Chapter 24 : The Lady in Black

Chapter 24

The Lady in Black

Throbbing pain startled Lansius, and a groan escaped him before he knew it. The sensation quickly dragged his mind back to the present.

“Be quiet and stay still,” a woman’s voice commanded, a dagger held ready in one hand.

Recalling her attack, Lansius tried to scramble to his feet.

“Lans, stay still,” she repeated coldly, showing the dagger as warning.

But she hardly needed to threaten him with it. All at once, something clicked inside him. The way she said his name, her voice. He turned, expecting Stefi, but instead found a woman shrouded in a black veil.

She went on with tense voice, “We don’t have much time. I apologize for attacking you, but—”

“Show me your face,” Lansius demanded. He could not stop himself now. He knew he recognized the voice and was willing to risk the consequences.

The woman sighed sharply. Without a word, she lifted the black veil from her face, more akin to a wedding veil than a typical coif or headscarf.

Lansius beheld a complexion of unnatural paleness, a result of makeup, contrasted by two piercing brown eyes that seemed fierce enough to make children weep in fright. Meeting her gaze, his eyes reflexively widened, his muscles tensed, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. He could only stare at the face he yearned to see for so long.

“It’s me,” she said somberly. “But now, you shall address me as Audrey of Toruna.”

“But—”

She raised a finger to her lips, then demanded, “Answer me. Why are you here?”

Did she suspect me of betraying the Arvenians? Lansius wondered.

Still sitting on the floor, Lansius explained, “I was invited here.”

“Invited? Why?” she asked.

“I’m just as clueless as you, but I have the letter in my bag. That’ll prove my innocence.”

She slowly reached out to his bag, and rummaged through its contents, pulling out a letter. After reading it, she shook her head.

“Stefi, how did you end up here? I was—” He stopped.

The mention of the name seemed to trigger something within her.

“Don’t call me that,” she protested as if in agony.

Lansius approached her. “I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”

Audrey gritted her teeth, a sign that something was terribly wrong. Then, it dawned on him.

The veil . . . could it be concealing a head injury?

“Never mind me,” she said, clutching the dagger tightly. “What happened to the rest of the Arvenians?”

He suspected it could be post-traumatic stress. Lansius took a deep breath to compose himself, then using a gentler voice, he assured her, “You may not believe it, but Lord Arte is safe. He’s in Midlandia.”

“The young lord escaped Riverstead?” she asked. Though doubt still lingered, some of the suspicion had begun to fade from her voice.

Lansius nodded. “We rescued him from the slavers’ den.” He tried to sound cheerful to sell his story.

Audrey’s face betrayed the turmoil inside her.

“It’s me, you can trust me. Why do you look pained? Tell me where it hurts,” he said, concerned.

She shook her head, gradually regaining her composure, then slowly sheathed the dagger and tucked it away.

“If you're comfortable, tell me all your worries; let me help shoulder them,” he offered.

She looked at him, her lips forming a pout. “The Lansius I knew wasn’t this bold,” she remarked, her tone lighter.

“Things happened . . .” Lansius replied. Memories of the events that led him here flooded his mind, including the Amertume forest. Emboldened by these thoughts, he took her hand and said “Love, I have been looking for you. I’ve searched everywhere.” He paused.

His own words surprised him.

When . . .?

He hadn’t even realized it before, but the pain he’d felt when he couldn’t find her, the pain that drove him to drinking—now all of it suddenly made sense. He loved her. She was more than just a comrade to him.

Audrey stared at Lansius. Her gaze seemed more intense than before.

He looked away and felt Audrey move closer. She sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder and muttering, “I'm glad you're safe.”

“So am I,” he agreed, holding back tears of joy.

I thought I lost you . . .

The heavy lump in his heart, the one not even alcohol could manage to erase, was beginning to feel lighter.

For a moment, they sat in silence.

“Why didn’t you recognize me earlier? At supper?” he asked.

“Your appearance surprised me, but I tried not to show it.”

“Why?”

“Lans, we're not in Arvena anymore. It’s better not to let them know that we know each other.” She then added, “I don't know these guys. The last time I—” Pain flashed across her face.

