Chapter 99: Foggy Night
Indoor duties were supposed to be as boring as usual, but when Irene entered the library, she saw more apprentices and even a few knights including her father. She was immediately faced with the terrible realization that they still had to participate in the winterization that year.
"We will have to organize ourselves better than last year to ensure that it is done properly this season," Sir Gunnar explained as his greyish eyes scanned over the group in the library. "Sir Arthur and I both believe that the monster problem in the valley this season could have possibly stemmed from us missing a few of their hiding places. In the meantime, we will scour the foothills each day before we finally go up into the rocky mountains and seek out cave systems."
Arthur nodded and he stood up as well, joining the other knight where he stood at the front of the tables. He crossed his arms confidently, but many couldn’t help taking note of where his sleeve ended and there was nothing inside.
"We will have groups just as the year before, some managing the valley while others go to the mountains," Arthur stated. "I will take over the valley while Gunnar will be in the mountains. There will not be an apprentice or knight who doesn’t participate this year. Because of your hard work, you will be able to return to your families the moment this winterization trip is over."
Since Sir Arthur could participate fresh off of an injury, it instilled in a few of the more inexperienced that they would be able to do it as well.
Irene wondered if his motivation was perhaps intentional. To her, it seemed he was using everyone’s admiration of him to make them volunteer themselves for winterization.
Because the winterization tour around the duchy had been halved since Sir Arthur took the north while Sir Gunnar took the south, they still had time to properly scour the mountains.
Irene realized it truly never ended in a knighthood and this was simply a reality she was going to have to accept if she wanted to be the knight she believed she could be.
"We will be re-adopting the night schedule," Sir Gunnar explained. "Squires can take over daily duties while all of you get accustomed to fighting monsters at night. That is the only time they are truly active which is, therefore, the only time it makes sense to seek them out. Does anyone have any questions?"
Since nobody spoke up, Sir Arthur nodded and said, "All that’s left is preparation."
It certainly was that.