7 Chapter 7: Doorknobs

In the morning, Astrid stood up went to the bathroom and was bathed. Once dressed, she immediately left for her father's study. She knocked. "Come in." Athel said from the other side. Astrid reached for the doorknob and narrowly grabbed it, then opened the door.

"I request that my training is made to be a bit more challenging. As of now, I have learned most all of the basic swings and would like to move onto the more advanced techniques." Astrid said with pride as the door swung open and she placed her hands on her hips as she pushed her center of gravity forward slightly.

"You have quite the energy this morning." Athel said lightly with a gentle smile. "I will view your current skill level tomorrow, then decide." He said. Astrid nodded.

"Yes, that would be for the best. Also, I would like a sparring partner at some point, it is rather boring just practicing swings." Astrid said. As the last of her words flowed from her mouth and flew gently through the air to Athel, he froze in place.

'Sparring? That involves the act of aiming for your opponent. She could get hurt.' Athel thought as all sorts of internal alarms began blaring for him. "Again, I will have to view your current level." Athel said after regaining his composure.

"I see, very well. Thank you for your time, father." Astrid said as she reached for the doorknob and slowly closed the door. 'Why are the doorknobs so high?' Astrid thought to herself. (Note: The doorknobs are at around the four-foot mark on the door. The door is also rather large.)

'That girl. She is scarily polite and smart for her age.' Athel thought lightly as he relaxed a bit. 'Then again, she is also my daughter, perhaps I should dote on her more...' He thought with a serious expression.

As Astrid closed the door and walked away, she felt a shiver go down her spine. 'I get the feeling something terrible will happen soon.' She thought. She continued to the dining room and ate with her siblings, then had her sword practice.

During her practice, she could feel a presence watching from a distance. 'Hm? Someone I do not know of is viewing me.' Astrid thought as she noticed. 'Where is it?' She wondered as he eyes fluttered about, searching for the source of the presence whilst she continued practicing.

Eventually, her eyes settled on a tree. 'There!' She thought as she turned acting as if she is practicing a more advanced move that she had seen once, but mid turn she threw the sword, flinging it at a branch of the tree.

"Ah, my apologies, it seems my hand slipped." She said as the sword made contact with something on the branch and someone fell out of the tree. "What a coincidence. Someone was there." She said flatly as she stared vacantly at the individual who was now laying on the ground partially in the path.

'This girl's acting skills are terrible. That aside, the fact that she was able to hit them from such a distance would be rather impressive, if it was not so abso-fucking-lutely terrifying.' Kelvin thought as he ran over to the individual.

As he apprehended them, he noticed they are wearing a gray cloak with a yellow-gold trim. "Do you always carry rope with you?" Astrid asked.

"You never know when you will need to apprehend a criminal." Kelvin said. Astrid gave him a suspiscious look. "I used to be a guard, by the way." Kelvin added.

"I see." She said as Kelvin raised the dazed individual to their feet. "Go inside for an early brunch, I need to bring this guy in." He said.

"Yes, she does seem to require some form questioning." Astrid said. For a moment Kelvin's eyes are brought to the individuals chest, where two large bulges could be seen. Kelvin cleared his throat as he looked away and blushed slightly.

"Yes, I suppose you are correct." He said as he started walking. Astrid followed him inside, then parted ways with him at the hallway, where a maid was instructed to stay with her.

"I would rather if Nora was with me, but I suppose you will do for now." Astrid said. After a moment of silence, the maid responded.

"My apologies, Lady Coldblight." She said with a slight crack in her voice.

"Do not take it personally, I just trust Nora a rather large amount." She added. The maid did not respond and stayed with her. Unsure as to what she should do before brunch, she wandered around the manor and eventually ran into the Mistress.

"Good morning, Mistress. It is wonderful to see you." Astrid said with a curtsy.

"Do not speak to me. Children are to speak when spoken to." The Mistress said without looking at Astrid.

"Since you have spoken to me now, does that mean I may now speak?" Astrid asked.

"No. You may answer questions, now shut your mouth, insolent child. Your luxuries are only granted because your father is does not realize how dangerous it is to have something like you so close." She said.

"Ah, I see, so you are worried about me getting to close to father, causing his work to suffer, or maybe you are worried that I will get kidnapped, which would then cause much distress... I wonder... Perhaps you are also worried that I will now be used as a political pawn as w-" Astrid was saying when she was suddenly slapped and the mistress had an expression of anger. "I see. You have told me everything I need to know. It is unfortunate the Levin was born to a woman like you. Good day, madam." Astrid said as she walked away.

"Do not walk away when you require discipline." The Mistress said as she put her hand on Astrid's shoulder, turned her around, and picked her up off the ground.

"And what would happen if you leave a mark on the daughter that Lord Coldblight loves so much? You have already slapped me, it would be unsurprising if it is already red. How much further are you willing to go?" Astrid asked with a flat voice and eyed fevoid of light.

The Mistress flinched as her grip tightened slightly. After a moment, she put her down, then turned around. "You are lucky you are the favorite of your father." The Mistress said.

"You are lucky you are still useful." Astrid said flatly as she turned around and walked away. "Good day, madam." She said coldly. Seething with anger, The Mistress walked away.

'It was not a lie, the woman is still useful. And by that, I mean that she is close to my father, so long as that is the case, she will not try anything stupid. That is, unless she is stupid.' Astrid thought. Astrid walked to her bedroom where Nora had been waiting for her.

"I was not expecting to see you here, why are you not tending elsewhere?" Astrid asked.

"My apologies, lady Coldblight, however, I wished to wait for you to tell you that I was recently assigned as your personal maid." Nora said.

"I see. So you will be keeping an eye on me at all times, then, yes?" Astrid asked.

"At most times, yes. I was informed of the circumstances which I will not be with you." Nora said. Astrid nodded.

"That is satisfactory. Were you instructed to wait in my room until I return?" Astrid asked. Nora nodded.

"Yes, Lady Coldblight." Nora said.

"Since you will be tending to me personally, tell me your age and family business." Astrid said as she walked over to her chair and sat in it. Nore did not speak for a moment.

"I am fourteen, Lady Coldblight. My family owns a farm. They had to sell me into slavery in order to maintain it." Nora said as she clearly held back her emotions.

'So she is a slave. Now I understand her earlier reluctance to tell me her name.' Astrid thought. "Thank you, Nora." Astrid said. "Do you have a family name?" Astrid asked.

"It was taken from me upon becoming a slave." Nora said.

"I see." Astrid said as she gazed out the window. "Nora. Can I trust you to keep a secret?" She asked.