Oliver had little money of his own since he had left his family name behind. His formal role as a squire with the Argent Order entitled him to a small stipend, but most of that was paid directly to their inn and the dueling hall by Adeline. There was some small amount leftover - but a childhood of wealth and comfort had left Oliver with none of the mental discipline needed to save up his money, most of which was spent on either fine food at the Grime and Glory or new books.
Adeline took pity on him, and in an attempt to ensure he was properly prepared for the coming journey, she paid him his stipend in advance for the next two months - the expected time it would take for Hugo’s wagons to make a full circuit of the Flax Road. Oliver spent much of the day following the meeting out in the market and craft districts of Correntry. Adeline had refrained from joining him, claiming that she wanted to see how he went about preparing himself.
His first purchase was a high quality arming jacket. Ideally, the light cloth armor would be worn under a chain shirt or other, heavier armor, but as Oliver lacked the funds for such expensive gear, he instead purchased a quilted jacket lined with hardened leather and reinforced with iron plates in key locations. It was no substitute for true armor, but it was the best he could afford, and it would do an admirable job of balancing protection and mobility.
The bulk of his remaining funds were spent on more conventional supplies - some simple extra garments, a tinderbox and lantern, a small dagger that could serve as a backup weapon in addition to its utility purposes, and a half dozen trailbars. The hard rations were made from an assortment of mildly magical reagents - dried berries, nuts, grains, and the like - and could sustain even a gifted for days at a time, so long as he could palate the taste of them. Adeline had assured him that Hugo would be seeing to their meals, but Oliver felt better with the bars in hand, despite their cost. Hunger had been one of his father’s favorite punishments over the years.
The last of his money he spent on a pair of books, both bound with hard covers and wrapped in treated cloth to keep them safe on the road. They were a little different from his usual preferred books, but he hoped they’d prove a key advantage in the coming journey.
With all of that, plus a good bag to carry it all, Oliver was left with little more than a few copper rings in his purse, a meager enough fortune that he expected he wouldn’t even draw a pickpocket's eyes.
That evening, Adeline inspected his purchases with a critical eye. She judged his armor acceptable, and praised him for focusing on it before anything else, as well as his decision to invest in the trailbars. His books drew a flat look, until she opened them up and checked the covers, after which she judged them a good buy.
“It’s the simple things that get you killed on the road,” she observed. “You are missing something though.”
Oliver’s eyes widened, and he looked from his unpacked bag back to Adeline. “What? I thought I got everything!”
“And then some,” she observed dryly. “But it’s fine - now I know what to get you as a going-away present!”
#
The next night was Oliver’s last in Correntry. Even as he and the two warden recruits were departing with Hugo’s caravan, Adeline and Farris were going off on a job of their own, chasing rumors of a minotaur that had taken up residence in an abandoned mineshaft a week north of the city. The moderate monster was far too dangerous to take the less experienced trainees to fight, so the older battle-gifted had decided to take advantage of their absence to push themselves.
“I haven’t had a real challenge in so long!” Adeline cheered that night, as they shared a last round together at the Grime and Glory.
“Mhm, I’m sure that’s all you’re excited about,” Oliver observed dryly, noting the way Adeline rested a casual hand on Farris’s arm.
“Shush you.”
Despite the daily ritual their drinks had become over the past couple weeks, Oliver had never warmed up to the nights at the Grime and Glory the way the rest of the little group had, and he usually took any opportunity he could to sneak out of the bustling tavern. But as this was likely to be their last night together for some time, he was trying to stick it out.
Given the time Oliver was due to spend with Hugo’s caravan, it would be well into summer before Oliver made it back into Correntry, and there was no guarantee that Adeline would be waiting around for him. It was normal, she claimed, for a knight of the Argent Order to spend weeks at a time on the road, and it was possible her return to the city wouldn’t line up with Oliver’s.
All five of them tried to keep the night cheerful, but Oliver couldn’t shake the feeling that the others shared the specter of melancholy that hung over his head and gnawed at his belly. After they had eaten and shared a couple rounds together, the group went their separate ways.
