The night was slowly falling down on the forest.
On the vestiges of human cities it was not considered especially dangerous to travel at night. While bears, wolves and occasional vile creatures of the darkness may make their appearance before unlucky adventurer, such things were scarce and rare. It was even more so recently, after kingdom has announced Purge to celebrate new heir ascendance, combing through all the forests near cities with newly assembled knight brigades. With all this taken in mind a somewhat worn out cart escorted by a knight and squire wouldn't be deemed lacking in security even by most practiced advisor.
Still, accidents do happen, and young girl seated in cart appeared nervous.
Veiled forest was whispering all sorts of sounds startling the only daughter of Baron Sheyield with distant howls, cracks of broken branches and hustles in bushes surrounding the road. Back in the days this track was mapped on most travelling guides as the only path connecting human city of Nardh and Academy of Proper Upbringing. In modern times, however, it was nigh forgotten since almost every noble child of Nardh was attending one of the numerous Imperial Institutions, leaving side road leading to academy in disposal of more poor aristocratic families who saw their decline - like Sheyields.
Crisping fire lantern attached on the inner walls inside the cart was highlighting this lone passenger's feminine features: her slightly pale refined face with shapely eyes, long lashes, thin lips and straight smooth black hair running down her shoulders. Girl's frail undeveloped frame, her slim arms and upright posture were creating a strong impression of aristocratic young lady. In contrast, her dress was excessively plain, simple and bore clear signs of being patched over on more than single occasion.
Girl's eyes were half-closed and her lashes fluttered every time cart was met with especially nasty bump on ruined road.
- Lady Celine.
A graphite chiseled helm appeared in cart window, warely peeking inside.
- Lady Celine, we will be arriving at city gates within 3 hours. How are you feeling?
Apparently, this noble daughter name was Celine Sheyield and right now she was suffering from severe case of road sickness.
The girl, however, didn't respond immediately to knight's question and only maintained her stiffened pose.
It was at this moment that a head full of dyed red hair cut short at bangs appeared in the front window at coachman position and burst into laughter.
- Martha, it is inconvenient for lil' missy to speak right now. She might spill her dinner if you make her do otherwise!
Lady Celine glared in her direction and then gently shook head gesturing to chiseled helm owner to drop the notion of taking a break.
The helmet released a muffled sigh and then dissappeared from the window. A moment later it reappeared in frontal section vicinity and loud slaps travelled through the night.
- Stop being so impudent to your masters, Chatty, you are asking for a beating!
- Aya, what masters?! I haven't been paid for 2 months you know? Wait, isn't this same for you?!
More slaps resounded then and voices of women bickering eventually went into distance.
Lady Celine sat there without changing her pose or expression. Her nails, though, were oh so slowly recovering color afer being clutched tightly into fists.
Respect was not something a declining family descendant could command, even from a lowly squire. If anything, the distance between aristocrat drowned in debt and commoner was already thin enough. And even before that, failing to provide a timely payment to servant was a clear breach of master-servant relationship, so how can be servant blamed for his followed conduct? Young girl sighed and shut her eyes. Worrying about such matters at the moment could only further worsen her mood so she would patiently endure.
At this time red haired girl was begrudgingly driving the cart not ceasing her torrent of protests.
- ...I just don't get you, Martha. Are they stuffing your heads with powder in the capital, during training? I mean, you have been serving lil' miss all the time she was in academy, you lived with servants, ate with servants, suffered constant mockery from other knights for this, too! All because lil' miss family apparently can't even afford the proper rent, right? And you even weren't paid for your service yet! The way I see it, you are the one who took it the hardest of us two! Why do you keep defending that pampered doll?
- Chatty, you keep lashing horses too hard... Calm down or I'll take your place and have you ride on my horse. See, if Cavalier will bear with your temper or not.
- Oh great, now you even bully me for saying the truth. Aya, these knights, totally wrong in the head!
The red haired girl, Chatty, however indeed calmed down and, while continuing to mutter obscenities, eased up on the horses who were already starting to foam a little.
The squire was a lowly servant job, quite meddlesome and time-consuming, given that she had to tend both to her immediate superior - knight - and noble master's needs.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Well, this wasn't normally a case because young ladies were usually taken care of by specially assigned maids, unless it was a road trip where squire's ability to contribute in battle may sometimes lead to them taking places of all other kinds of servants to increase efficiency. However, given Sheyield family circumstances Chatty was the only servant here and fulfilled all kinds of jobs herself which led to her current irritated disposition.
Being in her early twenties she was not as young as Baron's daughter and have already awakened to the pleasures of the court which was evident from how she had dyed her hair, adjusted her face with heavy make up and dressed into somewhat revealing clothes. A dress actually more expensive than her master's own outfit was accentuating servant girl's numerous assets - despite her short stature - astonishingly developed chest area and plump behind. Back in the academy she was leaving a sweetheart, the very sponsor of her trinkets and entertainment outside of everyday boresome duties. Young man was a promising lieutentant of a wall guard and relationship with him was nearing a crucial juncture that may have eventually allowed Chatty to leave this hated occupation. Hence, Baron's sudden summons and young lady immediate departure deepened Chatty grudges all the more.