“You don’t have to think about that.” Lansius was worried about her memory from the last war.

“I can’t recall much, it always gives me a headache. But I woke up here which I believe is far away from Riverstead. They treat me well. But they never explain anything to me.”

Lansius found it hard to believe but chose to reassure her gently. “You are you; nothing has changed.”

She looked at him with softer eyes and whispered, “You’re probably here because a Midlandian nobleman wants to use you.”

“Lord Stan wanted me?”

She shook her head. “He’s just another pawn. The mastermind is Lord Bengrieve . . .”

The name made Lansius’s heart skip a beat. “Why does he need me? For what?”

Audrey exhaled sharply. “How could I know that? I don’t even know their plans for me.”

Lansius scratched his head. “Could it be related to Sabina Rustica?” he ventured, more to himself.

“Sabina what?” She furrowed her brow. “I’m not familiar with Midlandia. I hope that’s not a brothel.”

“No, no, well . . . sort of,” Lansius admitted awkwardly.

Her sidelong glance held an intensity that made Lansius falter.

“Is it just me, or has that look in your eye grown fiercer?” he asked.

“The veil does also help with that,” she hinted cryptically.

“So, you have no idea why this powerful man wants me? I doubt he’s interested in a lowly clerk or squire like myself?”

Audrey pondered for a moment. “I’m not sure, but perhaps it has to do with your origin.”

“Origin...?”

She glanced at his hair, and Lansius instinctively realized she meant his black hair, the mark of a foreigner.

A foreigner, huh ? Indeed, having a foreigner could be useful if they need a scapegoat, especially one with clear, undeniable proof.

Lansius let out a long sigh. His black hair continued to become a blessing and a curse in one. Despite his newfound worries, he felt a burden had been lifted from his chest. “At least I found you. That’s what matters most.”

She pouted again and looked away, a response Lansius was all too familiar with.

“Why did you change your name?”

Audrey abruptly stood, masking her emotions as she moved to a seat across the room.

In that moment, a realization dawned upon Lansius. Despite her present state, Audrey had likely been a captive, possibly even sold into slavery. He once read that in the Imperium, the stain of slavery ran so deep that freed individuals would adopt new identities. The old name was seen as unlucky or even cursed.

He followed her, taking a seat opposite hers. He finally asked the question that had been gnawing at him. “What’s happened to you? That fine black gown, everyone referring to you as a lady, even the baronet calling you his sister . . . Did you marry someone?”

Audrey stared at him, disbelief etched across her face. “Why would anyone want a female squire with no lands or titles to her name?”

Lansius could only nod in understanding, choosing not to press her further, well aware of how stubborn she could become when pushed.

Over time, she slowly began to open up. “At first I thought they needed a female squire for some reason, but they haven’t assigned me to protect anyone.”

He pondered this, trying to determine whether the Midlandian nobles were allies or potential threats.

“We’re mere pawns in their grand game,” Audrey murmured with a grim acceptance.

“Let them try,” he retorted, his face stoic and his voice determined. “One way or another, I’ll find a way out.”

Her gaze held a glimmer of admiration. “To be the master of your fate is a dangerous idea . . . Remember the wine that soaked me earlier?”

Lansius’s eyes widened with sudden comprehension. “Magic?”

She nodded. “One of his retainers must be . . . Sir Stan is Lord Bengrieve’s most trusted henchman. Having a mage under him is not that far-fetched.”

The thrill from his close brush with magic still lingered, yet Lansius had something else on his mind. “What about us?” he dared to ask.

“Us . . .?” Audrey echoed with surprise.

“I’m now Squire to Lord Arte. Am I not good enough?” He tried a line he had picked up from traveling minstrels.

She blinked, clearly taken aback. “Lans, do you realize what you’re saying?”

Lansius could only offer a small smile. “My feelings are sincere.”

Audrey shook her head. “Why would you want me?” she muttered, more to herself than to him. “I am just a sword maiden. And a broken one at that.” She turned slightly, sweeping her hair aside to reveal a scar on her head.

