Alexandria Terramanz

Remembering the extraordinary display between Valeria and Sir Foltest earlier in the garden I threw myself into training with Sir Foltest like never before.

My practice sword met Sir Foltests practice sword Clang! “You’re aggressive today my Lady did my little scuffle with Valeria fire you up.” Sir Foltest said as he parried.

I found my footing and looked for an opening. “Of course! How could it not! I have always been confident in my swordsmanship but seeing the two of you made me realize just how inadequate I still am!”

I saw an opening and swung launching myself off my backfoot Sir Foltest blocked the blow and used my momentum to bring my sword down holding it there.

“Don’t compare yourself to us, my Lady. I was born just a bit stronger than everybody else.”

I wanted to laugh recalling what Sir Foltest said Oberon thought of him. “Freakish strength” was it? I cannot help but agree.

“And that lass Valeria is strange as well. Do you know of any other young ladies or men that could so effortlessly parry a blow from my greatsword?” He said letting me go and taking a defensive stance waiting for my next move.

No, I cannot, and it is worrying that someone as strong and skilled has not made herself known. surely if she wished she could gain a position anywhere even Knight Commander of the royal knights is within her grasp. I thought positioning for a thrust.

“Who or what do you think she is? I cannot imagine that someone of her skill would be satisfied just being an attendant.” I spoke then quickly thrust, Sir Foltest managed to redirect the thrust though I still caught him in his abdomen.

He grunted in approval. “Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Perhaps it is because you have never been sweet on anyone that you cannot see that she is more than satisfied as an attendant to Oberon.” He thrust his sword in the ground a sign to take a break and grabbed a water skin they prepared nearby.

I put down my sword as well and grabbed a water skin and drank thinking on Sir Foltests words.

I know that Oberon and Valeria are in some sort of relationship they have not exactly been coy about it. But still, I cannot imagine that she would not want to do more. Maybe Sir Foltest is right that I cannot understand since I’ve never as he put it been sweet on anyone. But wait does that not that mean that Sir Foltest has been sweet on someone himself since he seems to understand!

I turned to him with excitement. “Sir Foltest have you been sweet on someone?”

He laughed. “Aye, I’ve been sweet on many a lass in my youth. Don’t be surprised if a few giants that look like me when I was younger start popping up!”

“Sir Foltest!” I exclaimed cheeks red with embarrassment.

He laughed again looking at my embarrassed appearance. “You’re the one who asked my Lady. I will say this however, we need to be warier of Oberon than Valeria. I’m sure Valeria has her thoughts and motives, but I wasn’t joking when I called Valeria Oberon's strongest sword and whos to say that Oberon won’t point her towards us one day.”

I played with my waterskin uncomfortably “I know you told me we shouldn’t trust them too much, but you got along well enough with them earlier and you even agreed to leave Brigette in their care.” I said slightly confused.

“I like them well enough I even liked Oberon when he was a young brash noble, and I trust them with Brigette at the moment because whatever their plans are they need us. But I do not trust Oberons hero to the common folk routine at least not completely. I believed him when he said that he thought you were the best choice to help the common folk and I even believe that he genuinely cares for their well-being but there is more to his motivation to ally with us I am sure. I took it upon myself to look after you and Brigette and I would not be doing a good job of it if I wasn’t wary.”

If I was being honest with myself I was a bit suspicious of Oberon and Valeria as well but my happiness of gaining allies made me shake off those suspicions. “Do you have an idea of what Oberon's true motives are then Sir Foltest?

“Unfortunately, I don’t. Honestly, the Oberon that I reacquainted myself with today is far too different from who I knew so his motives elude me, The Oberon I knew was easier to read than a book for children I don’t know how he was changed so but my hunch tells me we need to find out what happened to him during his time as an exile left for dead as he put it to begin to understand his motives.”

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Sir Foltest looked at the darkening sky and rubbed his face. “Truthfully, I would have preferred it if Oberon's motive was as simple as revenge against the person who crippled him or his father and Vesterwood for abandoning him, but he has yet to mention either to us which I can’t help but think is odd.”

I searched the courtyard for Oberon, Valeria, and Brigette and found them under the shade of a tree I could make out that Oberon was saying something to Brigette while Valeria combed his hair.

I do not want to be the type of person who is suspicious of all her allies, but Sir Foltest is right without fully knowing Oberon's motivations we cannot fully trust him.

“Come to think of it you never told me who it was that crippled Oberon.”

Sir Foltest hesitated. “That’s because that person’s identity is a bit sensitive my Lady. I will not say who it is but it was not someone from the Sagitta Kingdom.”

