Roderick kept silent as he looked at her. 'She wants me to find a witch, huh?'
"You've probably guessed that I was one as well..." Aoife continued to walk around him.
"Why would you assume that I guessed that?"
"I assumed..." She stopped her steps, "that you were smart enough to know that there's not many who could barge into a noble's domain unnoticed and transport a grown man miles away in but a few moments..."
"Haha... yeah..." He nodded and forced an awkward smile.
She again circled around him. "I have been following and examining you for a while, thinking you might make a good candidate..."
"A candidate for what exactly?"
Aoife stopped pacing around and faced him.
"You know that some witches work with and for humans, or have humans work for them... I need..."
"A human employee?" Roderick was visibly intrigued, the thought of working for Aoife made him smirk. Aoife noticed it but continued on, "yes... though I'm not one of those witches who wish to operate in the open..."
"Why not?"
"Too restricting, if I did, I would have no choice but to join a faction."
"And... that's not good?" He scratched the side of his face.
She shook her and slightly smiled. "Lone wolves of witches can't survive unless they stay out of the public eye."
Roderick grabbed his throat. "And you'll execute me if I don't comply?"
"No..." She again shook her head.
"Knock me out again and abandon me somewhere?"
She frowned and said, "if you force my hand."
Roderick gulped.
She took a few steps in his direction. "I just wanted to test you, and I do apologize for my forceful methods but at least they were effective... you're alive, aren't you?" He nodded.
"You've already done me a great favour by retrieving these ancient pearls... you're free to go if you're not interested..."
"It sounds dangerous..." Roderick looked around.
"It will be..." Her posture softened as she put her hands behind her back. She looked at Roderick and remained silent.
He puffed his chest and slammed his fists together. "Okay, I'll do it."
"You... what?" Her eyes widened and her mouth slightly dropped.
Roderick put his closed fists on his hips and replied, "I was risking my life as a squire for nothing, might as well risk it for something! What do you need me to do?"
'This smells of adventures!' Paul thought.
It took a few moments for Aoife to realize her mouth was still open. "Uh..." She put her hair over her right shoulder and turned away. "First... uhum, let's talk conditions..."
"Right, let us..." He put up his thumbs.
"What are they?", she asked.
"Mine? Let's see... what are you offering?" Roderick laughed while scratching his head.
Aoife shook her head. A subtle smile then suddenly appeared on her face. "First, I'll give you the same amount you gave your friend as a parting gift, maybe more..."
"You were there?"
"I did say I was examining you..."
"Right... wait... how are you this rich?"
"None of your concern." She threw a pouch towards him. Roderick caught it, examined it and found ten Gold Royals.
'If this is the pre-payment, this most certainly is going to be dangerous!'
"Alright! Alright! Your word is my command lady Aoife." He kneeled, taking the witch by surprise.
"I, Roderick Green, bastard of the Kingdom of Dawn, vow before the gods, beneath and to the heavens that I am willing and ready, to pledge my life to thee. To ensure thy safety and wellbeing I would forsake my own. I vow to defend thee, to protect thy dignity, honour thee and follow thy command, until my dying breath." He placed his right hand on his heart, closed his eyes and looked downwards.
Aoife was frozen, her breathing became rapid and shallow. "Stand up! What are you doing!?" She turned her back towards him.
"You need to know that you can trust me... you most likely saved my life and... I have always aspired to become the knight of someone worth protecting. My instincts tell me that you are such a person. Swearing an oath was the right thing to do."
'And I love following my hunches! Gambling on people and events, that's my rush! And you're an actual, powerful witch! How cool is that!? And a looker at that! This will be a great second life, hahaha!'
"Uhm...what?" She forced a few coughs.
'What?' Paul was confused but kept his composure.
"Okay..." Aoife hesitantly turned towards him again. "Keep your eyes closed!" The pitch of her voice was audibly higher than before.
"I am only to open them after you've knighted me."
"What am I to do now?" She asked.
"You can tap my right shoulder, then left, then right again with your hand, since we don't have a sword." Roderick
"Actually, I do... but are... you sure this is..." She had started to stutter.
'Her voice has become quite uncertain. Did I overdo it?' Paul thought.
"No you didn't, I'm just..."
"What the ..." Roderick kept his eyes closed despite his great shock, showcasing his knightly discipline.
"You can read minds?!" He asked.
"Sorry... I barely do it... it's only when it's necessary or when I'm flustered, I instinctively..."
'Oh, Lord..'
"Anyways, I'll... proceed..."
Aoife materialized a sword with which she tapped his shoulders. "I... Aoife Meahy, accept your service. Serve me well, uhm, Sir Roderick..."
He opened his eyes and saw a disarming expression on her face, her cheeks had become rosy and her eyes had a warmth and innocence about them.
Roderick couldn't stop looking up at her, he speechless and transfixed.
She turned away once more. "That should do it... I'll... I need you to go to the Kingdom of Greycastle, I've heard rumours about a witch with powers of deception hiding in Clearwater Port."
Roderick stood up after realizing he had been staring at her for too long.
"That's all you know?" He asked. His tone was serious. 'She's my boss now, I need to remain focused on the task at hand.'
"Well, yes... uhm, she's being targeted by a few factions, both humans and witches... that's all I know. I advise you to enlist some men while you search for her, get yourself the necessary equipment, horses and so on. It will be dangerous and difficult, you may have to face powerful factions as well..."
"Wait... how can I possibly succeed? Don't you have a better candidate? I'm a bastard, these things would necessitate status and connections because I don't intend to use dark methods... I just can't..."
"Don't worry, I know. That's why I chose you as well... this year..."
"Yes?" He instinctively got closer to her to hear her out.
"There is a tournament there."
"And?" He asked.
"The winner gets to marry the Earl's daughter..."
Roderick shouted, "what now!?"