Rani didn’t bother to wait for the cart to stop at their next destination before hopping out. There wasn’t much point, considering it was straight off the road anyway. They flicked a coin at the driver as they did, hearing his cry of thanks echo behind them.

Oxwald’s place of operations was far less casual than Clive’s, and he didn’t seem to be trying to hide. You could spot the group of tents from at least a mile away thanks to the low terrain, as well as the Runic Knights on standby around them. On the other hand, that meant the people using both could spot you from the same distance.

Two of them spotted Rani as they approached, but not quite from that far away. They’d been doing what looked like running drills, and happened to look up and see them. “Halt, stranger,” one said as they lined up. “State your business before you come any closer.” They both wore light suits of armor, with matching uniforms underneath. Present on the latter was the school’s insignia, a charging ox.

A good greeting, but one he was a bit too young to deliver with the right tone. Both of them looked like rookies, especially compared to Clive’s chosen help. Oxwald’s forces were apparently exclusively from his family’s academy, and when you were building a squad from that kind of source they couldn’t all be veterans.

“I’d like to speak with Oxwald,” Rani called over, stopping as they were told. “He’s the one in charge here, from what I’ve heard.”

“Are you a rider too?” one of them asked, frowning as Rani nodded. “Oxwald’s got all the help he needs with us around, so you’ve wasted your time."

Ah, loyalty. But did they have it more than other qualities? “I can’t go have a word with him, then?”

“Have a good reason why we should let you take up his time?” the other asked.

Instead of replying verbally, Rani suddenly strode forward quickly, standing in front of them after a few wide steps. The attitude the pair had put up broke instantly. They backed up, reaching for the shortswords at their waists as Rani sized them up further.

“Did that frighten you?” the soldier asked. “If it did, you’d be petrified of meeting anyone Clive Cliffton has working for him.” It wasn’t said harshly, but as a matter-of-fact. You couldn’t avoid being a rookie for at least a little while, and in Rani’s experience the one thing rookies were guaranteed to be good at was panicking.

“You’re both here to help Oxwald win the Lightning Royale, right?” they said, taking the tone they’d used for younger entrants to the squad. “If I can be blunt, there’s probably people in those tents worth five of each of you, at least. I definitely am.”

They said nothing, but visibly tried to keep from looking at the other. “If you want to help him have the best chance of winning,” Rani went on, “letting me through wouldn’t be a mistake.” The unsaid message was obvious, and dangled enticingly: if someone else could pull that much weight, they had less chance of getting hurt trying to themselves. Both stepped aside.

No-one else stopped them before they stepped through the flap of the largest tent. Clustered inside were a group of people dressed similarly to the sentries outside, most of them older-looking. They were pouring intently over a map, but not so intently they didn’t notice Rani entering.

“Who let you in here!?” one of them asked as he advanced, not sounding like they particularly cared.

“Wait,” another said. They were the lone exception to the older crowd: a young man with brunette hair, practically a boy, who stood only a bit taller than the table. The student who’d approached Rani, several heads taller than the one who had spoken, froze at the command.

Rani watched as the young man stepped around the table, looking up at them intensely. Their uniform was flashier than the others, sporting ornamental pieces on the shoulders and a row of brass buttons. On one of his blue eyes rested a monocle, which would have looked more impressive if he were a few decades older.

“You’re certainly no knight,” he sniffed as he looked Rani over. “Another mercenary here for an easy week’s pay, no doubt.” He tilted his head, examining them further. “And yet you came to me, Oxwald the Third, rather than chasing Cliffton’s pocketbook. Why?”

Rani had some ideas of what to say if they were ordered out to begin with, but it looked like that wouldn’t be necessary. The Walton family apparently valued pedigrees, which Rani certainly didn’t have, but also actions. Making him think they valued both was probably the right first step.

“There are dozens of ways I can make a living with a Runic Knight,” they began, “but there are also things you can’t buy no matter how much money you have. Reputation is one of them.”

Oxwald’s eyes couldn’t keep from glinting in pleasure. “You seem more sensible than most sell-swords - but I’m afraid your services shan’t be required. I have the finest students of Walton Academy with me, after all.” The others in the tent stood to attention.

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“I see,” Rani murmured. “You’re not seeking help with the Royale, then?”

“Ha, perish the thought,” Oxwald said, standing up straighter. He reminded Rani of the kind of lizards or birds who puffed themselves up to look bigger. “My apologies if you came too far hoping otherwise.”

Well, they hadn’t come expecting an instant ‘yes’. “So, you’re only going to be bringing students of your academy?” Rani asked.

“If that was not clear, yes.”

They nodded. “Perfect. How do I enroll?”

Oxwald leaned forward in surprise quickly enough that his eyepiece nearly fell off. “Enroll? You?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?” Rani asked, the picture of sincerity. “I was told that the Academy values merit and skill. If need be, I’d gladly undergo a test.”

