The Four Swords

Chapter 138: Long Week

The next week was a blur of monotony. For the most part I followed Princess Alina and her band of merry friends. A few important things broke up the trips from the sparring field to the swordsman chamber meetings.

The most shocking things were happening along the border. From reports that my men sent me, some of my scouts had gone missing. The majority of my men that could not be located were last seen at the base of mountain trails around a specific peak.

When I reported this in the following Swordsman meeting, men from other clans were assigned to assist in that area. We might have finally had some actionable intelligence, but we also did not want to fall into any traps. Our enemy had a sharp and cunning mind.

I felt confident that this war was slowly approaching a much larger conflict. I hope that everyone I love and hold dearly would make it safely to the other side of it. I appreciated that my village was much closer to the southern gnomish border than the border at the northern mountains.

Thinking of home, I had written to my mother explaining that Sir Gavin was needed for a tournament much to Benate's dismay. My letter was posted to home and received a responding correspondence before Benate wrote to my mother once.

I was reminded in the response that Benate needed to write to his mother more. I also generously on my brother's behalf mentioned that Benate would also be participating in the tournament. My mother was overjoyed and invited herself to come to the capital to see it all.

Upon hearing all of this, my brother and I had a few days of less than comfortable silence while he sulked around the house in the evenings. He loved our mother, but she did tend to make a fuss about being careful when we sparred for combat training. It tended to put a damper on the festivities.

After a few days, he finally made peace with his fate. It might have helped that Princess Alina had commissioned some new jewelry from a merchant that afternoon and I purchased Benate a new sword from among the shop wares. I think there is no higher level to sibling affection than buying each other weaponry.

The news of another Swordsman ceremony slowly swept through town. Banners in hues of green honored the clan of Wolves in the town square and from various windows. The capital seemed to be eager for another reason to celebrate something, even if it was not a royal wedding.

Princess Alina and Lady Calista made favors for the tournament champions the day before Sir Carrion's Swordsman Ceremony. They both sat in the princess' parlor and stitched tiny pictures into handkerchiefs with colors corresponding to the different clans.

Although all the favors were supposed to be gifts from Princess Alina, Lady Calista simply seemed to need something to occupy her anxious energy. She seemed on edge with her brother and father both being a bit unpredictable.

Between the two young ladies, the quality of the final products was unmistakable. Alina's stitches were even, neat, and fully recognizable as the shapes they were supposed to be.

Cali's, on the other hand, were large, sloppy and at times dotted with trace amounts of her own blood where she accidentally pricked herself with the needle. She was much more talented with a foil than with a needle.

I would never shame either of them by letting the court know that Princess Alina did not make all of her own favors, but I also felt a bit sorry for the men who end up with Calista's abstract creations.

After about the seventeenth needle prick, Cali stood up in a huff.

"Why is this so hard?" The young noble woman yelled.

The ruckus was so loud that guards attending the doorway outside of the chamber barged into the room in a panic. One of them even had his sword already drawn. Seeing that there was no trouble inside, he sheathed his weapon.

"Thank you gentlemen, but we do not require your assistance at this time," Princess Alina said, dismissing the guards. After the door shut behind them, Alina straightened her shoulders and looked in Calista's direction.

"Cali, if you do not want to embroider anymore you do not have to," the princess offered. "I simply thought it was something to do."

"It's not that. I just feel so..." Calista looked in my direction uncomfortably. "You know, nevermind. It was just the sewing getting to me."

I shared a significant look with Princess Alina. I had spent most of the last week with these ladies and Lord Jacobson nonstop. It must be difficult for a young lady to not be able to fully express herself to her friends without prying eyes.

"Lord Holden?" Alina addressed me. "What exactly are your orders?"

"I am to accompany you outside the castle whenever you leave. I can step outside and meet you somewhere when you might need me if that is helpful, Your Highness." I responded already edging toward the door.

"That is alright, Lord Holden. I will not leave my chamber the rest of the day. You are dismissed until tomorrow. I think you could use a night off before tomorrow's duties." Alina graciously offered.

I jumped at the chance, almost forgetting to bow. Babysitting is one thing that I might someday get used to, but I do not think dealing with emotional outbursts of women will ever be in my skillset.

I found myself heading towards Benate's long before the sunset. I thought about maybe looking through a few shops or picking up something to eat at the tavern on the way home, but ultimately decided that some extra rest would be the best option.

As I rounded the last turn to my brother's house, I almost ran into a slender blonde beauty coming out of the clock shop.

"Oh. Forgive me, Gella." I started before I even fully saw her face. "I did not see you there."

"Oh. No. I mean. Yes. You are forgiven. I just..." Gella looked up realizing she was talking to me.

Gella's face turned pale and she looked embarrassed. "Forgive me, I must go."

With that my childhood friend ran in the opposite direction from me. She certainly is a curious creature.