Ilihe following day, was surprisingly quiet for Peter and Ennalyssa both.Apparently, word had gotten around that not just the three that were sent after Peter, but his sparring parthe day before yesterday had all beeo. When fronted about it, Havengard naturally accused Peter of lying to sow dissension among the ranks of the Gaurd.His mistake was saying that loud enough while d’Zaier was walking up behind him and the Shepherd had a lengthy private versation with the Swordbearer behind closed doors after that.

  The day after that, Teoh’tes, was when things picked up agaier had figured that the quiet would not st very long aed himself for jinxing it.He was fronted by d’Zaier as he was making his way with Ennalyssa from the ‘VIP suite’ to the training ground.

  “Good Morn, Champion.” d’Zaier affected a calm, if not casual tone, as he approached the twardless Peter noticed that Ennalyssa put herself oer’s other side, keeping him between her and the Shepherd, “Chosen One.” “Shepherd d’Zaier.” Peter greeted, Ennalyssa gave a silent bow of her head to the older man before Peter tinued, “Is there something I help you with?” “Ah. No.” He said pinly, “Perhaps, though, there is something I assist you with.” “Oh?” Peter asked, genuinely surprised, “And what, might I politely ask, is that, Shepherd?” “I had been hearing uling rumors—” The elderly man started, “—that Swordbearer Havengard was unfairly targeting you and the Chosehat your… ‘training’… was nothing more than an attempt at him to get others to beat on you.” “It certainly felt that way on my end.” Peter said, holding up three fingers, “Three days of training, and the most I’ve gotten is punched on by a guy who couldn’t be vihat I didn’t know how to fight. The day I was attacked by my supposed training partner with a polearm while I was unarmed. Aerday…” “Yesterday you were teamed up on in a three-against-one ‘session’.” d’Zaier nodded, “Yes. I heard all of this from Swordbearer Havengard himself.” “To say nothing of his spreading rumors, if not ht lies to my supposed training partners saying that I said or did things I most assuredly did not do… not that any of them actually told me what it was they were acg me of.” The elder man nodded his head, “A sad state of affairs, by all ats.” He held up his hand, “While the training is supposed to be strid, perhaps, violent looking to an outsider such as yourself, we are training this young one for a very serious matter… as we’ve spoken of in the past.” He expined calmly, though he still looked down his Peter, “Havengard, unfortunately, has a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and a superiority plex stemming from the station of his family in society, and his station within his family.” “So training is supposed to be me, and her, being thrown into the deep end and trying to survive without any sort of training on basic self-defense like how to throunch, or kick, or basic swordpy… or even how to properly stretch so we don’t hurt ourselves while practig?” Peter tried diligently to keep the snark from his to he was sure that some got through as his hackles raised. “Not at all.” d’Zaier assured with a raising of a hand, “Strict, yes, but if what you say is true… which appears corroborated by your past partners, and a fession from Havengard himself… you and she have been done a great disservice by Havengard, and through his wrongful as, a great disservice by me.”

  Okay, who are you, and what have you doh the real d’Zaier?

  The old man pursed his lips as if he had sucked on a sour fruit or something before tinuing, “After a long talk with Havengard… and my fellow Shephard Vaunn, over s he had that were brought to him by his healers… I have takeo make sure your training—” He paused, and cast a g the young woman hiding behier, “And hers of course… are more appropriate for your skill levels, after we take into at the time wasted by Havengard’s pettiness.”

  Ahah. There it is. Vaunn had a hand in this, did he?

  “So, That will begin today.” He motioo the training yard, “Your partner for today will be waiting for you, Champion. As well as the girl’s.” With a dismissive wave of his haurned and walked away, “And Champion. Do be more careful iure in pig the fights you fight?”

  ?Go su egg…? Na’at muttered ier’s ‘ear’. I was w where you’d gotten off to.Na’at sighed, ?Well, I did promise to give you privacy, but I also had to handle some things on my end, as it were. Doesn’t mean I didn’t see what’s been happening. And I have feelings and words about it.? I’m sorry, Na’at… I should have kept my temper…She ughed, ?Oh, hun, not you. If you meaerday? Havengard set you up three-against-one and, act or not, he did boot Ennalyssa in the head. You had every right to get angry. Don’t let that voi the back of your head tell you that you’re lesser for ‘res to violence’ when you were defending a child who was, in turn, trying to defend you.?

