Chapter 25.1

The next day, the weapon master gathered the knights and prospects at the rear courtyard. "I hope you all had a good day so far, because I'm going to ruin it. You have trained in plenty of methods and have fought in real combat before. But not many of you had to actively fear for your life. Because in the war, we acted under proper nobility, where surrender is accepted."

Eirwen noticed a few swallow hard, most likely knowing where this was going. Uncaring, her hound continued his lesson. "Experiencing such a moment is the best way to prepare. So I will teach you at times what it truly means to fear, and how to stand tall in the face of danger. Your Grace, please leave us some room."

The way he addressed her, it was clear he didn't want her to see. It worried her, how easily he switched to this warlike attitude. Suppressing her hesitation, she withdrew both physically and magically. As for the ones he was training, as the training continued, their expressions allowed her to easily tell who indeed had experience with the mountain territory. But even they weren't ready to withstand the pressure.

Faces hardened every moment, some learning fast, others clearly not ready for the intensity yet. Eirwen could tell some of the knights and prospects were beginning to fear the weapon master. This was going too far.

Enough. Stop nearly killing them. Show them why this is needed. What happens if they flinch. I must assume you have seen it happen. Maybe that will make them understand. 

He bowed in her direction, a gesture which somehow tore at her heart. He was being formal, on account of treating this as a battlefield. She hated it. Hated seeing him like this. Not just the distance he kept, but the cruel way he was disciplining them. And from the complicated looks several were giving him, she could tell that she wasn't the only one who had caught on.

He faced them and sighed. "Alright, I will show you an example. This doesn't actually pose a threat, unlike the way I've been slashing at you. But it will feel like it." A few sent nervous looks at each other, while all stayed alert.

Eirwen noticed the weapon master closed his eyes. She could tell his plan from the mana he was gathering. He was building multiple manifestations. Around the courtyard, rough images of trees began to appear, blocking sight lines. Those with experience from the mountains gulped and watched the trees carefully. They knew what was coming.

A growl, then more, turning into snarls from all around. And then, figures launched from between the trees, fast, huge. Several didn't manage to respond in time before massive jaws shut around their arms or head. A few screamed. Understandable. Eirwen herself had flinched and had stepped back involuntarily.

The images dissipated and his face turned stern. "As some of you already know, that is how fast things can go in the mountains. No matter whether you're dealing with bandits without intent to leave survivors, a pack of dire wolves aiming for an easy meal, or frost giants and their wolf pets, your life is actually on the line. A single moment of hesitation will get not just you killed, but those by your side as well."

He looked them over, then moved to speak again, but an interruption came from the figure of Aoife walking up to them. "What in the blazes do you think you're doing?! First I hear you're making them fear for their lives, and now you're making them face dires?! Have you gone mad? Who just unleashes that on people without warning!"

Eirwen felt guilty. She had approved of this. She looked over at her weapon master, to gauge his response. Her breath hitched as she saw his face and eyes showed no emotions. He truly was treating this as a battlefield. Silence fell as he turned to the pile of wooden training swords, taking two. He turned and threw one at Eirwen, the other at Aoife. "Fight her." It was clear who he felt she had to fight.

Aoife flustered. "Wait, why are you dragging us into this? You can't just demand I fi-"

"Vicomtesse. I gave you an order." His voice was steel. There was no doubt left in anyone's mind. Right now, the man that stood there wasn't Eirwen's hound or weapon master. It was the commander of all of Flameheart, allowing no refusal. Eirwen gulped, feeling the pressure he was exuding. She wasn't sure if she could deny this command. She knew Aoife didn't feel as if she could. With hesitation, they both stood and faced each other.

"You both know how fast the other can call upon her techniques, so no need to drag in any fatal ones. End the fight when you either have overpowered your opponent, or could have scored a severe blow. On my signal... Go!"

The two engaged each other quickly, hesitation instantly leaving the field. Only six exchanges later, Eirwen managed to hit Aoife's blade out of her hand. They both retreated, unsure what was next, until he spoke. "Aoife. She was able to witness you at both battles of Brynblaidd, the first and third battle at Caerlwyd, and the second and fifth battle for Pont-y-dyffryn. Take that into account. Again."

They went up against each other and this time, Aoife's moves were unfamiliar to Eirwen. Three exchanges later and suddenly Aoife was pulling on her sword. The disturbance caused Eirwen to falter just long enough for Aoife's sword to hit her throat hard enough to leave a bruise. The weapon master nodded. "Again."

