Note: this is dedicated to my best friend, who I hope had a fantastic 24th birthday. Youngin'. This piece is related to a couple who came before it (Heavy and Brilliance), but hopefully it will manage to stand on it's own okay.

There it goes, I think to myself as Ivnit's shield goes flying from her arm. We've been sparring for the last half hour, and I've finally gotten bored enough to push for the end.

Talking a step back, Ivnit drops her short sword and pulls out her preferred weapon. "Did you hear? There's a courier from the Archbishop!" Ivnit punctuates this latest gossip with a mighty swing of her warhammer. I manage to dodge most of the impact, deflecting it off the side of my armour, but it still knocks me back a few steps. Grateful for the brief reprieve – not that I would ever admit it – I take a moment to catch my breath before resuming the attack.

"How do you know he came from the Archbishop? Was it a Tiefling?"

Ivnit snorts at me. "No. I saw his horse, and the livery on the horse. Do you honestly think a Knight would have nothing better to do than deliver messages? Politics are part of our lessons, Ailith, you should know better than that."

I roll my eyes and feint a low swing before replying. The dwarf moves to block leaving herself open for my intended target – the elbow joint in the armour on her weapon-arm. With enough force my greatsword can be a decent blunt instrument, and I see Invit's grip falter. If we weren't simply sparring I could end her now. Instead I simply back up and grin.

"Kord isn't concerned with politics, I don't see why his paladins should be."

Ivnit mutters for a while in dwarfish. "How do you expect to know who is a worthy opponent if you don't know the background of a situation?"

"By the strength of their arm, of course," Morgan, the novice-master and my mentor, answers for me. "Ailith is quite right. As useful as it may be to be aware of the politics and beliefs of a region or people, it certainly needn't concern you when facing an opponent."

Ivnit sighs and gives me a strange look. "Yes, sir. Of course."

Eyeing Ivnit carefully to make sure she isn't planning to attack again, I turn to face my mentor.

"We have a message, I hear?"

Morgan gives me a stern look, he doesn't appreciate it when I tease the other novices. By turning my back I've demonstrated that I don't consider Ivnit a threat.

Well, I don't.

I am the most talented novice here. This is not ego, only simple fact. We are taught to evaluate the strength and capability of those around us as a matter of course, and there are no novices here who could best me. Few teachers, were it to come to that.

Then again, I doubt I could last long against Morgan. So perhaps a bit of deference is due.

I lower my eyes and move aside slightly, opening my position so Ivnit is no longer physically excluded from the conversation. She steps forward in response and I can see Morgan's lips twitch towards a smile. There. I can be diplomatic if I wish.

"Ivnit spotted the courier's horse. Is there news about the war? We haven't heard of any movement in a while."

Morgan shakes his head. "Nothing dramatic. A new batalliion of Knights has been sent to the front, but I doubt we'll be hearing anything soon."

"So why is he here?" Ivnit's voice is abrupt. Not a surprise, the dwarves sided with the Dragonborn Empire long ago. I've often wondered how Ivnit came to be training here, but I never dared ask.

Morgan hesitates and glances at me before answering. "There is a task that the archbishop needs completed. He has asked that I send one of my novices to assist with it, in lieu of their confirmation quest."

A shock of excitement runs through me, and I can see Ivnit's stance shift slightly. "Only one novice?"

Morgan inclines his head.

"Have you made your decision yet?" I try to keep my voice steady, but I doubt I've fooled anyone. Ten years I've been in this training house. Ten years I've been preparing for my confirmation, to be welcomed as a full paladin and begin my life serving Kord. Ivnit has been here just as long, I suppose, but ten years is a lot longer in the life of a half-elf than the life of a dwarf.

Not to mention, I'm better than she is.

Morgan observes us for a moment. "I would like for you both to hear what the messenger has to say. One of you may not wish to alter the traditional confirmation."

Ivnit and I look at each other. Vulnerable points, potential attacks, and likely counters run through my mind, as I know they do hers.

Her gaze drops, and the moment is broken. "Yes, sir."

***

I wake at dawn, as always. After completing my sword exercises I dress in full armour and swing my pack onto my back.

The fight was just as easy as I expected.

None of the other novices are awake yet, dawn has always been my time. I'm not surprised to find Morgan waiting for my in the courtyard, but I am pleased.

He watches me silently as I approach, his face carefully blank. I stop a few steps away from him and rest my hand on the pommel of my sword. "You had already made your decision."

He shrugs slightly. "Archbishop Bergen asked for my best."

I smile. "You had already made your decision."

"Serve Kord well, Ailith. This quest is more important than you can know. Our Kingdom depends on it."

I nod, and stand straighter. "Yes, sir." Morgan inclines his head, and steps aside for me to walk past him. I observe him for a moment longer, waiting.

Eventually he sighs and rolls his eyes. "I had already made my decision."

I grin. "I won't let you down."

Walking out of the courtyard, I smile to myself. Finally finished with training. There it goes…

Tags: brigits_flame, d&d, writing
Current Location: home
Shadow: typing
Noise: Fight the Good Fight - Triumph