Birdsong drifted in through the open window and filled the library. Stale, musty air was swept into a spiral and cleared away by the sweet summer breeze. On the grounds below, a sound of voices began to swell as the servants went about their morning work. A small bird fluttered down and perched itself on the windowsill. It peeked its head into the room and hopped back and forth, chirping joyfully. But the enjoyment was short lived, as the rhythmic pounding of footsteps soon caught the bird’s attention. The door to the library swung open, and the bird, startled and fearful, took off into the sky.

“Are you sure you do not need any further details?” the tutor asked, trailing into the library behind Ellis.

“No, thank you. You were very clear,” Ellis called over his shoulder.

He then hurried over to the corner desk, carrying books and papers in both hands. He plopped them onto the table and they landed with a thud.

The tutor frowned at him.

“I see.”

Ellis pulled the chair out from the desk and sat down. He waited a few moments, then looked over at the tutor who was still standing in the middle of the room watching him.

Ellis smiled back awkwardly.

The tutor did not move.

“Was there something else you wanted to say?”

The tutor tapped his arm with his index finger.

“No, I suppose not.” He turned away from Ellis with a look of suspicion, then spoke again. “Don’t forget, Ellis. I expect you to have finished transcribing the chapter on argumentation by the end of the day. And you are to prepare for an oral examination on formal grammar.”

“Oral exam!?”

“Yes,” the tutor said, smiling to himself. “You have been so diligent these last few weeks, I am sure the oral exam will be easy for you.”

Ellis followed the tutor with his eyes as he crossed the room. Once the door was shut, Ellis jumped up from the desk and ran to the other end of the library. The bookshelves were arranged along the perimeter, interrupted only by the occasional window. In the farthest corner of the room stood a closet door. Ellis reached the door and yanked it open.

“Alright, he’s gone.”

Hector crept out from the storage room and looked around.

“Did you hear?” Ellis asked him.

“I heard him mention an oral examination…”

Ellis scowled.

“Not that. He wants me to transcribe the chapter on argumenstration.”

“Argumentation?”

“Yeah, argumentation.”

Hector sighed.

“Ellis, please reconsider. If you would only try to complete your studies today. Even just a few hours would be—”

“I can’t!” Ellis said as he bounced back towards the desk. “I only need three more hits and then Telhari will let us start using metal blades! I can do it today; I know I can.”

Hector slowly crossed the room. He had never before seen Ellis so excited in all his years of tending to him.

“Ellis, don’t you think you’re taking too many liberties with Lord Mannigold?”

Ellis snorted.

“Uncle is so busy with the guild— he’s not gonna notice. It’s been over three weeks, and he hasn’t figured it out.”

Ellis went over to the nearest bookshelf. It had been pulled a few inches away from the wall, leaving just enough space to hide something small. Ellis reached behind and yanked out a woven rucksack. He swung the sack over his shoulder and headed towards the open window, then peered down below.

“Ellis,” Hector insisted, “I am not sure that I can—”

“Don’t be modest, Hector. The tutor has been praising your essays!” Ellis patted him on the shoulder. “You’re a better student of his than I could ever be.”

Hector wanted to protest, but Ellis spoke with such conviction and with such a friendly face that he couldn’t help but smile back. He knew that it was rare to find someone as genuine as Ellis; he meant every word he said, even if it was foolish or childish.

Ellis stuck his head out the window and looked downward. Presently, they were on the second floor. Below stood the roof of the dining hall, which stretched further out onto the grounds; and beyond that was the entrance to the kitchen. There were certain areas of the manor that had been renovated since the decommissioning of the barracks, but this portion was mostly made of the same old stone that was a part of the original structure. Ellis could, with relative ease, climb down the stone bricks that had become eroded over the years, using the gaps between them as footholds. Once down far enough, he could jump onto the roof of the dining hall. From there, he would make his way to a large oak tree that reached even higher than the roof.

“I’ll see you in the evening, Hector,” Ellis assured him.

He then swung his legs over the windowpane and ran the tip of his boot along the wall until he found the familiar foothold. Ellis began to lower himself down, as he had always done, when Hector suddenly ran to the window.

“Please don’t go, Ellis!”

Ellis stopped his descent.

Stolen story; please report.

“It’s alright Hector.”

“But—”

“I have to go, Hector!”

Without another word, Ellis put all his focus into scaling down the wall and onto the roof. From there, Hector watched him scurry over to the oak tree and disappear into its branches.

Marybeth shifted her weight from side to side, readjusting the heavy pack she was carrying. She shielded her eyes from the sun and squinted into the distance.

“Why is Ellis always late?”

“Hopefully he will be here soon,” Telhari said, “Otherwise, we may have to leave without him.”

Mary sighed, gripping the straps to her backpack and pulling them tight around her shoulders. “I guess we should go, then.”

The two set off down the main road that led out of town. Their typical meeting place was the southern gate of Viemen. It was not too far from Perry’s manor, while also being close enough to the inn where Telhari was staying. Once Ellis had joined them in their training, they quickly realized that the training area by the inn was too small. To rectify this, they had claimed an area in the forest just outside Viemen as their new training grounds, which they have been using every day since. Ellis was usually late to their rendezvous, but never this late.

Telhari and Mary made it about halfway down the hill towards the southern forest when a familiar voice called out to them.

