"Where did you come from, Aunt?"
"Salerno, of course. I'm also representing your father and your step... er, I mean, your siblings."
"Not Messina?"
"Ever since that last time the Saracens besieged Messina, Roger decided I should stay far away from Sicily."
"I recall he arranged for you to be in Miletto, didn't he."
"Oh, please. In Miletto, it's just me. So boring! I don't like staying there at all. Salerno is much more lively."
"What was the bet?"
"What?"
"Didn't you just say Bohemond made a bet with you?"
"Er... a... a solid silver brooch."
"Solid silver? Are you sure?" Eric asked with interest.
"Of course, solid silver. I have... I have a few Saracen servants! They're very skilled at appraising the silver content!"
"A solid silver brooch? Alright, my dear aunt, perhaps I should tell you that Bohemond stopped wasting his time betting with me or anyone else on topics concerning me since he was twelve.
