We were now in a strange stand-off.
On the one side a princess of the Shieldom and her bodyguard, on the other a bunch of street urchins.
Both sides were gauging the other. The princess was still looking at us with disbelief when Melodi Gel and Balout were looking at her with awe and curiosity.
The remaining bodyguard was a woman with so little facial expression that I couldn't tell what she was thinking right now. At least she didn't look with any form of hostility at us.
Other than the six of us there was no one else in the garden, no servants, no guards, no officials. At least as far as I can see, who knows how many invisible stalkers like Shizu there might be? I'll have to ask Melodi to warn us if she ever feels some around.
The princess was the one to take the initiative and broke the eerie status quo: “This is ridiculous. What is he expecting me to learn from a bunch of street urchins?” she finally concluded. The contempt had won the inner battle in her mind. I couldn't blame her, most commoners shouldn't know how to read so what could they teach a princess that has had the best tutors around her since her earliest days?
It was only logical that she would be wary of a bunch of kids younger than her.
In any case, I still had to fulfil my end of the bargain since the lord helped my family out of our misery.
I wasn't aware of what the etiquette should be. I was reverent with the old lord and he looked like my attitude was proper enough but this princess was a bit more haughty.
I'm supposed to be the teacher here so I decided not to belittle myself too much when addressing her. “Good day princess. I am Telerios, blessed one of Shinpilo.”
This statement seemed to only now struck my friends and I could see Melodi's and Balout's dumbfounded look. Gelcaria already knew about it and the reactions of the others made it clear that she was worth confiding secrets to.
“Forgive me for asking but your grandfather wasn't specific on what I am to teach you. Could you clarify this for me? He hinted at writing and reading...” I tried to sound not too friendly nor too meek, just respectable. At least as respectable as a 6 something springs old could look.
She was still blinking in surprise. Her guard was a bit more unfazed and had to tap her shoulder to wake her out of her daze. “Uh? Yeah, sorry. I'm still trying to process this.” For a second the “princess mask” almost vanished and she answered us like a normal girl before turning back to her regal self: “Are you really a blessed one?” She probed, still suspicious of us.
“Your grandfather checked it himself yesterday. His word should be enough proof for all of us. I'll still ask you all to keep this a secret though.” My request was mostly aimed at my own friends. Gelcaria nodded at that, her eyes telling me “I'll make sure Balout and Melodi will keep quiet.”
The princess giggled stupidly, half stunned, half contemptuous. She then took a moment to check out my friends. Her gaze paused on Gelcaria for the longest when their eyes met in a clash of purple Vs green, not unlike yesterday's competition with Nutusi but in a more beautiful fashion.
This didn't last long the princess decided to cut to the chase: “Fine. Whatever fancy trick of my grandfather this is, let's end it quickly. I guess he told you?” she asked with annoyance in her voice “I'm not as good as my oh-so-smart elder sister. I can't read well. Because I don't care. I'm a fighter, not a bookworm.” She drew a sai and made it spin around her right hand, trying to divert our attention from her weak explanation, “I'll become a powerful blade that protects commoners like you lot.” Her silvery needle was waved to point at all of us, “And for that, I won't need to know how to read the [blooming of tigayas on mount Tai] poem or whatever old book on farming passed on by a weak scholar.” She said with obvious ridicule for the matter.
I was not far from agreeing with her. Her grandfather warned me that she was a hot-headed one. No need to waste time teaching her poetry, she was probably just a brute born with higher Chi than most thanks to her ascendency. I went to the desk to grab the paper, the pens, a quill as well as an inkpot and sat at the low table. It was my first time using a quill but I'll improvise on the get-go, how hard can it be?
I gestured to invite her to come to join me “Please. May you show me what you already learned?”
She laughed in disdain at my invitation, “Hold it on kid. I'm not going to join you or write anything for you. Just make whatever show you made to my grandfather and let us part our way on this.”
Instead of arguing with her, I called for my friends “Gel, Mel, Balout. Come sit please.”
My friends were better students and took a cushion each. I distributed the paper and charcoal pens among them “Please write your names, parents' names and,” I was looking for a longer phrase to write, “and that [blooming of tigayas on mount Tai] is a useless poem.” I ordered them with a neutral tone. They all looked at me as if I went mad. “Come on, write.” I repeated with a more pressing tone.
