7. Uninvited Guests
The sun wasn't up yet when Skylar got up and dressed in too big male clothes. She didn't mind, the garments were loose enough to allow energetic movements, and that was what she needed right now. In just a few minutes, she was out of her room.
Preston was leaning heavily on the wall, his head bowed, and loud snores filled the silent hall. Skylar rolled her eyes and punched him in the arm.
"Wake up!"
The man jumped, startled, and straightened immediately. "My lady! Is something the matter? The sun is not even up yet," he added, trying and failing to conceal a yawn.
"I need to go out for a stroll." She started walking towards the stairs leading to the ground floor.
The soldier trotted to catch up with her energetic pace. "But my lady! It's still dark outside! Wouldn't it be better to wait a bit for the sunrise?"
"No, because my dear husband made sure my schedule is so packed, I don't have time for any leisurely strolls. You can either stay here or try to keep up."
"I can't let you go alone, my lady," Prestonsaid in a suffering tone. It was clear which option he would prefer. He gave her a closer look and grunted. "You look peculiar today, my lady. Aren't those General's clothes?"
"Well, yes, they are. What of it?"
"Erm, nothing, my lady. It's just... a strange choice, I must say."
"You wouldn't say that if you were forced to stroll in those heavy and unpractical dresses." Skylar shrugged.
"They are a bit too big, I think," the guard continued, ignoring her annoyance. "I would have thought Lord General provided you with the whole wardrobe, my lady?"
"Yes, but he forgot to include things that are not dresses. I thought he'll get a hint if I steal some of his garments."
"You... stole Lord General's clothes?" Preston asked, his face suddenly pale.
"To my defence, he did steal mine, so now we are even," Sky said with a saccharine smile when they reached the main door.
The guards there gave her a curious look, but none said a word nor stopped her from going outside. Once the heavy portal closed behind them, Skylar started to jog down a little pathway leading behind the manor. The sky was grey, slowly turning to more colourful hues, heralding the upcoming dawn.
"My lady!" Preston called, struggling to keep up with her. "I thought you said you wanted to stroll!"
"I am strolling." Skylar laughed, not bothering to slow down. Finally, with the wind in her face, she felt free. Free of suffocating rules, expectations, and condemning glances. She was ecstatic, her body at last allowed to work all the muscles.
She stopped when she was so far away that the Mansion disappeared. She reached a little meadow with elegantly cut grass. A little stream was babbling nearby, and a small thicket of trees leaned over it. It was a perfect place.
She started to slowly warm up her arms while waiting for Preston to catch up to her. He arrived a few minutes later, his face all red and his chest heaving. He stopped next to her and leaned heavily on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"My... lady..." he wheezed. "I'd really like... if you wouldn't... run away... from me."
"I was not running away. If I wanted, you would never find me." Skylar shrugged. "Now, give me your sword."
The guard straightened and looked at her with panic. "My lady?"
"Your sword, please!" she commanded, extending her hand impatiently. "Or would you prefer if I take it myself?"
"N-no, my lady. But I really shouldn't..." the man stuttered hesitantly, handing her his sheathed sword.
"Relax, there's no one here. It will be our little secret. You can sit down and rest now while I do my thing."
Skylar unsheathed the sword and tried a few simple swings. It wasn't an excellent sword. It was a bit on a heavier side, nowhere near the custom-made sword she had left at home, but it would do.
Preston slumped on the grass, leaning at the tree trunk, watching her with a mixture of confusion and awe.
She ignored him and went through different stances, slowly performing each strike and parry.
It was like dancing with an invisible opponent.
Her body was used to the routine, and she didn't have to think– her muscles knew all the steps and sequences.
When the sun rose over the horizon, painting everything in red and gold, Skylar felt very satisfying fatigue in all her muscles. She lowered the sword and wiped salty sweat that was flooding her eyes and making them sting.
She came over to Preston, who was scribbling something in a small notebook and plumped to the grass, stretching her arms.
"See, all done already. Let me catch my breath, and we can get back so that I can play a good, noble lady again," she said with a grin.
"That was the reason why you requested me to remain as your guard, wasn't it?" Preston asked grudgingly. "So, you can use my sword for training?"
"Well, I'm not going to lie. That was the main reason."
"Oh, I see," the man said grumpily.
