The Northern Assembly (2)
One of the attendants, still in the midst of preparing for the sparring matches, tentatively raised a hand.
"Um, Instructor."
"What is it?"
"That Adel fellow isn't participating, is he?"
The other attendants all nodded at once. They already regarded Adel as the finest among them — the one who stood for them all.
"Would you rather he came out and fought every last one of your matches for you?"
"No, sir. That's not it. But still, this opportunity..."
"Word of Adel's exploits will already have reached the other families. A mere attendant, overwhelming a knight in single combat. And yet they still requested an attendant sparring match. Why do you think that is?"
The attendants glanced at one another. Those who truly did not know stayed silent out of ignorance; those who had an inkling stayed silent for fear of being wrong. For one reason or the other, none of them dared to speak up.
"Speak your minds with confidence, gentlemen."
At the instructor's second prompting, one attendant cautiously raised a hand.
"Well, in my opinion... I think they're trying to gauge our level."
"Gauge your level. Elaborate."
"Meaning — whether Adel is the only one who's exceptionally strong, or whether this entire class of attendants is remarkable. I believe the northern families want to see for themselves."
A faint smile touched the instructor's mouth.
"Correct. That is likely what the other family heads want."
"Is that... really so? After everything our Lichtenauer family has done to help them..."
"Don't look at the situation so simply. This is not hostility toward Lichtenauer. They are not probing for a weakness so they can snatch the center of the Assembly. Quite the opposite — they are assessing your level to find conviction."
"Conviction?"
The instructor looked toward the attendants of the other families, already preparing in the distance, and began handing out the wooden swords he held, one by one.
"The hardest thing, from those family heads' perspective, is persuading their own people. The reason they bow to Lichtenauer — that is what they need. There must be a proper justification before their people will nod and follow their lord's will. That is how a family remains stable and unshaken."
No one spoke.
"That is why they want to see it. The unshakable strength of Lichtenauer. And that is why you must show them. The proud face of our house."
Wooden sword in hand, the instructor tapped his own chest lightly. The attendants mirrored the gesture, their resolve catching fire.
"Adel is overwhelmingly gifted — that much is true. But does that make you weak?"
"No, sir."
"Every training Adel completed, you completed as well. Am I wrong?"
"No, sir!"
"Then what are you worried about? If Adel isn't coming out, he isn't coming out. That's all there is to it. Why should his absence concern you? Do you not want to win?"
"No, sir!!!"
The attendants answered in a thunderous, ringing chorus. The instructor smiled.
"Show them a performance worthy of the Lichtenauer name, gentlemen. Go out there — and win."
"Hyaaaaah!!"
"Guh—!"
A heavy crash shook the grounds.
"Stop! That's enough!"
"The result — victory for Lichtenauer!"
"Waaaaaah!!"
The gathered crowd erupted in cheers and applause, celebrating the victor.
Why did ordinary imperial citizens come to the Northern Assembly, and not merely the family heads? Because of spectacles like this — entertainment well worth the journey. Sparring between knights and mock battles among the soldiers were the greatest draws, of course, but the matches between attendants set the heart pounding nearly as much.
"Thank you. I've learned much."
"No — it is I who have learned from you!!"
This was nothing like the clash of pride that had so recently unfolded between Lichtenauer and Fiore. These were people who had to serve as one another's spear and shield. The proper aim was to observe each other's level and fill in whatever was lacking — in one's opponent, and in oneself. A goodwill match. Yes. That was the right name for it.
"Hahaha. As expected, every last one of Lichtenauer's people is remarkable."
"You flatter us. The attendants under your command fought splendidly as well."
Sien waved a hand at the assembled family heads. There was humility in the gesture, but it was also simply true — the other families' attendants had fought extremely well. Lichtenauer's win rate was naturally the highest, yet there were those among her own who had fallen to attendants of other houses.
Watching one's own people lose was a bitter thing. But it also meant the North's overall level had risen, and from Sien's standpoint that was no loss at all.
Those attendants will catch quite an earful later, though.
It could not be helped. They had given their all — that much was true. But they had lost, and that was equally true. One had to answer for one's own shortcomings. Whatever punishment or reprimand awaited them, it would still be kinder than losing one's life on the battlefield.
The attendant matches were drawing to a close when several family heads sidled up beside her.
"Lady Lichtenauer. Come to think of it, I hear you dealt the Fiore family quite a magnificent blow."
