Grief persisted for a long time. Everyone tried to be supportive to Felix but the general feeling was melancholic through all the Knights of Chemois.
Oftentimes, Irene would wake in the middle of her sleeping time which was supposed to be the same one as Felix, but he would already be awake. If he wasn’t merely sitting on his bed, he was nowhere to be found.
Irene’s worries compounded each time she thought of Felix. Since he was the apprentice closest to being a knight, they couldn’t afford to lose him. However, she could only understand why Felix crumbled if he did.
Again, how unsympathetic the environment was revealed itself when they were all forced back to duties as if they hadn’t just lost one of their top knights. Things went on as usual.
If there weren’t monsters to fight, all her days were filled with cleaning armor and weapons, cooking the knights food, and guarding for half the night on the wall. She supposed it was a better routine than facing actual battle and losing more people.
Since the Knights of Chemois knew the lands best, they were often tasked with scouting. They sometimes left their apprentices behind to attend to their day to day duties.
Considering what Felix had just gone through with feeling like he didn’t have Sir Eitan’s back, she was paranoid each time they left. Only when she saw Sir Gunnar’s face did she feel like she could relax.
On one of the knights’ outings, she was surprised when she heard someone wearing a suit of armor approaching the apprentices while they fixed a meal. Immediately, the apprentices were at attention.
She turned to see Sir Williamson, the second in command for the Knights of Hydrogia, standing just outside of the stoves and boxes they used like countertops to chop vegetables and prepare other aspects of the food.
"Apprentices," he called. "I would like for the apprentices from Chemois to report to Commander Lothian’s tent immediately. Those left over, please fill the gaps and complete what isn’t completed yet on behalf of the other apprentices."
Not staying to see if they did as he asked, he turned on his heel and went elsewhere in the encampment.
Irene found Leif’s gaze.
He merely shrugged and put down the ladle he was using to stir up the stew they had prepared. He then nodded his head in the direction they were meant to go.
She decided she should follow after all even though it wasn’t an order for any of their knights.
Since Leif and Irene were the first into the tent, they strode into the opening and tried to make themselves not look pathetic as they moved to the far side and waited for the others to arrive—even though the apprentices of the Knights of Chemois were incredibly lacking in number.
When the others had joined them, Felix included, Irene couldn’t help her noble habit of bowing her head when Commander Lothian turned around. He finally stopped focusing on whatever he was doing at his desk.
Irene found it quite strange to see such a large man being studious, but she had also heard that looks were deceiving. If she didn’t find him dignified in appearance, he owned a slice of land that rivaled Duke Sadiv in Hydrogia. In terms of wealth, he was far from lacking as well.
There were many misconceptions about the man who still called himself a peasant.
"I have asked all of you here in light of a maid we found in the tunnel leading up to the Duke’s Tower," Commander Lothian explained. "She is undoubtedly bedridden and not entirely out of the woods in terms of how badly she has been poisoned, but what she did tell us was that her name is Rosalind. For now, we can’t bother her with many more details than that."
There were a couple of gasps of relief at this. Rosalind had survived. They wanted desperately to know if there were more left than that, but if she needed to heal first, they all had to be understanding.
Rather than continuing to sit at his desk, he stood up and seemed to fill all the empty space in the room. The breadth of his shoulders seemed to be even more than a horse’s.
Irene felt particularly intimidated.
"That is why I must ask all of you," he continued. "Were there any signs of tunnels before now? Perhaps a use for them that we haven’t considered yet."
Irene glanced at the others but then she felt it was her job to speak up. The information he requested was directly tied with the one who was her knight.
"When we were searching the duchy for Her Grace, Sir Gunnar received a letter that the walls in the basement had collapsed, Commander," Irene explained. "They were covered up and completely unavailable to those of us who frequented that area of the castle. After all, that is where the armory that every apprentice visited at least a few times per week was located."
Commander Lothian’s expression didn’t change much, he merely absorbed the information given to him. His mouth twitched when Irene continued to bow her head. That was something he didn’t like so much.
"And what of the possibility that there are others still inside of the tower?" the Commander asked.
That time, it was Felix’s turn to answer. Updates are released by novᴇlfire.net
"Very low chance of that," Felix admitted. "That place is filled almost entirely with poison. If she was able to escape, I assume it means she’s either the last surviving or strongest. Based on her current state it isn’t looking good, sir."
The Commander crossed his arms and sat back until he was leaning against his desk. He let out a short, even sigh which made him sound disappointed, but he became contemplative for a few moments.
The sheer size of him made Irene a bit worried for his desk, but she managed to keep herself in check.
The man returned his attention to the apprentices.
"Well, if there’s nothing else that can be done, then I suppose I must dismiss you," he finally said. "Return to your duties in the meantime. Thank you for the information you provided me with."
However, his ’nothing else that can be done’ turned out to be rather flimsy.
To Irene’s chagrin, of course.