Aalis sat by the fire, surrounded by farmers who were speaking in lively tones, laughing and cheering, staring into the flames. Dusk had just given way to night and the sparks from the fire rose into the air. Spit roasts were being cooked and barrels of cider were being emptied yet she sat on her stool and waited. When she heard Judd’s name being called she looked up to see him approaching, weary but happy. His brown eyes caught her gaze and she stood. Judd gave her a bashful smile.

“I won.”

“I heard.” Aalis said softly but sincerely. “Well done.”

He was going to speak when Oster, who had come back to the farming community hours before, ordered him to remove the armour. “You’re not going to be able to dance in that.”

“I don’t have the energy to dance!”

Despite his protestations, Judd followed Oster to his hut and peeled the armour from his body piece by piece, revealing sweat stained clothing beneath. Judd doused his hair with clean water and scrubbed his body dry before dressing in a clean tunic, trousers and boots. He glanced at Oster who was checking over his armour. “You haven’t said much.”

“Not much to say that wasn’t already said.” Oster shrugged. “Actually, I’m surprised you’re here at all.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Surely Alaykin would have invited you to the final feast in the keep.”

Judd snorted. “I didn’t want to sit at a feasting table while Dalain glared as Alaykin praised…I just wanted to be back in good company.”

“Ah.” Oster nodded.

Judd finished tying his leather armbrace into place and studied the old man for a moment. “So, Alaykin recognised you after all.”

“Hmph.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t ask you back to the fort after this.”

“While I wouldn’t mind a soft bed, I didn’t do what I did to secure my own comfort.”

“Then why train me?” Judd asked as Oster locked his little hut and they headed towards the party. “It’s not just about getting up seventeen times, is it?”

“Not entirely.” Oster admitted. “In a way…I envy you.”

“How so?”

“I was born a commoner, in these very fields as it happens and despite being excellent at what I did, the highest I could ever rise or be commended as being, was sword master.” Oster shrugged. “You have the opportunity to become a knight. And more than that, you don’t feel entitled to it just because of your birth rite. You want to earn it and you wanted to become a better warrior to protect the people who support you…trust me, you will make an excellent knight.”

“I’m not a knight yet.” Judd chuckled. “But hey, if I become one and I am made responsible for a fort and surrounding lands, maybe you could be my sword master.”

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“While I suspect you would actually follow through with that promise, I would decline.” Oster shook his head, leaning on his cane. “Oddly enough, this chance encounter with you has made me glad that I’m in the fields now…I just can’t keep up with you young people anymore.”

In the end, Judd had to retreat to sit against the hut to keep his shoulder and back from being slapped anymore. After two hours of it at the party, he was well and truly bruised. At least when people shook his hand, it didn’t hurt. Verne was already there, standing but leaning in his nonchalant, semi distant way.

“Hey, I meant to ask how you fared in the archery tournament?”

“Third place.”

“Well done!”

“Not as prestigious as first place,” Verne smiled softly, “however, I won a new bow which is mostly what I was hoping for. I made my old bow myself and it was always a bit of an amateur construct with flaws that I learned to correct for when using it. This new bow,” he held it out, balanced upon his finger, “is perfectly weighted and a good draw strength for me. It’ll make hunting for food that much easier.”

Judd scraped his hair from his face. “Do you think you’ll stick around Fort Bastil for a while?”

“Are you?”

Judd chuckled. “Well, no…”

“Then neither am I. There’s still more of Terra to see…I admit I’m curious as to how Judd LaMogre’s story plays out because so far, it’s been interesting to watch.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Verne drank his cider then yawned. “I’m off to bed.”

“You can sleep with all this ruckus going on?”

“I slept perfectly well with seven brothers snoring the roof down.” Verne said, letting slip a little of his background without giving anything away. He gave Judd a jaunty half salute, half wave and disappeared into the hut.

Judd yawned, wondering if he could escape the party and do the same when Aalis broke away from the silhouettes that were dancing around the campfires. She held out a metal fork with roasted meat on it.

“Thank you.” He said, sitting up.

Aalis reclined on the ground, crossing her ankles, the firelight flickering in her eyes, reminding Judd of when he’d seen her during his match with Colton…or thought he’d seen her.

“Hey Aalis,” he said quietly, “did…were you…” He paused, clearing his throat. “I’m scared of asking because I’m scared of the answer.”

“Alright…”

“Were you in the upper bailey today? When I was fighting Royce Colton?” He looked at her fearfully.

Aalis gazed back at him calmly, her eyes soft and normal. “Yes.”

Judd breathed out the tension that had been building. “Thank Astaril…”

“Why?”

“Because I thought I’d concussed myself and only imagined you were there.” She smiled. Judd studied her. She must have felt his gaze because she turned and looked at him, her pale eyebrows raised.

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” he coughed, “it’s just…after what you said…I don’t know why you risked it.”

Aalis sighed, bringing her knees up to her chest, her arms wrapping around them. “I realised I was being a hypocrite.” Judd huffed but she shook her head. “No, I was. I want you to become a knight, Judd. I think Terra needs more people like you, compassionate and not arrogant, with integrity and not presumption.” She swallowed. “In order for you to be a knight, though, you need to fight, to risk being injured…and sometimes not just against monsters of Maul…but human ones as well.” She turned to face him, her countenance clear and trusting. “Oster was right to prepare you for what might and then did happen. I think his training has made you more self-aware…more…accountable.”

Judd gazed at her, the party noise dulling to a soft background noise, the only relevance the world contained existing between them. “You know why I wanted to become a better swordsman?”

Aalis paused. “If not to defeat Dalain…then I am at a loss.”

“Because I can’t go out into the wilds again, dragging you and Caste and Verne without being able to adequately protect you.”

Aalis blinked. “You…did this to protect us?”

“You’re the ones aligning yourselves with me and my journey and if I continue to go after the monsters on my knighthood quest list, then danger is inevitably going to arise.” Judd explained. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Aalis smiled. “Like I said, Judd LaMogre, Terra needs more knights like you.”

“Not a knight yet.” Judd chuckled and was about to hold out his hand and ask her to dance when a group of children descended upon him, pulling him into the circle of dancers. He gave Aalis a helpless shrug then joined in happily.

“Not yet,” Aalis said softly, “but you are well on your way.”