Break of Autumn, Week 2, Day 6

It was nearly lunchtime when the Dusk Knights returned. They approached the village from the north, and Dame Arella had asked if I wanted to greet them.

“Yeah, let’s,” I paused, “Could we set up lunch for them?”

They left in service to the Dawns, and no matter how much I detest my name, that means they performed their duty to me. They protected the citizens of this domain.

“Let’s make it extra decadent if we can?” I nervously asked Dame Arella, who simply smiled down at me.

“How about we go to the tavern and ask for hot meals to be prepared? And, if you’re okay with it, I’ll break into your sweet stash in the carriage.”

I nodded.

It was a quick trip to the tavern, and then we were waiting by the North Gate with the Village Head, who looked towards the forest nervously.

I sighed, thinking back to all the times the knights had fought blights so far –Dame Arella had told me it was more than the two times I’d seen. In fact, Dame Siobhan was constantly clearing low-leveled brambles from our path.

“I’m sure they’re all–”

I was cut off as the knights crossed the treeline. A smile broke out on my face as I clocked all eight of them walking towards us, until I saw the hulking figure of Sir Rellar being propped up by Sir Neil and Dame Undein.

I rushed forward.

“My Lady–” Dame Arella started, but I cut her off.

“Get a doctor. Or healer. Or even the apothecary.” I shot back at her as I approached. My anxiety was overwhelming, so I didn’t hear the command in my own tone –but I did hear the gravity of Dame Arella’s response.

“Your will be done, my Lady.” And then she was gone. I couldn’t hear her departure, but I was sure she had left. I didn’t look back to check.

Instead, I focused on Sir Rellar. How one arm was strung across Sir Neil’s shoulders, and the other was strung across Dame Siobhan’s. I looked for signs of life –and even from a distance, I could see him moving his own feet.

As Sir Neil caught sight of me rushing towards them, he stood up straighter –fighting against the strain of carrying his oversized Captain. Dame Siobhan did the same, only her action was accompanied by a shout.

“Attention!” She commanded, and the rest of the knight stopped their movement and hit their fists against their chests.

Finally, finally, after so many long seconds, I was within range of Sir Rellar and the knights.

“Is he–” I caught myself, reigning in my fear and anxiety.

Nora, you told them to do this. You cannot fall apart at the slightest hiccup. You did this.

“Lady Nora, it’s just exhaustion.” Sir Neil glanced at Sir Rellar, “He overused his Skills. But he’ll be fine.”

Immediately, the tense set of my body relaxed, my anxiety forgotten, “Really?”

“Really,” Dame Siobhan confirmed.

I looked over Sir Neil and Dame Siobhan, then the knights behind them. Everyone had scuffed and dented armor, and there was bark in most of their hair and dirt rubbed into flesh wounds –but nothing seemed to be actively bleeding.

Only then did I fully relax.

“Okay,” I breathed, “Okay. Uhm, welcome back?”

That got a few laughs, and Sir Limrick put his hand on my shoulder as he spoke, “There’s a warm lunch ready for you lot at the tavern. Courtesy of Lady Nora.”

I felt heat creep up over my cheeks, and I turned back to the knights, “But if you’d rather rest–”

“I’m ready to eat an entire boar!” Shouted one of the knights before I could finish.

“I could go for some ale.” Huffed another.

I felt a smile overcome me, and I nodded, “Okay.”

Then I looked back to Sir Rellar, whose eyes were focused on me, and I whispered, “How long until you can stand on your own?”

As if taking offense at the very question, he unwrapped his arms from around the two knights and straightened up.

“My Lady, please, I am their Captain,” he whispered back, and he wasn’t smiling, but I could feel the amusement in his voice as he swayed in place, “But probably not for another half hour.”

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As we approached the wall, the Village Head perked up. It irritated me how he looked so happy despite the state of Sir Rellar.

“How did it go?”

“The final bramble has been cleared.” Came Sir Rellar’s gravelly voice, “All three nests have been fully eradicated. Our Duty is Done.”

As if a spell had been lifted, the knights all sagged in relief. I knew from the etiquette book that this was a part of the Oath the Dusk Knights took. It was the final exchange for a request. Much like the formal request, the words sealed the task as complete, and it would be recorded in the ledger in Adeline.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I grit my teeth as they talked more about the fight, but my main concern was that Sir Rellar was still swaying as he walked.

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Sir Rellar was propped up at one of the far tables, a bowl of soup and a thick cut of meat put in front of him –and a mug of ale, but that was neither here nor there.

The rest of the knights were digging into the mound of food the tavern had provided, and I was looking over everyone –looking for any indication that someone was mortally wounded and hiding it. Dame Arella had yet to return, and Sir Limrick was standing outside waiting to flag her down if she passed by. So, I was cataloging how each knight moved –how one man was favoring his right arm, how Dame Siobhan was wincing whenever someone’s voice got too loud, or how Sir Neil was zoning out while he talked.

Still, no one was actively bleeding.

Eventually, I settled down. But my guilt was still there. These knights had never looked so tired. I was proud of them, and they’d clearly worked hard –but what if there had been more blights than expected? What would have happened? The Village Head had given so little information!

I took a breath.