Gelcaria was the first to obey and soon enough the other two were mimicking her.
I just wanted to show that my friends already knew how to write and shame her enough to coax her into joining us. The princess was stunned by the fact that those young commoners were able to write, now was my time for the final push. “These commoners are already able to read and write fluently thanks to my technique, imparted by Shinpilo himself. That's what I am to teach you too.”
I thought this was a good nudge, showing we weren't joking around and poking at her competitiveness. Yet for simple bulls like her waving a red flag in front of them was enough to have them go mad. “Are you trying to make fun of me, you lowly kids?” she angrily asked.
This wasn't playing exactly as I thought it would and I was starting to get annoyed with her useless pride.“We might be of low birth but all of us already know how to read and write.” I grabbed Gel's copy to flaunt it in front of the princess in hope of putting the discussion back on its trails and dispel any misunderstanding.
Seeing her lofty look down at us I felt the urge to add “If even lowly commoners are able to do that much what does that make you?” At the same instant the words flew out of my mouth, I knew they were a stupid provocation and that I shouldn't have let them out. But it was too late and the princess was going in full berserk mode.
“Who do you think you are? What do you take me for you serv?!”, her green eyes were burning with wrath and in a blur she rushed in front of me and sucker punched me in the stomach faster than what I could react to. I was sent flying on a few meters. A nearby flowery bush cushioned my landing. I had it coming for me but the pain in my lower half was a bit more than what I was expecting, she must have strengthened herself with Chi and more than what Gupta and Orzhov were using in our training sessions.
When I managed to get up while still half bending in pain and clutching at my aching stomach, a dreadful show was going on.
Gelcaria and Mel were trading blows with the princess.
The princess was still using chi to enhance herself, making moves that couldn't be explained by physics and changing her momentum even mid-air.
That wasn't enough to beat my two friends though. Gelcaria was getting brushed by some hits but Melodi was deftly evading by a hair's breadth all of the attacks the princess threw at her.
This only infuriated the princess even more. She roared in frustration and took both sais in hands. This was getting overly dangerous and needed to be stopped. Punching was fine but using weapons was just too dangerous. The girls were too angry to keep their common sense but I wasn't worth dying for, not for a simple punch or lack of respect. I wanted to yell at them to stop but my hurting stomach kept my voice at a ridiculously low level.
Not afraid in the slightest, Melodi drew her own claws out and the first blood in the next instant as she clawed at the porcelain white hand of the princess. The haughty girl yelped in pain and surprise. She let her weapon go under the painful surprise.
Before Melodi could pounce on the princess, the bodyguard slid at lightning-fast speed and caught the Catkin by the neck, lifting her in the air before throwing her in the nearby pond.
Not pausing for an instant the princess unfairly kept attacking the unarmed and now single Gel.
My friend wasn't one to let herself be bullied though. Her own eyes shone in a purple hue and the princess got staggered for a second, blushing as blood rushed to her pale cheeks. Taking advantage of the momentum Gelcaria threw a low kick at her knee that the princess couldn't avoid and she fell down while painfully screaming.
Again, before Gelcaria could follow up the bodyguard appeared to stop my friend, blocking a punch aiming at the face of the princess and then waving an index in front of her meaning “no passing here.”
I stumbled to Gelcaria and called for her to stop. At the same time Shizu appeared out of thin air and ordered “Enough! Stand down, all of you!” she added for the princess who was trying to get up with fury burning in her eyes. “What was that?” asked the Lord's aide. “This is not what this lesson should look like.” She pointed at Gelcaria and at a dripping Melodi who was coming out of the pond “You and You. Where did you learn to fight? who taught you?” she questioned with alarm in her voice.
Both girls couldn't answer and were looking at me in befuddlement as if I could answer for them.
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“No one taught us anything. We are just commoners, not fighters. Let's not make too much out of a children's squabble.” I tried to lower the stakes.
