Chapter 4:
By the time I returned to the Prince’s mansion, it was 3:30. I was thirty minutes late of the planned meeting time. But I had no idea I was late. How was I supposed to know that the old grandfather clock in the mansion ran 2 whole hours late? It was 4 by the time the butler told me about it.
So I immediately boarded my carriage and went home. On the way there, I told Uncle Svan the real reason why I prepared the mercenary groups. I was scared that I might be disowned or removed by my own family because they did not even mention my Awakening Ceremony.
Needless to say, Svan was pissed. He nearly flew into a rage right there. See, Uncle Svan and Egil are the brothers of my late mother, and they dote on me a lot. Therefore, finding about this, he was quite angry. He tried to comfort me by telling me that there’s no way that would happen, but he didn’t sound too sure about that.
Then, he issued commands to the Frostsworn and ordered them to rent inns nearby, and prepare to an instant assault on the Calsworth manor, in the off chance that the Calsworth wanted to get rid of me. While they would be on standby, Uncle Svan would accompany me inside, under the guise of witnessing the Awakening Ceremony. The 5 iron-rank guards would stand by the carriage, which would ensure the escape route, while the Grey Wolves would hide themselves in several carriages while disguised as cargo.
I was assured of my safety, because Svan was a gold-rank knight, with quite a reputation as well.
By the time I arrived, it was 4:15. I was 45 minutes late. At the front gate, I could see loads of guards, with at the very least 20-30 bronze-rank guards, and at least 5 silver ranked knights guarding and patrolling the gate. Even for the family of Heroes, this was an extremely rare sight. This was because on top of the visible guards, there were several gold-rank experts hidden around the manor. Together with my Uncle Svan, we entered the Calsworth manor.
While we made our way through the Flowerside courtyard to where the reception hall was, we were met by a silver rank captain with a team of 4 bronze ranked guards.
“Halt, who goes there.” says one of the guards.
Uncle Svan answers. “This is Svan Hallisson, brother of the late 3rd mistress of the Calsworth family. I come here with young Axel of the Calsworths to witness the ceremony of my niece.”
“Mr. Hallisson? Wait right there, I need to check if your name is on the list.”
The guard goes up to the silver rank captain to ask her about the list.
The silver rank captain pulls out a rolled up parchment, unrolls it, and looks at it.
She shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t see a Mr. Hallisson.”
Uncle Svan replies. “Are you sure? I’m the 3rd mistress’s brother, surely you should know that.”
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t let you in without permission. Can I ask you to please step away from young master?”.
“What?” Uncle Svan seems confused.
“I said, can you please step away from young master? He is late to the ceremony. We are still waiting for him. You can wait out here while we escort him inside. I’ll get someone to ask Master Malcolm about you.”
Uncle Svan refuses. “No.”
The captain shakes her head. “Before things get violent, I advise you to step back, and step away from young master.” She puts her hand on her sword, and so do the rest of the guards. A killing intent slowly began filling the air.
Svan shakes his head. “No, I am the brother-in-law of the Calsworth family, and I will not be treated this way.” I can see that he’s doing this to protect me. If I am separated from Uncle Svan, then I would be vulnerable to any plots to get rid of me.
In addition, he can not openly declare that I hired him as a bodyguard, because that would just openly display my suspicion toward the family, which would probably cause many problems. Even if my suspicions were to be false, I would become a laughingstock for getting my Uncle to guard me.
Then Svan put his hand on his sword, pushing me behind him with his other hand. Suddenly the air turned cold. The guards began turning jittery while the silver rank captain’s face grew grim.
“This killing intent. Are you a gold-rank?”
Uncle Svan laughs.“Haha, do you still want to remove me with force?”
“I don’t, but for young master, I must.” Suddenly, she pulls out a copper whistle and blows it.
*SCREEEEEEEEECH
Oh my gosh! That whistle sounds terrible! My ears hurt, because that was the most screechy whistle I’ve ever heard.
Putting the whistle down, she smiles and says. “If you dare harm young master, even if you are a gold-rank fighter, you aren’t getting out of here alive. Guards, take him down!”
With a battlecry, the captain and her guards draw their weapons and charge toward Uncle Svan.
All of a sudden, I am flung backwards as Uncle Svan draws his weapon and dashes forth to the right, prepared to meet them in combat. Uncle Svan’s weapon of choice is an axe, and he wields it as if it was weightless as he swings it toward the guard on the right.
The guard’s eyes open wide with fright as he brings his sword to block it.
At the moment of impact, the guard successfully blocks it, but is flung into the 2 guards right next to him. One of the guards was too late to react, but the other dodged sideways in time. However, this one move took 3 guards out of the fight at the time being, leaving Svan facing only the captain and one bronze-rank guard.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
The captain and the guard yells out, cutting down at Svan with a yell. But somehow, Svan brings his axe back in time and deflects both of them with another swing of his axe. His axe smashes into the ground as he jumps forth to deliver a kick into the stomach of the guard.
The guard was launched back over 10 meters due to the force. It seemed to me that he’d be unable to fight for the next minute or so, seeing how Svan kicked him so hard. After seeing Svan let go of the axe and kick the guard, the captain saw an opportunity to strike. She swung her sword horizontally, hoping to catch him at the waist.
*CLANG~
Sadly for the captain her attack was blocked. Though he didn’t seem like it, he was actually ready for her attack. He had a sword hanging at his waist, which he told me previously was his secondary weapon. He merely swung his sheath up, barely catching her sword.
Uncle Svan let out a laugh as he picked up his and closed down on the captain. He was terrifying. He swung his axe even faster than the captain could swing her sword. Who knew how much strength was contained in those arms of his.
