Eneas was not thinking of the same kind of pleasant memories, to judge by the look on his face. "Cities! I despise them. I beg your pardon, Princess, but you cannot guess the kind of trouble they make for a ruler. The ideas that ordinary people get into their heads when they live in a city! All day long they see their neighbors wearing garments too fancy for their station, or they see nobles acting no better than the peasants themselves, until nobody knows where he belongs or what he is supposed to do. And theaters! Briony, I know you have a sentimental attachment to those players with whom you traveled, but you must know that most theaters are little better than… forgive my rough speech, I beg you, but it must be said… little better than brothels when it comes to the morals of the players. They parade in front of drunken men-some of the players dressed as women!-and frequently hire themselves out like common prostitutes. Again, I beg your pardon, but the truth must be told."

Briony tried not to smile. It was true that many of the players were a little loose in their morals-the treacherous Feival Ulosian, for one, had kept a string of wealthy admirers up and down the north of Eion-but she just couldn't see it with the same indignation Eneas felt. If the prince's beloved shepherds were so much better behaved, it could only be for lack of human companionship out there on the windy hillsides. Then again, they couldn't be as chaste as all that-little shepherds had to come from somewhere, didn't they…?

"And why shouldn't ordinary people come together at a market or festival?" she said out loud. "Why would the gods have given us festivals if we were not supposed to enjoy them?"