Chapter 22.1

Eirwen turned away from her weapon master, looking at the knights that had performed quite decently. "Well done, everyone. While you had little time to prepare for today's events, your training paid off. Though I still wish to see you climb to greater heights, this was already a great demonstration of what the future will hold."

They looked proud, as they should be. Not only did they act in sync during the techniques demonstration, the practice fights had shown this hadn't been just a showy performance. Most spectators should have understood the implications of so many different knights working together as one.

"Now then, speaking of training. Did any of you wish to spar with the weapon master, now that we have him geared up for you?" Not that his gear was any different than normally. Only Eirwen and Pertrellan actually wore combat gear right now.

He waved his hands in surrender. "Mercy, please. I already was beaten quite easily once today, that is enough for me. It's the closest to death I've ever been, so please let me off easily today."

Eirwen and Aoife both frowned, in sync as much as they had been during the fight. Aoife spoke first. "I was surprised how easily that went. Were you holding back on us?" The knights all fell silent at those words, but he just shook his head at them.

"No, it's just that I hadn't expected both of you to counter me, and with such perfect timing even. Since my armour and my paralysis method use a similar mana structure, the two of you overwhelming me interfered with my defence. In part because you essentially flanked me with it."

Caerbychan raised an eyebrow at that. "You make it sound as if they could have killed you." Eirwen's breath caught at that. She saw a shocked look on Aoife's face, resembling the emotions that Eirwen was holding back herself. Neither had wished to go that far.

The weapon master tilted his head. "They might have? I did have a second layer protecting me, as I use a solid earth base to wear underneath my flames. But in a real fight? It's very likely they still would have had me beat. So yes, this does feel like the first time I was bested in actual combat."

Aoife shared a complicated look with Eirwen. On one hand, they were still happy they defeated him. But they had never given thought to the fact that he too was fallible. He had seemed invincible during the war, defeating all that had come after him. Even now, Eirwen depended on him blindly. But he could be beaten, even if it was by two that properly understood his fighting methods.

As if to interrupt their thoughts, he cracked his neck and grinned. "Well, I can think of worse ways to go than by your hands. Thought I have no intent of dying any time soon, so I had better train more. Eirwen, if you'll excuse me right now? I need to change to unbloodied clothes."

She dismissed him and the knights, switching her focus to Pertrellan and Aoife to discuss how their fight had gone. Some techniques had still been sloppy, so they all needed to refine their new tricks, to ensure they could properly use them in actual combat. As for the spectre of his defeat, that was one they put aside for now.

Their unexpected victory did come with an additional benefit. After the glee Aoife and Eirwen had displayed at besting him, only a fool would dare claim Eirwen didn't hold Aoife's loyalty. His former right hand fighting on Eirwen's side in perfect teamwork, even against her old commander? It meant she was serving Verglas properly now. The thought pleased Eirwen, though there was some guilt she buried.

Pertrellan looked at the main building. "Your Grace, with the crystal working, will you execute your plan now?" Eirwen nodded at that. "Good. Today's events worked out nicely, but an additional reminder will be useful. I will make arrangements to welcome everyone, and have Ailbe take care of things with the reeve."

Aoife raised an eyebrow at the sudden mention of her father. She studied Eirwen and her fellow Vicomtesse, putting thought into the circumstances. It didn't take her long to understand. "Ah. A show of force then. Perfect. How many knights each... A dozen, I presume? And I doubt I have to ask who will lead your own."

Eirwen couldn't help but smile in response to the quick deduction. It was clear that Aoife hadn't just been a figurehead as Aodhán's right hand in the war. "You catch on quick. Do take care not to alert our guests. The more a surprise it is, the bigger the impact will be. If you'll excuse me."

Aoife bowed and stepped aside. After a few counts, she called after Eirwen. "Eirwen. One last thing. Do give me a chance to help you beat him up more often. It was a great stress relief.' She grinned, a facial expression that almost mirrored Eirwen's. A silent nod was all that was needed to share their sentiment.

Once she got to her quarters, Eirwen changed out of her armour and took a bath, to ensure she was properly dressed for the social battlefield. But there was still plenty of time before dinner. While wondering what to do, Pertrellan came over. "Eirwen, join me in the library?" Her attempt to look emotionless betrayed her intent, one that Eirwen gladly would play along to.