“Telhari! Mary! Wait!”

Mary rolled her eyes. She stopped and turned around to face her friend with a look of dissatisfaction.

“Why are you always late, Ellis!?” she called out to him as he jogged over.

“I’m sorry, honest. My pack got caught in the tree and—”

“What tree?”

Ellis bit his tongue.

“Uh… you know, just… a tree.” He trailed off and smiled weakly.

Mary gave him a weary look before shaking her head.

“It’s all fine now, though,” he reassured her. “Let’s not waste any more time!”

“You’re lucky the days are getting longer.”

Ellis followed a few paces behind Telhari and Marybeth as they began down the road. But after a few minutes of walking, there came a low rumbling sound from behind.

“Step to the side you two,” Telhari said, “There is a caravan coming this way.”

The trio moved off the road to allow for the caravan to pass. Within a few seconds the hoof beat was upon them. However, instead of passing them, the caravan slowed down as it approached and continued at their pace.

Ellis felt a shiver run up his spine. He turned around instinctively and the blood drained from his cheeks.

He was staring right into the face of his uncle; behind Perry was seated Avenell on horseback, with Hector in the saddle behind him.

Ellis stood still.

“Ellis, come on, we’re already late to start and—”

Mary stopped herself when she saw Perry. She reached out and grabbed Telhari by the arm, turning him to see what she was seeing.

“Nothing to say to your uncle?” Perry asked as he swung his leg over the saddle and landed on the ground. He was partially suited in his armor— a sword was sheathed at his hip.

“Uncle Perry, I—”

“Should be home?” Perry cut in as he walked slowly towards Ellis. “Should be punished for your lies? Should be on your knees apologizing?”

Ellis shrank before his uncle’s interrogation. He looked to Avenell who gave him no reassurance. Behind Avenell, Ellis searched for Hector, but he continued to hide his face.

“Uncle, I’m sor—”

Perry struck Ellis so quickly across the face that he had no time to react.

“Ellis!”

Mary tried to run towards him, but Telhari held her back.

“Do not interfere, Mary.”

“But why!?”

“It is not our place to interfere.”

Perry stood up tall and turned his head toward them both.

“That is a curious statement to hear from a man who has already stepped well beyond his bounds.”

Telhari let go of Mary.

“I had asked you to honor my wishes, and to leave my nephew’s education to me. Yet here you are.” Perry uttered these words with a commanding aura. He squared himself and approached Telhari, leaving Ellis behind him. “You’ve shown no respect for me, and for the second time now you have placed my nephew in harm’s way.”

“Uncle Perry, please! It wasn’t Telhari’s fault! I lied to him!”

Perry stopped his advance. He snapped his head towards Ellis— the boy was too scared to lie. Perry turned his gaze back towards Telhari. He waited for an answer.

Telhari obliged.

“Ellis did lie to me…” he started, “But I was well aware that he was doing so.”

Telhari knew full well that after uttering these words there would be no going back. This was not the answer Perry had wanted. Nor was it the answer Ellis expected.

“You…You knew?”

Telhari nodded.

“Tell me then, stranger, why would you deliberately assist my nephew in disobeying his uncle’s wishes?”

Perry’s full attention was directed towards Telhari; it took all his restraint to maintain a semblance of composure— but even that facade was slowly waning.

“Ellis is passionate and capable. If I can help him achieve his goal, then I would be happy to do so.”

“You think that I would hinder Ellis!?” Perry roared. “That you can offer him something that I cannot!?”

“I think…that despite how much you care for him, you treat Ellis as a child when he is no longer one.”

The sound of sheering metal cut through the air as Perry drew his blade.

Telhari placed a hand gently on Mary’s shoulder.

“Step to the side, Mary.”

She didn’t move.

Telhari squeezed her shoulder; she returned him an empathic gaze and pleading eyes. After all their time together, she didn’t need words; he understood her and nodded back.

Avenell jumped to the ground.

“Sir Perry!”

Perry lowered himself.

“Do not interfere, Avenell. Words are no longer appropriate here. This man believes he is a more capable teacher than I am— that he knows better. We shall see if it is true.”

“Uncle Perry don’t fight him! Please!” Ellis sprinted over to Perry but Avenell grabbed him before he could reach his uncle. “Let go! Avenell!”.

“Stop, Ellis. You will only get hurt!”

Though Avenell tried his best to keep Ellis calm, in his heart he shared his worry. Since the prior night, after Hector had told them what Ellis had been doing, Avenell had been concerned. He had expected Perry to fly into a rage and confront Ellis that very night. But instead, Perry said nothing more to them and disappeared. Avenell thought he might have gone to calm down, but by the morning it was clear that Perry’s anger had seethed all the more in his isolation. Telhari had overstepped a boundary that Avenell had not realized was existent. He often took for granted the relationship that Perry had with Ellis; at some point, in Perry’s heart, Ellis had become like his own son.

“Well?” Perry called to Telhari, “Do not insult me any more than you already have.”

Telhari walked a few paces forward—he could feel Mary’s eyes on him. Ellis was visible behind Perry, watching the scene unfold.

In a single motion, Telhari drew the blade from his back and brought it into position. He examined Perry from head to toe; there was no error in his position, no doubt in his body. For Sir Perry Mannigold, this street had become a battlefield.