  Peter walked in silence, holding Ennalyssa’s hand as they made their way to the training field, he sighed, rubbing his face with his free hand. “Peytr?” She looked up to him.He shook his head, “Nothing, Enna, just embarrassed about how I hahings yesterday.” He frowned, “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

  ?Oohh, I see now…? She grinned as Peter revealed his embarrassment, and the reason behind it.

  She squeezed his hand, even though her words spoke differently from her as, “You… You didn’t scare me. You were angry because they hurt me. You’re supposed to protect me so… it’s obvious that you got upset because you couldn’t.” She stammered, “I-I mean, what I mean is…” “You stood up to those three, to protect me.” Peter said, “Thank you, Ennalyssa.”She flushed, “You’d have dohe same… it’s only right. Otherwise, how I be the Divine Heroine… if I don’t… do that sort of thing.” “Mhh.” Peter just nodded, giving her hand a little squeeze, “You stood up for something that was unfair. That’s a good thing to do, Enna.” “Peytr… do you really think Shepherd d’Zaier… that he got people that will really train us?” She asked as she eyed the training field moving ever closer as they walked towards it, w at her bottom lip. “I don’t know. We only wait and see. Just remember my promise to you.”She nodded, squeezing his hand a little tighter.

  ====================

  ?I do want to say that I’m very impressed by that energy bde you summoned. Did Di’si’thy teach you that as well?? Na’at asked as Peter readied himself on his part of the training field. No, actually. That one was all me, apparently.He felt no other presence when he summohat sword — He just really wished he had kept Ennalyssa’s practice sword. ?That is iing. I know we made you capable of syng with all the different types of magic but I was certain you’d need instru… and you did want to learn on your own…? I did… maybe it was just a rea. Like blog or jumping when scared or whatever?Na’at made a curious, thoughtful sound, ?I have to admit it’d be iing to see what you do just by… doing that again. Calling up magic because you need or want something, without the ‘book learning’ part of it.? That’s not… dangerous? ?Everything is dangerous if you’re stupid about it… but you aren’t. You were going to turn down my boon because of what you had already gotten, remember? Greed makes people dumb when it es to magic. ‘Why do a small fire bst when I could take out all my enemies with one big fireball’; greedy, and so, stupid.? A fair point… ?And, going back to yesterday… I am proud of you fhting back like you did. Talking is good, you should always try to de-escate things; however, your back was against the wall in that situation and a message o be sent. Telling them they’d beeo, and showing where you draw the lianding up for Enna like you did… that made them question things. Literally… and Havengard got into trouble.? Did he really? Mh, maybe d’Zaier wasn’t lying through his ched teeth. ?Earlier? irely. Vauainly bent his ear, which is why he ying as nice as someone like him could py.? Let’s see how long it sts then. I feel like I’m scrambling and pying a game while only knowing half the rules — which I know, is my own doing. ?Don’t worry. You aren’t alone, hun, I’m with you. Oh, here es your partner for today.?

  Walking up to Peter was the young man named Broseff, carrying two staves. He nodded a greeting to Peter and offered one of the staves — Peter gave a nod iurn and took the proffered on. “Try not to break this one, eh?” He gave a lop-sided grin. “Heard about that, mh?”Broseff twirled the staff idly, stretg, “You bent a sword in on itself. Kind of hard not to hear about that.” He paused, “You should know… I’ve been hearing things…” “I’m sure you have.” Peter frowned, his grip tightening around the on he had been given, “Are you going to tell me what you heard, or just scream about ‘how dare’ I and attack me while saying I ‘know what’ I ‘did’?”This made Broseff pause, looking at Peter, “I heard that too.” He stepped closer, “You… really don’t know how to fight?” “Outside of ‘py fighting’ when I was a kid? Pretending to be a master warrior?” Peter asked, “No. Never learhankfully I never had to defend myself, I was a ‘goody-two-shoes’ and behaved myself, and avoided flict.” “And… what about what’s being said…” “All behind my back. I have no clue what’s been said. All my ‘training partners’ have just attacked me in their indignant hteous a what they heard or been told.” Peter jerked a thumb over his shoulder, “Hell, d’Zaier spoke to me before I arrived for practid admitted that Havengard has been screwing me over with training. Ennalyssa too.” “Speaking of her…” Broseff frowned, “What… is going on with her?” “… I’m going to ask for text. I have a feeling I’m not going to like it but… what’s being said about what I’m apparently doing to, or with, Ennalyssa?” “That you had… ulterior reasons fetting her, and Traya, into the visitor suite all alone.” Broseff said calmly.