“A squabble?!”, boomed the princess while getting up, “You wounded a royal!” she showed the four small scratches on her right hand that were oozing a little bit of red blood on her otherwise snow-white hand. “I'll have you rabid dogs punished! Hamy, catch them” she ordered her guard.
But the woman didn't move and instead looked at Shizu to ask what she should do.
The lord's assistant decided “I don't think it would be a smart idea, princess.” she said in a mocking tone. “Making it known that you got beaten by two little commoner girls would be shameful for your family. Please reconsider.” She was both teasing but also making a sound argument. She then turned her focus back on us commoners: “I'll get to the bottom of this.” She warned us, believing we were hiding something from her, “And the elder lord will hear about this incident.”
“Please don't!” pleaded the princess looking alarmed “You know this will just pain him. Can't you just keep quiet Shizu, I promise I'll behave.” She looked to mean it for real. I tend to think it was more to hide her defeat than because she was worried her behaviour would bring her trouble.
Shizu didn't seem touched by the act “Sorry third princess, there are things I can't keep from the master. If you want to please him then study like he asked you to and show some results!” On that last harsh advice she vanished again. I really want to know how she does that.
The bodyguard came forward to bandage the wound on the hand of the princess and tried to comfort her “You got caught by surprise. You don't train enough against multiple foes and were surprised by Beastkin's physic.” She soothed the princess's wounded pride. “Study hard princess, I'm sure that your grandfather won't make much out of this incident if you show him pleasant results.” This somewhat reassured the princess enough and helped her calm down a bit. Clearly, this bodyguard of her was more used to manipulating the girl than I was.
She came to face us all. Gel had some cuts on her dress, Melodi was still dripping wet and I knew a bruise was colouring my stomach. The wise Balout was the only unharmed and was helping Melodi to take off her wet clothes and dry them near the small tea stove.
* * * * *
The princess had lost a bit of her superb. She was both angry and ashamed that the girls managed to wound her warrior's pride but in the end, she was even more scared to displease her elder.
She didn't know what to do so I took the initiative. “We started on the wrong foot here. Maybe we could put that aside and start from the beginning again?” I discreetly kicked Gel as she was about to complain.
The princess didn't answer, she was still processing the fight and trying to recompose her persona of a well behaved princess.
“Let me introduce my friends then. This here is Gelcaria. She's also my neighbour and the first one I taught how to read and write with my method.” I could see that the princess was still looking suspiciously at Gelcaria but at least neither side tried to taunt the other. “The fierce catgirl is Melodi, please do not try to fight her again.” I was trying to make little of the incident and keep my tone light “She's the daughter of a fisherman, yet she can also read and write fluently.”
This remark irked the princess a bit but I didn't let her the time to mull over it, “And this sturdy fellow is Balout. Do not look down on him, he might very well be better in mathematics and geometry than many of your tutors.” The princess seemed about to protest my claim then closed her mouth, deciding that we proved to be a surprising bunch enough till now and that my statement might very well be true. Balout was beaming with pride, a smug smile on his face. Not often was he praised in front of royalty.
“And I already introduced myself. Let me just say that the writing method I devised is simple enough for all these kids to have learned it and for a god to acknowledge it. I have no doubt that you can learn it too, princess.” I tried to encourage her and rebuild some good faith between us.
To my surprise, the princess imperceptibly nods her head at me “I'm third princess Moatimu Kirinavati. I apologize for my earlier behaviour. I might have misjudged you all and was taught a lesson. Please do teach me well, as grandfather ordered us.” She then made a curtsey at my three friends.
Her apology was half-hearted at best. The words were nice but her tone was too cold to convey goodwill. But this would have to make do, I didn't want to antagonize her any more and I doubt this haughty princess was able of more for simple commoners.
“Apology accepted.” I said while looking mostly at my own companions to signify that this matter was over. I could see they were reluctant to leave it at that but the wise Balout put a calming hand on both girls and drew them to the stove before another incident could occur.
This seemed to offence the princess a bit as she scowled or maybe she was remembering her defeat. I stopped her rumination. “Don't worry. These kids learned to read and write two years ago when I barely knew what I was doing. I believe that in just an afternoon the princess can make great progress if she puts her heart to it.” I didn't like that but a bit of flattering to soft soap things can't harm.
