The guard captain was understandably blind-sided by this unexpected and rather unorthodox attack, but she wasn't Elora's personal protector simply because she looked good in armour. Embla rolled with the impact of Tessa's strike, skittering across the ground and regaining her feet, sword still in hand.
The captain's face was stern, her eyes aflame with indignant fury, which was returned in kind by the vicious and predatory mercenary standing before her. Tessa's daggers were already in hand, her body tense and ready for the the fight that would follow.
“Stop, Tess!” I shouted, trying to get to my feet only to falter and curse as my left leg refused to take my weight. Spirit damn it, it seemed like Sig had done more damage that I had first suspected. Thankfully, my voice was enough to give the young woman pause.
“Embla, enough! She's a friend,” Elora's voice rung out in the square and in the next instant she was at my side, looking me over with a critical eye, her expression one of intense frustration as she pressed a hand gingerly to my bruised body, “Idiot! Can you not stay out of trouble for more than a minute?”
I tried to smile but I was exhausted. All I could do was wearily shake my head in response.
“Highness, who is this woman?” Embla's words were almost as sharp as Tessa's daggers and, despite Elora's instructions, the mercenary captain did not lower her guard for even a moment.
“Her name is Tessa, one of the mercenaries who works with Orin. She is... protective,” Elora said by way of response before returning her attentions to me, “Deal with this while I stop you from bleeding out.”
Before I could retort, light consumed the Princess as Etherin took hold. In the next instant she sank into my skin and it was all I could do not to sigh in blissful relief. The world became sharper even as my body became stronger. Being a Knight and putting up with all the bullshit that came with it was worth it for the moments when Elora and I became one.
My leg healed, the sensation strange as I felt the bone shift back into place beneath my skin. Whenever Elora had healed me before with her Gift it had usually been during combat and I had little time to pay any attention to it. Now that I focused, though, I could feel little pulses of energy emerging from my inner soul and rippling out across my body, finding my injuries and setting them right. The work was slower than usual but I just attributed that to Elora taking her time with the healing process and making sure she made no mistakes. I pushed myself to my feet. I felt light and dangerous.
“Orin, you alright?” Tessa asked, still focused on the guard captain.
“All fine, Tessa. No need to be on guard, she's a friend, or at least someone I can somewhat trust,” I replied, smiling at the young woman, “Thanks, though. I know how it must've looked but it really wasn't as bad as it seemed.”
“It seemed like you were on your knees with a sword to your throat. There aren't a lot of ways to interpret that, Orin,” Tessa shot back vehemently, though she did put her daggers back in their sheaths, effectively dismissing the guard captain as a threat. “She's lucky. If you hadn't said something she'd already be dead.”
“As if you could, little girl,” Embla grumbled, wiping Sig's blood off her sword on one of the corpses nearby, “Take a lot more than your little pig-stickers to end my life.”
Tessa grinned, her sharp canines on display, her bloodlust almost physical as it rolled off of her in waves. “Care to find out, dog?”
Embla bristled but didn't respond. Elora had said that Tessa wasn't a threat and if I'd learned anything about Embla in the last few hours it was that she took her oaths to the Princess very seriously.
“Perhaps next time.” Embla said, her sword sliding smoothly back into her well-oiled scabbard.
“Perhaps,” Tessa mocked before sliding up beside me, close enough to touch. “Why did you go so far from the orphanage?”
“I just needed to think about some things. Last thing I expected was to be attacked by Sig the bloody pig.”
“The Common Dog you attacked after coming home?”
“Yeah, how'd you know?” I asked, sure I hadn't brought it up to the mercenary before.
Tessa shrugged, “The Sister told me after the wedding. I spent some time looking for him to... vent my frustrations. He was good at hiding. More like a rat than a dog.”
“Vent your frustrations?” I asked, starting back towards the orphanage with Tessa in lock step beside me. Embla followed a few feet back, no doubt still a little wary about getting close to Tess. I could understand that feeling intimately.
“So, you're just going to leave the bodies here?” Embla said sharply before Tessa could reply and I winced, turning to the grim captain. I realised that Embla didn't seem to be too alarmed by the fact that her ward had become light and sank into my skin. Then again, she had the bearing of one who had seen combat in the past, she had probably seen her fair share of Bondings.
“Shit, do I need to tell someone about this kind of thing now?” I asked, genuinely curious. It wasn't the first dead body I had left on the streets of Myrin and I doubted, knowing me, that it would be the last. Before, I had just kinda left them where they lay. After all, the chances of the guard believing it was self-defence was pretty much non-existent. Not when I had already been a known troublemaker in the city.
“Now?” Embla replied, exasperated, before shaking her head, “Of course, you lived in the Commons. I shouldn't be surprised that you're used to gang violence.”
“Not so much, actually. I was never in a gang but I did have run ins with some unsavoury individuals over the years.”
