Following the count Nick was surprised.

The nobleman didn’t lead him into the house, but around to the backside of it. Out onto a wide open clearing beyond a wall. There were a great many men with wooden weapons moving about the field.

Some were in formation training, some in combat maneuvers, and others looked to be just barely figuring out how to hold a weapon. From what Nick could see, it was very much an “assembled in a hurry” type of situation.

Suddenly he was feeling incredibly glad that he had Lucian with him.

A relative who had been through more war, drilling, and instruction, than any other living person he imagined. That regardless of what happened, Lucian would have some advice one way or the other.

Thanks, Gramps.

“Hm? For what?” asked Lucian, sounding somewhat surprised at the sudden thought. He seemed to be inspecting the layout as well.

Just being here. With me.

Nice having someone I can rely on. A family member who cares.

Ya know?

“I… yes. Of course. You’re welcome, Nick,” Lucian said with warmth. “Not a problem. Now… look to the far back corner. Knights in weapon’s practice. Notice that none of them are using a poleaxe. They’re using all sorts of weapons, though none are using a poleaxe.

“In a situation like what they’re in, unarmored and in sparring without care, a poleaxe is certainly harder to use. If you end up training with them, take it seriously, even if they do not.”

Nick nodded his head as he continued to follow along behind the count.

The man seemed to be leading him to a back corner of the “training camp”. There looked to be a canopy spread out over there with several chairs and a table there. It was quite likely that that was where the count had been before Table had decided to try and kill some fools.

Faster than I thought if he got there that quick. He must have ran or jogged. Even then, that’s rather quick.

He’s becoming quite the mystery.

Reaching the canopy the count sat down with a heavy sigh. Looking around himself he made a casual gesture with a hand and the troops that’d been moving with him left. Moving considerably further away.

Outside what one would probably consider “earshot”.

“Come, stand beside me, Nick,” muttered the count. “I’d normally offer you a seat but there’s too many eyes here. You’re still but a commoner right now so it just wouldn’t work out for either of us.”

“Of course, Sire,” replied Nick, coming over to stand at the count’s right side.

“Keep on doing as you have and I don’t see how a knighthood wouldn’t be in your future,” the count said. “It’d be more surprising if you didn’t get one, honestly. But that’s not what I called you over here for. I have a job for you.”

“If possible, Sire, I’d rather stuff Charles into a barrel than be around him for even a moment,” Nick said when the count didn’t continue. “Claudia seems fine enough from what I saw of her and I wouldn’t turn down the assignment.”

The count didn’t respond. He instead was watching a nearby group of young men practicing moving in formation. While they didn’t have the look of fresh-faced recruits on their first day, they didn’t look like they were quite ready for battle either.

“We won’t be prepared by the time we march,” said the count in a near whisper. “It’s all happening too fast. All too quickly.

“The Fash family has recruited every adventurer possible, just as the Dukes have for their own territories. All the mercenaries possible have been hired. Ever body and weapon possible will be put into the field.”

Nick put his hands behind his back and then nodded his head once.

“My understanding is that’s how war goes,” Nick said after he’d thought on it. “Expecting anything else is silly. War is war after all. It isn’t a teaparty, Sire.”

With a chortle, the count shook his head.

“You’re correct. I’m whining over nothing that isn’t expected for what war is. We can condemn it, but that doesn’t change the facts of it,” murmured the count. “If I don’t go to war, I’m a traitor and my lands subject to withdrawal by the king.

“If I don’t go fight for the king, my only option is to hope that the Dukes win as the king would most certainly not let me keep my title. At that point, I’m better off throwing in completely with the Dukes as my only chance is if they win.

“But if the whole point was to not go to war, that leaves me with no options whatsoever. War, or renegade and hope. I like neither option.”

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t be one to give advice, Sire,” offered Nick. “It sounds like classes, levels, hitpoints, mana bars, all of it will be of far greater importance in this war. While even the strongest adventurer can still be dragged down by the hands of thousands, they’d take down hundreds of enemies down with them.

“That means the one to win is the army with the higher levels and better classes. That sounds more likely to be the king, does it not?”

“It would seem so at this time, but one can never be sure,” offered the count. “Is Charles really that bad?”

“He asked me if I was here to lick your boots, Sire,” Nick reported calmly. “I had only just arrived and had yet to announce myself or even speak a word. Charles is an insufferable, pompous, immature, bully. I wouldn’t be very surprised if he’s had his sister followed and antagonized.”

“Mm. Well. You’re right, of course. I had asked you to join me so I could request that you take on a protection detail,” confessed the count. “I was going to ask you to watch over Charles and try to help him discover what it means to be nobility but… it sounds like that time has passed. For both you being his bodyguard and him learning of nobility.

