Chapter 31 (1/2)
Chapter 31. Nigel Viscounty
TL: Warriormonk
Editor: Isleidir
The carriage was loaded with corpses and the wounded before they started on the road.
The remaining knights surrounded the carriage on horseback. Luke and Kurotan followed from the back on the horses that they had received from Angela.
”Hey, Kurotan.”
”What is it?”
”Were you hiding your skills up to now? Or have you just become that much stronger through the tribal tradition?”
Luke had honestly been surprised at Kurotan's prowess. The knights they had faced were all veterans of battle, and all had a minimum of ten years of training in the sword.
On top of that, they had been equipped with st.u.r.dy armor and a helmet. Kurotan, however, had taken them out like swatting flies.
Kurotan snorted at Luke's questions.
”That's easy. Real battle is unlike the child's play that was the martial tournament…”
”Child's play?”
”What is child's play if not that? You hold weapons, yet do not use them to kill your opponents. Surrender? Ha!”
”Well, I suppose that makes sense from an orc's perspective. Either way…”
Luke smiled and patted Kurotan on the shoulder.
”I feel relieved, having seen your prowess in a true battle. You are reliable.”
”If you think that I will go easier on you during the next tribal ritual, you are mistaken.”
A vein began to pop out of Luke's forehead.
”What are yo-, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d”
”You should prepare at least ten mid-level healing potions for the next tribal ritual.”
”All right. All right!”
They were able to reach enter the castle of Nigel Viscounty after two days of travel. Because they had sent a knight ahead of them, the lord of Nigel Viscounty himself was the one to greet the party.
”Father, I have returned.”
”Ah, Angela! It is good to see that you are safe.”
Viscount Nigel expressed his thanks to Luke unabashedly.
”I give you my thanks for rescuing my daughter and knights.”
”No need, my lord… We were just pa.s.sing by when we decided to help.”
”I have prepared a feast, let us talk more inside.”
”Well, then. I will be in your care.”
Luke and Kurotan were able to take baths while being waited on by maidservants, before changing into brand new clothes. A blacksmith even stopped by to take their measurements for the armor.
”I will be making your armors as half plates, seeing that you are traveling and training.”
”That would be ideal, thank you.”
”The lord has told me to take special care on this.”
Luke and Kurotan finished cleaning up after themselves before heading towards to the feast hall. A feast large and sumptuous enough to bend the table's legs awaited them. Kurotan was already sniffing wildly.
”Welcome.”
The lord and his kin were already there, smiling in welcome. Angela sat beside her father in a beautiful dress.
”Thank you for such a warm welcome, my lord.”
”It's not much, but please enjoy the feast.”
”Gladly, my lord.”
Kurotan began throwing food into his mouth as soon as the meal began, but no one commented on the lack of manners.
It was most likely due to the strength and skill that Kurotan had displayed in dispatching two knights of Tarpan Barony and crippling one.
”He is of a common background, hence the lack of etiquette. I humbly request your understanding.”
”It's quite all right, do not worry.”
After a while, Viscount Nigel began to start a conversation.
”I heard from Angela that you are in the midst of training, sir knight?”
”Yes, my lord. I am traveling the continent in order to polish myself further.”
”You were knighted in the Hansel Kingdom, correct?”
”Yes, my lord.”
Viscount Nigel sighed in disappointment. Going by what he had heard from Angela, Luke was more than skilled enough to represent their fiefdom in the knight's compet.i.tion. Unfortunately, a foreign country's knights, Hansel Kingdom's in particular, would cause trouble.
Luke carefully looked into the Viscount's eyes before asking.
”Is there something that worries you?”
”It's nothing worth your worry, sir knight, do not fret.”
Right then, Angela burst into the conversation. She was feeling desperate after having failed to enlist Knight Cooper from the Jabel Earldom.
”The truth is…”
Luke nodded after Angela explained the situation. He knew that the most common way to settle disputes between n.o.bles was through a knight's compet.i.tion.
”So that was what was bothering you…”
”Would it be possible that you would represent our fiefdom in the compet.i.tion? My father would knight you temporarily…”
Viscount Nigel smiled bitterly as he berated his daughter.
”Angela, do not dump our troubles on the knight who saved you and our knights' lives.”
”But, father…”
Luke nodded after watching the exchange between the two.
”It seems that it's only possible for knights of the Sith Empire to enter the knight's compet.i.tion.”
Viscount Nigel flinched as Luke went straight to the heart of the matter.