Chapado was also glad to be done with the questioning. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t want to help. She did. She cared a great deal for Menthanla. Of all the places she’d lived, Menthanla was one of her favorites. But she still needed to talk with Crito. She’d been kept busy during most of his time off. Usually, soldiers worked eight hours on active duty and four hours training, caring for their weapons, and making reports. As Prince Tolin’s bodyguard, Crito was on active duty for twelve hours. He still needed to see to his other responsibilities. So he used part of his off-duty time to see to them. Chapado had offered to help, but because she was a civilian and not even a citizen, she couldn’t help with reports. Crito, like most soldiers, believed in caring for his own equipment to assure it was done properly. And she couldn’t train for him. Now that she wasn’t spending most of her day in meetings with Emeton and Prince Remtani, she hoped she could talk with him. She met him when he was done for the day. “May I walk with you?” She asked. He shrugged. “Does it bother you that I worry about you?” He didn’t say anything. “Crito, I didn’t kiss you because I wanted to sleep with you.” The statement surprised him. “I had a lover. I ended it to be with you. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you, talking, and drinking with you. I wanted more, but you weren’t picking up on my hints.” “If you didn’t want to sleep with me…” “I didn’t say that. I do want to sleep with you. I just don’t want it to be the only thing we do. I don’t want you to stop being a soldier, and I don’t want to hinder you. But I do care about you and I will worry. If you do something foolish, I’m going to say something, not because I want to control you, but because I want you to succeed and survive. I will try to temper what I say, but I will say…” He stopped and pulled her to him and kissed her. His armor was uncomfortable. But she didn’t protest. “Chapado, I enjoy spending time with you too. And I care about you too. It’s been a long time since I had a relationship with a woman, even longer since anyone cared about me. Sometimes, I’m not sure how to react. I have an important job, it means a lot to me to have it. For a long time, it was all I had. I can’t let my feelings or relationships interfere. If you need to tell me you don’t like what I did, I can respect that. But, please, do it in private. And remember, I may not have the choice to act differently. If we discuss it, maybe you could see that too. “I know you’re upset because I went to the gate, unarmed. An armed soldier in full armor would have startled them more. Chances are good more of them would’ve shot at me. I doubt Ann’s shield would have stopped multiple of those projectiles, and neither would my armor. Some situations don’t have good options, just poor options of various degrees. I try to pick the least bad choice.” Chapado nodded. She understood that part. “For now, I can accept this.” “Do not try to change me, woman,” Crito warned. “Change you? Never. I chose you as you are. Why would I want to make you different? I’ll just see if I can handle it.” Crito relaxed. “Okay. Let’s go so I can make my report. I’m starved.” “I know you aren’t supposed to eat while you’re guarding Prince Tolin, but can I bring you something for while we walk back to the barracks? You’re always so hungry.” “It’s not against the rules. But I won’t ask you to do that. This will only last another few days.” “I’m usually coming to see you. It won’t be anything to bring you something.” He smiled and took her hand. That may be frowned on, but it wasn’t exactly against the rules.