The midafternoon sun turned the two swords into flickering needles, as Sheilah and Antonia probed at each other with their weapons, each seeking an opportunity, an opening.
It had been two months since Sheilah and Fialla had started taking fencing lessons, and the both of them were quick to learn.
Sheilah was the type that learned by doing, and she was very quick to learn. Her main problem was her temperament: She got frustrated and irritated quickly and often overcommitted, trying to beat down Antonia’s guard with sheer force. She was usually tied for matches with Antonia.
Fialla was fast and studious, but she moved around way too much, which Antonia marked as a flaw. A typical duel that took place in the streets happened very quickly in a very small area; for Fialla to move too much meant that she’d stand out, and that was something that wouldn’t work in the half-elf’s favor.
She was leading in her bouts with Antonia, though Antonia herself thought of Fialla as the poorer student, since it seemed that Fialla had decided to learn because Sheilah had decided to learn.
*****
Today, it was Sheilah’s bout, and Antonia and Sheilah probed each other, tapping and thrusting at each other’s guards, looking for the opportunity to score a telling blow. Sheilah was sweating, and her brows were furrowed in concentration. She lunged, causing Antonia to take a step back; Sheilah slapped Antonia’s blade to the side, then switched her blade from her right to her left hand. From there she quickly hit wrist and arm and stepped back.
“Neat trick.” Antonia offered dryly.
“It only worked that time because you could no longer move to the right, since the wall was in the way.” Sheilah explained. “I also failed to get a heart strike.” She shook her head, but then she brightened. “If I had used my own blade I would have killed you, however.”
Antonia gave her a sour look at that. Sheilah’s blade was crafted from some material Antonia wasn’t familiar with, something that could clip through the steel of Antonia’s own blade and prune the end off, forcing her to move in further.
After that, one quick slash would have ended Antonia’s life.
Antonia let out a sigh. “I have nothing left to teach you. My older brother however, could beat the stupid out of you and turn you into a proper duelist.” She dropped her blade and began removing the layers of extra leather she’d donned before the start of the match. “You’re much too arrogant.”
Antonia eyed Fialla. “Want to have a go?” She asked.
Fialla glanced at Antonia. “You’re winded. My sister really worked you into a state.” She replied, and then smiled. “I’d like to practice my forms today, instead.”
Antonia nodded. Fialla learned by watching, and so the earlier bout with Sheilah had no doubt given Fialla more to work with.
“I want to try fighting a man.” Fialla muttered. “You keep telling me, ‘A man will do this, because of his longer reach’, or ‘a man will do this because he is taller’, but I can’t realistically think of a way to counter those things unless I fight one.” She complained. “I would like a bout with your brother, as an example.”
Antonia barked a laugh. “I don’t think you are there, yet. Show me you can stay in the rings and I will ask him, myself.”
Fialla made a face, and then both Sheilah and Fialla turned towards the door that was between Antonia’s office and the practice area, unconsciously lifting their swords.
Andrea opened the door a crack, enough to peek in, and seeing as no swords were flying, she came all the way into the room.
“Her Majesty Lady Magdalene sends her regrets; she will not be able to attend dinner tonight as she is feeling ill.” Andrea intoned.
Sheilah looked at Fialla. “It’s that, right?”
“It’s only obvious.” Fialla agreed. “Are we wagering?” She asked curiously.
“Why not?” Sheilah asked.
“Very well, I wager against that blue robe of yours.”
Sheilah nodded. “Fine. I wager against your green.”
The grinning girls clapped their hands together in a handshake, and then looked to Andrea.
“Well? Which is it?” Sheilah and Fialla’s overlapping questions baffled Andrea.
“What are you talking about? And what wager?” Andrea asked, struggling to keep up with their conversation shift.
Sheilah looked at Fialla. “I guess I win.”
Fialla shook her head. “No, no, no, you can’t simply decide victory with something as insipid as that.”
Andrea frowned at the two girls. “Hurry up and change, dinner is being prepared for you.”
Sheilah struggled with the straps and buckles on her heather armor. Every time she put it on she was reminded of Antonia’s frustration when her blade had snapped against Sheilah’s dragonscale. Wearing leather made from a lesser beast made her feel bad enough, but Antonia’s outrage made it worse. She had been absolutely furious.
“I still think I won.” Sheilah resumed the argument as she peeled herself out of the snug-fitting leathers she used in her sparring matches.
“You can’t say ‘I win’ without actually winning, Sheilah.” Fialla complained. “We have to at least hear from your mother first.”
Sheilah rolled her eyes as she dressed, already looking forward to the bath once they made it back to her apartments.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“First, we’ll go visit Magdalene.” Sheilah informed Andrea.
“I remind you that she’s feeling ill, and not accepting company” Andrea replied.
“It’s fine.” Sheilah replied. “I just need to claim my victory.”
“You’re not speaking in a way I can understand.” Andrea replied in a frustrated tone as Fialla finished up.
“I don’t understand what they’re saying, either.” Antonia added.
“But it’s obvious, right?” Sheilah asked Fialla.