“I'll send one of my girls to inform the guard for clean up,” Embla said stiffly, “But, a word to the wise, you are above this sort of thing now. You represent the Princess and, through her, the crown. Try not to disrespect it. By the by, you always have to tell someone when there is a dead body on the streets. I really didn't think I'd have to tell you that.”
A large part of me immediately wanted to shout her down, or tell her to her that I wasn't 'above' commoners but I bit my tongue before the words could emerge. As painful as it was for me to admit, she was right. “Okay.”
Embla's eyebrows threatened to leap from the top of her head. “Okay? That's it?”
I nodded, “You're right. I'm not a mercenary anymore, nor am I just a lad from the Commons.”
Embla narrowed her eyes at me, looking for some kind of hidden meaning behind my words but finding none. “Good.”
I tried to smile at the guard captain but it probably came out more strained that I wanted it to be. Truthfully, as much as I had initially disliked Embla's attitude towards me, I had respect for her skills as a warrior. I promised myself that I would try harder and that started immediately. No time like the present and all that.
“Sorry, Tess, what were you saying?” I said as I resumed walking towards the orphanage.
Tessa's gaze moved from Embla back to me hurriedly. I hoped she wasn't staring daggers at the captain over my shoulder.
“A-after the wedding, you were gone and in the palace. I couldn't reach you so I went looking for Sig to keep myself busy. I didn't find him, but I found others. It didn't help as much as I thought it would.” Tessa's face fell, hiding away her steel-coloured eyes.
I didn't know what to say to that. Part of me was relieved that she felt comfortable enough to discuss these things with me. Another, greater, part was unsure whether continuing this conversation would be good for her. I sided with the former rather than the latter. Tessa opening up about her feelings, telling the truth, it could only be a good thing in the long run.
I had something of an epiphany when I was being beaten by Sig and his men. I had been overthinking things, trying to find a roundabout way of dealing with Tessa and the reveal of what her life was actually like. I didn't need to do that. I knew better than most that my strength wasn't really in thinking things through. What Tessa needed was someone to be there for her, someone she could talk to. I could do that, at least. It wasn't much, sure, but it was all I could think to do. I just hoped it was enough for her.
As much as Tessa's obsessive attitude scared and confused me, I was also afraid that I wouldn't live up to the expectation she had of me in her head. I was hardly perfect and had proved it on multiple occasions over my years with the band. Before that even, back when I was scrappy kid pickpocketing around town. Tessa had been there for much of that and it begged the question of why she was so devoted to me. Surely there must be something beyond the connection that only she could feel? If that wasn't the case, then I feared she might be disappointed if she got what she wanted.
“Talk to her, Orin. She needs compassion right now,” Elora's voice echoed in my ears, “I can feel your doubt, your unease, but can you imagine how she is feeling? Her whole world is crashing down around her and you're the only one she wants to talk to about it.”
“You've changed your tune since Paldrum, Princess,” I muttered back, though Tessa was close enough to give me an odd look.
“We talked a little after you left. She said she wants to make up for her mistake and I believe her.”
“Does that mean-”
“I don't know, Orin,” Elora stated quickly, “One thing at a time.”
I grunted, understanding her point, and turned to the young woman with a smile, “Just for the record, how many times have you saved my life?”
Tessa blinked, “What?”
I laughed at her reaction. Tessa was one of the most vicious fighters I had ever seen, but take her out of her wheelhouse and she suddenly became unsure. “I wasn't exactly sitting in church growing up, Tess. You must have had your hands full dealing my various escapades.”
Tessa smiled lightly in return, her cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment, “I lost count after a while. One of the first was when you and Pater stole some ale from the Bell-tower Bulls.”
I remembered it well, “Oh yeah, we got away clean as I recall. Couple of guys chased us but they never caught up, too slow.”
“Not so clean,” Tessa snorted in amusement, “Those idiots nearly killed you two. Luckily, I managed to catch them before they caught you.”
“I was only nine, I think, which would mean you were only eight,” I said incredulously, “You saying you took out two guys by yourself?”
“I'd only been in Myrin for a year so no, I didn't. Another member of the band was there. Do you remember Roland? The old sod who always complained about the food in camp?”
“Yeah, I do,” I replied softly. Roland had been a good merc, handy with a bow. He had taught Alec how to shoot. He died only a couple of months after I joined the Brigade, during one of my first ever jobs. I think I only spoke to the man a handful of times. “Damn, I'll never get to thank him for that.”
“He liked you,” Tessa confirmed, “It was always fun when he was on watch with me. He talked a lot, much more than the others and he taught me quite a bit about archery. Still, he did curse you out at every opportunity, especially when you interrupted his naps with your little adventures.”
I smiled grimly but said nothing How many others had watched over me with Tessa? There must have been a few and what Tessa said confirmed that there was some kind of rota of mercenaries assigned to my very own protection detail. Elora had Embla, I had Tess. Spirit, they were taking turns to keep me safe and Tessa was always there, hidden from sight.