This time, it took five moves before Eirwen would have lost an arm. "Again." Eight. Throat cut. "Again." Eirwen managed to get the upper hand, forcing Aoife to the ground. "Again." She shook her head and reached out, pulling Aoife up, before turning towards him.

"That will do, weapon master. You have made your point. Both I and the troops need to experience things, so that in a real fight, we are properly prepared. But that doesn't make your actions less despicable." Her harsh words, spoken calmly, made not just him but several others flinch. "There is no need for you to push this hard. This isn't a matter of discipline that can cost us a war at any given moment. We need to build up experience slowly, not force it."

He wished to speak, to object, but closed his mouth again. She could see shame and concern fighting within his eyes, before she turned to address all present. "I do not seek rushed blades which are so fragile that they'll shatter under the wrong circumstances. All of you need to be carefully tempered, no matter whether you will stay here or accompany me to the mountains in a few months time."

Eirwen turned back to the weapon master, while Aoife watched in silence. "Your skills and experiences are invaluable. But Aoife is right, we need to handle this properly. Build it up slowly, grow the fire gently over time, until it is a blaze that can never be extinguished. Until the West can stand on its own, no matter our adversaries. If we force this, we are setting the world at six and seven. So let's take our time and build the fire twig by twig."

She wasn't sure what she had expected his reaction to be. But kneeling, his head bent in shame, that exceeded all her imaginations. "As you command, your Grace." At least he was giving a decent example, the others all dropping on a knee and paying the same respects.

Seizing the momentum, Eirwen turned to Aoife. "Vicomtesse Carraig. I miss Vicomtesse Pertrellan by my side and find myself heavily in need of your expertise. Will you serve me as my shield, outranking all others within Iceheart, advising me and accepting only my own orders?"

Aoife nodded but a count late, in shock at the sudden request, before turning towards the weapon master. "Weapon master. Since I now outrank you, I need to order you not to overstep. Training the prospect knights falls under my father's mandate. You will only offer assistance when requested. For now, I need you to focus on training the Duchess, as she needs the experience to advance her abilities."

He offered her a small bow, as far as he'd normally gone with Pertrellan. Good, that was that settled for now. Thanks to Aoife, they hadn't pushed anyone too far. But Eirwen would need to keep an eye out, both for herself and him, that they didn't regress back into an attitude willing to pay whatever the price turned out of be.

Eirwen turned her attention back to the knights and prospects. "Sir Ailbe Carraig will arrive soon to continue your training. Until then, spar with avoidant methods that assume your opponent can overpower you. We need that to be an instinct, so that if you truly suddenly find an enemy overpowering you, you do not hesitate in saving your life. Carry on."

You two, with me.

They fell in line, Aoife on her left, her hound on her right, him half a step behind Aoife in comparison. Displaying the new chain of command for all to see. Eirwen could tell many caught on at first glance. Word would spread fast. Her doorguards were the only other escort today, no need for endless amounts of knights in the current situation. Especially since neither Eirwen nor her hound had quit sniffing around the estate at all times.

She brought them to the private library, leaving her doorguards standing outside. Sitting down on a couch in an alcove, she gestured them to sit across from her. Ignoring the furtive glance they gave each other, she got to the point at once.

"Alright, now that we made this official, there are some things I need to discuss with the two of you. First of all, I intend to go to the mountains within a few months. It will be under cloak with a small group, though we'll be bringing a decent amount of healers with us. You two will need to work with Bethan to determine the group composition. Make sure to consider the prospects as well, as some have experience with that territory."

She held up a hand to cut them off. "The act isn't up for debate, only the execution of it can be discussed at a later time. I need to know what's going on there, to prevent any wildfires from growing out of control. Right now, the lawless state of the place is a threat. I need to understand the situation, so that I can take proper action. Next, the spies."

Aoife looked a bit grumbly at how quickly Eirwen moved on. The weapon master seemed to be catching on, his eyes narrowing with suspicion as his face started growing pale with realisation. He was quick, but that would have to wait.

"As you know, Flameheart employed a lot of merchants as part of their spy network. Since the information hasn't led to significant damage, on account of your restraint, I was considering just exiling them. But recent events have shown we need spies of our own. So I will offer them a chance to supply us with intel, under the guise of selling off Flameheart property for us."

She now looked them straight in the eyes, first Aoife, then her hound. Oh, he had caught on, and she was getting suspicious. "Lastly, you may have noticed I currently am rather decisive. It's the result of being in mild shock from today's training. You know it's not the first time I suffered from my mental scars. Pertrellan and Bethan know why, and it's about time I explain you two as well."

A deep breath. "You know about the assassination attempts. What you don't know, is how nearby I was both times."