It wasn't the princess but her bodyguard that answered, Hamy if I remember her name correctly: “Thanks for your cooperation, teacher. The princess will study hard.” she affirmed with conviction. It was like she pinched the princess to remind her what she had to do. The black-haired beauty went to sit on a cushion and looked at me with a hint of exasperation as if to mean I was the one slowing us down now.
Balout was taking care of the girls, a servant even brought them a change of clothes for Melodi and some medicine and they were busying themselves. I joined the princess and winced in pain when sitting, she got me good in the stomach. When she saw that I caught a hint of guilt flickering in the corner of her eyes. This was leverage.
I took a sheet of paper and quickly wrote down my alphabet before showing the short 32 signs list to the princess. “I can deduce that you do not like having to remember a thousand ideograms. Well, neither do I. This is all you'll have to learn to be able to read and write using my method.” I declared.
She looked dumbfounded again, her green eyes bulging in incredulity before eyeing me with suspicion. “Is that really all? This seems like awfully little? Are you trying to come back at me in some smart way?” She voiced her concern.
I chuckled at the idea. “No smart plot, I promise. My best interest is also to please your grandfather and making a fool out of you won't end well for me.” I raised both hands in powerlessness.
I grabbed the sheets on which my friends wrote earlier: “See, with this little signs we can arrange them together so that they transcribe sounds instead of words. That's how it works. It will also make you able to read anything written in this system even if you've never met the word before or even if you don't understand the tongue it is written in.” This was the last push to break the mask of self constraint of the princess, she blurted like any girl her age: “Are you kidding me? And you created that at your age?” She grabbed the alphabet sheet and was contemplating it. She then compared it with the short sentences written by my friends. “How does this work? Explain.” The fish took the bait.
Once committed to the task, the princess proved to be a decent student. Like her grandfather said she is hot headed, stubborn and lacks concentration. Gelcaria and the others were better than her.
But she was making some progress.
She memorized the alphabet quickly enough. Having learned some ideograms before made my simple signs far easier to learn in comparison and I now had the experience of teaching the other three. At least her memory wasn't as bad as I feared, her will to learn and attention were the real problems she had.
Once done I taught her the sounds they made and how the combinations worked. The others came to help when she was a bit at a loss, explaining her in their own way how to use my system. It was a strange scene to see the kids I taught teach another one, what's more an older one.
After having the other spend some time with her, the last of her animosity was dispelled, she accepted that although commoners they knew more than she did on this matter. Kids forgive easily, both sides were already leaving their fights behind.
The afternoon was spent studying. I was reminded we were watched when servants brought us tea and snacks just when the princess' concentration was reaching its limits.
The break was a bit awkward, what can four commoners discuss with a princess?
The conversation was drifting to their fight. Melodi had found someone as battle hungry as she was.
The two warrior girls were praising each other, I even had to show my bruised stomach for Melodi to praise the strength of the princess. The sight of the consequences of her outburst drew a guilty smile on the princess' beautiful face. She whispered something to her bodyguard. Later Hamy gave me a small pot of balm that I was to use on the bruise..
When second evening bell rang the princess was able to recopy every letter. This was just stunning progress for a single day. To be honest I thought she would just barely be able to remember the alphabet yet in a single day she was able to copy every sign and I even had her write her name in the end. She wasn't able to read it and I was the one who came up with the way to write it but it was still a great milestone.
This lesson would need to be repeated, I doubt she would be able to write it on her own tomorrow but at the speed at which she was learning it should take less than a week before she is able to write a few words.
* * * * *
Her grandfather made his entrance followed by Shizu in his shadow.
The man looked more inebriated than earlier or even yesterday. Guess some rumours are true.
“So, I heard you all got along well.” He was hinting he heard about the earlier commotion.
The princess threw him a diversion “Look grandfather, I can already write.” She was flaunting a page with her name written on it, “You were right, this is something I can easily master.” She was fluttering her eyes in an overacted cuteness.
The old man wasn't fooled but took the bait nonetheless. “Oh... Very good. I'm happy that my little princess is so smart.” He praised her much to her delight.