Lansius felt a surge of emotions: anger at whomever had harmed her and an overwhelming urge to care for her.

She continued. “Sometimes, even in daylight, I feel as though I’m walking through a nightmare. I even assaulted you. I fear . . . I’m not the same person you knew . . .”

He took her hand and held it tight. “All the more reason for me to stand by you.”

Audrey broke a smile. “The hurried hare falls prey to the waiting hound,” she recited.

“What does that mean?” Lansius questioned, puzzled by her sudden adage.

“It’s what my master used to remind me,” she began, her voice dipped in nostalgia. “Haste leads to unpreparedness and danger.” She took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. “We need to focus on surviving now. Afterward, we can talk about us.”

Understanding dawned on Lansius, and he nodded, appreciating the pragmatism behind her words. “Promise?” He sought assurance, offering his hand.

Audrey took his hand, her grip firm and steadfast. “I’ll renew my oath to you. No matter the circumstances, I’ll protect you.”

Outside, the gentle whisper of the wind caressed the night, offering a deceptive tranquility in this idyllic, rustic corner of the world.

***

Lansius

The next day, a gentle breeze swept through the mansion’s private yard beside the garden. The morning sun was still mild, and the air carried a pleasant chill, making it a perfect time for training.

Inhaling deeply, Lansius filled his lungs with the earthy scent of the changing seasons. He drew his blunt training blade and lunged at the lady dressed in a black gambeson. She parried his thrust, but it lacked finesse, leaving her open for a follow-up attack.

However, she had already anticipated Lansius’s next move. Taking a step forward, she sidestepped his thrust, guiding his blade aside with her protected underarm. With a swift motion, she tapped the pommel of her sword against the left side of Lansius’s head.

“You’re dead,” Audrey said, her tone full of disappointment.

“It’s still too early,” Lansius said, offering an excuse.

Audrey sighed. “You went into battle with just this ?”

“I used a spear,” he countered.

“That’s no excuse. Again!”

Lansius retreated a step and raised his sword. He knew Audrey’s teaching style was brutal.

As he had feared, Audrey lunged forward with a thrust. Lansius moved his sword to parry, but as their swords connected, the lack of force behind her blade signaled that it was a feint.

Oh, crap!

He instinctively raised his left arm to shield his head and took a step back. His guess was correct: his wrist took the brunt of a blow from her left fist.

“Ha! Guessed it right!” he proclaimed, only to feel something poke his gambeson-protected stomach.

“You blocked a fist but missed the sword. Lans, you’re getting worse. You’re unfit to be a squire!” Audrey chastised.

The words were a blow to his ego. He offered a faint smile but gripped his training sword’s hilt more tightly.

“That’s more like it. I see anger in your eyes. You said you wanted to protect me? Back up your words with steel,” Audrey taunted.

Lansius grinned and sidestepped to the right. Audrey adjusted her position accordingly. They moved almost as if they were dancing in a circle.

There!

Lansius noticed exactly where the sunlight was hitting the stone floor most intensely, and he lured Audrey into that spot. The moment she blinked against the sun’s glare, Lansius quickly advanced forward.

Audrey heard his rapid footsteps and took several steps back. Once her eyes adjusted, she saw that Lansius had closed the distance and launched a horizontal cut, which she blocked.

A metallic clang filled the air as their swords met. A faint smile graced her lips. “That’s more like it.”

Suddenly, she turned the clash into a grapple, and both of them went to half-swording as they fought to overpower each other. Lansius could tell Audrey was not using her full strength.

“Are you injured?” he asked mid-fight.

“I’ve been injured for weeks, maybe months. And they won’t let me train.”

“So this is your first training in months?” he asked in disbelief.

She flashed a grin. “Yep, and I intend to enjoy it to the fullest.”

Lansius swallowed nervously. In a deft move, Audrey shifted her weight backward, disrupting his footing and balance. As he struggled to regain his poise, her piercing gaze forced him to momentarily close his eyes.

SMACK!

Audrey laughed, withdrew her sword, and ran. She had just slapped Lansius.