"If you mean the sparring match at the Imperial Palace... yes, that's right."
The family heads each let out a murmur of amazement at Sien's confirmation.
"That young man was an attendant as well, was he not?"
"I heard the same — he was indeed an attendant."
"Extraordinary. The Lichtenauer attendants we've already seen today are all remarkable enough. To think there is one among them who utterly crushed a full-fledged knight. A knighthood is as good as his already!"
Yes. The family heads who had gathered at her side had almost certainly wanted to talk about Adel. Where in the world did an attendant defeat a knight? However gifted one might be, the gap was simply too vast to begin with. And yet he had actually done it, so of course their tongues had been itching to speak.
They had held those tongues on purpose, though — worried that bringing Adel up might draw him into the sparring. And Sien, of course, had not sent him out. The family heads were inwardly hoping he would stay off the field anyway. Besides, she had no wish to load him with unnecessary work. He was already busy enough, and he was already doing everything asked of him.
Just then, a knight slipped quietly into their circle.
"My lord, a moment."
He leaned in to his lord's ear and whispered something.
"...Ah. So he's finally arrived? Very well. Ahem. Lady Lichtenauer?"
"Yes. Please, go on."
"I am told that Sir Deri of our territory has just arrived."
"Sir Deri, you said."
"Ah — he served as an Imperial Knight until two years ago. He retired, spent a brief time in another region, and has now returned to his hometown. I thought we might call a man who spent his finest years as a knight to this distinguished gathering, even if only for a little while. Would you be willing to grant your permission?"
Sien knew full well how great the glory and honor of an Imperial Knight truly were. This was a knight who had served the Empire's absolute sovereign at his very side — a man as formidable as any knight of a renowned swordsmanship house. He had given the Empire his loyalty across long years. He deserved to be treated accordingly.
"Of course. An Imperial Knight is welcome at any time. Please, bring him here."
"You have my deepest thanks. You there! Go and bring Sir Deri at once!"
"Yes, my lord."
The knight sprang away and vanished in some direction. A short while later, he returned with an old knight in tow.
"I have brought him, my lords."
"Well done. You may withdraw."
Sien regarded the old knight standing before her with quiet eyes. Even to someone like herself, who still had so much left to learn, the elderly man carried a presence that was remarkably clean — and remarkably still.
"This old man presents himself before the assembled lords."
The voice was gentle and kind, yet a clear strength resided within it. He was a man who had dragged an aging body home at last — but there had been a time when, in the fullness of his mastery, he had followed at the Emperor's back, swinging his sword and riding hard to defend the Empire.
Everyone gathered here knew that hardship well. As a knight, in those chaotic years, how could he not have suffered? The Emperor himself had taken up his blade and fought at the vanguard. The Imperial Knights would have fought no less fiercely.
"We meet for the first time, Sir Deri. I am the head of House Lichtenauer."
"So you are the new head of the great swordsmanship house. It is an honor to meet you."
The old knight dropped to one knee and bowed his head. It was the highest honor a knight could offer.
"I am truly grateful that you would invite this old man to such a distinguished gathering."
"It's nothing. I hear the North is your hometown. After all you have endured, I can only hope you spend the rest of your days in peace."
"I can only give thanks for my lady's blessing."
After that, Sir Deri offered his greetings to the other family heads as well. One by one, with care and courtesy in every motion — and watching him, the lords thought that an Imperial Knight, even in retirement, still shone. They welcomed him with quiet applause.
Perhaps that was why no one noticed.
As the old knight straightened the knee he had bent and slowly rose to his feet, his gaze met that of the young man standing quietly at Sien's side. For a brief instant, Sir Deri and Adel locked eyes — and not a soul in the gathering saw it.
First came surprise. Then bewilderment. And after that, a small, inexplicable smile.
That was how the old knight looked at Adel.
And as if by the merest chance, one of the family heads spoke up, as though a splendid idea had just occurred to him.
"Sir Deri."
"Yes. Please, speak."
"If it would not be too great an imposition — as a senior who rose all the way to Imperial Knight, would you show your swordsmanship once, for the junior knights and the young attendants who dream of knighthood?"
"Hahaha... I am nothing more than an old man well past his prime."
"The skill that comes from years of experience is something no one can dismiss!"
At the noble lord's words, Sir Deri quietly turned his gaze.
There stood Adel, watching him with the same still eyes as his own.