On their way to the private library, the Vicomtesse spoke idly about useful maps present there. A shameless lie meant for any onlisteners to overhear, no doubt designed to help protect Eirwen's reputation. A secure location for a private meeting, which without other companions would cause tongues to wag almost immediately.

At the library, Pertrellan entered first, while the doorguards stayed outside. Inside, Sir Caerbychan and the weapon master were standing over several maps of the dukedom. Caerbychan met Pertrellan with a grin, showing that they had orchestrated this, just as Eirwen had expected. While the conspirators actually studied the maps, Eirwen moved towards one of the many private alcoves.

Join me.

Wordlessly, her suitor followed her, a playful smile on his face. His clothing was impeccable and he still smelt mildly of his own bath. You couldn't tell he had his neck slashed less than an hour ago, unblemished skin showing no sign of the wounds. Granted, that had been with help from a healer. But even then, she wondered what had then caused the scars hidden under his clothing.

He sat down on the corner of a comfortable couch, leaving plenty of space for her. Even now, after all those years apart, he didn't need to speak to know what she needed. She laid down and put her head on his lap, looking up at his face as he idly played with her hair.

They remained silent for a while, just enjoying the moment. His face went through a lot of emotions as he looked at her, last night's dream still weighing heavily on him. As for Eirwen, today's events had brought something else to her mind. He caught on and eventually dared to ask. "What is it you want to know?"

"When did you first realise you'd fallen for Aoife?" He flinched at that. And though she had asked the question quietly, she noticed Pertrellan and Caerbychan falling silent. She ignored them, they were trustworthy enough to be allowed to overhear.

He opened his mouth, then closed it. Likely wanted to ask why she thought that, but changed his mind. She studied his eyes carefully, seeing him reach his own conclusions and resolving himself. "Fourteen months into the war, when she made it back from a fight, bloodied and with only half a working arm. I felt my rage and concern, then realised that's exactly how I would have felt about you."

He sneered at himself. "Twisted as I was, I immediately buried all of that. I didn't even avenge her personally, making Darragh look into things instead. When I found out only one of her captured opponents had crossed the line, he was the only one I had Darragh cripple the next time we faced him on the battlefield."

Based on his explanation, she could easily find out who it had been. She buried the desire to do so as he continued. "As for me, I just hid my feelings and kept rejecting her advances. If she had known I cared for her like that, I feared she would have taken the rejection even harder. So I drew a line and stuck to it, while preparing her so I never would find myself in that situation again."

"So that is why you trained her personally, making her into almost as much a monster as you were. I had wondered why you had done so, when you tried to make sure you didn't win the war." He grimaced as she finally spoke that part out loud, confirming her suspicions. He had deliberately avoided victory.

He cleared his throat. "Make no mistake, your victories were your own. I used different means to slow us down. Any opening I gave you, I did so against my will. But yes, there were methods I chose not to employ. And yes, training Aoife made things harder on you. But I couldn't bear the thought of either of you ever being injured the way she was back then."

He smiled at her slyly, knowing, understanding. "So when did you realise, Mo Chroí? That you had fallen for her as well? And that she has fallen for you too?" Now it was her turn to flinch. He really knew her too well. The last part had caught her by surprise, though.

"Fallen for me?" He shook his head, still wearing that sly expression. He wasn't going to let her dodge his question. She sighed. Given how she was making him bare his heart to her, the least she could do was return the favour. "When we realised you too are fallible. My first instincts were not my own pain, but hers. That's when I realised."

"I see. And that's when you made the connection to my own feelings. Just like how I understood how she felt from the glances she gives you in secret, when she thinks nobody can see. She still gives me the same ones." Of course he had noticed. He relentlessly spied on everyone with his senses, even studying their facial expressions apparently. How cruel it was, that he didn't allow them to keep even their emotions a secret.

"You think it's cruel? Don't give me that look, it was visible on your face as clear as day." He sighed. "Maybe it is. I should give our allies a bit more privacy. I'll hold back more once your guests have left, alright?" He leaned forward and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "And for now, take your time to go over your feelings. We have time now. We should take it."

She wondered if he realised just how much alike Aoife he sounded there. But it didn't matter. Both cared greatly for her, and she cared greatly for them. She would think of how to navigate that quagmire later. For now, she wished to stay in the moment, just enjoying his presence as they fell silent once more.