Chapter Seventeen #8
“S-Sir Hebaron, I came to inquire…about the matter…I discussed with you the other day.”
After blinking at her outfit, Hebaron rose from his seat and slowly walked over to her.
“Lady Calypse? May I ask why you are dressed like this?”
Blushing, Maxi smoothed out her trousers. “I tried it on…because I thought it would be better…if I traveled like this. B-But I know it does not suit me all that well.”
“No, it suits you well.” The knight looked uncharacteristically flustered as he waved his hands in reassurance.
The atmosphere in the room had taken a decidedly awkward turn, so she decided to backtrack. “If I am interrupting an important discussion…shall I return later?”
“No, come in, my lady. We were actually talking about your request.”
Maxi hesitated before accepting Hebaron’s invitation and entering the council room.
One of the men hastily stood up to offer his seat.
Maxi nervously glanced around as she sat among the burly knights.
A large map of the Western Continent was spread across the desk.
It was covered in a complicated web of lines and several wooden figures were perched on top.
“Wh-Where is Riftan? I was told…that he spent the night here.”
“You must have missed him. The commander has gone to the great hall to send a carrier pigeon. He should be back soon,” said Hebaron. He frowned as he scratched the back of his head and added, “We were planning on discussing the matter of your ladyship joining the campaign as soon as he returned.”
“I suppose the plan to steal a m-mage from the Earl of Loverne has failed.”
Gabel nodded from the seat across from her. “Most of them said they could not afford to leave because they are long settled in the earl’s land with their wives and children.”
“I see…” Maxi cleared her throat to disguise her shaky voice. “Then…I shall be your m-mage.”
“But, my lady, are you certain about this? You have lived all your life in Croyso Castle after all,” said a dark-skinned knight she did not know who was eyeing her skeptically from the corner of the room.
“Everyone here acknowledges that you are a talented healer, but the way to Livadon is full of monster lairs, and we would have to camp out most nights because villages would be few and far between. Would your ladyship be able to endure such conditions?”
“Sir Hebaron has already informed me of what is r-required. I have experienced c-camping during my journey to Anatol…and I am ready…to face whatever might await.”
“It will be even more arduous than you think, my lady. This is not something to undertake on a whim—”
“If the royal princess can do it, why can’t her ladyship?
” asked another knight to her left. Maxi recognized him as a young man who frequently came to the infirmary for treatment.
“What is there to worry about when she would have us with her?” he continued, crossing his arms defiantly.
“If you’re that worried, we could assign some of the squires as her personal guards. I would even take on the job myself.”
After offering the knight a grateful smile, Maxi said firmly, “It is precisely because the journey will be a perilous one…as you said yourself…that I think you must take me with you. G-Going without a mage on a journey that could last a month…would be too dangerous.”
The knights exchanged glances as they silently debated the matter amongst themselves, and Maxi’s lips curled into a relieved smile when she realized that she had more or less managed to persuade them.
A cold voice rang out behind her.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Maxi’s face fell as she turned toward the door. Riftan wore a frightening expression, gritting his teeth as he marched to the desk. “Explain to me what my wife is doing here.”
“I am here because I have asked the knights…to take me as your mage if—”
“You keep your mouth shut.”
His icy gaze snapped to her, and Maxi clenched her jaw. Hebaron stepped forward to defend her. “Her ladyship is here out of concern for you, Commander. You need not be so angry.”
“I have clearly told her that she cannot come, yet here she is conspiring with my men behind my back. How exactly is this for my sake?”
Hebaron scowled. “Must you speak so harshly? It is because you are so mulish that her ladyship had to resort to coming directly to us! Do not act like you have caught us in some conspiracy!”
“Whatever the reason, I will not condone having any discussions involving my wife behind my back!”
Riftan stared murderously at Hebaron, and the knight matched his glare.
The air grew so heavy that Maxi nearly collapsed.
Gabel interposed himself between the two men growling at each other like feral dogs, saying firmly, “Please, calm down! We understand that you are worried about her ladyship, Commander, and that is why we have kept silent until now. But as you are also aware, we need a mage. Please take a step back to consider this objectively.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Riftan swung his attention to Gabel. “My wife is a duke’s daughter who has lived all her life in the safety of Croyso Castle. She would not be able to endure this!”