"Come now, Preston. We are not that different from each other. We are both stuck in roles we didn't ask for. From what I've heard, you had been forced to become a soldier by your family. Isn't that right?"
"Yes, my lady."
"And I was a soldier and then was forced to leave the army and become a pretty little ornament in the General's mansion. See the similarities?"
"Yes, I do. I have to say, my lady, you are a real expert with a sword," said Preston, his mood instantly improving.
"Thank you. That's about the only thing I'm good at," Sky said with a sigh. "What are you scribbling?"
"Oh, it's nothing," the man said, looking away from her, his cheeks red. "Just a little sketch."
"Can I see?"
"Erm, it's nothing special, really..." he mumbled but reluctantly handed her the notepad.
Sky went through the pages with awe. "It's amazing," she said, looking at tiny pictures.
They were indeed rough sketches but had so many details that they looked incredibly lifelike.
They mainly depicted her in different fighting stances, so if she flipped the pages quickly, it seemed as if a little figure was moving. "So, that's what you are good at?"
"It is, but as you know, my lady, it's not a very masculine skill to have," Preston said timidly, still not looking at her.
"Like fencing is not ladylike?" she asked with a smile.
He turned to her and smiled back. And for the first time, it looked sincere. "Yes, I guess it's very similar, my lady."
"See, I told you we are the same. If someone is going to follow me around, I'd rather it's someone who can understand me."
"I must say, my lady, when you put my sword to my neck, I was sure I was a goner."
"I'm sorry about that. I was pissed at the time, and you were unlucky enough to be the first person I bumped into."
"I'm glad I can stay with you, my lady. I think it's the best way for me to survive the next three months in the service."
"It will pass in a blink. Shame I can't get out of my new role so easily," said Skylar with a sigh. "All right, enough moping now. We need to get back to the mansion before my daily tutoring starts."
When Skylar walked through the main doors of the mansion, she stopped abruptly. In the middle of the front foyer, Zachariah was talking to two elegant women. Everyone turned to her when the heavy door closed behind her with a loud thud.
Skylar gulped, fully aware that she was wearing too big, male clothes, and her sweaty hair was plastered flat to her head. But there was nowhere to hide now, so she raised her chin and turned to the Head Servant.
"Zachariah, I didn't know we were expecting guests today."
"Because we didn't," the man replied. "The ladies wanted to... surprise you with a visit, my lady."
"Oh, my apologies!" said a woman with perfect blonde curls flowing gracefully down to her waist.
"We didn't mean to intrude, Lady Skylar! We are your closest neighbours, so we thought we would greet you properly."
Her voice was sweet as the most beautiful music, but Skylar noticed her blue eyes sparkling when she looked up and down.
It was not a friendly gleam but rather an excitement of a predator who found easy prey.
"We should have sent you a note," the other woman added. She had flaming red hair styled in a complicated crown. "But we simply couldn't wait to meet you!"
"You certainly did surprise me," Skylar said cautiously. "Zachariah, can you please invite the ladies to our dining room for breakfast while I quickly bathe and make myself more presentable?"
"As you wish, my lady." The Head Servant bowed to her and gestured to the guests. "My ladies, if you, please, follow me."
When they disappeared into a hallway, Skylar cursed profoundly.
"I'm guessing it's not good?" Preston asked.
"My husband is going to kill me." Sky sighed, trotting toward her chambers.
After less than half an hour, Skylar was ready to enter the dining room.
Well, at least as ready as she'd ever get.
Her hair was still wet after a bath, and even her best dress didn't seem to be appropriate compared to the elegant and spotless garments of the two visitors.
But she couldn't stall any longer, so she straightened her back, raised her chin, and entered the room.
The Ladies sat at the end of a long dining table, dabbing elegantly at some greenery on their plates that looked more like a garnish than food.
When they spotted her, they both got up.
Her teachers already instructed Skylar that as the Lord General's wife, she was of the highest social position, just below the King and Queen.
The other nobles had to show her respect, whether they liked it or not.
"I apologise I made you wait," she said stiffly, walking towards them.
"That's all right, Lady Skylar. We are at fault here for surprising you like that." The blonde woman bowed her head slightly.
"I hope you didn't take an offence at our brash behaviour, Lady Skylar," the other woman added.