After both of them sweet talked one another a bit more, he dismissed the princess. She gave me a slight nod and a curtsey to my friends before leaving with her bodyguard. Her last stare at me was pleading “Do not let me down.”
The old man was perusing the sheets of paper on the table, looking at the lines of letters that I made her copy. “I'm surprised at how well this went.” He finally said, “Sorry for the way she abused her power, even hurting you quite a bit.” He pointed at my stomach before ordering “Show me.”
Once more I lifted the blue shirt the palace gave us this morning to show my bruised stomach.
The old lord snorted and put a hand near my stomach without touching it. “She went a bit overboard. Pardon her. She was born with more Chi than most and became obsessed with becoming a fighter. From early on she's only been around people with enough Chi to endure her hits.” His deep green eyes shone before I felt some warmth on my bruise. “This will help you recover quicker.”
Before I could thank him he had already turned his attention on my friends.
“I'm more surprised by the fact that your friends were able to keep up with her...” He was sounding suspicious, “This is quite the feat for untrained commoners to be able to keep up with a third rank Chi user trained by some of the best masters around.” He was looking at them with wariness, “You're not lying when you say they never received any training?”
I shrugged “Not as far as I know. I've been with them since we were three springs old and no one around us is a fighter. Melodi's father has some chi but I believe the other two's parents should have little to none.” I didn't insist on our age either, we were too young to have any Chi, unless we were born with really powerful innate talent for it. Only blades would have kids this talented.
The fat lord was stroking his beard pensively. “Hmmm. No Chi training then. What about martial training?”
I raised my eyebrows, refraining from rolling my eyes up. “I'm the son of a smith, Gelcaria is the daughter of a stonecutter, Balout of a baker. The closest thing we have with someone with fighting experience is Melodi's father who is a fisherman.” I exclaimed.
The lord nodded “I know, that also what's in the report.” I'm still amazed by the amount of data they have on us. The intelligence service is doing a thorough job in keeping tabs. “Yet they managed to have the upper hand on my little princess.” He sighed “She's not the smartest one, that I agree. But she has some talent in the martial field. So I'm a bit surprised.” He was looking at me questioningly.
Again I shrugged. “We did some swimming and gymnastics, so their body awareness must be above average and they were at two against one. Or maybe your granddaughter was just rattled because she was angry or because they were fighting without a form. Who knows? In the end, it was just a squabble between kids, no need to fuss about it.” To be honest I didn't really understand why he was that troubled by a small fight. Were Mel and Gelcaria that outstanding? The most logical explanation was that the princess lacked battle awareness, her trainers must be afraid to hurt her and are going too easy on her.
After considering it some more the old man shook his big head “You might be right. Anyway, I'm glad things are going well with the princess. Consider yourself hired as palace tutor.” He announced merrily.
I was expecting him to ask me to come back. The title was a bit too much but I had another demand first “Can my friends and I go home? Our parents must be worrying.”
The old lord brushed this “Don't worry, Shizu took care of everything.” The silent woman didn't bat an eye, that was what's worrying me.
“Then how long are we to be kept here?” I asked.
“Don't make it sound like you're our prisoner. Food is good, rooms are warm, can you dare say we are bullying you?” he asked in disbelief. His tipsy gaze then fell on my stomach. “Well, sometimes things are harsher than expected.” he granted me with a shrug.
“My grandmother his really sick. I would like to go home to check on her anyway.” I begged.
This made him consider my request, his eyes were full of sorrow. “Fine.” he relented. “But it's a bit late. Shizu will bring you all home first thing in the morning tomorrow.” he waved at his silent aide. “But do not forget you are now working for me. Shizu will arrange for the rest. Now leave, I need a drink.” He didn't take a cup and instead drank directly from a flask he retrieved from Shinpilo's knows where it was hidden.
Before I could say another word, Shizu was already dragging me away while servants were taking my friends.
We were taken to the same servant's rooms as yesterday. After a light dinner Shizu made it back: “You'll be all brought back to your homes tomorrow.” This was welcomed with cheers from my friends.
“But,” silenced Shizu, “To repay for the troubles you all created in the palace and as punishment, you'll all have to work for the elder lord for a year.” she sentenced us.