Under the Oak Tree

257 Chapter Maxi stared at Ursuline in disbelief. Had he instructed her with such bull-headed persistence while believing she was a lost cause? She was so livid that she was tempted to use her newfound knowledge on the knight.

“I-If you thought me so hopeless, why did you insist on the training? You could have spared me the muscle aches and effort!”

“I thought it better for you to learn something than go in blind. However, I doubt you’ll be able to employ only ten days’ worth of combat practice. I continued with it as an act of prayer—”

Ursuline cut himself off when he saw Maxi’s eyes blaze with rage. The knight turned his head to look at the man in the black robe to show that he had no intention of getting into a verbal spar with her.

“In any case, there is no need to take exception to this plan. You shall be free to fulfill your duties while we fulfill ours — that is, as Sir Riftan’s knights. Our presence will not be a burden to the expeditionary party.”

“Nor would it be a welcome addition.”

Maxi tore her furious glare away from Ursuline at the vaguely familiar voice. Glinting green eyes stared down at her from beneath a black hood. She instinctively flinched and backed away, in part because of the man’s intimidating aura, but also because of the painful memories that struck as she recognized him.

Her face fell as she recalled being limp on Ulyseon’s back while he ran up a mountain slope. Those green eyes were the last thing she remembered before passing out. Kuahel Leon, the commander of the Temple Knights, seemed to remember her too. He did not seem as inclined to acknowledge their acquaintance; he merely looked down at her as though he were making an observation before turning back to Ursuline.

“The Temple Knights can protect the mages without your aid,” he said indifferently, “and I do not wish to draw attention by expanding our party.”

“Even without us, people will take note once word spreads that the Temple Knights are traveling north with the mages of Nornui. I doubt our presence will cause much more of a stir.”

“We are not easily recognized by the people of Wedon, but I cannot say the same for the Remdragon Knights. Your presence will only draw troublesome inquiry.”

Kuahel cocked his head, the gold flecks in his irises flashing. He regarded them with his mystifying eyes before adding disparagingly, “We are not so desperate for your help that we would willingly take on such inconvenience.”

“Ha!” cried Ulyseon. “That is a bold statement indeed when the Temple Knights have been known to request aid from all over the continent whenever they’re faced with a problem. You make it sound as if people think paladins do every—”

“Uly! Enough!” Ursuline barked. Looking back to Kuahel, he said calmly, “The Pamela Plateau is a bleak and dangerous place. Would it not help to have more men join the reconnaissance effort?”

“If we need more men, we may petition Balto or Livadon. Simply put, we see no need to march an army from the opposite end of the continent.”

Ursuline’s face slowly contorted at Kuahel’s cold response. He took a deep breath as if summoning his patience and said evenly, “Then, what if we were to compensate the Temple Knights for any issues that might arise from our joining the expedition?”

Pointing to the mage onlookers, Ursuline added, “We shall pay for their horses and wagons, as well as additional provisions and equipment if needed. I was told the church was shouldering the burden of the entire endeavor. If you allow us to join, the Remdragon Knights will gladly extend its resources.”

The unprecedented proposal appeared to get through to the commander. He stroked his smooth chin with a pensive expression. After a moment of tense silence, he turned to Calto Serbel, who was standing nearby like a spectator.

“What do you think of this offer?”

“I would like to refuse,” the elder said without hesitating. “We mages also have a hierarchy. I cannot condone preferential treatment for a single mage.”

The expressions on Ursuline, Gabel, and Ulyseon’s faces stiffened. After calmly meeting their hostile gazes, Calto sighed.

“However, there is no question that the mages would be safer. And I am sure the financial support will lessen the burden on the church. Taking into account all the practical advantages, it would be prudent to accept the offer.”

He looked resigned as he ended with, “I am fine either way. I will leave the decision to the Temple Knights.”

As soon as the elder said those words, Ursuline pressed Kuahel for the verdict.

“Well?”

The commander of the Temple Knights said nothing for a while, then glanced at Maxi. She hunched her shoulders.

The commander held her in his icy gaze before saying in his typically dry tone, “Very well. I shall allow one of you to join us.”

Ursuline scowled, but before he could say anything, Kuahel added, “We will accept nineteen horses for the mages in exchange.”

“Are you not being—”

“You are free to refuse if you deem it unreasonable. It makes no difference to us. We have enough funds to see us to the Plateau even without your aid.”

His tone made it clear there would be no further negotiations. Ursuline was not ready to back down.

“One is insufficient! At least allow six of our knights to join you. Six men should barely be a noticeable addition.”

“One is more than sufficient,” Kuahel snapped. “Your priority will be the comfort and safety of one individual. As the mage has already pointed out, preferential treatment can lead to internal strife, and I wish to take this group to the Plateau without unnecessary discord. I will allow one, and only one, Remdragon Knight to join us. If you are unwilling to accept my terms, I can always rescind the offer.”