“Orin?” Tessa interrupted my thoughts with concerned words, raising a hesitant hand to touch me, but lowering it quickly before she thought I noticed, “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, you didn't. The opposite in fact. I was just thinking about the people I need to thank. You most of all. I didn't know you were there, not once did I even suspect that I was being watched. How could I have missed that?” I asked, not really expecting an answer, but Tessa gave one anyway.
“We were thorough. Boldrin didn't even let me leave the house until I could hide myself well enough to meet his standards.”
“But I should have seen something,” I hissed bitterly, angry at myself for missing something so monumental, so important. She was always a step behind and all she wanted was to be seen. She had followed me for years and I hadn't known. How could I have been so fucking blind? “If I had known, Tess, I wouldn't have let you live like that. Never like that. I would've-”
“You would've what, Orin?” Tessa said sharply, cutting me off. Her body language changed again,, becoming stone, stiff and unyielding, her defences returning. “Don't you dare. I told you before that I wouldn't change anything. Not one word. Not one action. I know I didn't have a choice, not at first, but it became mine. I've known what I've wanted to be since I was seven years old with no doubt in my mind, no worry about the future. Can anyone else say the same? Can you?”
I opened my mouth to reply but bit off my retort before it could fly free. I was slowly learning that there was a time to remain silent and a time to act. I believed I had reached another so soon after my first.
“Thank you, Tess,” I said softly. I could say more. I could tell her how weird and unnatural I found this whole situation, how strange and contorted reality had become. But Tess didn't need to hear that. What she needed was something far simpler: A friend.
Tessa's eyes widened and her mouth fell open, but she didn't offer a response. For a while, we walked in silence, Embla following behind us. The young mercenary didn't say anything the entire way back, but I found that the edges of her mouth had curved upwards slightly.
Myrin was strangely beautiful at night. You know, if you disregarded the smells and shouting that emanated from the various inns and taverns we passed on our way back home. More than one commoner passed us by, their day ended and looking for a way to relieve their stress before they returned to their families and their beds. Tomorrow was another day and for many it would mean work on the land on Myrin's outskirts. It was a hard life, but a good one. I had always thought so, at least. There was a time in my life when I believed that would be me. All grown up with a job on one of the farms. Maybe I would meet a nice girl and we'd settle down, maybe I'd even have a couple of kids. They would grow up, work the land as their father had, and I would be buried next to my wife in an unmarked plot beyond the city walls. It would have been a good life... a simple life... a boring life.
'I'm not like them.'
Realisation settled over my shoulders, nearly causing me to trip on the cobbles below. The thought of living like the rest, the thought of having to work and toil for scraps, to be content with what I was given. No, that wasn't the life I wanted. I had railed against an existence like that since I was old enough to know better. I had always kept moving, always pushed myself to be better, to rise above the limits of my supposed station. I had thought of myself as one of the people for so long now that I had forgotten just how far removed from them I had become. This wasn't about being a Knight, I had felt this way for some time. I had looked at the common-folk much like I looked at the Nobility. I stood apart from them. Not above and not beneath, just separate.
Sig had been hurting the commoners of the market and yet none of them stood up, none of them chose to fight for one of their own . I did, because I was different. I had the strength to fight back, the strength to turn my words into actions. My deeds speaking for me.
I turned my head and looked at Embla. Her head was on a swivel, peering around with her established bodyguard persona in place. Her physical presence letting everyone know that they needed to stay away. If her size and obvious prowess wasn't enough, then the glint of a sword hilt beneath her cloak was.
Maybe the guard had a point after all. I had run into Sig to learn a lesson, it seemed. The Great Spirit might actually be in my corner. Shit, maybe I really was the chosen one. I chuckled and Tessa gave me another strange look.
The rest of the way home passed quickly, my thoughts all-consuming as I pondered this recent insight. We had barely reached the steps when the large doors burst open and the Sister emerged, frantic and beside herself. I smiled and raised my hands to placate my mother. Erin near barrelled down the steps and immediately grabbing my chin, her experienced gaze running the length of me to search for wounds. I still had a fair amount of blood on me, but none of it was mine. Elora had been incredibly thorough. There was little to no bruising left.
“Foolish boy, are you alright?” Erin's expression was torn between anger and worry. It was one I was familiar with from childhood and helped reaffirm that, despite the secrets revealed, she was still the same old Sister.
“I'm fine, Sister. Just a little scrap. Nothing major,” I said, deliberately playing down the attack.
“Huh,” Erin replied with narrowed eyes, “So where is the Princess?”
“She is currently Bonded with Orin. His injuries were substantial.” Tessa replied immediately, a little jealousy in her voice when she said it. Spirit damn it, Tess.
I expected what was coming so I closed my eye and felt a light slap against my head, followed by a curse. I opened it again to see the Sister nursing a bruised hand.
