Dragoncrest Cliffs this maudlin moment

Heirs, eh? He listened to her speak, entranced by the picture she painted with her words. Your highness, he cut in once with a mock bow, but gave her a genuine smile and urged her continue, sincerity in his eyes. Her question--no, the addendum to her question--gave him some pause, and he blinked before shaking his head, seeing the sturdy forests of Trigeda rise up in his mind.

No, Verx laughed. I lived by the sea for a while, as a child. But then we moved inland to Trigeda, and I stayed there for most of my life. Not a lot of experience with water. He shrugged, glancing away. He missed Trigeda more than he would ever let on. It was beginning to dawn on him that he would likely die in Heda's service before returning to his old home.

My childhood was normal, really, he continued. My parents were warriors, like everyone else; they trained me and my siblings to fight. Other than learning all that, I just sort of. . .fucked around, I guess. Fought in battles when I needed to, but got in trouble, made friends. Chased girls, he added, a gleam in his eyes as he fixed a stare on her. Wasn't bad. But I wasn't royalty, like you.