Ursuline nibbled his lip, thinking.

“Very well,” he said eventually, realizing there was no room for further negotiation. He nodded weakly. “Then, allow one of our—”

“W-Wait!”

Unable to listen any longer, Maxi interposed herself between the two knights.

“You have been… completely ignoring me w-when this is clearly a matter that requires my say! I have already made it clear… that I do not need personal—”

“I shall go!” Ulyseon cried before Maxi could even finish protesting. “If only one of us is allowed to protect her ladyship, I wish to take on the task. I will not take no for an answer!”

The lad declared his intention so fiercely that even Maxi was briefly left speechless.

“Please, allow me the honor,” Ulyseon entreated Ursuline.

“Look here, Uly,” Gabel chimed in. “It is not that I doubt your competence, but if only one of us can go, it should be someone with more experience—”

“I currently rank sixth in the order!” Ulyseon snarled, turning on his fellow knight. “Stop treating me like a child! I am more than qualified. Besides, both you and Sir Ursuline have important duties in Anatol, while I am only charged with protecting the harbor, a task which can be easily delegated!”

“W-Wait!”

Furious at the knights’ continued disregard of her opinions, Maxi stamped her foot.

“Have you all g-gone deaf? Was I not clear when I said I do not need p-personal guards?!”

“Do you… find me so unreliable, my lady?”

His earlier fervor gone, Ulyseon looked at her with puppy-dog eyes. Maxi froze, and Ulyseon hung his head.

“I’m aware… that I have failed you in the past. I put you in harm’s way numerous times after declaring I would risk my life to protect you. And you were gravely injured on my watch. No one can blame you for thinking I am untrustworthy, my lady.”

“Y-You misunderstand, Ulyseon! It’s not that I find you unreliable… I merely wished to make it clear that, as a mage, I can take care of—”

Her flustered efforts at reassurance did not seem to alleviate Ulyseon’s dark expression. Anxious, she continued trying to correct the misunderstanding. ????????n????e????????. ????????ｍ

“Y-You never failed me, Ulyseon. I’m scared to even think about what could have happened… if you and Garrow had not been there. You both protected me with immense bravery! It truly is not because I don’t trust you. I merely—”

“It is decided, then,” Ursuline interrupted. “Since your ladyship has so much faith in our young knight here, we will respect your wishes and allow Ulyseon Rovar to accompany you.”

Maxi glared daggers at the knight, almost flying into a rage at his inability to let her finish anything, before catching sight of Ulyseon’s face. His glassy, doleful eyes made it impossible for her to object. She groaned and slumped her shoulders.

“Allow us this much, my lady,” Gabel said, patting her comfortingly on the back. “If we had it our way, all of us would accompany you whether or not we had the Temple Knights’ permission.”

...

“Please… spare me that, at least,” Maxi said, aghast.

Gabel gave her a wry smile. “Please know that we are making a lot of concessions as well.”

After looking up at the knights, Maxi slowly nodded. Ulyseon grabbed her hand as a wide smile lit his face.

“Thank you, my lady! I will not fail you this time!”

Maxi fought back a sigh. Kuahel Leon, who had been quietly observing their argument, spoke up once more.

“If you have made your decision, then let us make haste. We must be out of Anatol before sundown.”

The Temple Knights’ commander mounted his chestnut horse, and the expeditionary party promptly readied to depart. Maxi furtively studied the mages while the others went to the stables to fetch their horses. She spotted Miriam sneering at her from a distance.

A flush rose in Maxi’s cheeks. The woman liked to deride her for being a high-born at every opportunity, so there was no doubt this incident would be added to her repertoire of jibes. Maxi sighed. Fortunately, the other mages did not seem to mind. Most of them had appeared to enjoy the spectacle as if it were a stage play, with Anette blatantly chortling out loud.

“It must have been stifling, being surrounded by such overprotective men,” said Anette. “I’m amazed they even sent you to the Tower in the first place.”

Maxi had not told anyone the full story, so she merely smiled bitterly in response. When she thought back to past events, it was not difficult to understand the knights’ perspective. After watching them busily help with the expedition preparations, her lips tugged into a resigned smile.

***

...

The wind was unusually fierce. Seated on a pile of dead monsters, Riftan tore off a piece of jerky with his teeth. He looked up at the overcast sky, furrowing his brow. Gray clouds were gathering above the dark pine forest.

It would likely snow soon. Slowly chewing the jerky, which felt tougher than a plank of wood, he studied his surroundings with detached interest. Dozens of knights and Livadonian clerics were piling monster carcasses to one side to be burned. Near the battlefront, almost two hundred soldiers were building a defensive wall using lumber cut from the forest.

He counted their remaining men in his head and considered the number of monsters that had fled through the trees. It would take no more than two weeks to wrap up this campaign. He shoved the last piece of jerky into his mouth and grabbed the swordbelt resting by his feet.