Glass Soldier

Chapter 20

       "I heard you got in a very loud argument with councilman Buer," Glancing at Alex, his choice of words very careful.

       "Really? I heard you straight up told him to go fuck himself with the tail of a manticore," Both our gazes shifting to Jay as he played with the owlbear cub using one of his own feathers like he didn't just say that.

     "Neither of you are entirely wrong," I shrugged turning the page in my book while my hair hung freely, my being upsidedown not bothering me. "We got into an argument, his side was rather loud, I said something very cold hearted, he tattled on me," 

     "What'd you say?" Pausing I sighed, sliding my bookmark in place and unraveling myself from my silks, twirling in the process. My foot finding the ground as I stepped away from the long silks and put my book on my desk.

       "I said war was profitable," I  mumbled just loud enough for them to hear. Jay chocked and Alex's brows went sky high.

       "Not as bad as I thought but something tells me context made it worse and the witnesses didn't help," I nodded with a sigh, flopping on my bed face first, next to Jay. Alex remained in my desk chair backwards as he let out a long low whistle.

     "He tattled? As in he told your parents?" Jay asked finding that to be more important than my comment. Which was kinda refreshing as I didn't have Adrain around to play things off.

      "Yeah, my dad sent me a letter warning me not to ruin his relationship with the council," I grunted, my voice muffled by my blanket.

      "Wait, they weren't mad?" Alex asked surprised as I looked up, pulling my face from the bed. "That's a very morally concerning thing to say and as your parents, they weren't worried?"

       "Alex, I know you've met them and they're nice people and whatever but I don't think you understand what it means to be a Windsor..." I laughed lightly, resting my chin in my hand as I kicked my legs gently. "We're the best, morals get in the way,"

       "... One, please never say that again, two, I'm now raising you, three, please tell me you don't actually think that..." He trailed with a pained look on his face while I glanced at Jay who made a point to pretend he was not a part of the conversation.

      "In all honesty, it's one hundred percent true, but that doesn't mean I don't have morals and I'm older than you, you can't raise me,"

      "I can and will, morals don't get in the way of anything and if you're in a situation where you think they do, you shouldn't be in that situation,"

      "And if it were your morals that put you in it?" I asked with a raised brow as he stared at me, opening his mouth he shut it and repeated the action.

     "Morals don't get in the way of anything," Sighing I rolled my eyes while a griffin curled up on the small of my back for a nap.

     "That is if everyone falling the same moral code, they don't do that do they?" 

     "You can't make me change my mind young lady," I pulled a face at his attempt to... I don't know? Play parent?

     "That's because that was how you were raised, morals mean everything to a barbarian and you happened to grow up in a family full of them, I was raised the exact opposite. There's no such thing as playing dirty and morals are nothing but a nuisance," I hummed thinking back on the phrase my father often told me as a child. "But once more, it's not like I'm amoral or anything, I've got morals,"

      "And what would they be?" He asked not pushing any further on my beliefs.

      "Obviously, abide by the law, loopholes are there for a reason if you happen to find them it's not breaking the law. Avoid killing people just or otherwise, you don't want to dirty your image- if you really need to kill someone it's best to get someone else to do it, preferably someone with little ties to you and make sure you don't leave a paper trail, that never ends well. Physical violence is for uncivilized mutts, use your words though avoid emotionally harming others if you-"

      "Nevermind, damn, I mean, technically if you don't explain in detail, I'd say you were a good person but don't leave a paper trail? Where did you learn that shit?" Jay looked at me with some heavy concern while I stared back, my lips parting before pursing.

       "Now I'm embarrassed, you guys were the ones that asked, I just answered honestly,"

       "I don't think I like your parents anymore Lil," Blinking in surprise I looked at Alex, a tight pursed smile on his lips as I looked between them.

        "Did I say something wrong? I feel like you guys are judging me now, most everyone's the same. Follow the law, don't hurt others, emotionally or otherwise- seriously don't look at me like that. What did I say wrong? Guys! Come on! I really don't know!"