Knight in Training

It's been several hours since Rissa told me about her plan. Now I'm in the forest, watching for monsters. She was beside me as I waited in the heights of a tree.

So far I could see nothing. Not even wolves were in sight.

I sighed.

"Why are we here Rissa?" I asked quietly.

"Ah told ya." she replied. "If ya want to get into the big manor up there, ya gotta get stronger. That magic that ya have should take out monsters easy."

"Yeah." I responded. "But there's no monsters here."

"Just wait." Rissa said with a smirk. "Watch this."

With that, Rissa took a small pouch out of her pocket. It smelled rather strongly of pork. She threw it to the ground.

"Now just wait an' see." Rissa smirked.

We waited for several more minutes before I heard something. A wolf poked its head out of the bushes. It looked around for a few seconds before its gaze locked onto the pouch on the ground.

It steadily approached the pouch with caution. It was right underneath us as it prodded the pouch with its nose.

"Now." Rissa told me. "Before it runs off."

I nodded and opened up my spell-book. I had a few new spells in there now. I pointed one of my fingers at the wolf.

"Fire Arrow." I whispered. A small ball of energy formed on my fingertip and fired off. It flew straight through the wolf's head like a laser cutter.

It dropped dead with a thud on the ground.

"Nice shot." Rissa smiled and gave a thumbs up. "You keep looking out for more. I'll skin it and see how much we can get for its hide and meat."

"Is this a money-making scheme?" I asked.

"Think of it as a little bonus." Rissa smiled. "This is all fer ya hunting skills. The money is just a bonus. We aren't earning as much with Azzy gone."

"We will get her back." I responded. "That's why I'm getting stronger."

"That's right." Rissa grinned. "Now let's go get another one."

"Right." I nodded and kept watch for another wolf.

Meanwhile Rissa dropped down onto the ground and dragged the dead wolf into a small clearing below our perch. There she pulled out her dagger and started to skin the wolf. She was quite skilled at it too. Though I guess that happens when you live out here for so long.

Whilst I sat perched on the tree, I started to think of what I would do when I'm finally strong enough. I can't just barge in there and demand her back. I'm not quiet enough to sneak in either. I could always talk my way through it. In fact that sounds like a solid plan. But I'm going to need to get stronger just in case things turn south.

.

.

.

Five minutes and no signs of another wolf. Did we catch one that wasn't in a pack? No, that isn't normal for a wolf to not have a pack.

Rissa had finished packing up the hide and storing the meat. She climbed back up to her position with inhuman agility. I wish I could do that…

"Ah can't smell anything." Rissa said. "Nothing left except the smell of meat here."

"It's so quiet today…" I answered. "Not even the birds are out."

"Let's get back." Rissa responded. "We need ta sell of this meat."

"Right…" I hung my head dejectedly.

Only a single wolf? Not even any birds were out today. This was disappointing...

We climbed down the tree and started walking the trail back to town. We hadn't gone that far out so it was a rather short walk into the marketplace.

"Hey Rissa." I started. "I've been thinking. I may be able to talk my way into the manor."

"Don't count on it." Rissa replied. "Unless ya have some trick up your sleeve."

"Maybe I do." I responded. "Magic here is rare right?"

"It is." Rissa answered.

"So no-one would suspect me if I said I was some kind of entertainer and showed them a few tricks right?" I asked.

"Are ya implying that we should disguise ourselves?" Rissa questioned.

"Perhaps." I answered. "Are you against it?"

"No." Rissa replied. "But can ya pull it off?"

"I'm kind of good at risks." I answered. "I wouldn't have survived so long if I wasn't."

Gambling is all about calculating your risks and using them to your advantage. I think if we do this right then we should have our chance to get Azraea back. If not…who knows what will happen.

"Ah guess…it wouldn't be too hard." Rissa said. "Ya magic skill is good. An' ah can use my acrobatics ta help ya."

"Yes." I replied. "Though we need a real plan first. We can't just waltz in without any kind of plan. Let's sell this off and then think on it."

"Sounds good." Rissa responded.

From there we sold off the meat to the butchers and the pelt to a tanner. We got some pretty decent money for it too. Around sixty gold for all of it. Apparently it was good quality pelt. Rissa seems to be very good at skinning.

When I started to think of how to enter the manor, I thought of the best way to infiltrate. First. I can't be wearing my armour while I'm in there, so I'll need to leave it at home. Second. I need a good place to hide my sword, just in case things go south and I need to fight. Maybe if we brought a bag with us to put our things in…

Before I knew it, we were home. I sat down with Rissa and started to plan things out.

"Alright." I said. "We'll need you to be an acrobat for this performance to work. How good are you at distracting people?"

"Good enough ta survive." Rissa replied.

"Then I'll be counting on you for that." I told her. "Now I'll be using some of my magic to impress the baron. But I need you to handle the guards who will likely be outside of the gate."

"Got it." Rissa nodded.

"I need you to take care of the guards in case things go wrong." I explained. "So we can run if we get found out."

"Got it." Rissa nodded again.

"Right." I said. "Now if things truly do go south and we need to fight, then I'll be counting on you to support me."

"Ah'll catch up after I deal with the guards." Rissa replied. "Then we can do a twin performance."

"Sounds good." I responded. "Now remember. We're going through the front. We cannot afford to be found out early."

"Got it." Rissa said.

