their lives once I pull my bow and arrows out." Terryn gave him a superior looking stare, a somewhat playful looking grin on her face.

"Then let us, my good lady." There was a bench a few feet off, at the edge of the king's public gardens, and the earl took the duchess by the hand and led her to them. "I shall be utterly astounded if they do become an item."

"Well actually I burn those, because I tend to aim for an area that is not so much lethal as very...should I say...emasculating?" She raised an eyebrow at him, trying to force a reaction.

The earl watched the couple. "Hmmm, it is strange...I do not think I have seen Terryn in such high spirits ever since her mother died. She looks as though she may even be smiling."

In response, Terryn stood straight and gave him a stiff bow as though he were a gentleman of the court. "Well thank you, sir. I believe that is the first true comment any man has ever given me. Normally I am called 'beautiful', 'ravishing', or even 'unique' but this is the first time I have been freed of the title 'lady' and ergo I no longer have to abide by any of the restrictions of being one."

"It is very unusual, my dear. Terryn has smiled once since the death of her mother, and that was when Serina took ill and had to be bled by leeches." The earl shuddered a bit. "She is not a particularly happy young woman."

"This is true, but now I can pull off my corset, flaunt my weaponry, and ride my horse at other people instead of around them." Terryn had a very satisfied smile on her face. "Ah yes, the life of a man will please me very much."

"Apparently..." The earl blinked at Terryn's obvious entertainment. "Serina? She is fine, I suppose. Keeps forcing me to marry of Terryn because she can not stand to see her dowry lying around or something to that effect."

"Wench now, eh?" Terryn gave him an amused looking stare. "Well if I am wench then even better! I can use my powers of female manipulation while still being able to be rude, coarse, and uncommonly vulgar." Terryn thought on the prospect for a moment. "Besides, I am sure that the common drunkard is much better company than the stuffy nobles I have been forced to associate with."

The Earl nodded, looking flabbergasted. "This is something completely new to me. I have yet to see her as a proper young woman, in my eye she has always been my sharp young girl, but now, why look at her."