Farris gave Oliver a nod as she took her own trainees off for a more intimate farewell, and Oliver was struck once again by her features, which were so unlike any other women he had met. Even after weeks together, he hadn’t placed the odd energy that intrigued him so much about Farris, to the point that he sometimes wondered if she was perhaps some kind of wraith, or commanded a passive gift ability he wasn’t familiar with. Despite her rigid demeanor, he decided that he wanted to get to know the older warden better when he returned to the city.
“She wants to talk to you, you know,” Adeline told him as they walked out of the Grime and Glory, heading to their own, less luxurious apartments.
Oliver arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean? About what?”
Adeline studied him for a long moment, as if surprised, then shrugged. “You’ll figure it out when you’re ready. I like your hair by the way. You were right, it does look better long.”
Oliver chuckled at the subject change and lifted a hand to touch his hair. It had grown out significantly in the month they had stayed in Correntry, and Oliver had been pleased to find his natural curls turned into waviness as it approached his neck. It was still an awkward length, just past his ears, but it had become a symbol to him, in many ways, of his growth since he had left Elliven and his father behind.
It was late now, and the streets of Correntry were dark, every other lamp darkened for the night. The air was cool with the last remnants of winter, but not enough to require anything heavier than the simple clothes they both wore. They walked in comfortable silence for several minutes before Oliver spoke up again. “It’s going to be a while before we see each other again.”
Adeline nodded. “It will. How do you feel about that?”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Oliver confessed. “I mean, I wouldn't be here if it wasn’t for you. But I also know I can’t just keep holding you back, waiting for me to…”
Adeline laughed gently. “Relax, Oli. I’m far from done teaching you. In a few months, we’ll be back together. And to be honest, I can’t wait to see how you grew on the road, without me. You should be well on the way to Apprentice by then.”
Oliver flushed, and admitted something he never thought he would. “You know that’s not the only reason I don’t want to leave you.” He wished his voice didn’t sound so petulant, so childish, when he said it.
Adeline’s reply was as gentle as the look she gave him. “I know Oliver. Of course I know. But… you have to have realized it’s not going to happen.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen you with Farris. I guess I just didn’t realize you were… well…”
“Solar?” Adeline asked.
Oliver felt his cheeks practically lit up with an incandescent blush, and he pointedly looked down at his feet. “Uhm… yeah. That.”
Adeline chuckled. “Oli, my orientation isn’t what matters. You’re my trainee, and a teenager, and a Novice, and I literally took you away from your home.”
“You didn’t take me, you saved me!”
“Maybe so, but even still.” Adeline shook her head. “I like you, Oliver. You’re the first squire I’ve ever taken on, and I enjoy the time we spend together. Differences aside, you’re as much my friend as my student. But that is all we are, understand?”
Oliver felt his chest twist with a thousand feelings. He had never expected his silly crush on her to go anywhere, and he knew that her blunt words were needed, but it was still hard for him. Reluctantly, he admitted, “I know.”
He and Adeline walked through the quiet streets for several more minutes without a word. In the distance, they could hear the cheers and jests of another drinking hall that must’ve been close by.
“Maybe it’s a good thing we’re going to spend some time apart,” Oliver finally said.
Adeline grinned. “Sure. It’ll give you time to get over me.” With a wink, she added, “Maybe Rose or Beryl can help.”
Oliver rolled his eyes. “I don’t know about that. I’m pretty sure they share your tastes.”
Adeline shook her head with another chuckle. “I forget just how restrictive the Court tends to be. Are you really not aware that some people swing both ways?”
Oliver blushed even deeper. “I mean… I’m aware but, like…” Suddenly, he stopped walking, giving Adeline a shocked look. “Wait! Are you saying that–”
“I’m saying shut up and keep your eyes open, Oli.”
“Adeline?” The knight-gallant kept walking, not giving him another look. “That wasn’t an answer!”
#
“It’s… beautiful!”
Adeline smiled widely at Oliver’s awe over her present. “Well? Put it on!”
He was still stunned over the fine fabric he had revealed, and it took another prompting from Adeline before she pulled the fine gray cloth out of the paper packaging it was wrapped in.
