Lancelot met me on the street, it seemed the family were taking no chances with me. She craned her neck to peer in the door as I left. It may have been my imagination but I could swear the door slammed closed in response.

“How was it? And why are you so sweaty” Lancelot had tact but only seemed to use it on occasion.

“Well, I spent much of my time mostly nude in interesting positions being hit with a cane.”

“What? I thought you were going for tea! I was going to ask if you got time to chat with her girls but I can’t imagine she let them in on that.”

“Oh no the apprentices watched.” Her eyes bugged out, and I let out a laugh. “She was using me as an instructional tool, it was not some salacious rendezvous. More like they were dissecting me with their eyes, I apparently have refined my body enough for witches to be impressed.”

“That's what she wanted you for? Totally unfair, I’ve followed all mom’s advice so I can’t be too far behind. Even then the Lady in Peach won't let me near them. Says I'd be a distraction.” I looked over at the very handsome Lancelot.

“Would you be a distraction?” I probed. Same-sex relationships were not uncommon in most cultivators' circles. The Divine Cultivators had more problems with it than most, claiming it was against ‘the divine will’. I suspected that had to do with babies more than anything. Much easier to have cultivators born into a family who worshipped than convert people. As such it wasn't something I'd normally heard discussed other than as tawdry gossip.

“Totally. I mean have you seen some of them?” She mimed a very curvy figure in the air, one with a waist so improbably thin that I'm sure it'd cause problems standing upright. “I mean you’re a bard aren't you, why are you not a distraction?”

“If I had to guess because I'm not expected to stay around. Should they come to me for a short dalliance, then that's what they get. You're an intense soul, I can imagine you in some love affair that singes pages and starts wars. Stealing princesses from princes.”

“I would deny it, but that does sound like something I would do.” She laughed.

“I can't help but notice we're not going back to your family compound.”

“You are far too sharp, you've been in this town what a day? And you can tell that. I can see why you keep the company you do.”

“That was not an answer.” I probed as we headed deeper into the town.

“Yet you still walk with me. Fine, I wish to spar with you. I was going to take you to the training grounds. We have some at home but I don’t think they will allow you to showcase your abilities. Mom and Dad suggested it.” I was confused, she wasn't lying, but why were we going to some public space to duel? She wouldn't be able to explore her Moon Gift there.

Then it hit me, Elaine and Ban were smart operators. If I turned up and then their daughter disappeared into private training immediately after, only to later reveal her gift then I could see people joining the dots and wanting to follow up. Dueling me as if nothing had changed was the best way to obscure the revelation.

“I will spar with you but I remind you, I am a bard, not a knight.”

“A bard capable of killing two Gale Hares. We are going to the place where Dad trains the guards. It should be mostly empty at this time.”

We walked through town, and I was further impressed by the amount of cultivation on display, as well as the good nature of the townsfolk. They waved to Lancelot often and I could see a fair few jealous glares thrown my way from boys and girls alike.

“Your family is very popular.”

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“This whole part of town is under Dad's jurisdiction. He works hard to keep everyone out of the brother's schemes. He basically agreed to remain neutral as they vy to be the next House head, he made the deal that as long as they stay out of stone town then he won't get involved.”

“I don't mean to disrespect your father but why does one captain have so much say? Surely they could oust him if they wanted.” I felt a little confused and didn't want to get too involved in some family squabble.

“Ah, well that's because Dad's humble. He mentioned he was a fosterling? Well, what he didn't say is the Bear, that's the current head mind you, basically said he is his son in name if not in blood. He technically has as much legitimacy as the brothers to claim the inheritance. When the Bear went out to do some lone questing through the fae doors, he gave Alastair Hightown, Lucius Clifftown, and my Dad Stonetown. Saying he wanted them to help build up Fosburg and see each of their domains thrive. My dad has focused on protecting Stonetown as per his orders, while the others keep trying to get a leg up by standing on each other. ”

“So your Dad's a full House member?”

“Yeah but we're not treated that way, the others like to throw their weight around a lot because they're both Steel and my dad's only Iron. I think he hasn't broken through because if he did they'd see him as a threat, especially as my mum could also break through soon.” Lancelot's hands clenched, a trait she shared with her mother. “It eats at me, I feel they're waiting because of me. Like if I was stronger they could do more, be more. I almost went with the Lady in Peach, if I was under her protection the brothers would never dare go against her. They are only low Steel.”

