'If he would continue to stick with me, I'm afraid that danger will befall him...' Paul de Lapaille was someone who actively sought out exciting and dangerous adventures. He had even died because of a fatal and spectacular accident during one of his travels.
'Go out with a bang!' was his life's motto.
'That Arnold is quite the loyal friend... he didn't know me, I mean Roderick, for a long time and would still take risks to look after me... despite his cautious nature.' Paul thanked him in his heart and simultaneously wished him well. This would probably be the last time they saw each other.
His sweat mixed with the lake water as he raced to the exit of the forest. 'I should make it by noon.'
[...]
Roderick had reached Baron Olwin's smallest estate. This is where his youngest son, Sir Rennard Olwin, liked to waste away his days as pretended to be a king. Roderick knew that he'd probably be here at this time. 'He doesn't like to work in hot weather... I'd be surprised if he isn't here.'
He walked into the front yard and looked around, noticing the different stone buildings and guessing at their functions.
"Roderick..." An old domestic called him out while hiding behind a cart of hay. "What the hell are you doing here? That brat is in a foul mood!"
"Greetings and goodbyes, Melinda. I'm here to end my service to Sir Rennard." He replied.
Blood seemed to be drained from her face after she heard him. Unlike Arnold, she didn't recover from the shock in time to admonish him for his senseless audacity. He smiled boyishly and continued towards the main building.
As he approached the residence of Sir Rennard Olwin, sounds of someone making a ruckus became louder. Roderick, unfazed, continued towards the door and glanced at the two guards posted at each side.
'As a direct squire, my rank is technically higher than theirs.'
[Knock] [Knock] [Knock]
"Who the hell is there! Who the hell dares disturb me at this time!?" Sir Rennard's voice was almost unrecognizable.
'It's the first time I hear his angry voice...' Paul thought about how the least talented son of Baron Gart Olwin was the usually the submissive type. 'The only time he gets remotely vicious is when his comfortable lifestyle or standing is threatened.'
"It's Roderick, Sir Rennard. I just came by to say goodbye!" He replied... to Rennard's rhetorical questions.
A deafening silence fell.
The guards' eyes twitched towards Roderick as they unconsciously distanced themselves from him.
One could hear Rennard approaching the door.
...
[Step]
[Step]
...
[Step]
[Step]
...
He slowly opened the wooden door. As he stepped out, Roderick stepped back without averting his gaze.
Rennard's eyes were red with anger. He was gnashing his teeth, grabbed the hilt of his sword and appeared to want pierce Roderick with his intense gaze.
"You! You! It's all your fault! All I needed is for you not to come back!" He yelled. One could even hear him damaging his vocal chords.
"The places I sent you to, the things I asked." He breathed heavily. "Didn't you get it!?" He punched in the air. "I didn't want you to come back! I knew you were strong enough to survive but how can you be so dumb! You didn't get that I didn't want you in my service?! You're nothing more than trouble for me! Because of you..." His heaving intensified "My father..." His face reddened even more.
"I'm about to lose all of this!" He spread out his arms and looked over his domain. "You're nothing but a bastard! Why was I made to have you as a squire!?"
Rennard took a deep breath, looked straight at Roderick and lunged backwards. His head suddenly jerked forward and he spit towards his squire's head, which stood higher than his.
Roderick dodged the flying saliva. "I was hoping to grow on you, Sir Rennard. Alas, it seems some things aren't meant to be..." He shrugged with his palms open. "But I do come with good news." He started to turn away. "This is goodbye." He said and started walking away.
...
Rennard was beside himself. Powerlessness and helplessness had dampened his rage. But only for a moment.
"Seize him! Seize him!" He furor took over.
Guards repeated the orders as they circled Roderick. "Trap him! Seize him!"
'Come on! Didn't you want me gone? Would injuring a knight's guard even be seen as self-defence when I openly renounced the title of a squire in a Baron's territory?' Paul inferred.
'Probably not, better be careful...'
His clothes were almost dry now. Unfortunately, he had dropped his sword when dived into the lake.
He bent his knees and assumed a fighting pose.
'He doesn't want me dead? He did say I was the cause of his recent fury... yet he can't let me leave? Though he only wished for me to leave in the past... it has something to do with his father?' Paul rapidly tried to understand the situation.
The twenty guards who had encircled him slowly drew closer, sword and shield in hand. A few of them raced towards him without weapons.
'Very well, I'll let you have a taste of modern martial arts!'
Roderick willingly let himself be grabbed by the nearest guard. 'Eat my Osoto Gari¹'
...
[Bam!]
Everyone was stopped in their tracks. The door that Rennard had opened was forcefully shut, drawing everyone's attention.
A fleeting figure dressed in white swiftly closed the distance, put the Baron's son in an arm lock with one hand, forcing his face onto the ground.
"Aaaaaargh! Let me go!" Rennard screamed.
She held her free hand above him as a dagger seemed to appear out of her sleeve.
She cocked her head back and revealed her fair face, graced with light blue eyes and long straight pale blond hair.
No one could reconcile the image of such beauty with the fierceness she had demonstrated. Everyone, guards and serfs alike, silently awaited her word or action.
She looked at the group of the guard, lowered her dagger-holding-hand and coolly said.
"Release that Squire."