I was slightly shocked as I always assumed it was someone from Sagitta that crippled him.

It makes sense. Not a lot is known about who crippled Oberon, and the details surrounding the duel are a mystery. If that person were not from here then it would make sense why the people who saw the duel did not know who he was. If his identity is as sensitive as Sir Foltest said it is then that would also explain why whoever it was the crippled Oberon did not make himself known, as defeating the “Prodigal Swordsman” was a feat that every duelist aspired to do back then. I could ask Oberon directly but perhaps it is too soon, he already shot down explaining his exile so I doubt he would want to explain the duel that led to his exile.

I groaned tiredly thinking about everything that happened today. “Sir Foltest shall we conclude our training for the day and take shelter under the shade with Brigette and everybody else.”

“Seems like that bit of news shocked you out of your training motivation. Very well let's go.” He picked up the training swords put them back on a weapons rack and grabbed his greatsword.

Sir Foltest and I made our way to the shady tree drinking from their waterskins all the while. Close enough to see the trio underneath the tree I noticed something was off. Brigitte was trembling and was on the verge of tearing up. Sir Foltest and I looked at each other nodded and broke into a sprint our movement raising shouts of concern and confusion. As we got closer we saw something shocking. Valeria embraced Brigette and eventually, Brigette embraced her as well.

Confused Sir Foltest and I slowed down. “Sir Foltest what do you think is going on?”

“I don’t know my Lady, but it does not look like Brigette is in danger as we initially assumed.”

Walking the rest of the way we heard and saw Brigette’s laugh mixed in with a sob as she continued embracing Valeria. Close enough that we should have been noticed by now Sir Foltest and I slowed down to talk with each other.

“What should we do? I feel like we’d be intruding on something important if we suddenly barged in.” Sir Foltest whispered.

“If it is an important moment then all the more reason for us to be there as we are her closest friends,” I muttered back.

Before we could reach a decision Oberon noticed us and waved us forward. we hurried and approached him but Valeria and Brigette did not notice.

“What happened Oberon?” I whispered.

“They are having a moment. It should be over soon.” He whispered back.

Valeria who had her back towards them and Brigette who was resting her head on Valeria’s chest finished crying opened her eyes peeked behind Valeria and saw us.

Brigette pulled herself away from Valeria embarrassed. “My L-Lady, Sir Foltest how long have you been there!”

“W-We just got here,” I answered flustered for some reason.

“About what just happened! Uhm. Oberon and Valeria can explain!” Brigette said passing off the responsibility to someone else.

Sir Foltest and I stared at them expectingly. Oberon looked troubled and then he looked at Valeria expectingly. Valeria, realizing she was going to have to speak sighed.

“Oberon was talking about his connection to the second prince Sylvain and then he asked Brigette about her connection to Sylvain. Brigette got a little emotional and being the sympathetic woman that I am I noticed that she needed a hug, so I hugged her, and then Oberon said something that made her cry. That is more or less what happened. “

Sir Foltest and I were surprised that Brigette would ask about Sylvain since she rarely spoke about him or what he did to her.

Maybe she was dealing with what happened in her own way by discussing it with people she does not know very well. But I cannot help feeling bitter that she did not open up to Sir Foltest or I, but looking at her clear eyes and relieved expression whatever happened with Oberon and Valeria was a good experience for her.

“I see, I suppose if I want further details I will ask Brigette. Thank you Oberon, Valeria I have never seen Brigette cry so much but I can tell looking at her expression that it was something she needed.” I bowed and then Sir Foltest did so as well.

Brigette looked embarrassed but did so as well. “Thank you both, I didn’t realize how much I was holding in until it all came flooding out.”

Oberon scratched his head awkwardly and Valeria was smiling gently. “Well, we are allies, no need for thanks. Lady Brigette if you ever need another hug then just ask Valeria I’m sure she would be happy to accommodate you.” Oberon teased.

Seems like Valeria is kinder than I thought. Now I feel bad for suspecting them. Maybe whatever their goals and motivations are will not affect our alliance.

Sir Foltest cleared his throat. “It gladdens my heart that we have grown so close but perhaps we should head inside as I believe the banquet is about to begin.” He pointed at the people leaving the training yard after someone who looked to be a servant came out and announced something.

“I was feeling a bit hungry after our training session, so I’ll eat my fill. Let's go everyone we do not want to miss dinner! I said and led the way back to the palace.

Old man Wes said not to expect too much from my father regarding his heir at the banquet but it should be interesting nonetheless,