“By the Great One, boy. You feel like you're made of granite.” Erin winced, but waved me off when I tried to apologise.
“The perks of being a Knight, Sister,” I grinned, strangely happy that, for once, it wasn't me that was left injured after I told the Sister a white lie.
Stolen novel; please report.
“Don't get too cocky, Orin. I have nothing but time on my hands. You may be a Knight, but you can't stay Bonded forever.” Erin warned with a dangerous glint, before she softened and smiled, her hand coming to the side of my face. “I'm glad you're alright, my son.”
“Thanks, Sister,” I replied, “I was wondering if you would let us stay the night? It''ll take too long to reach the palace and I want to see the kids in the morning. You alright with that, Princess?”
“Of course,” Elora said in my mind.
Light emerged from my chest and took the form of the Princess, who landed gently on the ground next to me. She looked red-faced and a little tired, but pleased with her work. “You were bleeding inside again, Orin.”
In hindsight, I should have seen the Sister striking me again but I was distracted. I yelped and held a hand to my ear as the supposed wife of the Great Spirit cackled at me.
“You can, of course, stay. All of you can,” Erin turned to Elora, “You can take Orin's old room, Elora. Don't worry, the boy can sleep anywhere. I'll get your guard and Tessa settled.”
I was about to ask why we were going to be separated but decided to hold my tongue. The Sister didn't need to know about everything in my life.
As the troops began to filter into the orphanage, I told Tessa and Elora to go ahead without me while I went back, stopping Embla from entering the orphanage with the rest of her companions.
“Lord?” Embla cocked an eyebrow, her gaze drifting down to my hand, which I quickly removed from her arm. I wanted to at least try and make a good impression.
“I just wanted to say that I'm sorry,” I said with no small amount of difficulty. “You were speaking sense before and I realise that I am not... I don't get on well with Nobles.”
Embla chuckled, “Well, if nothing else, we have that in common.”
I was taken aback by Embla's response, causing the guard to roll her eyes.
“What? Did you think those in power were happy about a farmer being raised into the gentry? More than a few people wished for my family to be removed from the Nobility, even though our title and the lands that came with it are minor, bordering on non-existent. I had to fight with everything I had to prove myself worthy. I understand hating the Nobility well enough,” Embla frowned, “my opinion hasn't changed, however. I still believe that Cellus is the better choice, as do most, if not all, among the higher class. You said that you were going to prove differently and I believed you when you said it. But saying and doing are two different things, Orin of Myrin. If you want to be seen as more than they perceive you to be, then you have your work cut out for you. Much like I did, all those years ago.”
“Noted,” I replied weakly, “Got any advice?”
“'Not by birth, but by deed'” Embla said, “Do you know who said that? A marquis from the Empire named Elias Coldoroy. He too was a commoner who was raised into the Nobility. His words meant a lot to me back then, when I was alone and surrounded by enemies. Perhaps if you think on them, you'll find some of the comfort that I did.”
“Alright, I will. Thank you, Embla.” I said with a nod.
“You're welcome, Lord,” The guard captain smiled for the first time since I'd known her, “emotion is important and useful in a pinch, but do not let your own biases take control of you. If you do, you'll become little better than those you claim to hate.”
With that, the guard captain left me behind and entered the orphanage, the doors closing behind her as I watched her go, lost in thought. She made quite a bit of sense. More than once I had let my own perceived version of the Nobility taint what was actually right in front of me. Even when I was locked away in the depths of Paldrum's castle, I had doubted Elora and thought she had abandoned me when it couldn't have been further from the truth. I'm sure my previous experiences with the Nobility had affected my mind back then. I needed to get myself right and stop blaming actions of the few on the many. It was going to be difficult, and it wouldn't happen overnight, but it was a start. I needed to do better. Be better.
But that was enough existential musing on my place in the world for one night. I had a Princess to see.
I smiled and walked into the orphanage, letting my memory guide me to the room I knew she was in. I must have been outside longer than I realised because the whole place was silent. I assumed that Embla had set guards up somewhere but I didn't see them and so pushed them from my mind. It didn't take long to find the Princess and before I knew it I was outside her door and knocking softly. Elora's face peered out as the door opened, her eyes narrowed and more than a little mirth dancing behind her irises. Her blonde hair was down around her shoulders, cascading down her back. She looked incredible.
“Orin, what are you doing here?” Elora asked, a smirk on her face.
“I was just coming to check up on you,” I replied, fighting to keep my own smile from appearing, “Thought you might want to talk, after everything with Tessa.”
As much as I wanted to move onto other things, Elora and Tessa's talk was still fresh for her. I thought the Princess might like to discuss it more. She had seemed fine on the way back to the orphanage and had even spoken up in the mercenary's defence, but I wanted to head off any problems before they became greater than they needed to be.
“I didn't expect her to be so... open about everything,” Elora replied with a frown, “But I'm tired and I need to think on some things she said. I'll tell you more tomorrow, I promise. Besides, you've just been in a fight with a bunch of thugs, you must be exhausted.”
