Amelia was worried. She did not know what happened to Joedan. Was he okay? What if something happened to him? He did have the commander with him, though, she thought to herself. If anyone can keep him safe, the surly commander would. Walking down the hall, she saw a familiar door open. It was the man from before. The one with the wounded hand, she had seen the other day. They made eye contact. The man quickly broke eye contact and turned the other way.
Amelia had a feeling something was going on. She decided to follow the man. She watched as the man headed for the stables. Where was he headed? What was he up to? She tried to stay out of sight and make her way around the edge of the stables. Leaning against the wall she heard the man speaking to himself.
"That count…" the man said. "Just a little longer brother, then we'll have our freedom and the count won't be a problem anymore. Once this situation in Blanchard is handled, then it'll be our moment to strike." There was clicking of teeth and the man rode out of the stable on his horse.
Amelia dropped down to the floor, holding her mouth as she waited for the man to disappear off into the distance. Amelia couldn't just sit and do nothing.
"Blanchard?" she whispered quietly.
Blanchard was where Joedan lived. Was the man going after Joedan? Or his family? She had to do something. She got up from the ground and headed back to the estate.
In her room, she hastily packed some clothes into a bag, grabbing her mace. She looked at it, remembering fondly how it had come to be hers. Strapping it to her back, she threw a cloak over her shoulders, pulling the hood up. Settling her bedding, she stepped to the door.
"Father, I'm sorry," she muttered to herself.
Strengthening her resolve, she opened the door and stepped out. Making her way to the stables, she went over to her horse. Grabbing the saddle from the side, she threw it over the horse and fastened the buckles. Tossing her pack, she tied it down to the horse's haunches. Grabbing the pommel, she hoisted herself up onto the horse and ushered it forward. Just as she was moving her horse out of the stables, two guards stepped up.
"Lady Amelia," the guard spoke.
Amelia stared back, not saying anything.
"We cannot allow you to leave," the guard spoke again.
"Two choices," she raised one finger.
"You can come with me."
Raising a second finger, "Or I will find a way to leave some other time. You may be able to stop me this time, but I will find a way to leave," she said stubbornly, challenging both guards.
Both guards saw the determined look in Amelia's eyes, after a moment of consideration, the two guards walked into the stables. Stepping up to two more horses, the guards proceeded to get their horses ready. Mounting their horses, they strode up beside Amelia.
"Lead the way, my lady."
Amelia smiled at both of them. Clicking her teeth and tapping her heels, she took off at a trot with the two guards following behind her.
*****
"Hold your breath steady now," came the whisper from the commander to his left.
With the bow drawn, Joedan concentrated on his target. Remembering to control his breathing, he focused on the deer he had spotted deeper in the foliage.
It was his turn to hunt.
They had been traveling for a couple days. Each day, the commander would work with Joedan on the various weapons training. Taking a deep breath, Joedan released the arrow. With a solid thack, the arrow struck and the deer collapsed. Shouldering his bow, Joedan headed off into the foliage to claim his prize. Hoisting the deer across his back, he returned back to their camp.
"Use your knife to skin it," the commander spoke.
Working his way through the process of cleaning the deer, the commander had assembled a small fire. Setting the meat across their fire, they settled in to wait for it to cook.
"You've taken to the bow quite nicely," the commander spoke softly. Joedan nodded, eyes still on the fire.
Each day, they woke and the commander ran Joedan through his sword forms. The commander was tough, pushing Joedan repeatedly. After sword forms, came strength conditioning, then they would travel before setting camp in the evening. Then the training picked up again, working Joedan through proper knife skills.
"Knives are a last defense. Because of their short range, it's not the weapon you want to gravitate towards, but it just might mean the difference between life and death in a true battle," he remembered one of the things the commander had said during their training.
The meat finished cooking and the two began tearing into the fresh meat. Joedan ate quietly as the commander continued speaking.
"Next, we will work on the spear. This weapon allows you the greatest reach. It's also a good weapon for getting around shields, or unseating a man from his horse as he charges you down." Joedan nodded again, still chewing his meal.
"I will take first watch tonight," the commander said next, taking a bite of the leg he was holding in his hand.
"Why are you doing all of this?"
Joedan had stopped eating and turned to look at the commander. The commander continued chewing.
Finally, he turned back to Joedan and spoke, "At first, I will admit, I did not understand the reasoning behind the duke's decision, nor was I particularly looking forward to this task."
Taking another bite and chewing the commander swallowed before continuing, "The duke sees something in you and I have to admit that I, too, now think I am beginning to see what he was talking about."
Joedan nodded, continuing to eat.
"Joedan, it's best not to look a gift horse in the mouth and turn it away," the commander spoke softly.
"What does that mean?" Joedan asked.
"When a good thing happens to you, don't try to find the other shoe before it drops. It's much better to be grateful for the blessing, then to question the end goal of it."