You might be wondering if my name is really Mary Smith. You’ve probably already guessed it’s my pseudonym. I chose it specifically because it’...s as plain and common as dirt. Those who choose monikers like Mistress Gobblecocks or Iona Wetpussy are trying way too hard. If you think you’re going to track me and my real life down by name alone, good luck locating the 38,086 Mary Smiths in the United States that ain’t me.Why did I take that last precaution? Because of my literal job, my actual. Only time would tell.Stephan waited patiently at the Kartic landing site. He hadn't told anyone other than Arianna that Kat's grandfather was arriving today. The palace was crazy with all the preparations for the Renewal Festival combined with combating the chicken pox outbreak. Arianna and Kat spent most of their time at the clinic. In fact the seamstresses had been a bit put out when they had to go to the clinic to do the final fitting for her festival robes. The festival couldn't come soon. “Grew up on a small ranch on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas with 3 brothers. My parents were the backwoods type. As in, women did the cooking while men did the hunting. Wanted a change when I went to college. Although, my parents were not too fond of my career choice.” She said simply. “My job leaves me with little time to visit.” She added shortly after that. “I am sorry to hear about your parents.” She said softly after that.. The Henryville school teacher was a gold mine of useful information about the tactics the Roman legions used and were bein' used now over in Europe. I had our militia practice something called the "box." This had a bunch of pikemen lined up in a box-like arrangement with musketeers or archers inside the box. We had enough men in the militia that we could form a box with 10 men on a side and have seven crossbowmen, plus me an' Ezra inside the box. Southeastern Alabama weren't a good place ta try.