I nodded along but didn't leave. Amusement blossomed on the face of my Princess.
“Something else you needed, my Knight?” Elora asked.
“Well, we didn't really have the chance to be alone together on the way home from Paldrum,” I replied coyly, leaning against the door frame and grinning at my Smith, “I thought since Embla's not around, we could make up for lost time.”
“Oh, I see,” Elora said,” This makes it easier, actually. I had quite a lot of time to think on the way home from Paldrum, about us, and I've come to a decision.”
“A decision on what?” I asked, confused.
Elora opened the door and slung her arms over my shoulders. She was wearing a night-gown, though I had no idea where she had gotten it from. I found my eyes wandering down quite a bit but the Princess put a hand under my chin to keep me from straying. Her face was a bright red, but she seemed pleased by my attentions.
“I want a proper wedding, Orin. A real one. Preferably without all the blood and screaming this time.” Elora said firmly, “Until then... well...”
“B-but we are technically married now, right? so-” I asked, faintly desperate. I had been thinking about this, and her, quite a bit on our journey back to the city.
“Technically, yes. But not in the eyes of the Great Spirit. Only due to some obscure old law. I want to wear a dress that isn't covered in blood. I want to celebrate with our friends and family. Is that too much to ask?” She looked at me with large eyes and I idly wondered when she had gotten so good at the whole batting the eyelashes thing. I remember her being pretty bad at it.
“No,” I replied glumly, my mood floundering and failing.
“No, it's not. Until then,” Elora leaned forward and pressed her lips hard against mine, her tongue dancing across my own, surprising me so much that I nearly let go of her. Her mouth moved to my ear as she whispered, “You'll just have to trust that I'll be worth the wait.”
The Princess of Venos retreated and slammed the door, leaving me there, red-faced and looking around. I was still confused. Very, very confused. So much so that I almost knocked again for clarification but decided against it at the last instant. For some reason, despite the conflict inside me, I was grinning like a fucking madman as I walked down the hall with no real destination in mind. Elora had changed quite a bit since that day in the inner city.
It was when I was musing on how to arrange a wedding as soon as possible that I heard the sound of heavy breathing, one that pulled me from my idle dreams of Elora and our wedding night. I followed the sounds until I reached the courtyard where I found, who would have guessed, Tessa.
She was practising her forms, moving like a panther as she held the two daggers in a reverse grip, stabbing and flinging herself around with a practiced grace that I'd never be able to replicate. She noticed me during one of her turns but didn't seem surprised that I was there. She continued to practice and I remained silent. Disturbing her might end with me getting cut up. She may not like other people hurting me, but I really didn't want to take the risk that her obligations included her as well.
Eventually there was a brief pause as Tessa came to a stop, sweat covering her exposed skin and rough-cut hair stuck to her scalp.
“You're welcome.” Tessa said between great breaths.
“I'm sorry?” I asked. Seems confusion was going around tonight.
“For what you said before,” Tessa turned to me, returning her blades to their sheaths. “You said 'thank you'. You're welcome.”
“Oh, yeah,” I replied stupidly, “How are you feeling?”
Tessa snorted, “How am I feeling?”
“Yeah, right. Stupid question,” I said, scratching at my head, “Why are you training? It's late.”
“Too much energy,” Tessa went over to the little bench that sat under the large tree. “I was expecting a fight and I didn't get one. I needed to let off some steam.”
It hadn't been too long ago that I had practised here. I remembered the look on the Sister's face when she had caught sight of me. The pain in her eyes that I couldn't quite identify. Of course, that had a new meaning now, much like everything else.
I sat next to Tessa and looked up into the night sky overhead. The stars were out in force. It must've been midnight, or close to it. I really should've been getting to bed. I'd bunk with Gertrand to avoid walking in on one of the guards. The kid slept like the dead, I doubt he'd stir.
“Sister get you settled?” I asked. Another stupid question but I think Tessa and I both needed some normalcy at that moment.
“Yeah, she put me in the room next to Delithia,” Tessa said warmly, “Did I ever tell you I got to meet her when I first came here? Well, not meet really. She was still a baby. She seemed to be terrorising the Sister.”
“That sounds like Delithia,” I hesitated, “If you want, you can meet her properly tomorrow along with the rest. I'm sure they'd love to meet you.”
Tessa's smile quickly faded, replaced by the unsure expression that had been on her face when she arrived in the dining room. “I don't know, Orin. I don't think I'm really suited to-”
“Hush,” I said firmly, “You're one half of my family, Tess. I'd love to introduce you to the other.”
Tessa was silent for a few minutes after that and I didn't try to fill it. After a while I heard the sounds of gentle sobbing and the shaking of shoulders. I didn't reach out to comfort her with a touch, nor did I ask her what was wrong. We both knew. She just needed someone close by and I'd be that for her in a heartbeat.