It proved to be a traveling cloak, perfectly fit to him, complete with a hood deep enough to keep the rain off of his head and a series of little pockets on the inside.The dark-gray cloth it was made of looked simple enough, but it was incredibly soft to the touch, like the silk shirts his father saved for when he wanted to look his best.
“It’s incredible…” Oliver said in an awed whisper as he lifted his arm and turned about, feeling the way it flowed off his back.
“I told you that you were missing something. No traveler is complete with a good cloak.” Adeline happily danced closer to him, as expressive and affectionate as always, despite the awkward conversation they had on their walk to the inn.
As she leaned in close enough that Oliver could smell her perfume, he absently wondered if she was fully aware of exactly what she was doing, or if this really was just how Adeline was.
She lifted one side of the cloak to reveal the small pockets sewn on the inside, each knotted closed. There were four, arranged in a square, on each side of the cloth. “I bought this from a tailor with the gift of the artificer. Each of the pockets has a simple force dispersion rune - it’ll require a very strong, very deliberate, impact to break anything inside.” She tapped the top pair of pockets on one side. “These each have a healing potion, and the bottom two have recovery potions. For emergencies only.”
“Of course.” Oliver grinned, recalling Adeline’s very vocal opinions of people who relied on potions. He pinched a bit of the cloth between his fingers and rubbed it, marveling at the smooth, almost frictionless feel of the fabric. “What’s this material?”
“Oh, that’s the best part!” Adeline told him. “It’s frostwool! Apparently it’s produced by this breed of magical sheep a few villages in the frontier specialize in. In the cold, it’s an incredible insulator - despite how thin this is, it should be more than enough to keep you warm, even in a blizzard!”
Oliver nodded, then furrowed his brow. “But Adeline… it’s the middle of the spring.”
“I know!” Adeline said excitedly. “See, this is what makes frostwool so useful - when it gets warm enough, it actually starts producing cold instead! It allows the sheep that produce it to grow even thick coats in the peak of summer - and it should be enough to keep you comfortable even as it warms up.”
Oliver blinked at the knight, then down at the fabric, stunned by the implication. “But… Adel, if this is a magical material and it has artifice in it, it must’ve cost… I don’t even know! Too much! I can’t take this from you!”
“You’re not taking it from me, I’m giving it to you! It’s a gift from a mentor to her student!” Oliver started to protest, and Adeline shoved a finger across his mouth. “Shush! It is a present, and if you don’t take it, I’ll be very offended.” She said the last with an air of feigned imperiousness that didn’t hide the way her eyes sparkled.
Oliver finally relented and held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. Thank you, Adel.” He lifted his arms to inspect the cloak again, stunned by the beauty of the material. “It’s the finest present I’ve ever received.”
“Good, because that was the whole reason I bought it.” Adeline winked playfully, and for once, Oliver’s breath wasn’t entirely knocked out of him by the gesture. “And, one last thing…”
With practiced motions, Adeline grabbed a small loop on each side of the cloak and pulled them up, connecting them to small buttons on the inside. A few similar touches in key places around the cloak cinched the fabric in some areas while leaving it draping in others. The result drastically shortened the fabric, so that it only reached his knees, but fully surrounded his body in it. In fact, Oliver thought as he looked down at it, it almost looked like… like…
Like a layered, draping dress.
Oliver’s eyes went wide, and suddenly it felt like he couldn’t catch his breath. “W-why would I want this?” he demanded of Adeline, panic and anger warring on his face.
Adeline was as calm as ever, unflappable in the face of his anger. “Because. I think you deserve to feel pretty sometimes.”
“I– I don’t… you shouldn’t, I mean–”
“Shh.” Adeline stepped closer and wrapped Oliver in a soft hug. With their bodies together, Oliver noticed for the first time how similar their heights were. He had always thought of the older knight as bigger than him. His chin rested comfortably on her shoulder, and he felt his traitorous body relax. The smell of her, like fresh tea and sunshine in the middle of winter, filled his nostrils.
“Shh. Don’t. You don’t need to explain, or talk about it, or anything else,” Adeline reassured him.
Oliver felt the words break something inside, releasing a slow stream of tears. Tears for a child who just wanted to express themself. Tears for the stories that had been thrown in the fire. Tears for someone who felt seen for the first time in their life.