Chapter 104: Dwellings

It was a room filled with documents stacked up on one table. A single chair and the square window illuminated the documents. Near the chair, there were two candle stands. The gray stone walls with lines from the bricks and the curtains made the room cozy.

The Princess sat on the chair with her arms leaning on the table. She was writing on the documents while reading another one with her free hand. Oswin was called here a moment ago by one the guards and was told to hurry up. And now he finds himself standing near the door waiting.

Oswin didn’t dare to say anything first. He lost all the right to talk first and his failures unable him to muster any courage to spoke. He’s usually able to talk to anyone bluntly but when it comes to the princess. He's a mute.

“You can speak.”

The Princess said.

“May I know what you want your highness?”

She didn’t reply. Her pen was all he could hear as she writes on the document, her pen, dipping in and out of the ink bottle.

“I called you here.” she stopped midway, “to tell you that you are going to be going with Lady Sena.”

“May I ask why milady?”

“I need to borrow her two companions on an important mission. The details are rather secret and you do not have the right to know them.”

“I see.” Oswin bit his lip. “So why pick me, your highness. Isn’t there better knight’s out there?”

“Yes, there is.”

She stopped writing and intertwined her fingers together under her chin.

“There are much better Knight’s to give the lady. But you can handle it can’t you?”

“Yes milady, if it pleases you.”

“Good. Oswin, you broke your oath once. And you know that I have hatred for oath breakers and dishonorable men and women who do not take their word to heart. It may look like I am punishing you or even outright throwing you away. But I will say this Oswin. I want to believe that you can regain your honor.”

She leaned on her armchair.

“The day you came back from service under the sun’s crown and pardon gave me hope. The way you met missions with utmost yet skin to the teeth success gives me hope that you will continue to do so. Tell me, am I right to believe you can give me that hope Oswin?”

“Yes milady, I will strive hard to do so.”

“I believe you. But words are easily broken and actions are much appreciated Oswin. I cannot tell you why I am temporarily trading you with two of Lady Sena’s companion but I can say this. It will concern the whole continent and as assurance, I am letting you serve in the lady’ care.”

Oswin raises a brow before nodding.

“I understand milady. I shall do what I can to serve the Lady of Saclea as best as I can. When will the trade start milady?”

She leaned her elbows on the table.

“Two days from now the Lady and her Astra Knights will leave the fort and head back to the gray roads. As you have heard the gray roads has been experiencing resistance. The Elf’s are trying to take back the lines we pushed them while the Orc’s are sending their Pyromancers to deal with the Lady Asmara’s Orc slaying army. Lady Sena was reluctant to return to the capital but she did so out of goodwill for me. I could not speak the words that I wanted to convey through a letter due to how delicate the contents will be.”

The Princess fiddled with the feather of her pen as she continued.

“When she left the army she was facing has been partly subdued. Most of her bannermen are in the gray roads and even her escort is merely managed by Avilina Tulobis of House Tulobis. As anyone could guess the Lady of Tulobis is not that of a competent leader yet. Hence it would be best to have the lady return back to the front of the war.”

She took a breath. Oswin leaned on the walls with his arms crossed.

“The lady at first wanted to go back and was willing to have her companions borrowed—with their permission—but I refused out of courtesy. I insisted that she had someone to serve her while her companions are out on a mission. It would be unfair otherwise.”

Oswin nodded. A trade, it was logical.

“—So I told the lady that I shall have you as her guide, I told her you can be trusted at least—enough to do your duties. She has heard of you.”

“She did?”

Oswin got surprised.

“Yes—the levy turned knight—holder and wielder of a silver sword. A man who fights monsters with nothing but what he has. You are a famous among my peers simply because how you kill monsters without magic.”

“That’s not true milady,” Oswin confessed. “I merely just follow what everyone could. I mix potions and use the tools to meticulously prepare for everything.”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that you succeed in your task.”

Oswin lowered his head down. He never really did want to be known as a monster slayer. The only thing that he ever wanted was to serve the princess.

“So, in any case, the lady wants you on the front-lines. Not as her servant but as her hunter. She wants you to kill elves and their familiars.”

The princess said.

“Their Familiars and the elves themselves,” He jerked forward, “Milady, I am afraid that against the Elves I will not do good. They are quick with the land and most of my tactics are downright impossible to convey in an open field or a place where they can control the environment.”

“Then are you saying it is impossible? Will I have to break my oath with the Lady then?”

She said.

“That’s...” Oswin felt like he was stung. “No, I will do my best milady. I have fought the elves but what I worry the most is their familiars and the territory that I will be fighting.”

“No, that won’t be a problem,” said the Princess. “I will have someone provide you with a map and anything that you will need while you are there. Would that be enough?”

“That would be enough your highness.”

Oswin can only answer. The lady nodded her head.

“Good, then for now prepare. Have the treasurer give you the funds. Buy yourself equipment and whatever you need to succeed.”

“As you wish milady. It shall be done.”

Oswin bowed his head. He then left the room while gripping his fist tightly.