“Thank you,” Tessa whispered.
“You're welcome,” I replied, smiling at the young mercenary and receiving a stilted one in return, “So, You told me a little about your past exploits, but I want to hear more. If you'd like to share?”
Tessa chuckled, “You sure? They all involve you.”
“Oh, Tessa,” I said with an exaggerated sigh, “You of all people should know that all the best stories involve me.”
Tessa cracked an unwanted smile and I laughed as she failed to stop it. Then we spoke.
She told me of times from my past. Turns out I was not half the little pickpocket I thought I was. She slowly shattered my ego over the next hour or so, telling me how I had made a mistake or how I'd just been an idiot for thinking I could get away with a clearly ridiculous plan. She was consistently brutal in her criticism, almost to the point where I felt I had to start taking it personally.
“I didn't start that fire!” I stated firmly, “That was one of the guys who worked there.”
“Bullshit,” Tessa retorted, “You knocked over a lantern as you left. I had to run in and put it out before half the city went up in flames.”
“Really? Spirit... It's almost like you were protecting Myrin from me, not the other way around.” I said, pale-faced and staring into space.
“Not always,” Tess shrugged, “But on nights like that, it did feel that way.”
We talked and laughed. Well, I laughed, but I did get Tessa to chuckle a couple of more times. No talk of Knights, Heirs or great threats that loomed over us, just banter about old times. Memories that we had shared without me knowing. By the time we went our separate ways my fragile nerves had settled and I think Tess was feeling the same. Her shoulders looked a little less heavy. It was a long road ahead, but I think I managed to ease at least a little of her burden. We had certainly been through some shit, the two of us. Doubly so for Tessa. She had to put up with all my problems as well as her own.
I settled on the floor in Gertrand's room, the boy's rumbling snores rocking me into the land of dreams. Sleep had been difficult for me in Paldrum. The cramped cell they had stuck me in was in a state of constant darkness and all I had for company were my own spiralling thoughts. It hadn't changed much after we left and I had honestly given up on ever having a sound night's sleep ever again.
But as I closed my eyes and looked back over the day, I'd say it was a good one. If you chose to ignore all the blood and Sig, it was almost perfect. I got answers from my mother, reconnected with Tessa, and Elora was safe. I really couldn't ask for better from the Spirit and I doubt that it would listen even if I did.
I slept better that night than I had in a very long time.
* * *
“You are thinking about him again.”
Vera frowned, knowing her sister was right but not wanting to admit it. Even if the bruise on her face was gone, the memory of how it had gotten there remained. The First Knight of Venos idly kicked a random tree in passing, nearly shearing the thing in half despite holding back her considerable Bonded strength. She was distracted and had been since the Severance. Not only had she pushed Orin away, but Elora would be sure to follow once the young Knight told her the truth.
“Possibly. The question is why you are not?” Vera replied into the depths of her soul, examining the Bond to see any changes in her Smith's emotional state. As always, Annabelle was unaffected by Vera's attempts to get into her head.
“Sister, we did nothing wrong. The boy couldn't have expected us to choose him over the Kingdom. Elora knows that as well, I'm sure.” Annabelle stated, taking the whole situation a little too lightly for Vera's liking.
“It doesn't matter what she knows, Anna,” Vera snapped, her frustration boiling over, “You saw the way she spoke with the boy, saw the way she kissed him. Logic and reason are not enough for her to dismiss what we did.”
“Ah, young love,” Annabelle sighed, somewhat reminiscent, “They will settle in time. Elora cannot be mad at us forever.”
Vera grimaced, “Orin can. The kid is as stubborn as a mule and now he's going to be King.”
“Stubborn he may be, but he is hardly a fool,” Annabelle reminded her gently, “He will come around. We will just need to be persistent. Protecting Orin has now become a part of our official mandate, after all.”
“Yes, I remember the meeting,” Vera recalled her brief interaction with the King and Queen after Elora and Orin had left the small border town of Paldrum. The Queen had said little, still reeling from the failure of the Severance. The King had been much more animated, wanting to mitigate the damage that the Severance had done. He had sent letters by raven to all the highest Nobles in the land, the Lord High Chamberlain among them. In these letters, the King was clearly throwing all of his support behind Orin in taking Cellus' place as Royal Protector and future King of Venos. It was a dangerous move but one that was required. Elora would never let him go and even if they tried something like the Severance again, Orin would just pull off another miracle and rip whatever they came up with apart. The power of an Heir was truly extraordinary.
“Do you think that his plan will work?” Vera asked curiously, moving through the forest with ease, her senses spread wide as she sought out any enemies to try and relieve some of her feelings.
“It will depend on Orin, but I don't see why not,” Vera could almost feel Annabelle's frown, “I'm more concerned about the Queen. She is hardly thrilled with all this.”
“Yeah,” Vera grunted, “Gida will need to at least pretend to be cordial to the boy, for both their sakes. He's still in danger from a few outliers.”
