Beniter stood at attention next to Gareth and Reed. Gareth looked incredibly happy, engulfed in some kind of glowing halo aura, while Reed was sweating like rain.
Felux stood in front of them, ready to instruct them in the most intensive training they would ever receive. It was normal by now for Beniter, but the other two boys were in for a real surprise.
Felux said, "If you're to fight in the tourni, you're to use real swords."
Reed was the only one to notice how Felux had adopted some of the Ragdorian accent, using 'you're' instead of the CPG 'yer'. It only made him that much more intimidating.
Gareth was busy focusing on Felux's reputation. He remembered the countless stories he'd heard of Felux's exploits. Now here he was. THE Felux Lothar! In person. And Gareth was being trained by him. It was too much to handle.
For Beniter, he was excited to get to train with friends around his age, instead of the experienced Arquix Knights.
Felux handed the boys swords and said, "You three against me."
Felux took his stance and said, "Let's begin."
The boys charged.
༻✧༺
Finklehead, Tilda, Marley and Cosaria were sitting down for tea. Tilda had been able to tell that Cosaria was feeling homesick so she put together a traditional Ragdorian tea party, complete with fancy cakes and homebrewed tea.
Sitting down at the table with the noble ladies, Tilda asked, "How have each of you enjoyed the CPG so far?"
Marley said, "You know, there's a lot that I like, but, oh man, it's definitely not like home."
Cosaria said, "No, it certainly isn't."
Finklehead said, "I think I quite enjoy that fact since coming here actually. There seems to be more… I don't know. People seem to have their priorities more clearly defined than in Ragdor."
Tilda said, "I'd say that's true. It's been fun watching you, Lady Finklehead."
"Me?"
Tilda said, "You've changed since coming to the CPG. I remember my impression of you as being so stoic. Now you seem to be so expressive."
Finklehead said, "I suppose that's true."
Tilda said, "I like this much better."
Finklehead smiled a real smile. Tilda was so observant and the more Finklehead got to know the maid, the more her admiration for her grew.
Finklehead said, "Yes, the CPG has taught me to express myself more. It's helped in negotiations; What with how Centralists value authenticity and all. Overall, it's been… a new type of experience, and I owe you a debt of gratitude for it."
Tilda said, "I'd love to take the credit, but I wasn't the one who made it happen. You did."
Finklehead smiled. Again, such modest observant praise from the commoner Tilda. Somehow, that made it mean more.
Cosaria said, "Tilda is amazing, isn't she? How nice it is that Tilda was able to arrange for us to have tea. And Lady Finklehead, I'm so glad you could join us. Having everyone here makes it feel like home."
Tilda began to pour more tea into Cosaria's empty glass as Cosaria said, "Thank you."
Tilda then moved to pour tea into Finklehead's cup.
Finklehead said, "Allow me, please."
Tilda gave Finklehead the kettle and Finklehead poured her own tea. Finklehead wanted to show Tilda that in the CPG at least, she was considered an equal.
Cosaria stared into her cup. Finally, she said, "I do miss home. I hope Delrik sends word soon."
Marley said, "I'm sure he will."
Tilda asked, "Have you enjoyed your time, Lady Cosaria?"
"Very much so. It's so different than what I thought it would be like." Cosaria sighed, then said, "Tilda, do you remember when you told me to grow a spine."
"Pfft," Finklehead said.
Tilda said, "My Lady, about that-"
Cosaria continued, "I think you were right and I think being here is the perfect opportunity for me to learn how to, as you said, grow a spine."
"Huh." Tilda was caught off guard by this sudden self-awareness from Cosaria.
Cosaria said, "I promise, that from here out, I'll be brave like all of you."
With an untraceable speck of doubt, Finklehead said, "I wish you good luck in your pursuit."
While Marley glared at Finklehead suspiciously, Cosaria said, "Thank you, Lady Finklehead."
A knock at the door interrupted their party as Ofelia entered.
Ofelia said, "The dresses have arrived if ye'd like to try on some traditional wear."
Ofelia had ordered special outfits for each of the women and was anxious to know if they fit.
Tilda said, "I'd love to! But-" She glanced at the tea table. They were in the middle of a tea party. She couldn't leave now.
Cosaria asked Ofelia, "Would you like to join us for a cup of tea first?"
Ofelia said, "Naw, I'm not a fan of that flavored water yer Ragdorians obsess about."
Cosaria said, "Oh…"
Reading Cosaria's forlorn face, Ofelia said, "Not that it's not good. Just not my taste."
Cosaria said, "That's alright. We'd love to go with you, Lady Ofelia."
Tilda said, "Just a sec. I've got to clear the table first."
Marley said, "I can do it."
Surprised, Tilda said, "You would?" She wasn't used to nobles stepping in to help.
"Oh yeah."
"Thanks!"
Cosaria and Tilda followed Ofelia out the door as Marley began to gather the cups. Finklehead had stayed in the room. Watching Marley, Finklehead scoffed.
Finally, Marley had had enough. She turned to face Finklehead as she said, "What's your problem?"
Finklehead said, "I'm glad they chose you instead of me to be Lady Cosaria's personal lady-in-waiting."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I could never resign myself to serving such low intelligence. But, I suppose the strand of intelligence isn't much greater in you."