“Absolutely.” Fialla agreed.
“So the only thing worth wagering on is the obvious being obvious.” Sheilah explained.
Andrea traded baffled looks with Antonia.
“Fialla, about your duel- I’ll speak to my brother at the end of the week, and send you his answer.” Antonia added.
Fialla nodded. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Sheilah and Fialla left, pushing Andrea out ahead of them, even as Sheilah belted on her sword, the one her father had made for her in the Redstone.
Antonia’s reaction to the blade was similar to her reaction to Sheilah’s dragonhide armor. A weapon stronger than steel, an armor impervious to steel, it was a joke, a frustrating exercise in futility.
Sheilah herself saw it as a representation of her own fight with the Tyrant Dragon: only someone fast and clever would be able to defeat her.
*****
The trip across the castle was uneventful, though a few guards gave Sheilah and Fialla curious looks as they strode through the hall in casual dresses with swords belted at their waist.
The guards stationed outside of the royal apartments stiffened as they approached. “Begging your pardon Princess Sheilah, but Her Majesty did say no visitors. Please understand.”
“I understand. I’m going in anyway.” She replied.
The guard gave a frustrated sigh. “She may not punish you milady, but she certainly will punish us.”
“Nonsense.” Sheilah replied. “Please let us pass.”
The guards gave each other bewildered looks. Sheilah always asked things of them, instead of telling them.
They obliged, stepping aside for the trio, and let them inside.
The royal apartments were much more richly appointed than Sheilah’s, far more opulent, and much larger. Servants darted here and there, bobbing curtsies or short bows as Sheilah moved through the entryway and through the grand hall.
Sheilah had never been there before, not in her parents' private rooms, but there was a similarity to her own rooms, and her sense of spatial awareness led her to the royal bedroom, where she sensed her mother just beyond.
“This is probably the easiest victory I’ve ever scored against you, Fialla.” Sheilah remarked self-importantly. “There’s no way she doesn’t know.”
“You didn't grow up in a big family, Sheilah. She doesn’t know.” Fialla rebutted.
“Wait. Know what?” Andrea stopped the two of them.
“Andrea’s suspect.” Sheilah replied, jerking her thumb at her steward. “It’s easy for her to feign a believable ignorance.”
“Agreed. A victory is only a victory when it’s from Magdalene.” Fialla agreed with a suspicious look at Andrea.
Sheilah gave a perfunctory knock on the door and marched inside.
Magdalene, who was sitting in a rocking chair, jolted at the unexpected arrival of her daughter. Fialla stepped into the room as well, followed by Andrea.
“I did say no visitors.” Magdalene complained. “And you’re supposed to wait before being admitted.” She complained, rubbing her temple.
Sheilah moved over to Magdalene and taking her hand, began massaging it. “Surprisingly, this helps with headaches.” She murmured in a low voice. “And now you know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of someone barging into your room unannounced.” She added with a grin.
Magdalene gave her a frustrated look. “I am allowed to, by right of being your mother.” She argued.
“Then I am given the same allowance by right of being your daughter.” Sheilah replied. She moved around behind Magdalene and began massaging Magdalene’s shoulders and neck.
“I have to say that I don’t dislike this, but I did say no visitors.” Magdalene complained. “So hurry up and go. Isn’t it dinner time? Not that I could eat anything, anyway. The smell is curdling my stomach.”
“When my mothers in the Redstone were pregnant, they couldn’t stand the smell of cooking food, either. You should be able to eat simple things like bread though. Cool broth is also good, since it doesn’t have much of an odor.”
“Wait, pregnant?” Magdalene began, but Fialla overrode her.
“Pickled things are also important.” Fialla pointed out. “My mother drove my father to madness with her need for pickled vegetables.”
Sheilah nodded.
“Who told you that I was pregnant?” Magdalene argued, twisting to turn and look up at her daughter.
“You did.” Sheilah replied, pointing down to Magdalene’s belly. “It’s only been a short time, but you walk as if you’re expecting it to be larger than what it-” Sheilah paused.
“You did know, right?” She asked her mother.
“Tell her you didn’t know!” Fialla urged.
Magdalene covered her face with her hands. “You pick up on the strangest things.” she complained. “I suspected, but I thought I was too old.” She let out a sigh. “Damn that Toril.”
Sheilah grinned. “My victory.”
Fialla shook her head. ‘Suspecting’ isn’t the same as ‘knowing’. She didn’t know. It’s my victory, Sheilah.” She insisted.
“You see what brought me to your rooms, mother?” Sheilah asked. “Declare me the victor, or else I’ll never hear the end of it from Fialla.”
“Now you’re just scrambling for a cheap victory. I thought better of you, Sheilah.” Fialla complained.
“You two are arguing over whether or not I knew?” Magdalene asked.
Sheilah and Fialla nodded.
“A partial victory to the both of you.” Magdalene declared. “Now out, before I throw up on the both of you.”
Sheilah and Fialla gave each other resigned looks.
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” Andrea offered in a quiet voice.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” Fialla offered as she left.
“Congratulations... Mother.” Sheilah offered as she left.