While hurting Orin would undoubtedly cause great pain to Elora, a few members of the Nobility throughout the country had much invested in making sure the war with Dunhold went ahead and had little care for the preservation of the monarchy. If the Spymaster's reports were to be believed, he had already foiled half a dozen plots to end the young swordsman's life. The threats were real enough but nothing that the men and women who served the crown couldn't handle. The real danger would be when someone who was even remotely competent attempted the deed. Thankfully, many of the more reasonable Nobles seemed to be accepting the new stance of the King and Queen with open arms. No doubt a few of them were already thinking about how to take advantage of the seemingly inexperienced Orin. Vera could only say good luck to them if that was the case. Underestimating the kid was a sure fire way to look like a fool. Vera knew that better than most.
Vera and Annabelle were currently on a 'solo scouting operation' south of Paldrum. Officially, it was to stop any elements of the Dunholdian army from crossing their borders and closing in on the capital. Unofficially, it was because the Queen blamed Vera and her Smith for the fiasco at the wedding and letting Elora escape the palace. So she decided to give the two of them a miserable detail that was well below what their prestige and rank normally allowed. The King and Queen had taken the army and they were on the slow march back to Myrin, having left only hours after Orin and Elora had departed with the Princess' guard. It wasn't their only protection, of course. Yale had enough specialists watching the young couple to destabilise a small country. Vera and Annabelle's mission would be over by tomorrow morning and they would make to join them at all speed. Vera wanted to speak to the young man again, or at the very least make the attempt. One day, Orin would be her King and she would be charged with his defence. Trust was needed for that, but it was not easily won after such a betrayal. She and Annabelle needed to start now if they were going to have a chance.
“Vera,” The Knight froze in place as her Smith said her name. Annabelle's tone had changed, taking on the professional cadence she reserved for serious matters. “A Knight is closing in on us.”
“Have they seen us?” Vera whispered into her mind, summoning Illithin and feeling the familiar weight of her frozen glaive settle in her hand.
“No, I doubt it. They'll pass us by in a few moments on the western road. They feel weak, not our match.” Annabelle replied seriously.
Vera snorted at that. The amount of people in Venos who could match them numbered exactly two. One being the Queen and the other Duke Brynyar, who was without a Smith. “Still, it might give us some exercise. What are they doing?”
“They are making no attempt to avoid being seen. I detect no use of the Gift of the Hidden.”
“They could be friendly. Let's have a chat.” Vera grinned, hoping that they weren't allies with everything she could muster within her. She was in the mood for a fight. She may even decide to battle with a handicap, to keep things interesting.
Speed poured through her arms and legs as Strength bolstered her muscles. Annabelle gave her some of their Thought Gift, but they needed to be careful with it's use. Every Resonant Gift was powerful and draining, too much of it could cause problems. For Orin and his Resonant Strength, it meant that he could accidentally tear down a wall with a gentle tap should Elora give him too much of it. For Vera, her Thought Gift made time slow to a crawl as her mind sped up to match her new capabilities, but it also made Annabelle lag behind her somewhat. The Gifts didn't affect the Smith in the same way as the Knight. It was an important lesson they had learned after the first time they'd tried to go all out. It had only taken Annabelle a few minutes to take control of the power of their Gift and shut it off, but to Vera it had felt like nearly an hour. She was in no hurry to relive such a thing anytime soon.
Vera churned the earth as she ran, skipping past trees and avoiding exposed roots and fallen branches with ease. She caught sight of a man soon after, a few miles from her initial starting point, just beyond the tree line. The strange Knight was running down one of the well travelled roads between Paldrum and a few of the villages to the west. Part of Vera and Annabelle's mission was to ensure anyone considered to be suspicious was thoroughly vetted before being allowed to pass freely. A lesser duty it may have been, but the First Knight would never shirk an order from her Queen. An unknown Knight travelling near the border, so soon after the battle at Dunwellen and the mad dash to freedom that followed, was definitely worthy of further investigation. The first thing that Vera noticed about the stranger was that he was much slower than her, almost painfully so, and his head was moving from side to side as if he didn't know exactly where he was going. The second was that he was not a Knight of Venos, nor was he one of Dunhold.
He appeared to be from some tropical climate, far removed from the wet lands on this side of the continent. His skin was a golden brown, tan from a life lived in the sun. His nose was broad and defined while his hair was black and cut close to the scalp. The Thought Gift truly was a marvel when it came to picking out detail. So much so that Vera could easily see the surprise in the man's narrow brown eyes as she appeared in front of him with Illithin held before her in a easy grip, forcing the man to let up on his Speed and come to a stop lest he be impaled by his own momentum.