Nora, calm down. The Village Head said what he knew. It’s not his fault he doesn’t have enough guards to patrol the forests. Ugar is small, but don’t hold its smallness against it.

I forcibly relaxed my shoulders. Okay. It had turned out okay. Nothing terrible had happened. It was all right.

>For now.< I wanted to scream.

Shut up. I ground out mentally.

“Nora!” A high-pitched voice called my name, and suddenly, every knight had stilled and looked to the entrance of the tavern.

There was a tension that only a child could ignore as Clara and Clarence bounded up to where I was sitting.

“Hello,” I said, overly aware of the eyes of eight knights following me and my interaction with these children, “Where’s Phil?”

“He’s on his way,” Clara chirped up as she settled into the seat next to me. I’d been holding it for Dame Arella, but I decided this was okay too.

Clarence looked around the tavern with wide eyes before leaning in close to me and whispered, “Woah, Nora, there are so many knights!”

I blinked at him and nodded. Was it not obvious we were together?

Clarence climbed into the chair across for me –the one I’d been saving for Sir Limrick. Again, I decided that was okay too.

Next to us sat an amused Klein and Arlen, two seats away but now obviously eavesdropping.

As Clara and Clarence began babbling about why the knights were here, the door slammed open once again, and – oh, it was just Phil.

I felt a grin split my face as he brandished a wooden sword and oversized leather armor, “Behold! Sir Phil Ugar! I have–”

It was in the middle of his proclamation that he noticed all of the actual knights –and that I realized why he looked vaguely familiar. He had the same facial structure as the Village Head and, more obviously, the same name.

“Sir Phil! Come, sit with the damsels and their liege, Lord Clarence!” I called, laughing. I worried it was the wrong thing to say when I saw some of the knights do a double take, but my grin only faltered a little.

Phil’s face was crimson as he nodded and bounded for the table, tucking his play sword behind his back.

“Nora, stop it!” Clara laughed, “Can’t you see he’s embarrassed.”

I shook my head as Phil climbed into the chair next to Clarence, and Clarence huffed with amusement, “Yeah, Nora. What about the knights?”

“D’you think they’re here for the–” Phil lowered his voice as he leaned into the three of us, “monsters?”

“Oooo, Pa said something about that!” Clara furrowed her brow, “They must be.”

“Good timing, too. Ma said the hunters were having a hard time finding game lately,” Clarence nodded seriously.

I watched their serious-looking faces and leaned in, matching their whispers.

“I heard they got rid of them all, and–” I pointed to Sir Rellar, who was hunching over his food and eating, “He is their Captain. He’s probably so strong.”

I heard a choking sound coming from Sir Rellar’s direction, and I laughed to myself.

Clara looked around before saying, “They all look very strong.”

“They must be,” Phil said enthusiastically, “Grandpa said they’re members of the Dusk. That they came in yesterday.”

At that, all three eyes turned to me.

“Nora,” Clarence said very slowly, as if he finished too fast I would disappear, “Are you with the knights?”

I blinked, looked around, and whispered conspiratorily, “I’m not supposed to say.”

I watched one of the knights run a hand down his face and another force his face straight. This was kind of a fun game.

“Why not?” Clara blurted before covering her mouth and looking around, “Are you in danger?”

I nodded, “I’m not really supposed to say–”

“Oh, really?” Phil laughed, and I shot him a smile.

“But I’m headed to the border.” I finished grandly.

As if I had a choice in the matter, this is basically an exile, I thought to myself.

“Oooooo,” all three children resounded before Clarence said, “Does that mean you’re leaving?”

I nodded somberly, “We head out tomorrow.”

“Oh no!” Clara shouted, “Can–Is it okay if we write to you?”

I smiled and nodded before realizing I couldn’t exactly have them send letters to the Dawn manor in Fellan. I shot a look at Arlen, looking for help, and he nodded quickly and jumped in.

“It’ll be the Dawn Manor–” the idiot started.

“At the knight station there! In Fellan!” I nearly screeched, trying to cut off the entirely unhelpful Arlen. Because what else could I expect from him. Klein covered his mouth –probably to stop himself from laughing. It was the first time I considered maybe he was evil. Arlen too.

Another round of oooo’s resounded, and Clara asked, “Is it a secret where you live?”

I shook my head, “No, but I don’t know where all I’ll be living yet. Could be anywhere within the walls! I haven’t been told.”

After several more rounds of questions, I turned it on Phil, “But Phil! I didn’t know you were related to the Village Head.”

And suddenly, I was a lot less interesting.

Way to go, Nora, manipulating a bunch of children. I sighed to myself.

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Clara, Clarence, and Phil were planning on meeting me at the front gates in the morning, so I dug through the carriage for some going-away presents. Eventually, I settled on the knit spiders for the boys and a knit chicken for Clara. I tied a packet of the fancy teas I’d gotten in Juvel and smiled to myself.

If I was honest, it was nice to meet new people –and being a child again was freeing in a new way. It was… well, it was fun. To pretend I was better than I was. Or rather, to accept that I was on the road to being happier than I had been.

Little Eunora was also happy. And that filled me with a new wave of warmth. I could heal us both –I knew it.