Temporary Squire

Teuta brought you into a small armoury that existed in a room off of the training stage. She began looking through different sets of clothing. You were worried, but the cloth padding on the attire was likely good enough that you could still keep your secret. Though you knew you would likely end up looking a bit…

“What are your measurements?” She asked curiously, right on time.

“Uh…” You cheeks flushed as you told her. She stopped and looked back at you, eying you up. You wondered if she noticed.

“You’re actually pretty skinny, huh?”

You quickly changed the subject. “You support that Heilan girl?”

“Of course.” Teuta smiled.

“She’s extremely promising and deserves my sponsorship. You wont change my mind.”

“That’s not it. She is good. Why doesn’t she have anything on her uniform like the others when she’s so accomplished?”

Teuta handed you a uniform that fit your proportions. There was no male, or female. She simply handed you one that would fit what you told her. You took it and shook it out as she answered.

“I’m not sure. She should have one for her home, but she chose not to. Other than that it seems like she hasn’t had any Services pop up.”

“What about under yours?”

Teuta looked confused. “Mine? Why?”

This woman… seriously? I’m pretty sure she’s not doing it on purpose, but to be this clueless. You collected your thoughts and tried to make a clear point.

“So you came through, saw a girl with nothing on her uniform, saw she had potential and sponsored her and then you left and didn’t do anything else beyond that? Just so I have everything right.”

“That’s about right. Why? Heilan’s a strong girl and she’ll make a great Knight. With her skill she can get any Service in the Kingdom and she just needs to-”

“Apply herself?” You stared at her cock-eyed. Teuta lifted her bronde brow in response to your interjection. She stared at you questioningly.

“Do you have no clue how beastfolk are treated by MOST people in Teor?”

Teuta cocked her head inquisitively. “I think anyone can get by with hard work. We have many, many dogfolk in Teor and many of them are in the Guard Corps.” She argued.

“How many Knights?” You asked. Teuta paused for a long while.

“Not many… I think… Hmm.” She shook her head.

“I’m not sure. I don’t know anyone, but there must be in some States.”

You sighed deeply. “How many squires?”

She brightened. “There’s a few! Not a lot, but I think that’s just because there aren’t many around that go that route.”

“Why don’t they become Knights?”

“I…” She thinks about that. After a second she guessed.

“I guess most of them don’t make it.”

“Why?”

She stared at you blankly. “I’m not sure?”

“You think most of them aren’t as good, or aren't working as hard?”

“I…” She furrowed her brow.

“No, that can’t be right… So I wonder why.”

You shook your head and rubbed your eyes. “This is so frustrating.” You crossed your arms and stared at the contemplative Knight.

“I mean it’s literally right in front of you. None of the Squires respect Heilan because she’s a dog.”

“What? No…” Teuta argued weakly. You could see she was uncertain.

“She can’t get Services, because why would any of the people around here take her over her peers when there’s enough humans to never have a shortage?”

“She’s a hard worker, though.” Teuta remarked.

“So why would they-”

“Speciesism! Do you not know what that is?”

Teuta was confused, obviously. “But we accept dogfolk into the Guard, the States Government and even let them try out to be Knights.”

You sighed and waved your hand at her. “We’re going in circles. All I’m saying is, think about that more. That girl needs a bit more help because she’ll probably just go along with all this stuff around her and think it’s fine.” You finished, grumbling.

“Literally defended the guy that tried to harm her. Who knows. Maybe if he succeeded you’d have another beastfolk that failed ‘just because.’ Think about it.”

Teuta stopped and did seem to be thinking very hard. “I… will look into this more. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.” She bowed graciously and waited, looking at you holding the uniform.

“What?” You asked.

“Are you going to get changed, or..?”

“Can you leave the room while I get changed?” Teuta heard that and shrugged, walking out of the room. You could tell she was standing right outside. You removed your clothes, checked everything that was keeping your chest flat, and then slipped into the uniform. It was tighter than you thought, but that was because of the layering. When you actually started to put it on it was a bit bulkier than it felt, though…

Shit… You groaned, turning yourself.

I can’t do anything about my ass and hips, and there’s no room for me to tuck my ponytail… People are gonna think I’m such a twink. You shouted out at Teuta.

“Okay, ready.”

As soon as she walked in, she noticed. “Oh. You are pretty skinny and… Huh.” She was curious, but not suspecting. She seemed to just think it odd, and not worth looking into.

“It’s my diet…”

She giggled. “Tell me what diet you are on. I’m very interested. Anyway… Do you just want everything as you put it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Since you are doing this for me, and it’s temporary, I’m fine forging things a little. It’s no big deal. Just tell me what you want.”

“Uhh… Make me Glasian. Fin… Veldman.” As you were re-attaching your sword to your hip you switched it to your right.

“Left-handed.”

“Left? But-”

“It won't affect my performance all that much. I’d rather fly under the radar, so I’ll use my left hand, and stick solely to Glasian fencing.”

Teuta smiled and offered politely. “You may be underestimating the bulk of Teor’s Squires, Fin. I also did ask you to try your best.”

