Break of Autumn, Week 3, Day 5

We were near to the main gate of the town when it opened with force. Klein, Arlen, and I were lying lifeless on the ground when the Knights of the Dusk crossed through the gate –my knights. I propped myself up at the commotion, watching as the town guard greeted the knights with calm appreciation. On either side of me, Klein and Arlen rose up from where they were seated, standing at attention.

My eyes scanned the Knights of the Dusk, looking for limps, or blood, or bandages. I counted three visible wounds, no limps, and limited blood. I rationalized that, surely, that wasn’t too bad. That three wounds across ten people was fine. They were already bandaged and taken care of. They’d likely heal overnight. Still, a knot formed in my stomach. The knights all looked so tired.

It was mere moments after they entered the town before Sir Rellar caught sight of the three of us. I was still on the ground, fatigue consuming me. Next to Sir Rellar was Dame Arella, with a fierce expression directed toward us –terrifying despite her own exhaustion. They stayed the rest of the contingent and made their way to us, Sir Limrick in tow as well.

“Squires,” Sir Rellar barked, “Report.”

Klein and Arlen were filled with tension, but I was too tired to wonder why. They looked at each other, an unspoken agreement seeming to form, and Klein nodded.

“On?” Arlen asked.

Sir Rellar’s face did a thing –it was a rather scary thing and hard to describe. It was as if he darkened entirely.

“On your day, Arlen.”

“Ah, right, well–” Arlen looked down to me before proceeding to run through the basics of what we’d done up to lunch, ending with, “Our Lady wished to train her attributes, so we separated from Lady Jennifer and did so.”

Dame Arella shot me a glance, and Sir Limrick was towering over the two boys. He did not appear happy.

“And where are the Perry guards?” Sir Limrick cut in, looking around briefly before focusing back on the boys.

“With the Ladies Perry?” Arlen squeaked.

“How long have you three been training?” Dame Arella hissed.

Arlen looked uncomfortable. Klein shuffled next to him, moving his hands to cross behind his back. I wanted to cut in, to say, ‘I asked them to. It wasn’t their fault.’ But I could feel this was not a performance I was meant to play in. This was about the Knights and their Squires.

“Since lunchtime,” Klein answered as Arlen leaned away from Dame Arella’s angry look.

“Are you telling me you have been alone without additional guards on the outskirts of the village during a time wherein monster attacks required our intervention –for six hours?” Sir Limrick chimed in this time, his voice cold, “Is that what you two are telling us?”

The two boys shared a look.

“Well, uh, yes?” Arlen said.

“We weren’t thinking, Sir Limrick,” Klein sighed, “We didn’t think anything of it when the Perry guards left. Nor did we consider that running inside the gate was still dangerous.”

“Did you think your [Classes] would be enough to protect our Lady?” Sir Rellar, who until this point had remained silent, did not sound friendly, “Did you think you possessed enough capability to protect a child of the Dawn? By yourselves. What if a large group had come up to you? What if Lady Nora had gotten injured during training? Do you even know where the nearest [Healer] is? And for six hours? Did it not occur to you that she is still a child? No matter her request, our first priority is her safety. Your first priority should be her safety.”

Immediately, I went to stand –but Klein caught my eye and shook his head slightly. I settled back down, curling my hands over my knees as I watched the exchange. Klein and Arlen both looked chastised, and Arlen was hanging his head low. Klein was still meeting Sir Rellar’s eyes.

“We apologize, Captain Rellar. It was our failings that led to this situation.” Klein’s voice held more grit in it than I’d heard before, and I knew, if it were me, I would have crumbled already. I didn’t have it in me to be criticized, not anymore. Maybe one day my resiliency would return.

Arlen nodded along, looking like a kicked puppy, “It’s true. Had we considered all the implications, Lady Nora would not have been put in this situation.”

I mouthed ‘this situation’ to myself, but I did not say anything out loud. This was not my place. In fact, I felt supremely awkward being present for this dressing down at all. I wondered if it was because they were discussing my own safety. If it was because it was my own decision they were criticizing. If it was because of my own determination possibly putting me in danger. If I cared why at all.

I stood for real, then, straightening my pants and shirt and knocking off any debris I’d picked up from the ground. My legs felt like jello, and I caught myself before stumbling.

This proved to be a mistake because, at once, everyone’s eyes landed on me.

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“What?” I half-bit out, half-whispered, affronted at all the immediate attention.

“Lady Nora, are you all right?” Dame Arella’s eyes bore into my own. I nodded, and she released a breath, “At least there’s that.”

The walk back to Perry Manor was excruciating in more ways than one. First of all, my legs were killing me –my muscles were screaming at every step, and I had to fight off a grimace. Secondly, it was awkward talking after the dressing down that the knights gave to the squires. And even if it wasn’t my fault, it felt like it was my fault.

It took everything in me to ask, “How did it go today?”

Dame Arella looked to Sir Limrick, who in turn looked to Sir Rellar –who was the one who eventually answered.

“It was a long day, Lady Nora. But Lady Perry’s numbers were accurate. We went in prepared, and we triumphed because of it.”