Lansius froze, feeling a stinging sensation on his right cheek.

“Why did you do that?” he yelled.

Audrey, however, was laughing as if she were thoroughly enjoying herself. “I couldn’t help it. You were too close and too unguarded!”

“Come here,” he retorted, chasing her into the wooded area outside the garden where servants usually collected firewood.

...

Two figures observed the events in the garden through a window inside Toruna Mansion.

“Stan, are you sure it’s okay to let them roam free?” asked a female servant with long brown hair. Her tone lacked the usual deference.

“It may sound crazy, but I trust that man. He seems level-headed and reasonable,” replied the baronet, still clad in his flamboyant red silk robe.

“I hope so," she said. "I’ve put in a lot of effort to heal that woman. It would be a waste if she escaped."

Sir Stan chuckled. “You’ll be compensated either way.”

“Certainly,” she said without doubt. “I’m just curious about why Lord Bengrieve wanted to save her.”

“It’s best not to question our master’s motives,” Sir Stan said, smiling.

The servant nodded quickly. “Right. I trust that you have guardsmen on standby?”

“Of course, they’re keeping watch and have horses ready,” Sir Stan reassured her.

Moments passed before she ventured, “Stan.”

“Yes?”

“Can I stop doing this?" she asked. "I’m tired. I wish to return to my own life and live carefree.”

The man snorted, completely disregarding her pout. “Hannei, you’re too valuable to our master. Just be grateful he stopped pressuring us to marry.”

“Eugh,” she groaned and shuddered. “You should abandon your life of debauchery and marry someone more suitable. Just stay away from me.”

Stan grinned, flexing his toned arms and abs, which were fully visible as he wore his robe loosely. This annoyed the servant, who muttered something under her breath. Suddenly, a cold breeze blew toward the baronet.

“All right, all right, cut it out. You’re making me want to pee!” Stan barked, comically shielding his crotch with his hands.

The servant sighed at her friend’s antics, waved her hand dismissively, and left.

...

Lansius chased Audrey into the wooded area and found her out of breath. The long confinement had ruined her stamina. Still, she turned around with her sword drawn. However, Lansius dropped his blade and approached with open arms.

With a ragged breath, she looked at him and questioned his gesture. “What are you doing? We’re still training!”

“Hugs?” Lansius quipped.

“We don’t have that kind of relationship,” she retorted, her cheeks reddening slightly.

Lansius chuckled and dropped down onto the dew-wet grass, leaning against a tree. He unbuttoned the top part of his gambeson to cool off. “Ah, it feels nice to sit down like this.”

Audrey rolled her eyes but followed suit, sitting down in front of him. They sat in silence, catching their breath and listening to the rustling leaves and the gentle breeze. The ground was still cool from last night, while the sun was still far in the east.

Lansius noticed that Audrey’s mood had vastly improved since the day before; the suspicion and coldness were gone.

“Lans, I apologize for the slap,” Audrey began, interrupting the silence.

Lansius glanced at her. “Hey, it’s training. I bet you were aiming for another punch.”

Audrey pouted and crawled toward him. “You can slap me back if you want,” she offered.

She then closed her eyes, looking nervous as if waiting to be slapped, and it sent Lansius into a stifled laugh.

Hearing Lansius’s reaction, she opened her eyes and furrowed her brow.

“Not fair,” he complained. “How could I hurt someone I like?”

The atmosphere grew awkward as both averted their gaze. Lansius had spent the night reflecting on their situation, but he knew her oath to her master prevented any thoughts of marriage.

She exhaled deeply. “I also apologize for yesterday.”

Lansius caught her gaze and saw guilt written all over her face. “You were just confused by my sudden appearance. I get it. Apology accepted.”

Audrey sighed a breath of relief.

“Considering how things went yesterday, I’m surprised Sir Stan allowed us to spar so readily,” Lansius mused.

Audrey glanced around, ensuring no one was within earshot. “I’m not sure why, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to train. My arms feel sluggish.”

Lansius nodded. “How’s your injury?”

Her hand reached the top of her head and rubbed it. “Sometimes it feels itchy, but the headaches are just painful.”