You rolled your eyes. “Let the results speak for themselves. If I run into trouble, I’ll switch hands. The only reason I suggest this is because I’m healing and for the first day or two I’ll be using my left, regardless.”

“Oh.” Teuta accepted that as an excuse and left it alone.

“Alright then, good luck.” She began to leave.

“Hey. Wait. How’s all this gonna work?” You asked.

“You gonna give orders?”

“No?” Teuta looked at you over her shoulder as she stood in the door.

“The Squires are expected to handle their own training, and to seek out tasks on their own. Typically they’ll form groups with leaders, so find one of those. Other than that…” She shook her head and shrugged.

“Just do your best. I’ll come by, but it’s mostly just to inspect everyone’s progress.”

“This is pretty shoddy…”

“On the contrary. We want to promote independence in our Knight candidates.” Teuta retorted with a blindingly bright smile.

“Eh? That’s a lie and you know it. All you Knights are complete hardasses.”

She blinked and looked up in thought of how to explain it. “We want to see that candidates are able to ‘independently’ adhere strictly to our standards.”

Your mouth fell open. You eventually shut it and said. “I genuinely don’t like this system and you are on thin ice, Ma’am.”

Teuta chuckled and waved, saying as she left. “Wow. If I was your instructor I would have done something about that snark.”

“Tch.” You exited the hall and watched her leave, passing through the training grounds as she did. You flexed and rolled your shoulders, trying to break in the tight uniform.

Independently strictly adhere to our standards. All you’re saying with that is that candidates have to brainwash themselves into perfection. As you were thinking about your circumstances you saw a group of boys lead by the blonde Sfen walking into the hallway from the training ground as Teuta walked out. They were approaching you.

Oh great.

The gang was made up of Sfen, the boy whose arm you broke… The boy who was some manner of noble. You of course could not brag about being part of a Ducal house, and being about to marry into Royalty, so things could get complicated. Sfen was naturally taller than you by a head, and of course wider because he had an actual masculine physique. His hair was longer on top, but shaved along the sides in the typical Teor style for young assholes. He was flanked by two boys with brown, and dark brown hair. Their eyes were brown and dark brown to match and they ranged from skinny to stocky and both were a bit taller than you. You gritted your teeth.

Why is everyone so fucking tall?Sfen’s dark-blue eyes centred on you antagonistically. Then, as he got closer he squinted and seemed a bit taken aback. You smiled, noting that his left arm, the one you had stepped on, was in a sling. You kept that smile as the boys approached.

“Hello. Come to welcome me?” You asked with a bratty tone.

“Yes.” Sfen nodded, offering his right hand. You looked down and took it.

“No hard feelings.”

“Speak for yourself.” You told him, gripping his hand hard with your left.

“I’m not a big fan of bullies and sore losers. Maybe you don’t wanna get close to me. I don’t like the way you smell at all.” You stated coldly.

“What the hell is wrong with you!” The skinny bow shouted angrily through yellow, gritted teeth. One brow shot right up as he brought his face close.to yours. You stared him down. The other fatter one seemed to be about to join, but Sfen made a sound and boxed them back with his shoulder. He narrowed his eyes on you, looking you over. His cheeks flushed and he retorted seriously.

“I’m not a bully or a sore loser. You saw something and now you’re making assumptions.” Sfen offered calmly.

“Enlighten me.”

“She constantly acts like she’s better than everyone else, even though she’s a dog. All while she’s done nothing and gained no Services. Someone that would not even pass being a Knight was somehow selected to be sponsored by Master, and the only way it makes sense is if there’s something going on.”

“You were in the process of stabbing her in the back, basically. She won and you surrendered.” You argued harshly.

He cocked his head to one side. “Do you know the rules? Are we supposed to let our guard down if an enemy surrenders? Is that something that we were ever told?” He looked left and right. His boys naturally nodded in agreement.

“No. In fact, that’s something that she’s all too familiar with. She fights like an animal. Dishonourably. If she’s able to do that then I can ‘test’ her a bit.” You read him, and saw that he genuinely believed what he was saying. It was an excuse, but he was making it out of a genuine idea that he was right.

“You could’ve killed her like that.”

“Not at all. I was going to bring my sword to her neck and show her that she lost. You interfered and… Your hand was gashed. My wrist was broken by you. We’re both Entrants, right?” You nodded. Sfen shrugged.

“Then we’ll both heal in a day. No harm done.” He then asked.

“So do you still think you have a reason to be upset on her behalf.”

You smiled. You felt you did, but you had to be tactful. “I suppose we’ll have to see.”

Sfen smiled. “I suppose. Where are you from?”

“Glasia.” You lied casually.

“Hoh. You must be fast and good in a one-on-one.”

“Maybe.” You smiled.

“Got in front of your sword, but I guess you’d say that I only caught a ‘non-lethal’ stab,”

“You’re clever and you have a-” He stopped and stared at your lips.

“You have a big mouth…” He added with a short tone.

A smile crossed your lips as he withdrew his hand and waited. I bet I could drive this guy insane.

***

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this story and want to read more of it, more Chapters are currently available to read at https://www.patreon.com/TVWintergreen By Subscribing you also gain access to my extensive backlog of content and uploads of new chapters daily! Hope to see you soon~