The day finally came.
While they had been at the Duke’s Tower, they had been staying in guest rooms since the barracks were still in disarray. Fortunately, mages were cleansing the place of the poison and traces of black magic since the spell that had been keeping it there was broken.
The only mages left there were Stanley and a couple of the original ones he arrived with. Siverly wasn’t there, and Mella was no longer with them.
Irene had a theory that Siverly’s absence had something to do with Mella’s death, but she couldn’t say for sure.
As Irene woke up early in the morning, she found it hard to accept the fact that it was a day that would change her path forever. Her decisions would be her own. The only person who could give her orders was the next Duke or someone higher.
Stepping out of bed, Irene got into shabby clothing because they were going to participate in morning practices for the last time as apprentices. After that day, their schedule would likely look much different.
At the moment, there were no squires, a lot of apprentices, and only a handful of knights.
During practice, as she listened to Sir Gunnar, she silently mused that there might be the announcement of a second in command while they waited for a duke. She hoped that it would be Sir Gunnar. Anyone else wouldn’t make sense.
After practice ended, it was time for them to eat breakfast, then take baths so that they could get into nicer clothing and begin the ceremony.
She was certain the fuss over them was far less than it was for those having to go to a knighting ceremony in the south. It was definitely her preference.
The guest room that Irene was given was one of the larger ones with multiple beds, so she could bunk with her father while he was visiting. Having his support while she adjusted to being her true self in front of the others was so unbelievably valuable.
As she looked through the clothing she brought with her, she realized her mother had slipped in a couple of tunics that were obviously nicer than the rest and reminded her of the ones her father had been burdened with as well. Surprisingly, the gesture made her smile rather than feel irritated. She had been feeling particularly sentimental over the winter and through the spring.
Was that part of getting older? She felt like she was starting to better understand her mother’s intentions, even if she didn’t always agree with them. Despite all the disagreements they had while under the same roof, she still cherished her mother even more than she did before.
Finally able to get dressed after a bath was brought to the room, and she was all alone, Irene got into something she thought was pretty, despite it still not being a dress. She had no intention of wearing them. Becoming a knight vindicated her all the more.
As she stood with a mirror leaning on a shelf so she could get a good look at herself, her eyes drifted over to the small bottle of oil her mother had given her before she left.
There was a long pause before she reached for it. An even longer pause before she decided to uncork the opaque jar and smell what was inside.
She was instantly taken back to her home in central Chemois. Nothing had captured her mother’s lilac garden better than what she was smelling. Spring was her favorite season because of the lilacs and greenery all around. It was also warm outside, but not too hot to give her more freckles or turn her skin painfully red.
It was a little spicier-smelling than regular lilacs. Faintly floral, mostly spicy freshness.
She had seen her mother brush it through her hair a million times before, and she decided to do the same thing.
Once it was spread throughout her hair and brushed out, the scent wasn’t that strong, but her hair seemed nicely managed. It caused her to smile.
How strange it was to accept something so soft and feminine. It was practically the only thing she had ever done to care about her outer appearance.
Regardless of her hang-ups with something such as that, she pulled her belt onto her waist and made sure her sword was adjusted before she went and joined the others. Would they recognize Leif’s sword? It was an understated weapon, but it was one he had carried for as long as he could remember.
While she hated the thought of wearing the already worn leather handle because where it was worn was because of his hand, she thought it was important to at least wear it while she was being knighted.
It was like he was being knighted, too. He deserved it so much, after all.
With a deep, calming breath, the girl exited her guest room and quickly made her way down to the back entrance of the Duke’s Tower.
Because of the early hour, they were able to enjoy the sun while they were knighted.
With each step, she felt a bit more excitement. Her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest at any moment.
At the bottom of the stairs, she saw that others were already gathered in the practice yard that was still covered in grass since it hadn’t been properly worn out. Beyond that, the horses stood in their pen, watching with interest as their knights and apprentices gathered around.
It seemed that the knighting would happen on the few steps leading up to the back entrance because of where mismatched chairs and benches had been placed. The appearance of that only further reiterated just how lacking they were in furniture.
She wondered what sort of Commander or Duke would want to deal with such a skeleton of a place. Would they find it a burden to fill, or would they like all the possibilities awaiting the space?
Irene hoped it was the latter. They needed someone invigorated enough with life, just like Commander Lothian. He participated in the knighthood just as much as he participated in a hands-on manner on his own estate.
She kept going forward, smiling at her father and Sir Gunnar before going to a place where the other apprentices convened. Felix was next to her, and she smiled up at him.
There were so few people there to watch her become a knight, but every single person there had experienced the war alongside her. If there was anyone there she didn’t have such a close connection to, it would feel out of place.
Sir Arthur walked towards the stairs before stepping up three and turning around.
"Is everyone ready to begin the ceremony?"