In but a few slashes, the captain had been forced to retreat several steps. It seemed to me that he would win soon. But the other guards, save the one that had been kicked had gotten up and returned to join the fight.
As I lay there, I watched the fight go on. As my Uncle single-handedly began to overpower them, I began to slowly retreat. I was scared. My own family’s guards had attacked.
Did they truly want to get rid of me?
The next thing I noticed was the sudden sound of footsteps coming from two directions. Oh no! Were the rest of the guards coming? I have to escape.
I yelled to Uncle Svan. “Uncle! We have to go! The rest of the guards are coming!”
He yelled back. “Go! Run back to the front gate! The Grey Wolves should be heading there! I’ll follow you in a bit!”
Scared for my life, I began running. As I rounded a corner, I encountered a group of guards. Oh shit. I dashed right through them before they could react. I needed to get through them to get to the gate. I could hear Uncle Svan yell as he disentangled himself from the guards to dash my way.
“Hm? Young master?”
“Ah! Intruder!”
The sounds of weapons clashing filled the air again.
Soon, I grew tired. Heavens above, why was the gate so damn far away?! I could’ve sworn it wasn’t that far away when I came here.
*Clink *Clink. I could hear the rustle of armor behind me. Combined with the footsteps I hear, that can only be one thing. The guards have almost got me!
Drawing upon more strength than I knew I had, I sped up a pace. I could see the gate! I'm almost safe!
*KA-SPLASH
I faceplant on the ground. I think I tripped.
I guess it’s over. It was a short but good life of mine. I lived in a rich household, and had friends. I was even rich for one day.
The footsteps grew even closer.
Actually, now that I think back on it, my life sucked. Every day, I would get my butt handed to me by my sister. In addition, everybody at school would make fun of me since I can’t fight. I wish I wasn’t born to a hero’s family.
“Whoa!” Large gruff hands suddenly picked me up, and suddenly threw me. Then I was caught by someone else, and then carried. After, I heard the sound of steel hitting steel. What's happening?
Did Svan come back to save me?
I looked up, straining myself to see who was carrying me, and who was fighting. What?! It was the iron-rank mercenary that admired Svan! If he was here, then who was fighting? I looked over. I could see a group of people wearing leather armor along with Uncle Svan fighting a group of guards wearing iron armor. It was the Grey Wolves! They came!
With them here, I have a good chance of escaping!
“HALT!” A voice rang out.
Suddenly, before I escaped, the gate closed on itself. Then, the door to the Flowerside courtyard opened as two figures walked out. They were Father and Taylor, the 2nd son of the Calsworth family.
Taylor is actually a famous genius magician, who has his own tower he can live in, and conduct private research. In addition, he is sponsored by the magic college here in Queenspark, the royal family, and many other nobles including our family. Thus, he has a lot of power in terms of politics and the city. It was also probably due to him that the gate closed with no warning.
A majestic voice rang out. “Who dares attack the Calsworth manor? Surrender your weapons and await judgement.”
Soon, the fighting stopped. The Grey Wolves grew disheartened. They immediately dropped their weapons. Perhaps it was because they know that they wouldn’t be able to win because 30 of their men was still locked outside, and my Father was here.
Uncle Svan quickly made his way over to me.
“Malcolm my brother, I am Svan Hallisson, sister to Helga Hallisson. My nephew Axel and I request an audience with you.”
“Svan? And Axel?” The voice sounds confused. “What’s going on here.” The voice begins to get irritated.
Uncle Svan says. “Malcolm, my brother. Your guards here are blocking our way, and threatening us with weapons. Is this a way to treat brothers?”
“Brothers? Who’re you?”
My heart stops. Does father really not know mother’s brother? Or is he pretending in order to get rid of me and uncle in one fell swoop?
“Haha, I’m just kidding. Well, tell me what’s going on here first. Why are there a bunch of mercenaries in my house?”
Uncle Svan has a smile on his face. “I’ll tell you over a drink of wine. I want the good stuff this time, not the cheap stuff you brought out last time.”
“What? There’s no way I’m taking out the Dragon wine. Do you know how difficult it is to get my hands on that? With Liera here today? No way. I can only give you the standard.”
Wait. Something is very out of place here. Weren’t we in a battle of life and death just now?! With people fighting! How is it that it turned into a conversation with Father!
Svan says. “Well, then this matter won’t end peacefully. And I won’t tell you what is going on.”
Father sighs. “Alright fine. But we can’t let Liera find out. Last time she found my Dragon wine, she dumped it out.”
Father waves his arms. “Guards, clean up the courtyard. And once you’re done, go back to your posts.”
All the guards sheath their weapons and begin doing their utmost to clean up the courtyard. The mercenaries and I are just dumbfounded at what just happened. We stand there in shock.
“Wait!” Svan calls out. “Tell her to join us too.” He points to the silver-rank captain that he fought earlier. “She’s a good fighter. How’d you find such a skilled young fighter?”
Father says, “That can be figured out later. Captain Yulia, meet Commander Svan of the Frostsworn mercenary group. Now come inside. Axel, join us too. Oh Svan, can you order your mercenaries to stand down? Where’d you even get them anyways? I don’t recognize them.”
“Grey Wolves, stand down. The fighting is over. Go back to your posts.” They begin leaving, picking up their weapons and walking out. Luckily no one actually got injured.
Then Father looks at me. “Who’re they?” I suddenly realize that I’m still being carried by the iron-rank mercenary and the 4 other iron-ranks. Oh gosh, this is embarrassing. I quickly get off.
.....
Um… How am I supposed to explain any of this to Father?