“Isn’t there any medication?” Lansius asked.

“Sir Stan offered me some, but it dulls my senses. I’d rather not.”

The chirping of birds interrupted their conversation. “A love song,” commented Lansius.

“I didn’t know you speak bird,” Audrey quipped.

“Oh, I know many things,” Lansius shot back, making her laugh.

“We should get back to training before anyone becomes suspicious,” Audrey suggested as she stood up.

“Wait, tell me more about your name change first,” Lansius urged.

Audrey stiffened. “I told you about it already. What more do you need to know?”

Lansius also stood and said, “Easy, you only have to tell me if you want to. I’m not forcing you to do anything.”

She nodded once, so Lansius continued, “You explained briefly, but I’m a foreigner. I don’t fully understand.”

Audrey looked away and said, “Don’t call me by my old name. Anyone who falls into slavery is considered dead, and their name becomes cursed. So, if you survive you pick another name.”

Lansius sighed. He had liked that name and felt sentimental about it.

Audrey’s reaction was also a contrast to that of the slaves he had liberated in Sabina Rustica.

I guess there’s a different culture even inside the Imperium.

“You would do well to like my new name. None other than Lord Bengrieve gave it to me.”

“He did what?” Lansius was stunned.

Audrey shrugged. “I was told that’s the case. And then I was adopted into this baronet family. Can you believe it?”

Lansius shook his head. “Unbelievable,” he muttered.

Audrey shook her head and said, “They won’t give me a straight answer, so I’ll have to rely on you for that.”

Lansius picked up the training sword and swung it twice to shake off the dew. “What do they want from Arvenians like us?”

“Lans, we’re not even Arvenians. I’m born in Centuria, and you’re not even from the continent.”

***

A few weeks after Lansius and Audrey’s reunion, autumn reached Midlandia and brought a bountiful harvest. While its people gathered the fruits of their labor, other parts of the Imperium found themselves in the throes of a threatening famine.

The grave situation worsened with the intractable nomadic incursion in the west, escalating beastmen attacks in the south, and the northern provinces breaking away from the Imperium.

The Elven Calendar year of 4423 was shaping up to be the most challenging year the Imperium had faced since its inception. As for Lansius and Audrey, despite the joy of their reunion, they found themselves in a precarious situation.

“Lord Bengrieve wanted me because I’m a foreigner?” Lansius asked, having just been briefed.

“That much I can tell you,” Sir Stan replied. “But officially, it’s me who wanted you. Best not to mention our master’s name outside this chamber.”

Lansius pondered a little, while Sir Stan sat comfortably in his padded chair with a smug look on his face. The two of them were alone in the luxurious chamber.

“But why does my background matter so much?” he asked.

“This is only between you and me,” warned Sir Stan. “We’re going on a campaign.”

Lansius was intrigued. “To Arvena?”

“No, to the south.”

“South?” Lansius was surprised.

“We need to secure our rear before heading north," Sir Stan explained.

Lansius nodded slowly. He didn’t know much about the political situation in the region.

“I’ll have someone brief you about the south, but in the meantime, you need to study and train.”

“Will I be involved in battles?”

The owner of the manor chuckled. “Lansius, you’re a squire under me. Act like one.”

Lansius straightened his back. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Since your lord has temporarily transferred you to my house, I’ll start paying you. There will be a bonus for confidentiality.”

Lansius wasn’t surprised. Lord Arte really needed to curry favor with Midlandia, and lending him out wasn’t a big deal. Then, recalling Audrey, he decided to risk a question. “What about Lady Audrey? Why was she adopted?”

Sir Stan grinned. “For that, you’ll have to ask Master Bengrieve. I’m sure he’ll summon you next season or so. But . . . it’s better not to inquire about Lady Audrey.”

Lansius furrowed his brow.

“You can ask, but he’ll likely give you a false answer. So, a piece of advice, squire: learn to live with mysteries.”

For Lansius, the warning only made one thing clearer. Whatever future awaited him and Audrey, powerful hands were already shaping it, for greatness or for ruin.

***

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