the steadholder is a furycrafter of considerable strength and has military experience he is within his rights as a citizen to stand in defense of his steadholt '' bernard scowled at amara and said , `` i do n't like it `` pirellus nodded `` i must agree , countess you presumably do not have military experience beyond personal defense i do n't like it either `` `` fortunately , i do not need either of you to like it '' amara arched an eyebrow at bernard as the legionare came running back up , both shoulders draped with coats of mail , one arm loaded down with weaponry she took the mail he offered her , a long vest of interlocking rings , and took off her cloak to shove her arms into its padded undervest , and then into the mail itself she started fumbling with the buckles , only to have bernard push her fingers away and start cinching the buckles tight with practiced speed `` you should n't be up here , '' he said `` because i 'm a woman ' '' amara pulled a cloak on over her shoulders again and buckled on a belt with a clip for her sword 's scabbard `` because you 're green unblooded it 's got nothing to do with you being a woman `` she glanced at him , arching an eyebrow bernard shrugged , tugging another buckle closed `` almost nothing here , move your arms a bit , so that this will settle `` by the time she 'd finished , bernard had dumped his cloak in exchange for a mail shirt of his own and a steel cap whose flanges spread down over the back of his neck , while the metal guard pressed down over his nose he strapped on the sword belt , while his eyes swept the ground outside the walls , then took up his bow `` quiet , '' said the big-eared legionare again , from down the wall he tilted his head for a moment , then swallowed the man looked down the wall at pirellus and nodded `` sir ?