Noon time, Harthur arrived at the estate of the Rigers Family on the outskirts of Midandria. The Rigers was a member of the Stronghouses but now forgotten and tossed aside. The estate was surrounded by white high walls, just like in the old days, but these walls could never hide the two broken pillars of the mansion. One in the south part and one in the north. Symbols of the family’s prestige and demise. The pillars were rewards from the King to the Great Knight Kalfred Rigers for all his services. A former reminder to everyone that Kalfred was closer to the King than everyone else around. The family's crest, a horned tiger embellished with several strong water currents, was displayed at the top of the large gated arc. He can still remember the first time he saw it back then when it was backed up by the two tall shining pillars, it was a sight to behold.

Hathur opened the steel gate only wide enough so he could enter and quickly shut it back. The soft and warm fragrance of the ylang flower rushed to him as soon as he went in. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to appreciate it.

“Garden, well kept. Fountain clean. Great! Sir Shane is here.”

He passed a garden that formed shapes in front of the mansion and flowing fountains that cooled the area. The main door opened when he approached.

“Glad that you’re back young master.” The old butler dressed in all grey, greeted him and then gave him a slight bow.

“Great to see you Sir Shane,” Harthur bowed back.

A ten-year-old girl with brown short hair rushed down the stairs, “Brother!”, she said.

Harthur smiled as the girl jumped to hug him.

“Uhhh, you smell so bad! Take a bath!” she said as the two men laughed.

Sir Shane took Harthur’s weapon, shield, and bags.

“I’ll take care of these and then you can wait for me at the dining hall, young master.”

“I’ll help prepare your food!” she said, jumping with glee.

“And I’ll take a bath, Ingrid,” Harthur said looking at her sister.

The mansion got quiet for a while but it was livelier than ever now that Harthur had returned.

Sir Shane and Ingrid just finished preparing their food in the dining hall as Harthur came down after taking a bath. He wore white pants, boots, a tunic with blue belts and ornamental pads on his knees and arms, a typical squire formal attire. Sir Shane then served him his newly cleaned insignia, one for being a Squire, and one as a member of the Rivers family. Harthur kissed both before placing it on his left chest.

“So what happened here?” he said as he sat down.

Ingrid gave her a serious look, “What happened here? What happened to you? We missed the carnival!”

“Ah! The carnival!” he softly bumped his fist on the long beautiful table, “We’ll go next time!”

She swallowed the food in her mouth, “Liar!” and quickly fed herself again while rolling her eyes.

“Don’t shout young master Ingrid,” Sir Shane said while calmly eating.

“But he’s lying!”

Harthur smiled, “Looks like everything is the same in this house! So what happened outside?” He started eating.

“A lot!” she looked at the parchments she had beside her plate and took a deep breath. “Estimated refugees are now fifty thousand. It is expected to double in the next few weeks. Refugees are being recruited to the Knights Pillar. And lastly, the Brightwood family chief was beheaded a few days ago at the capital.”

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“The Brightwoods? Why?” Harthur stopped eating. “Is it happening again?”

“They said it was for rebellion,” Sir Shane answered, “But let’s not jump to conclusions. Father died so we can live, Let’s not waste his sacrifice.”

“Refugees, Rebellion. Everything is falling apart. It's because the knights have become weak,” Harthur said as he looked up to the family crest painted on the ceiling of the house.

“Father. What should I do?”

Ingrid also looked up, “Why did father let himself be killed?” she said. She remembered the last look the Great Knight Kalfred gave her. A smile while looking straight into her eyes before riding the wagon that brought him to his death.

“Because he believes in you two,” Sir Shane said.

“You really believe that Sir Shane?” she said.

“When did I ever lie to you?” he said.

The three finished their lunch and Harthur prepared for his visit to Midandria. As he went out, Sir Shane and Ingrid were having a knife and shield training under the Ylang tree beside the gate. The Rigers were known for shield handling and developed their fighting style using a shield blade. Their weapon, the shield blade is an arm instrument that snaps open to a shield. It has several forms depending on the maker or the user but usually, it interchanges from a long blade for offense and a shield for defense. For the Rigers, their shields have slits where they can use their knife to strike opponents on the other side.

“Why are you holding your knife?” Sir Shane asked.

“I’m sorry! I forgot!”, Ingrid then put it back on her round shield where it stuck like a magnet at the upper part.

“No need to apologize, young master. Let’s start over.” The trainer stood straight with a sword in his left hand while the other hand was on his back. He tried to circle around Ingrid as he released quick slashes but Ingrid was able to keep her attacker in front while deflecting the attacks.

Harthur stopped and watched the two, “She’s deflecting them now? Hm… Sir Shane isn’t holding back on those slashes so she’s doing good but it's just a diversion.”

Sir Shane was walking Ingrid down now keeping her busy with attacks around the shield. Then he quickly used his right hand to hold the shield and pulled it up taking her arm.

“Ouch!” she said, removing the shield from her arm. Her face was red in frustration.

“Never let your opponent take your shield.” Sir Shane said. He shook the shield and it snapped folding into a bar.

“You’ve improved a lot, Ingrid!” Harthur said smiling at her, standing near the gate.

“Why are you smiling? I wanna see you try?” she said back catching her shield from Sir Shane.

“Maybe when I get back, I have to report to the pillar,” he said.

“Excuses!”

Sir Shane faced Harthur showing a serious face, “She is right, young master. It’s been a while since we’ve sparred. I want to see if you’ve picked up new tricks or some bad habits.” He started walking towards him.

Harthur’s face also turned serious and he matched Sir Shane’s intense approach.

The mansion was suddenly quiet. Even the wind slowed down and Ingrid watched with anticipation.

“You won’t bring out your shield, young master?”

“Not yet,” Harthur smiled and walked towards the trainer. He started the spar by setting foot within Sir Shane’s sword range inviting attack.

Sir Shane released several quick slashes all of them evaded by Harthur. They danced around each other. Harthur punched and kicked while evading all the sword attacks.

“Good reflexes young master!”

Sir Shane then increased the intensity of his attacks. Harthur started stepping backward barely dodging the sharp sword. Sir Shane finally used his right hand, a punch to the face. Harthur saw it and he snapped his shield up to cover himself. A loud gong reverberated disturbing the birds and animals around.

“I may have picked up a trick,” Harthur said under the shield.

“Show it,” Sir Shane said still pushing his fist onto the shield. He then twisted his sword towards Harthur and struck him from below but he wasn’t done. He opened his right hand to grab Harthur’s shield to pull it upwards.

Harthur saw both attacks coming. He snapped his shield close to his arm to avoid the grab and then snapped it back open and used it to deflect the sword attack. At the same time, he grabbed a knife from his shield, stepped forward, and swung it toward Sir Shane’s neck.

Ingrid was in shock and then she jumped with excitement.

Sir Shane defended with his shield on his right hand.

“You made him use it!” Ingrid clapped.

Sir Shane smiled as he forcefully pulled his right foot from under Harthur’s left foot, “You’re learning some real battle tricks young master.”

Harthur took several deep breaths, “Good to see you use that shield again.”

Sir Shane snapped back the shield to his arm, “I’d rather not use it again but it's proof that you have outgrown my teachings now, young master. Father would be proud.”

Harthur smiled but turned to face the gate, “Not yet, Sir Shane. Father would be proud when I bring back the Knighthood to its right form.

“Agreed, young master. Agreed”

“Yes! Agreed!” Ingrid shouted.