“I’ll have to have a word with him and see where he stands. It’s… hard… to believe one’s own child is that far gone. That much of a loss. But we’ve seen what happens to the nobility when they ignore a cancer amongst their line.”

“I would very much refuse such an assignment, Sire,” agreed Nick. “I’m afraid there is no room for reconciliation between myself and Charles. There is far too much water behind that dike. It wouldn’t last.”

“So I’ve gathered,” grumbled the count. “Then… Claudia, then? You’d be willing to act as her bodyguard and chaperone?”

“I have no qualms with that, Sire. With any luck she’ll be the next countess and I wouldn’t mind currying some favor with her early,” confessed Nick.

Laughing, the count nodded his head and leaned forward.

“Ah… it’s nice that you’re honest with me,” said the count. “I get a lot of boot lickers and flowery lies as of late. I blame my son for that if I’m being truthful. He tends to blow up at anyone and everyone in the last six or seven months. It’s put all my people on edge.”

“Sounds like he needs to be parented, Sire,” complained Nick before he contemplated his words.

Like water becoming ice, the counts shoulders went stiff. His posture becoming that of someone going on the defensive and waiting for a strike to come.

Then he let out a sudden breath of air and slumped somewhat into his chair.

“A… fair chastisement. I can complain about him all I want but at the end of the day, I am indeed his father,” growled the count.

“My father wouldn’t hesitate to strap me, Sire, if I acted in a way I knew was wrong. Father would tell me it harmed him as much as it did me to do it, but no one else had the responsibility to raise me.”

Once again the count fell silent, watching his people going about their training. People who were all going to be put into harms away for the sake of a war that realistically didn’t have much to do with them.

“Master Dal, would you please take on the role of body-guard, attendant, and companion to my daughter?” asked the count. “The pay would be equivalent to that of a captain of my knights. You’re to have full control of any situation that regards security and I charge you to disobey whatever orders from whoever, even if it’s Charles or Claudia, might give you that could jeopardize her wellbeing. The several squads of house-guards around her will report to you directly as well.”

“It’s a very fair deal,” Lucian said as Nick began to consider the proposal. “The pay is well above what it should, and he’s telling you up front to disobey orders if you need to. This is a great deal of trust he’s giving you.

“We cannot refuse this duty without more or less spitting in his face. It simply would be impolite to the extreme given how he has acted towards us.

“Not to mention he tolerated your impertinence and seemed to encourage it. It would seem the count is confiding in you at the same time.”

“I accept only because you asked me, Sire,” Nick said. “If it were anyone else, I would have respectfully declined and taken my place in the line. Nobility isn’t a delight to work with.”

“Ha, no. No it isn’t. Good,” said the count. “Go tell Claudia the news. I’m sure she’s in the manor. Likely reading or fuming at something her brother has done.

“Oh… and if it concerns her health, you’re allowed to discourage Charles. Please cause him no lasting harm, but I won’t be upset if you’re forced to teach him a lesson.”

“Of course, Sire. Have a good afternoon, Sire,” Nick said, taking the cue as a firm dismissal.

“You as well, Master Dal. You as well.”

Heading back towards the manor Nick wasn’t quite sure if he was fortunate or ill-fated. While Claudia certainly seemed better than Charles, there was no telling if that was the truth until it was too late.

For all we know, she’s worse than Charles.

“A distinct possibility, but that’s the hand we were given,” said Lucian. “It would have been most improper to refuse him his request after we already declined Charles so… vehemently.”

Reaching the manor Nick entered once again and stood at the base of the stairs.

“Hello the home!” he called out loudly after deciding he didn’t want to wander from room to room. He could imagine how easily he could spend way too much time in his search. “I’m looking for miss Claudia?”

There was what sounded like a chair being moved followed by a door opening. The quiet pad of steps heading his way brought his attention up to the second floor railing above him.

Eventually, one of the ladies in waiting for Claudia appeared.

“Can I help you?” she asked, meeting Nick’s eyes.

“Yeah, where’s Claudia?” Nick asked.

“Can I ask what it’s about?” asked the woman.

Nick gave up, shook his head, and started heading up the stairs. He didn’t need to deal with this woman. All he had to do was go search the nearby rooms and find Claudia as easily as that.

The count had given him his orders and they were more or less a free-reign when it came to security. Admittedly that wouldn’t really come into effect until they were on the road, but it was best to get all the expectations out in the open now.

“What-what are you doing?” asked the woman.

“Going to find Claudia, why?” Nick answered reaching the top of the stairs. Turning he began walking toward where the woman was. Moving back the way he assumed she’d come from he found a series of doors along a hallway.

“You can’t do that!” said the woman in a raised voice.

“I’m going to be responsible for Claudia’s security during the campaign. I’m going to talk to her now and find out the details,” said Nick, not stopping whatsoever. “Because that needs to get done sooner rather than later.”