Whoever the man was, he was at least experienced as a warrior. He jumped backwards and reached into the air. A scimitar of flame formed in the palm of his hand as he landed and took up a stance, ready to attack at a moment's notice. He was well muscled, his arms bare and the grip on his weapon light. He knew what he was doing with a sword, but it wouldn't be enough to stop her from tearing him apart if she was so inclined. His soul had only recently gone through compression. A graduate of the Hall, but very recent, if the First Knight had to guess.
“Greetings, stranger,” Vera said softly, “I am Lady Vera of Venos, First Knight to the crown and General of the Venosian armies. Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
The man tensed when she said her name, so he knew who she was. That was good, it would banish the hope that he would somehow be able to kill her.
“No one of import,” The man said in a deep and grizzled voice, his accent lilting. Ragoran.
“I doubt that very much. The only Venosian Knights are quite a ways from here and, forgive me, but you don't strike me as Venosian,” Vera replied, eyeing the man's flaming blade with a raised eyebrow, “and in my experience, there are very few Knights in this world that are not of import.”
The man grumbled, but banished his blade back to his soul space and straightened his posture, nodding formally in the First Knight's direction, “I apologise, Lady Vera. I know who you are. My Smith and I have no intention of ending our lives today.”
“That's good,” Vera said, banishing Illithin as a show of faith. Even without her Weapon, he was not her match, “May I ask what you are doing so close to the border with Dunhold? We have recently had a few problems arise with our neighbours and everything is a little tense right now.”
“You have trouble with Dunhold?” The man's eyebrows rose in concern, before he quickly schooled his face and brought his emotions under his control. “Apologies, you have introduced yourself while I have not. My name is Alden, a Knight of Ragora in service to the House of D'viritazi.”
“D'viritazi?” It was now Vera's turn to be surprised. A memory of a young mercenary with rough cut hair and steely-grey eyes filled her mind. She had hoped that she wouldn't hear that name for a long time, but the Spirit was rarely so kind. Alden flashed a medallion then, one that Vera found that she recognised. It was of the same make as the one Orin's mercenary friend showed to the King and Queen in Paldrum. A hint of power lay beneath it's burnished surface. The Seal of the House of D'viritazi. No denying it then, Alden was who he said he was.
“Yes, my Lady,” Alden nodded again, this time throwing in a slight bow as he returned his amulet to it's place beneath his robes, “I am seeking a mercenary company that goes by the name of 'Boldrin's Brigade'. I was told in Sind that they were operating in this region.”
“You would be correct,” Vera stated carefully. She had an idea on who this man was seeking, “Boldrin's company aided the Princess' Knight in freeing the King and Queen from Dunwellen. You haven't heard this?”
Alden immediately shook his head, his eyes lighting up when Vera brought up Boldrin. “No, my Lady. News to the east was scarce. I learned that the Princess of Venos had a new protector among the common-folk in villages along the way. I did not, however, know that there was trouble with Dunhold. If you could point me in their general direction, my master and I would be most grateful.”
“I assume that you seek the daughter of your master, then?” Vera said casually, “Tessaraina D'viritazi?”
Alden tensed, his hands coming up as though he was about to fight, before he stopped himself and lowered them. He didn't look as relaxed as he did before.
“You know of my mistress, Lady Vera?” Alden asked, his narrow eyes narrowing further still. “May I ask how?”
“She made herself known after the retrieval of the King and Queen,” Vera said, “I'm afraid I cannot speak to her current location and I would tell you if I did know. Ragora and Venos have always been on good terms.”
Alden sighed heavily, staring bitterly into space. “Then I am back to square one. I apologise for disturbing you, Lady Vera. You have been most insightful.”
“I said I didn't know where she currently was,” Vera spoke before Alden could be on his way, “But I believe I know one who does. He is in Myrin. It is fortunate you chose this route, Lord Alden. I can arrange an introduction if that is your wish?”
“Is that a good idea, Vera?” Annabelle muttered into her head, “The Queen will not be happy about having to deal with more members of the D'viritazi. Besides that, 'arranging' anything with Orin will be difficult seeing as our failure to tell him all the facts is still fresh in his mind.”
“We need to stay on good terms with the D'viritazi, especially if this Tessaraina reports back and tells her father what we did,” Vera said back, “Besides, they seem to have a vested interest in keeping Orin safe and we can't afford them as an enemy. It can only be to our benefit to have someone powerful looking out for our future King. As for speaking with Orin... Well, we can only hope that he doesn't try to punch me out again.”
Vera watched as Alden's eyes glazed over as he conferred with his Smith. The First Knight gave him the time he needed until his vision cleared and he stared at her with a hopeful stare.
“I have spoken with my Smith and we agree to follow you to your source, Lady Vera, and thank you for the opportunity,” Alden bowed low and Vera nodded in return, “However, I have one more question. We are looking for another person, a young man who is about the same age as my mistress. They would have been together.”
“That is the man we are going to see, Alden of Ragora.”
“My Lady?” Alden blinked in confusion.
“The Knight of the Princess and the young man you seek are one in the same.”