"Excuse you! Are you calling me stupid?"
"Oh, you seem to have figured it out."
Marley slammed the dishes down as she said, "Alright, sure. I'm not very smart and I can't finish first on a numbers test and it takes me a long time to learn things but at least I know how to treat others with respect."
"I give respect where respect is earned."
"Sure, say that from your high and mighty position all you like, but you haven't earned any respect yourself. So that makes you a hypocrite."
Finklehead's jaw dropped. She said, "How could you talk to me like that? I'm a member of the Ragdorian delegation."
"No, we're Jack Tamson's bairns and that means we're all equal. But you go around acting like you're all high and mighty, just like what all the rest of the nobles back at home do. You think Centralists are so much better, when you're just a Ragdorian, playing a Ragdorian's game, with Centralist rules."
In a mad fury, Finklehead charged at Marley. The table, plates and cups crashed to the ground, splintering into pieces.
From the hallway, Ofelia, Cosaria, and Tilda stopped walking at the sound of the crashing dishes.
Tilda said, "I'll figure out what's going on," As she raced back to the living room.
Tilda barged into the room, yelling, "What is going on in here!?!"
The girls stopped fighting as Marley sat on top of Finklehead, biting her arm, while Finklehead held a cluster of Marley's hair in her hand.
This was unacceptable.
In less than a minute, Tilda had the two girls sitting next to each other on the couch. She stood over them with arms folded.
Marley said, "She started it."
With arms folded, Finklehead looked in the other direction.
Tilda said, "I don't care who started it. Let's figure out why it happened in the first place. Both of you will get a turn to tell your side of the story. Marley, you go first."
Marley said, "Well, for as far as I can tell, Finklehead has been downgrading, belittling and outright insulting me and Lady Cosaria the entire time we've been here. You know, honestly, I think she's just jealous. When I told her she was being all high horse, because she has been, she got mad and attacked me."
Tilda said, "Finklehead."
Finklehead frowned.
"Finklehead, it's your turn."
Finklehead's perfect posture dropped as she said, "She's right."
"What?" Marley said.
Finklehead said, "I'll only admit to this once, so listen carefully. I come from a proud family. I have expectations to uphold. I have a lineage to carry with me. And I wasn't chosen to be Lady Cosaria's lady-in-waiting. I was hurt and jealous. Then you all come here and you all fit in so easily. I'm not an open person like you all are. The Centralists are all so expressive. They say what is on their mind, and stand up for what they believe in. Here I am, hardly knowing how to express myself, when there is Lady Marley over there, making it look so easy! It's not fair! It's… not fair…"
Marley's jaw dropped.
Finklehead continued, "I've worked so hard to gain their trust and respect and you don't even have to work at it. They just see how genuine you are and they trust you. You're a better lady-in-waiting. You'd be a better Ragdorian delegate. I don't know if I'm really cut out to be a part of this delegation."
Compassion and resonating sympathy completely wiped away the anger and hurt Marley had been feeling. With empathy in her comforting voice, Marley said, "There's no way. You were made to be here. Look at how fast you've learned everything. You are so much smarter than I am."
"Lady Marley is right," Tilda said, "Maybe you don't see it, but you've earned your way here Lady Finklehead. I've heard them talk about you and they recognize how smart and capable you are. They value that. I value that."
Finklehead looked up, saying, "Really?" The stoic young woman had tears in her eyes.
Tilda nodded.
Marley leaned over and hugged Finklehead.
Finklehead said, "I'm sorry."
Squeezing tight, Marley said, "It's okay. We all hurt sometimes."
Finklehead wiped her nose, saying, "You're a much better person than I am."
Marley said, "You'll get there. And you know, I have a lot of expectations from my family too. We're just alike."
"Really?"
Tilda watched as the two girls connected over their similar familial situations. She thought, Seems they've got it handled. I guess I'll leave these two to themselves then.
Soon after, Tilda left the room.
༻✧༺
In the training yard, Felux dodged a slicing sword and punched Gareth down. As he blocked a new blow, he closed in on his opponent, Beniter, and threw him over his shoulder. Then Felux turned, slicing Reed's swords out of his hand and into the air. The impact threw Reed onto the ground, with Felux holding his sword directly in front of Reed's face. Reed dared not take a beath, frozen in place.
Felux said, "Good."
The sparring session had gone better than Felux expected as the sweaty exhausted boys tried to catch their breath.
Putting his sword down, Felux said, "You've got thirty minutes, get food. We'll resume trainin when you're back."
The boys dragged themselves away, eager to get away from their tormentor.
Once out of earshot, Gareth said, "I feel like a haw gaw."
Reed said, "Why'd I ever agree to trainin with ye lot."
Beniter said, "Isn't this how training normally goes for you?"
Reed said, "Naw, we've nothin so fierce as that. He dinna hold back a bit."
"Not usually," Beniter said, scratching his head. He found it strange that Gareth and Reed considered this training 'intense.' It was just another normal day for Beniter.
Felux smiled. The boys were coming along nicely. Sure, he was being hard on the boys, but he had to. He needed them to be at their best, and the harder they trained, the better they would be on the battlefield.