The woman was behind him now and continued to squawk and yap at him. Nick just ignored her.

There wasn’t anything the little bird could do about him regarding this situation other than chirp at him. She was a non-issue to him right now.

“Over-estimating someone like that is a good way to get a knife in the back, Sire,” warned Lucian.

Realizing that he was right, Nick stopped in his tracked and met the woman’s eyes dead on.

She was attractive, a little older than him, perhaps Charles’ age, with pale blonde hair and green eyes. Her face had a small amount of freckles across the bridge of her nose and cheeks.

“I… I— that is… uhm,” she stammered, meeting Nick’s eyes.

“I really do just want to talk to her about security. I’ll be responsible for her life and well-being, as appointed by the count,” Nick said again. “You can lead me to her, or I can find her on my own. My name is Nickolas Dal, man-at-arms to the count.”

With several rapid blinks the woman opened her mouth, closed it, then nodded her head a little bit. As if she was accepting the situation.

“Just come with me. I’ll announce you,” murmured the woman. “Just… give her a chance to invite you in, alright? That would be respectful to her.”

“A fair request,” Lucian allowed.

That’s… a fair request,” Nick repeated back to the woman. “Thank you.”

Grinning, the attendant nodded her head again, though much more quickly and decisively this time. Waving a hand at him she scurried past him and down the hall.

Marching up to a door she opened, entered, and closed it behind herself.

Nick had followed her right up to it and stood just outside it.

“Miss Claudia, Master Dal, the man-at-arms we met earlier, has returned,” explained the woman. “Your father has assigned him as your head of security for the duration of the campaign. May I bring him over?”

“What? Are you seri-arghhhh, alright. Yes, please, thank you,” said Claudia. “Go retrieve him from the entry and bring him.”

Ha, oops.

Let’s… let’s be nice to the little chirping bird, though.

Taking several steps back, outside of view from anyone inside the room, Nick quietly waited.

The door opened, out came the attendant, and the door was quickly shut again. As if she were afraid Nick would rush in.

Spotting him standing somewhat removed, she gave him a smile and let out a held breath.

Lifting her hand she held it in front of her mouth, a single finger across her full lips. Standing there, Nick grinned at her and tilted his head to one side. Lifting and eybrow he folded his arms across his chest.

Putting her hands together in front of herself the woman was clearly asking him to just wait. As if she were going to fetch him and that he wasn’t right outside the door.

Standing there, the two stared at one another, letting time slip by.

“She’s rather lovely to look upon,” Lucian murmured. “Perchance we should see if she’d be willing to marry a man-at-arms? Most ladies in waiting to a count’s daughter would be of the lowest nobility at best, a raised commoner, child of a knight, or merchant, at worst.”

Maybe? Maybe not.

Dunno.

Unable to maintain his gaze, the woman dropped her eyes to his boots, staring at them as if they were more intersting than he was. Her hands were still held in front of herself, though now they were over her chest.

Judging that a minute had passed, Nick raised up his hand. He made a “carry on” gesture to the woman who looked up at him as soon as he started to move.

A grimace, then a nod of her head, and the woman turned and knocked on the door twice. Then she opened the door and entered.

“Miss Claudia, Master Dal, man-at-arms and head of your security during the campaign,” announced the woman.

Entering the room, Nick found it was a rather flowery and very pink decorated sitting room. There looked to be a tea-setting laid out as well.

“Afternoon, Miss Claudia,” Nick said and then looked around the room. Several women dressed similarly to Claudia and the little chirping bird were in the room. “I was hoping to discuss your security, expectations, and what we can do to keep you safe. The sooner we go through it, the better we both can prepare for everything.

“After all, war is the ultimate factor of chaos, and a plan never survives first contact with the enemy. We would do well to make plans, for when other plans fail.”

Smirking, Nick bowed his head fractionally to the young woman. She was watching him with a strange look at the moment.

“My father assigned you to… me?” asked Claudia.

“Indeed,” Nick confirmed.

“Not Charles?” Claudia pressed.

“I requested that he not do such a thing. Not unless he wanted Charles to be put into a barrel. I have no tolerance for the man and wouldn’t wish to be around him any longer than I’d have to,” confessed Nick. He didn’t care if Charles heard it later, either.

That man and Nick were already at odds and that wouldn’t be changing anytime soon.

“I see. Then… yes, let’s discuss my security,” murmured Claudia who then gestured at a very pink and frilly seat. “Would you join me?”

“I would, thank you,” said Nick who sat down without a care. He’d often sat on tree-stumps, dirt, and worse. A fluffy and comfortable pink nightmare wasn’t going to bother him. “Let’s start with your personal guards.”

Claudia nodded her head and gave him a polite and mask-like smile.

This is going to be a long and boring conversation I bet.