That was true about the Academy, at least partly. Money was always a factor, according to Constance, but there were also always exceptions. Not every wealthy son wanted to be a Runic Knight rider, or for that matter, was any good at it. On the other hand, if you found a diamond in the rough you’d be stupid to turn it away.

“Hm,” was all Oxwald had to say after a moment.

“Master Walton, you can’t-” one of the students began, only to be shushed by another wave of the young man’s hand.

“Only my father may say what I cannot do,” Oxwald sniffed. “Remember our motto: a knight can be hidden within anyone, man or woman. If she is serious and can prove herself, I see no reason to refuse.”

The student shut his mouth and nodded. “Of course, Master Walton. Please excuse my rudeness.” His fellows all looked equally impressed, though Rani couldn’t help but notice the apology wasn’t really directed at them.

It seemed to be enough for Oxwald. “Now then: your name, Miss?” he asked.

“Rani.”

“You foreigners can have such pleasant names.” Oxwald smiled. “Come, we can speak further in my own tent.”

---

Oxwald’s personal tent was small and private. This was a good thing, as his demeanor once they were alone suddenly became very different. The kind of 'different' that would probably hurt morale.

Rani watched as he reached the end of the small dwelling and immediately about-faced, walking to the other end. This had been going on for a minute or so, and looked like something he did quite often. He was speaking to himself under his breath.

“You’re giving it a lot of thought,” they pointed out.

“Hm?” Oxwald blinked, looking up. “Oh, my apologies. Yes, it’s, well,” he murmured, and then sighed. “It’s a very tempting offer. I can see you’re telling the truth about your skills, and it would be difficult not to be better in a fight than the first-years, but…”

He shrugged, the gesture making him look even smaller. “I promised my father I would win with the Walton Academy’s students, and he’d be outraged by some loophole like that. Fathers, you know?”

Rani very much didn’t, but nodded anyway. “Some of your men outside didn’t seem very prepared,” they said politely.

“’The heir to the Walton family should be able to take coal and turn it into diamonds’,” Oxwald recited. He cleared his throat. “I do, er, see his point, of course.”

It was a stupid point, but Rani could see it too just the same. They could also see the right offer to make now. “So, you’ll be marching in with an entire squad of your school’s students, right? Uniform and all?” they asked.

“Correct,” Oxwald nodded, perking up. “It should be quite the sight - if all goes well.”

“Meaning anyone not in your uniform couldn’t possibly be working for you. They’d be on their own, or part of Cliffton’s forces.”

Oxwald quirked an eyebrow. “I would imagine? With his coffers he can hire virtually anyone he wants. My first thought was that you were a messenger from him, actually.”

...sometimes you had to be direct. “In other words,” Rani said, locking eyes with him, “you could hire me to help you, and no-one would actually have to know about it.”

Oxwald looked like he’d been about to resume pacing any moment, but now totally froze. “You mean, lie?” He said it like it was a dirty word.

“That depends what you consider a lie,” Rani replied. “I doubt anyone would actually ask you about it, and I certainly wouldn’t tell them.” They shrugged. “Depending on how we go about it, they may not even suspect that’s what happened.”

“But I can’t just, deceive people like that!” Oxwald blurted out, quickly clearing his throat before lowering his voice. “Getting what you want so underhandedly is what people like Cliffton do.”

This was going well. Rani nodded. “I don’t doubt he does. Letting him win the Royale by throwing around money is the last thing you or your father want, I’m sure.” They leaned forward. “Can you and your men accomplish that?”

“We-” Oxwald began, and couldn’t get further than that. “It’s possible,” he finally murmured.

“Almost any victory is possible,” Rani asked, living proof of it themselves. “How possible do you want this one to be?” Their tone had yet to change; they weren’t speaking harshly, just with facts.

Oxwald still looked uncertain, so Rani went for the final hit. “If you had to pick between two options, which is worse: being the only one to you hired outside help to win, or everyone in Levenia knowing your school didn’t win?”

They knew they’d won him over then, but Rani still felt a bit guilty at the expression that crossed Oxwald’s face. This had all just been them imitating how Ricky used to negotiate with VIPs, and he’d have done it a lot smoother. Still, if the disaster coming was as deadly as Constance claimed, it was for him and his school’s own good.

Not long after Rani left the tent, officially unofficially hired. Instead of money, their pay would be an official referral from the Walton Academy, more than enough to guarantee entry into any reputable knight order in Levenia and even some countries beyond. That seemed reasonable to Rani, even if they didn’t plan on actually using it.

This made it two very powerful people having an investment in Rani’s aid, and it had taken less than one day. It would be stupid to think the easy part was over, though: getting two things in the air at the same time was simple, but actually juggling them was another matter. They’d need to thread the needle now. Oxwald didn’t want them around the camp again to keep up appearances, and Clive seemed content to let his men do as they pleased so long as they showed up the day of the Royale, but they still couldn’t afford to get sloppy.

It wasn’t the battlefield they were used to, if you could call it one at all, but Rani felt their blood pumping quicker anyway.