"Now let's get ready." I told her. "We'll be leaving tomorrow."

Rissa nodded and got up.

"I guess it's time to see how strong I really am." I said. "I will get her back."

With that I started packing up a bag with a bunch of things. All sorts of cards and entertainment gear. I packed my sword at the bottom where it wouldn't be seen just in case.

I made myself and Rissa some food. We sat down and ate dinner. Just some rabbit meat with some veg. Though Rissa had more meat than anything. It felt lonely eating without Azraea.

I have to do this. I swore myself as her knight. I have to follow through on my promise.

I am the sword that fights for her freedom. I am also the shield that protects it.

Tomorrow will be a large test. Of both my grown skills and my old skills. I just hope that no-one can see through my magic.

*****

I woke up in the morning and Fredrick wasn't there. We had a good talk. I think I can trust him.

Without much thought, I got up and got dressed into a more noble black dress. It was made of high quality material. Not the kind of stuff that I would wear on an adventure. It's too impractical for adventure. The skirt fell to the ankles and the sleeves were long.

I started to brush my hair straight before leaving my room.

For the first time in my life, I opened the door and left with no guards. It felt nice. It felt less like a prison here now. Though I was still incarcerated here, for the next few weeks at least. I think I can stand it though if I'm able to move freely like this.

Something strange was happening though. My other eye. It wasn't glowing this time. In fact it just looked normal. Just a normal, red eye opposing my other one. Was it because of that nightmare?

I tied my eyepatch on just in case. I'd have no explanation if it was seen by anyone except my father.

Then I went back out into the corridor again. I decided that I would take a little exploration around the manor. See what I can find.

I started to wander around. I avoided the throne-room for obvious reasons. But I made it into the courtyard. It was quiet out there. All except for the familiar sounds of steel clashing against steel.

When I looked over, Father was duelling against a young boy. He looked around my age, but his technique was surprisingly good. He was on even ground with Father. I guess old age is getting to him.

I couldn't take my eyes off of the boy while he was fighting. His style seemed familiar to me. It was aggressive and fast. Like Keita's swordsmanship. Though his lack of control makes it seem more like the boy was just swinging his sword around without thought.

The boy was wearing the symbol of Father's personal guard. He had blond hair and was around about Rissa's size.

The sounds of their swords clashing made me miss dungeon crawling. It had only been a day or so and I already miss it. Maybe coming here was a mistake.

I looked out to the forests surrounding the manor and thought about how I could be hunting right now. But this dress isn't suited to it and I'd likely be pulled back in if I went out that far.

But the trees were so beautiful. Lush and green. This side is well kept for the sake of appearance. Not like the untamed forest outside of the town itself.

As I sat down on a nearby bench in the courtyard, the boy looked at me. I could see his deep azure eyes. Eyes that hadn't seen horror yet. Uncorrupted.

Yet in that second of his looking, the boy got knocked to the ground by Father's sword.

"Unfocused." he told the boy. "If you aren't focused in a fight then you're doomed. What were you looking at?"

The boy pointed over in my direction. "The young lady over there." he answered. "Is she a visiting noble?"

I heard Father mutter something before he looked at me. "That's my daughter. She recently came back from a trip. Why does that matter?"

"Sir?" the boy asked. "I thought you only had one daughter. Isn't Lady Azora still on her mission in Beglines?"

"She's a devil of a child." Father said. "Too much like her mother."

"Oh…why does that matter?" the boy questioned.

"Will you just stop asking stupid questions and get back to training?" Father snapped.

"Y-Yes..Sir…" the boy picked up his sword and started fighting again.

I scoffed. I must be like my mother. Because I don't see what I get from his blood. Doesn't matter to me. The less I resemble him the better.

I kept staring at the boy and his fighting. I decided to interfere a little.

"Think before you strike!" I called out to him. "Don't just wave your blade and hope you hit!"

He noticed and I saw his style shift a bit. His strikes became a bit slower, but more precise on the target. Father simply gave me a quick glare before he went back to the duel.

This is fun. Maybe I'll give the kid a hint to take Father down a notch. I grinned.

"Aim for his leg!" I called again.

With that I watched the boy dodge quickly and smack Father on the back of the leg with the flat of his sword. He went down to one knee and groaned as the boy quickly gained an advantage.

I'll probably be scolded for this. But it was to fun an opportunity to pass up. I giggled a little bit.

Soon enough the duel ended after the boy struck the sword out of Father's hand.

"Nice job kid!" I called out to congratulate him. Father looked mad.

"Don't interfere dammit!" he shouted at me. "I'm trying to train the boy!"

"Yet I seem to have done better than you did." I retorted. "You're meant to train him not beat down on him!"

Father growled. But he knew he couldn't do much out here in the open.

"Sir I think we should stop for today." the boy said.

"Grr…fine." Father stood up. "But expect harsher training tomorrow."

He dusted his coat off and went back inside with a scowl on his face. Meanwhile the boy decided to sit beside me.

"Thanks for that." he said. "You helped me to win."

"It's no problem." I replied. "I just wanted to see him taken down a notch. That wasn't training. He wasn't even advising you."

I laughed.

"So." he said. "You're Lord Alfric's daughter? Why have I never seen you here before?"

"He likes to keep me a secret." I answered. "I'm his second-born. Just call me Azraea."

"Alright." the boy nodded. "My name is Erik."