Thank you," she smiled demurely, and then made a moment out of settling into her seat better as he stood there watching her.I wanted to laugh and cry....The rest of the hour he not only spoke a little more loudly than usual, but he spoke a hell of a lot more slowly too. Almost as though purposely doing so, so that Bella could understand the lecture better. But I also noticed as he swept the room, walking back and forth from side to side on the small little platform stage, that he always seemed to. No. You'll have to excuse me -- you're not what I was expecting ... when we spoke on the phone you did not sound Black." I understand completely. You'll have to excuse me, too -- when we spoke on the phone you did not sound like an asshole. If you'll excuse me I'll be going before we waste any more of each other's time." She turned toward the door."Wait -- don't go. I didn't mean it that way, Steffi. You're race doesn't make any difference to me. You're a beautiful woman -- you're just not what. My pride must split before I claim it, or they will all be trapped here with me until I die. Mother wants the tribe to split. She has worked towards this goal for so long I can’t disappoint her.’“So, what do we do with the sceptre in the meantime? It can’t stay there,” Ricky replied.‘You are the Paladin; you can take care of the Sceptre until the spring. Once we have seen off those who wish to leave, I can then claim the throne as my mother wished. For some reason, I don’t think you should. She leaned in and was looking right in my face."Ever do anything about it?" she said bluntly.I was shocked. I didn't think girls (even someone in her age bracket, probably young 20s) would ask that."Well I won't lie. Yeah. I'm not a pig. I don't want you to think I am. But yeah. I think it's pretty well expected that with her attitude, etc., there's not a lot going on. So she kinda figures it must be on my end," I said."Well good," Bridget said to me."Good?" I said to her with a confused.