Moment of vulnerability past, she schooled her expression as we neared a large stone building, a small fort that looked over the surrounding chunk of town. She changed standing up a bit straighter and looking more like the image of a true Squire. Befitting as a member of the House of Renown.

We entered the building and I could feel the runic spells surrounding us. The bustle of the town became a dull buzz. The glamour changed as well, becoming thicker and richer. Good for training. Lancelot marched through the plain stone corridors of the building nodding to serious-looking people who nodded back, eyes washing over me and assessing.

I'd felt it before but these guards had a quality to them that was a step above. Most were only Stone but they were all alert, and I could all but feel them noting down my appearance in case they were asked later. Ban ran a tight ship.

We reached an austere training hall, it was well kept, smelling of soap and polish, showing how it avoided that swampy sweaty smell of several day-old underwear that so often gathered in places like this. The ground was spread with fine sand, and a series of targets lined one wall. It was at least fifty paces on each side and had only four sturdy columns spread evenly through it to support the building above.

The space felt all the more cavernous as currently there were but a few older guards training in pairs spread out over the vast space. They were all at least Wood, showing a single gift in their battles. They showed their years, most looked grizzled, and the only one I'd seen use two gifts was a woman with lines of grey through her brown locks. I felt a little shocked to see them so old and not sense her as an Iron cultivator, but I had to correct my thinking.

I had been all but stuffed full of training aids as a Harkley, even as a less favoured member of the house I had been surrounded by wealth most would never touch. Lancelot was on par with most people I'd known but she was the only child of an entire branch of the Fos House of Renown, it made sense she'd had the tools to boost her cultivation.

Sadly people who didn't have that backing rarely got that far. Working it out for yourself was time-consuming, even training only helped so far. Brews, the chances to go questing, the right runic spells to help you cultivate, techniques, and methods to absorb glamour, all of these cost money or required connections most did not have.

I nodded politely to the assembled guards as Lancelot went over to them. They were inscrutable in their assessment of me. However with that sense of looking for a problem that all guards managed to carry. It left me feeling uneasy, I worked hard at the Harkley household to avoid such attention.

“Commander Smith would you allow me use of this space to spar with this wandering cultivator. My father believes it would be instructional for us all.” Lancelot's voice was formal and she bowed to the older woman.

“This would be the Bard I understand? Of course Lady Lancelot, it is always a pleasure to watch you fight. Men fall out. Go grab those who are free for an instructional match. Lieutenant Kharlov, make sure the rune arrays are up to scratch.” The woman's voice snapped and the men shot to attention before filtering out. I headed over to Lancelot.

“I thought we'd just be sparring. This is far from my preferred stage.”

“Think of it as investment, you fight me here and then people won't come looking to fight you again.”

“I don't really wish to fight anyone at all.”

“The other cultivator families in town are asking about you. To them, you're just another way to get a leg up on the competition. They can't beat our Lady though. So as long as you don't beat her then there's a lot less prestige in fighting you. When they're all vying to prove they are better than our prodigy here. You'd best give a good showing though or the scum will come out looking for a leg up just by having beaten someone.” Commander Smith placed an affectionate hand on Lancelot's shoulder as she spoke. The younger woman blushed slightly.

“Gloria, I mean Commander Smith is right. Look just show off how a bard fights. Make it showy, you're staying with my family and not for long, this is just to stop the bastards from hunting you down for a duel on the streets, or after you leave town. There's a reason Bors hasn't seen much combat, they only want to fight against Knight Errants they can beat.” Lancelot had actually thought this out, I'd just assumed she was itching for a fight.

“How a bard fights ey? I'll see what I can do.” It was a good question. My recent training was just about getting my skills back. I'd had ten days since my rebirth and get some of my skills and most of my training with Bors was just to get myself up to speed. We'd not even done a full spar with all our abilities, in part because there's only so much for me to learn from getting obliterated.'

What were my strengths? I was super mobile and not bad with the blade, I doubted I compared to Lancelot, it sounded like she was undefeated, and that was despite grousing about a duel with a lava cultivator. I had smoke and my control was great. I had a lot of Ash in my storage ring. I had my techniques mostly my Levity and Illusions.

People began to file in, and I could sense a bubbling excitement from them all. They were expecting something worth their time. I recognized at least one face from the guards yesterday who was excitedly pointing me out to his friends. I'm sorry friend this was going to be nothing like yesterday. Wait, why couldn't it be?

Fight like a bard? I was not so foolish, it was time to put on a performance.