All the various expressions of this simple servant girl were currently observed with a sigh by Martha, who was riding to the side of the cart on towering black horse. Oldest of all present in this entourage this female knight was actually the one most aware of injustice that have befallen her. Her helm already in her hand, she was dazing off into the distance, a dreamy look in her eyes.
Bested 13th Imperial Institution's, the most famous of them all, entrance exams at the age of 14, she quickly rose to prominence as youngest female knight among her peers.
When other children were only nearing their candidacy trials Martha was already on the road to 2nd rank knight.
At the age of 16 she earned 3d rank.
At the age of 20 - 4th.
Now, on the eve of her 25th birthday Martha was actually facing almost predetermined promotion to the ranks of Paladin - the epitome of knighthood Runadh Empire had to offer. It is necessary to note that after the rank of Paladin, knights could take numerous jobs, hold various civil and military offices but their rank will always remain the same - Paladin. This was the apex of the occupation and Martha was within the reaches of said apex astonishingly at the age of 24.
With such great prospects this talented woman could have taken a vast majority of sinecure positions at the palace where one could stay idle all day long, paying occasional visits to noble establishments, holding parties and wallowing away in carnal pleasures.
She, however, were it out of childish idealism or hot-blooded pursuit of adventure, left the capital on her own volition to take various field jobs in recent years.
These were relatively calm days. Vicious people were holding back with Purge being still imminent in everyone memories. Imperial military was marching strong right and left, court has been refreshed with the change of the ruler and networks of corruption and poison were only spreading among the new office. There was not much to do and when there was - the risk was almost null, clearly unbefitting of heroic Knight-cum-Paladin.
It was at that time that a request from her family arrived to take care for a year-some of Baron Sheyield's daughter - for they weren't able to afford hiring knightguard from the office and could only rely on their familial connections. Martha's parents, representatives of enormous aristocratic family Roseblade, were clearly very worried about their daughter's recent unruly behaviour which led her venturing to all the dangerous - in Count Roseblade's opinion - places, and were happy to send her to this mission allegedly devoid of dangers. That's why this task, normally far out of reach for declining nobility like Sheyields, have been gladly accepted and passed to Martha with a subtle pretext to make it a last 'adventure' and return the capital immediately after.
Being slightly fed up with dissapointment from her previous unfruitful campaigns Martha picked up this dull job and was actually starting to look forward to her return to the capital, while passing her days disciplining this rebellious squire from Sheyields family, ignorant of any sense of justice or propriety. While based on her father's letter she expected a certain degree of poverty surrounding young lady, Martha was still shocked by cruel reality. Even in Imperial Institution's garrisons the difference between military from commoners and nobility was still evident so this frugal lifestyle and indiffirent treatment she experienced in Academy of Proper Upbringing came anew and tempered young knight for not a small bit, while making departure to capital more alluring.
The graphite chiseled armor and staunch black horse were both provided by Roseblade family for their most promising descendant.
Now, it must be said that these things were not for show - both the offensive and defensive potentials of this equipment were highest quality. And while Martha's frivolous missions to frontlines were mentioned to be nothing serious they were actually filled with military encounters.
This still was war and war is never to be taken lightly. Thus, it could be said without a doubt that, even leaving aside her training in the capital, Martha knew how to fight, could fight and had actual experience fighting. If anything, she had killed people before.
This was reflected in her frame - if heavy breastplate were to be removed one would witness a fully developed womanly figure with explosive youthful vigor coming from long slender legs with shapely contours, slim but laced with thick muscles waist, round bossom, curved shoulders and back.
It was not so obvious when Martha was riding on the horse - since Cavalier himself was a black giant surpassing two cart-dragging horses almost by half of their height - but she was tall, very tall. While not out of proportions this height still provided female knight with number of inconveniences, as well as benefits, when communicating with others. In general, however, people were very accepting of this tall blonde natural beauty with stern face and azure eyes, whose very image was of upright knighthood and nobility.
This, of course, didn't apply to Chatty who was envious of some of Martha's strong points as a woman leading to a certain rivalry in this area between them - mostly one-sided - and even more so, of her noble birth and prestige occupation. With that, some bickering between two women was almost warranted.
Speaking of which, Martha has suddenly broken out of her daze, noticing how Chatty has gone quite for a moment and horses have slowed down their rally almost stopping.
-Chatty, why have you... - with a frown started Martha but her words were immediately intercepted.
-Aya, this doesn't look good!
Speaking no further in a single motion knight donned helm and took in surroundings, as her eyes turned serious behind the visor.