The knock at dawn has me annoyed. Two days in a row? Grunting, I open the door. Who would-?
The most beautiful lady stands on the other side of his bedroom door. She offers a soft smile while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry to bother you, Your Highness."
"Never. I mean. Come in." I step back allowing her entrance. Wow. Where did she come from?
"My name is Lady Ingrid Periwinkle." She offers a curtsy. She giggles. "This is my first task as a lady. I'm a little nervous."
"Don't be. You're fine. Perfection." I just watch her smooth movements. She tucks her hair behind her ear again while looking over my space. It's just a typical knight room.
"My uncle sent you a letter asking for a spell to be done."
"Uncle?"
"Lord Odin Periwinkle."
"Odin?" I freeze realizing I ignored the letter last night. "I didn't get the chance to read it." Does he suggest I'd get someone stopping by? I grab out the letter to open and read. Looks like he sees me as a fool. Thought he wouldn't be happy with me becoming a knight. A spell is written in the postscript. I look at the lady. "Are you a mage?"
"I am. More advanced than you, but no where near what Uncle is." She plays with her hair a little before focusing on the letter. "Does he mention me?"
"No. But there is a spell he said a mage would come by to cast."
Ingrid exhales. "That would be me." She waits for me to hand over the letter. "Please sit down."
I take a position in a chair so now she is taller than me. We were the same height before. Reminds me I haven't reached growth. She has. "I wouldn't mind having you as a mage tutor."
"How sweet. I don't think I'm truly able to. If there is something you wish I try to help with, I may be useful. Uncle trained me as well." She moves into position right next to me. "Alright. Once I clear this curse for you, I will not be very helpful until I get a nap."
"You can nap here." I motion to my bed.
"I cannot, Your Highness. That is so silly." Ingrid chuckles. "Sit still. I apologize I need to get in such close quarters." She begins the spell. I can feel it vibrate through my body. I did know Odin figured out how to break most of my curses. As much as I begged, he refused to do so. The curses were actually blessings I wasn't aware of. 'Maybe one day' was all he ever offered.
Today is one of those days. And the person breaking the curse is such a... Having her move to place a kiss on my forehead gives me such an insightful view. She backs off looking nervous. "Did it work?"
"I don't know."
"I'm going to ask Uncle for the curse list. I hope I did it right. You felt things, right?"
In my pants as well as in my magic. I wonder if that was the spell or just the fact she was... Leaning over me... "Yeah."
Ingrid moves closer to the door trying to cover a blush. "I... I'll return with more information." Then she's gone.
"Can't wait." I grin at the closed door. "Why haven't I met you before Ingrid?" I go back to my letter. I need to ask Odin about this denial. I would've loved to train next to her. Can't say how focused I'd be, but I would be present. With the letter sealed with the enclosed spell Odin leaves me for a reply, I start on my morning routine. This is just how my life will need to go. "Will I be working on something besides swords today? Hydrangea suggested many of our classes will be postponed until after chore cycles begin. Maybe to see how many of us are qualified to join them? I can see that."
I laugh at myself in the mirror. "I got this."
Heading for the cafeteria gets me meeting Jessica on route. She's up at dawn since that's how her family always worked. Ryan seems only a few minutes later than us. Another family that expected him up at dawn. Different reasons.
The three of them go out into the courtyard for sword swinging practice after having a morning meal. The chatter did go into questioning what will happen next. What's the next lesson? Jessica suggested today may be an open day to just get to know everything.
But their plan is to first get themselves used to more sword strikes.
More people join the sword strikes this time. I notice a few who have an emblem already. Did they get a new sword or are they pretending to be trainees. Several of those who gathered around us are trainees, but clearly know how to swing a sword. They must've joined at least a month ago.
"Golden eagle wing?" One calls out.
I face them putting my sword down. They were only playing with the sword swings. Checking out the new trainees. "Hey. I'm Thomas."
"Just Thomas." The trainee leans closer to me. "Word is getting around. Should I deny it?"
"Whatever. I can't stop the knowledge." I glance at Jessica and Ryan. They know, but I may get in the way of their practice. "Let's move to the side."
"How close are you to your first set of swings?"
"Far." I scoff. "Jessica is going to finish today. I'll be finished by the end of the week, I think. Unless I end up stuck doing something else."
"You'll get it. They never give much during first week. Lessons normally end up more when you want them." The trainee offers a hand to me. "I'm Daniel Swifting."
So then it makes sense why not only does he grasp who I am, why he's talking to me. He'll be one of my nobles.