I nodded.

“Good. I hope that holds true over the next few days, as well. I don’t appreciate seeing the Captain of my knights half-collapsed when he returns.” I meant it to be joking, but I couldn’t keep the shaking out of my voice entirely. That had been a shocking experience.

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I was sticky. And gross. And I smelled. Badly. So when I sank into the bath before dinner, I was in heaven. I [Wove] my hair into an intricate braid with circular notches in the design, pulling all of my hair off to the side. When I got dressed, I slid on a pale purple dress that flowed similar to the Priestess robes I often saw in the Church –only with a soft overlay of white lilies and a silver cinch at the waist. There were no chains holding me back, not like the Priests. I pulled on some soft stockings and leather shoes, and I was ready for dinner.

I wasn’t looking forward to this meal –it had been made clear earlier in the day that the knights would no longer be attending meals in the main dining room with Lady Perry and her daughter. I didn’t fully understand, not in the way someone born to this world might, but I knew the reasoning. Lady Perry doesn’t believe the knights to be on her level. Thus, the Knights of the Dusk were only invited to dine with her once.

So, this time, when I entered the room, and the butler announced me, I simply made my way to the head of the table. Lady Perry stood up from where she was seated to the left, and Lady Jenny stood up to the right. I passed Lady Jenny without making eye contact.

I meant what I said about it being foolish to force the Perry girl into being my friend. I was simply missing Ugar, where I’d made my first friends in this world. Clara, Clarence, and Phil. I liked them. They meant something. Perhaps it was cheap of me to try and replace them, either way.

“Sit,” I gave the two Ladies a small smile as I took my seat.

“Oh my, Lady Eunora –your braid looks mystical. Did one of the knights do it for you?” Lady Perry gave a slick smile, gesturing with her hand to my hair.

Shocked, I shook my head. No one had ever commented on my braids before.

“No, I did it myself.”

Lady Perry’s smile sharpened, and though she still seemed to be trying to be matronly, I could feel the desire for more information oozing from her, “Ah, a Skill! How novel to have a cosmetic ability so young.”

I blinked, swallowing thickly, “Well, yes, but how did you know?”

“It has that capability that should be beyond someone without the Skill, you know,” Lady Perry waved her hand dismissively, “It’s something one learns to spot. It’ll come with age, my Lady.”

Was that an insult? I ran her sharp expression and her pedantic tone through my brain. It was. She was calling me inexperienced. I’m eight!

I felt little Eunora welling up within me, but her anxiety wasn’t enough to squash my offense. Not from this stranger. This middle-aged woman was simultaneously trying to woo me and put me in my place.

“Hmm,” I hummed, irritation bubbling under my skin, “I’m blessed to have a woman of your experience around, Lady Perry.”

Take that, you old hag. I even gave her a smile to soften the blow, but I watched as her eyebrow twitched. After a moment, she seemed to recover and took control of the conversation once again.

“I saw you and Jenny running out this morning. How did you enjoy seeing Perry? I assume my daughter was helpful?”

I swallowed another wave of irritation because, actually, Lady Jenny was not particularly helpful or forthcoming in information.

“Yes, she took us around town and showed us some of the finer points of interest.” I nodded to Lady Jenny, who had a skeptical expression on her face, “Thank you, Lady Jenny.”

She took a sip of her drink, processing what I was saying. I’m saying she can take credit for being a good host, even though she was objectively bad.

“Nonsense, Lady Nora,” Lady Jenny started, “It was my pleasure.”

I gave a small smile, and she returned it. I wanted to barf. This family was so… so… so Noble-esque.

“Perhaps tomorrow, you can show her your harp, yes?” Lady Perry looked between us, a glint in her eyes, “She’s really rather deft with it, you know.”

I caught Lady Jenny blushing at her mother’s words, but she simply looked flattered, not disbelieving. So, it was likely true. It had been the only time the girl seemed interested in talking earlier in the day. My mind flashed back to the sound of music filling the manor at lunchtime. How it seemed to have such feeling.

“I’m sure –it sounds delightful. I haven’t heard someone play the harp in a while.” I forced another smile. At this point, I was worried about a permanent grin being stuck on my face.

Lady Perry huffed in agreement, and then the food was brought out. Some soft pink soup with carrots and other vegetables in it, and a meat dish that looked similar to beef wellington but with a deep crimson crust. It was between dinner and dessert that Lady Perry hit what she really wanted to talk about, and a malevolent smile played at her lips. I quickly learned Lady Perry was not as friendly as she seemed at first.

“Now, your Knight Captain filled me in on their excursion today,” Lady Perry clapped her hands together, “It seems they were only able to clear two brambles today, but I suppose slow progress can’t be helped, hm?”

I stopped myself from shaking my head, “Excuse me?”

“Oh, nothing, my Lady,” Another prickle of irritation came with her soft, soothing tone, as if I was daft and she was explaining basic arithmetic, “Just –I would expect more of Knights of the Dusk, you know? Most are rather capable.”

Most? Did she just–