The idea of a cooperative relationship appealed to Oliver more than any. He knew it was arrogant to even think of himself in the same realm as a General, but as Skullic said, he did have more to offer. If Skullic could find a way to harness that which Oliver could do, then Oliver was more than happy to assist him, in return for getting the answers that he wanted.
"It does," Skullic sighed. "But it is irritating nonetheless… Fine, I suppose I could train you in that. We will talk more after your performance on this mission. Four days time. First day of the weekend, that is when it lands. I will send the details your way when I have them.
Perform well on it, and I'll answer more of your questions. Are you in agreement, Oliver Patrick?"
"I am," Oliver agreed.
"Today's talks seem favourable to you? You have no bones to pick with them?" Skullic confirmed.
"You were not what I was expecting, General," Oliver admitted. "But I am in favour of this cooperative relationship that you propose."
"The eternal folly of youth, you don't want to be treated like you're young," Skullic noted with a nod. "Such was my own weakness. Do well not to let it guide you too firmly. If you are satisfied, I will leave you with instructions."
"Good. First, you know to talk to your retainers and make plans. Secondly, buy a horse and rent a stable – that will be essential in the coming months. Not all these missions will be close by. Thirdly, speak to Princess Asabel. About what, I do not know. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire
But if my people are telling me that you have yet to even see her, then the whole Academy damn well knows. She's one of the few things keeping you from getting blown away in a strong wind – at the very least, do not create more reason for the masses to doubt your relationship. Fourth… I cannot think of anything else. Perhaps refer to step one?
There is much that you need to plan for, I cannot do it all for you."
"Sorry, General… A horse?" Oliver asked. That request had completely blindsided him. A horse, of all things? How much was that going to cost? If a coat had cost him five golds, he dreaded to think what a horse was liable to cost him, with the saddle and everything included, and then the stabling… Gods, he needed to find some better way of sorting his money.
"A horse," Skullic agreed as though it was obvious. "What? Why has your expression gone stupid? Don't tell me that you've never gone horse-buying before? As sad as that is, you have the Idris boy, don't you? He'll keep you from getting the rug pulled from under you."
"No… I mean, I can't ride…" Oliver said, before hurrying to correct himself, seeing the look of outright horror on Skullic's face. "Or at least, I can't ride properly… I've sat on a horse before, just not, you know..." He'd played around with the more mild-mannered cattle in his village when he was very young, hopping up onto cow's backs.
He'd even sat on a donkey a few times, and he'd been lucky enough to sit on a horse when a friendly merchant had allowed him to, but never had he learned to ride. It was simply too expensive an animal for a mere peasant to maintain.
"Gods be good," Skullic said, holding his head in his hands. "Marrryyyyy," he complained.
"Come, come," Mary said chidingly. "You already knew not to expect ordinary noble standards from him, didn't you?" She said, as she calmly fed the richly decorated legs of broken chairs into the fire. Oliver realized for the first time that they were both as insane as each other.
"You can't ride?" Skullic repeated. "What kind of noble can't ride a horse? Dominusssss! Curse you, old man…"
Oliver hadn't expected such a barrage of groans, but he could well understand it. Now that he thought about it, every noble that he knew – apart from Dominus – had mentioned riding at some point. Verdant had mentioned it in passing conversation, as had Blackthorn and he'd inferred from both those conversations that they were capable of it.
Tolsey and Lombard, well, he'd seen them ride into Solgrim, so there was no question whether or not they could ride.
"Listen," Skullic said, suddenly growing serious. "If you can't ride a horse, you're going to be far less useful on the battlefield. A Sword without a horse is a Sword that is far too slow. Sort that out. I don't care how you do it, just do it. This first mission, I'll overlook your lack of riding ability, but in all the missions that follow, you will be expected to ride."
"Isn't that a little harsh, Daemon?" Mary chided. "You've only given him a little over a month to be comfortable riding such long distances. You've been riding your whole life. Is it not unfair to expect that level from him so soon?"
"If he's Dominus' son, I doubt he'd even need a month," Skullic muttered under his breath. "That will be all, Patrick. Away with you now. Tend to what we've spoken on and cease to get yourself in trouble, if you would. Your name is now tied to mine. I would have it boost me, not hinder me."
"Yes, sir," Oliver said, accepting the dismissal. He moved towards the door, only for Mary to angrily call him back, admonishing him for trying to leave without drinking his tea.
Oliver had no lessons for the rest of that day. They hadn't managed to free up the professors' schedules on such short notice. Apparently, his tutelage would resume again tomorrow, though he was expected to have far more free time than he'd had before, with fewer lessons in a day, since it was unreasonable to expect the professors to be available for one-on-one lessons more than once a week.
Whilst the others tended to their classes, Oliver was left with Verdant, as he went through the list of things that he was expected to solve.