“And why…do you g-get to decide that?” Maxi shot back, leaping to her feet in indignation. “I am c-capable! Just give me a chance. You cannot leave like this…when you have a mage right here!”
Riftan looked her up and down as though just noticing her attire. His evident shock made her bunch the loose fabric of her trousers in her fist and nervously lower her gaze.
“Why are you dressed like that?” His lips twisted in irritation. “Goddammit! So you’ve come fully prepared, have you?” He paused to rub his forehead and pinch the bridge of his nose before continuing, “Why the hell are you being so stubborn? I have already told you that this does not concern you.”
“Y-You are the one who is being stubborn, Riftan! Please, don’t just say no…and consider it properly. If s-subjecting myself to a little…a little hardship…can get the whole party safely to Livadon…d-do you not think it is a sacrifice I should make?”
“Her ladyship is right,” Hebaron said in a calmer voice. “We can’t keep delaying when we do not know what kind of danger the others are facing right now. But that does not mean we can ask the rest of the knights to endanger their lives needlessly. We are between a rock and a hard place.”
“Are you implying that it is an acceptable risk for my wife to be endangered?”
“We can keep her safe!”
“Stop spouting nonsense! If—”
Riftan cut himself off and clenched his jaw, his face contorted in a grim expression.
It was clear that the conflict between not allowing his wife to take any risks but expecting the opposite of his subordinates was weighing on him.
Seeing his hesitation, the knights began to chime in one after the other.
“We are not suggesting that we take her ladyship into the thick of battle. Once we arrive in Livadon, we will be able to request a hierarch from the church. Her ladyship could remain in the church’s care while we travel on to Louivell.”
“He’s right. We only need to cross the border and reach the port, and then we will be traveling by ship. It will not be that dangerous.”
“The journey to the port is the problem!” said Riftan, now refusing to meet Maxi’s gaze. “Drake lairs are scattered all over the route to Livadon, and it is currently the season when they are most active. Bringing a noblewoman who is not even capable of basic defensive magic would only hinder us.”
Furious, Maxi cried out, “Y-You are wrong! I am c-capable of defensive magic!”
“What can you possibly do with something you only learned a few months ago?”
“If you find it so hard to believe, why don’t we put it to the test?”
Everyone’s eyes darted to the owner of the voice that had suddenly chimed in. The dark-skinned knight, who had been standing quietly with his arms crossed, shrugged and said, “Let her prove herself. If she is able to guard against our attacks, then she can defend herself against most monsters.”
“What a great idea,” said Gabel. “I agree with Edon. If her ladyship’s magic fails, we will put this matter to rest.”
Maxi hunched her shoulders. Although she had confidently vouched for her abilities in the heat of the moment, she was uncertain if her barrier was strong enough to block a blow from one of the Remdragon Knights. While she hesitated, the discussion continued with the logistics.
“And if her ladyship succeeds in blocking our attack, you must stop objecting, Commander. It would be foolish for us to depart for Livadon on our own when we have a healer capable of basic defensive magic. Please do not force us to take such a risk.”
Gabel regarded Riftan steadily. Left with no more reason to object, Riftan grimaced and glared back and forth between Maxi and the knights. He held the silence for a while before speaking in a low voice. “Fine. Let us test her skills. Come outside.”
He spun on his heels and walked out the door. Hebaron gently patted Maxi on the shoulder when he saw that she was frozen to the spot. “Now is your chance, my lady. Please knock him down a peg.”
That was only if she succeeded. What would she do if she failed pathetically after all the commotion she had caused? Maxi swallowed hard.
No, it should be fine. My barrier…will not break that easily.
In a test just the other day, her barrier had withstood Melric hitting it with a metal hoe used for plowing the fields. However, a garden tool wielded by an emaciated old man was entirely different from a strike given by a trained knight in his prime.
As she followed the others out to the training grounds, Maxi noticed their muscular frames that looked as sturdy as a stallion’s. Riftan ordered the men sparring on the grounds to make way before he turned to Maxi. “Go ahead. Cast your spell.”
When the knights saw him grab the hilt of the sword strapped to his waist, they rushed forward.