  Peter’s eye twitched, “Are people saying I am… abusing them… somehow?” “ails. Just that you’re ‘abusing your privilege’ as a Champion.”Wood could be heard creaking under Peter’s grip as his knuckles turned white and through ched teeth he growled, “I see.” “I see.” Broseff nodded.Peter looked to him, “I have been here… three days? A little more because I still have no idea when I was summoned pared to the time of day.” He sighed, “So I uand that no one would believe me when I say that the rumoing around are patently false. All I’ve done is try to give her a better education, after dealing with that… woman… Reva.” He frowned, “And I didn’t ask to be put into the VIP suite, either. That was d’Zaier’s doing. I just brought up the fact that as her bodyguard I should be closer to her. At least know where her room is. For all I know that room they put me in was across the chur opposite sides from Ennalyssa’s room. How could I protect her if I got lost running to her aid?” “Put up your staff.” Broseff o the length of wood ier’s hands.Frowning he did so, taking as good a ready stance as he could. “Not bad.” He said, moving arouer and helping him adjust, “That’s better.” Broseff moved around back to face Peter, “We’re here to train, after all. Don’t want to attract the wrong sort of attention… well, any more than you already have.” He chuckled. Peter rolled his eyes at that, “Fair.”With a slow over-hand swipe Broseff ‘attacked’ Peter — He wao see eter’s instinct was and leasantly surprised to find it was a good instinct.

  The otherworlder brought up his staff to block, rolling Broseff’s attack to one side, then bringing up the lower end of his staff in an up-swing that Broseff blocked with the closer end of his own staff. “Good.” The guard nodded, “You may not have the formal training, but you at least have good instinct.” He stepped back, “Now, I want to see your attack. e at me slow, for now.” “…Alright…” Peter replied in a measured tone, uain of how or where this was going to go. Eying Broseff, who got into his own ready position, deg just how to advaer went for a sweeping attack to the guard’s side, which was blocked, and then shifted into an attack by bringing up the low end of the staff to attack Peter’s side — Peter twitched his staff so he could block that attack with the end. “Good. Okay.” Broseff nodded.

  He met Peter’s eyes before speaking again, “I believe you, because I believe Ennalyssa.” He attacked again, a owo attack with his staff, makier try and block quickly in succession. The cck-cck of the staves meeting made both men happy. “You seem to be close to her.” Peter attacked again.Broseff nodded, “I am. She’s like a little sister to me.” He admitted, blog aurning the attack.Peter’s staff met Broseff’s, parrying it to the side in a wide arc, “So… my ing in and ‘taking over’…” “I ’t lie.” Broseff admitted, shrugging, “I was more than a little annoyed since she seems to have taken to you quickly.” He attacked again, pushing against Peter, starting to move to his left. “I think it’s because I’m an outsider.” Peter mirrored the movement, starting to circle with Broseff, “I don’t have any preceived notions about her station as a Chosen One. So to me, she’s just… her. Good or ill, depending on her as.” “I believe that.” Broseff said, “But surely…” “My world has sort of moved beyond ‘chosen ones’ and anyone calling themselves the chosen of God is usually looked at like they’re … not well.” “I see.” Broseff nodded, attag again, a little faster this time.

  cck-cck-cck

  “I’m being ho here, Shieldbearer.” Peter recalled Broseff’s rank, “I only have Ennalyssa’s safety and well-being in mind.” “And Traya?” “Her’s too, naturally.” Peter nodded, blog an overhead strike from Broseff aurning with a thrust to his midse. “So you have no… designs… on her either.” aired with a side-step dodge from the guard. “Either?” Peter full-stopped, blinking, “No.” He admitted, “I’ve been a little too busy with the whole ‘living in a new world, bodyguard of a chosehing to have any sort of ‘designs’ on anyone.” “…” Broseff looked into Peter’s eyes, searg for something deep within, then nodded, “Alright.” “… I have a feeling that if I find out what, exactly, Havengard or whoever has been saying about me I’ll be rather upset.” “Any good man would, I imagine.” “Nrhghgh…” Peter grumbled, shuddering, “Let’s just… keep going.”Broseff nodded, “You probably have a lot of frustration to work out…”

  Peter’s staff cracked hard against Broseff’s, “Any good man would, I imagine.” He agreed with a frown.

