Lord Garrison was the first one out of the door of the eting chamber. The calm and collected man verged on the edge of rushing. I never knew he had it in him.
Queen Valerie and Sir John moved to the corner of the room to discuss sothing in hushed tones. I could only imagine what that was about.
I stayed in my seat a mont to watch the 3 youngest mbers of the eting stare at each other. Calista only t their gazes for a mont before turning away.
"Were you under orders not to tell us anything?" Alina questioned her friend in a haughty tone.
Cali took a mont. "I just thought this would be easier for everyone. It is not a mont I want to relive and telling it more than once did not seem enjoyable."
Alina softened. "I am sorry."
The apology hung in the air. I could not tell if the princess was sorry for Cali's experiences or for her mistrust in the accusation.
"It's behind us now," Lord Jacobson interjected. "Cali, how is your father?"
"He is alive, but far from thriving. I think his physical injuries will heal," Cali looked exhausted.
"Would you like sothing to get your mind off of it all? I could use so sparring practice for this tournant." Jack offered looking a little weary himself.
"I would like that." Cali stood before catching my eye. "Would you like to join us, Lord Holden?"
"Thank you for the invitation, but I had hoped to speak to Queen Valerie for a mont." I responded.
Upon hearing her na the queen turned to us, leaving Sir John looking frustrated. The youthful trio exited the room in hopes of escaping any involvent with my audience with the queen. I do not think I implied the matter was anything personal, but that was how my motivates were received.
"What is it, Lord Holden?" The queen seed annoyed as well.
"I was hoping to check on my n before the Swordsman ceremony, Your Majesty. Do I have permission to leave for my clan's lands to perform my duties there?" I wanted out of this place.
"Lord Holden, you have leave to send letters and to lead your n from afar. If Princess Alina leaves the castle in any capacity, I would like you by her side." Queen Valerie basically put us both under house arrest.
"When might this assignnt end? Am I to spend this entire war confined to the city walls?"
My mouth ran before I thought about the consequences of my speech.
"If that is my desire I expect you to do it wholeheartedly, Lord Holden!" Queen Valerie put power into her words and I knew I had overstepped. With a steadying breath, she softened a little.
"I understand that you are more used to being more of an outside cat, but with the instability in transitions among two clans' Swordsn it has left the palace a little short handed in leadership," The queen admitted. "I know your n along the border are searching desperately for traces of the Norads and I'm sure that is much more exciting than staying in the city, but please know that I expect you here until after the tournant!"
My head cleared from my earlier outburst at the logic the queen put forward. For the ti being, my place was here. "I understand, Your Majesty. I suppose that even though the training grounds are inside the castle walls, it is still outside. I will go see Princess Alina there." I offered a roundabout apology.
"Now we understand each other, Lord Holden. Good day." The queen dismissed with a contented smile. At least she was pleased with the outco of the conversation.
Although I knew my end goal was the training fields, I took a circuitous route through the castle. It was childish, but I wanted a few monts to myself. If I couldn't be among the trees, at least I could have a mont of solitude.
My route took by the castle infirmary door. On a whim, I decided to go check on Lord Bleddyn. It seed the proper thing to do for a fellow Swordsman.
With propriety basically being his middle na, I was not shocked to see Lord Garrison at his friend's side. His rushing made sense now. His visit to the infirmary must be vastly overdue.
"Again, I wish I had known earlier," I heard Lord Garrison reiterate.
"What could you have done? I do not think you could've stitched up yourself, Garrison." Lord Bleddyn replied with a bit of his old self shining through.
"You need to get back on your feet soon so that I can properly scold you at the tip of my blade for letting your sword skills get so out of practice." Lord Garrison piled on in good humor.
"Soon enough, old friend." Bleddyn smiled.
Just then soone bumped into my arm as he passed heading toward the lively pair. Sir Carrion wore the sa expression that he had when I walked him ho the day before.
"Here!" Carrion shoved a cup into his father's hands.
"That is not the way to speak to anyone, young man." Lord Garrison reprimanded in defense of his friend. Any color in Bleddyn's complexion slowly drained to a sickly pallor.
"I assu you know why my father is here. That makes your equal, Lord Garrison," Sir Carrion boasted.
"Everyman is equal in earning the respect of those around him. It is not lightly given, but can be easily lost." I interrupted. "Lord Bleddyn and Lord Garrison have my respect."
I stood and basked for a mont in Sir Carrion's offended expression. Lord Garrison looked politely pleased. Lord Bleddyn's countenance still seed defeated in the presence of his son.
"I just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery, Lord Bleddyn. Good day, gentlen," I said my peace and saw Bleddyn nod his thanks toward .
As I left the room I heard Lord Garrison's assessnt of . "There is a Swordsman who would make his father proud."
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