  - Hours Later -

  The two young men sat on the grass uhe setting sun of Aetyros, resting against the staffs they had practiced with — surprisingly Peter’s had remained intact throughout it all. Broseff, drinking from a water-skin, looked up to Peter, “For what it’s worth, I am sorry you’re having to deal with… all of this.” He frowaking another drink before it, “Not just the past couple of days but everything you’ve had to gh.”Peter nodded a thanks as he took the water-skin and drank, though not as deeply as he might have wao — not wanting to be rude after all — and sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. “For what it’s worth… you seem to have a solid foundation of things.” Broseff took back the water-skin from Peter, “It’s just a matter of getting the instru and practice.” He offered the otherworlder a smile. “Thanks.” Peter gave genuine gratitude, running a hand through his hair and flig off the sweat before rubbing his hand against his pants. “You’re alser than you look, I think.” The guard ventured.Peter looked up at him quizzically. “Just something I noticed. You tend to hold back.” Broseff pointed out. “I… don’t want to hurt people.” Peter expined, “So, yeah, I tend to pull my punches, as it were.”Broseff nodded, “Which, if I may say, is a problem because you’re training to be a bodyguard. Yoing to have to fight.” “I know.” “And, in fighting, there’s always the possibility…” “I know.” Peter sighed, rubbing his temples, “It’s… not something I like to sciously think about but I know it’s a possibility.”Broseff nodded, “Sometimes when you’re proteg someone… you have no choice, even if you desperately searched for one.”

  That sounds like personal experieer nodded but said nothing, not wanting to push things with a person he barely knew.

  “Well, well.” Came a familiar voice.Peter looked over his shoulder and saw the approag figure of the half-demon Healer headed his way. She looked tired, mildly annoyed, and doh things — He could rete, all things sidered. “A day of training where you didn’t end up looking like a side of tenderized beef? “I’m as surprised as you.” Peter admitted.She o Broseff, speaking curtly, “You?” “In one piece, thankfully.” The guard saluted her with the water-skin and a warm smile. “Hmph.” Em’Emoa put a hand on her hip while she gripped her staff, addressier “You should know… Ennalyssa… is fioday.”When the Healer mentioned her name, both of the young me a pit in their stomachs but sighed in visible relief at the good news.She nodded over to where the young teen was finishing up her own training — her partner being the bald-headed chief shieldbearer that Peter had fought his first day of training. “…” Peter sat up a little straighter at that. “Rex.” Em’Emoa sighed, “He’s fine. He isn’t one of Havengard’s ckeys.”Peter grumbled, rexing, “Good to know.” “It’s tough.” Broseff nodded, “Not knowing who to trust.” “Not to mention having ‘being trusted’ underminded … undermound?” Peter sighed, “Undermined…” He muttered, “Undermound? Really?” rubbing his hand over his face, “The point is… I haven’t had the ce to show I’m trustworthy and Havengard has been actively screwing with that.”

  “Peytr!” Ennalyssa jogged over, waving, “Broseff!”Both of the youurned and smiled at Ennalyssa as she came up, “Training was good today.” “Good to hear. I hope the chief went easy on you.”She shook her head, “Nope. He really gave me a workout.”Peter looked at her — no limping, no bruises, nothing broken. It was hard to recile her saying she ‘wasn’t gone easy on’ with her generally upbeat attitude at the moment. “Did he, now?” Broseff askedShe nodded, “We did some warm-up exercises and then he had me doing endurance ps with a weighted pack for a while. I beat my old record!” “That’s good, Enna, I’m proud.” Broseff smiledEnnalyssa beamed, but stopped when she saw Peter’s face, “Peytr?” “Sorry. I’m just worn out.” He said, “I’m very gd you had a good practice today.” “I always do when I practice with him and Broseff. They may push me in practig but they never hurt me.” She rubbed at her arm, “Like… yesterday, and the day before.”Peter nodded, “If we make sure you get good partners like that more often, that would be awesome.” Ennalyssa nodded in agreement, “We should get going, though. Traya would want us to wash up before dinner.” “That’s true enough.” Peter groaned as he pushed himself off the ground, nodding to Broseff and Em’Emoa, “I’ll see you two ter then.” “If you like, I could talk to Shepherd Vaunn about better training partners.” Broseff suggested.Em’Emoa nodded, “Agreed.” “Maybe.” Peter sighed, “Shepherd d’Zaier mentioned something about taking steps in our training for more skill-appropriate partners.” He mused. Though I trust that about as far as I throw the old man… rude as that is to say… “e or.” Ennalyssa took his hand, “I ’t wait to see what Traya is making for dinner.”Peter smiled, nodding to the two as he ulled away, “Alright, alright…”

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