Perils of Novice Paladin

Hidden on the highest shell in the kitchen was put box with lemon cookies. Fresh baked sweets spread aroma of fruit and honey in the room, tempting nose of anyone who dare to trespass territory of the master chief of the Dummar Castle. Madame Victoria rule the kitchen with iron first and steel spoon which strike merciless and precisely on the hands of any thief who try to steal precious cakes.

Such obstacles and possibly of punishment it wound not stopped novice Hilda from taking a chance in such dangerous quest. It wasn’t her first attempt to steal some cookies, or even the tenth one. Over years in the monastery Hilda take a risk multiple times to get some best cookies from Madame Victoria. Some of them been successful, some of them end poorly for Hilda, where she faced punishment for breaking the rules. Being spanked on bare ass, adding more tasks and work in monastery, rewriting large portion of holly books, extra training with sword and shield when others got dinner… Oh yeah, superiors knows how to punish troublemakers.

Hilda knows all of this, but taste of the cookies was too much temptation for her to resist urge, so that doesn’t stopped her. She hide herself behind corner leading to kitchen and quiet sneak peak into room.

Madame Victoria was right now cooking something delicious in the large pot, standing close to fireplace. Chief add some herbs and spices to soup, her attention was occupied by cooking. Hilda’s stare find kitchen cabinet, in the opposite corner of the room. On top of that, on the highest shell was box with lemon cookies, Hilda’s favorite. Small voice in her head told her, it would be better for her to let it go, that she would likely get some cookies after dinner. But Hilda choose to ignore them and take a try to sneak behind Madame Victoria back .

[ Sneak test 1d20, difficult 15. Roll: 16 (wow, I didn’t expected that)]

Hilda move quiet as mouse, on the bare foot, with high lifted novice robe to avoid making any sound. Her heart beat so hard, that she fear Madame Victoria would hear sound of it. But luckily for Hilda, chief was too busy with preparing meal and didn’t noticed naughty novice. Hilda slowly moves her hand to the box with cookies, which was put behind some cups and plates.

[Sneak test 1d20, difficult 15. Roll: 16 (come on!)]

With highest precision and carefulness, Hilda moves away plates and cups, not making any sound. She turn around to check on Madame Victoria, but she still mixed soup with her large wooden spoon. Hilda takes a breath and takes treasure from the shell. She hide box under her robe and move in the direction of exit.

[Sneak test 1d20, difficult 15. Roll: 4]

As Hilda make step by step to doors, she cannot waiting to finally taste lemon cookies. She was so focus on the coming feast, that she missed lonely fork standing out of the table. Hilda by accident touch it with elbow and fork fall down on the stone floor, making some noise.

[Perception check for Madame Victoria 1d20, difficult 10, Roll: 6 (She must be really busy)]

Hilda hold her breath, as Madame Victoria rise her head, like she heard something. Sweat garret on Hilda’s forehead as she stare at massive superior. Time slow down like slug on the road. Madame shake her head and return to the pot.

“I must misheard something” she said to herself.

Hilla doesn’t dare to sigh of relief, as her heart still beats like mad berserker. She takes closer her robe and box, as she step by step move out the kitchen. As soon as she hide behind the corner of the room, Hilla finally let go her breath.

“That was close one” She whisper, with wild smile on her face.

She did it! Tonight she and her sisters in the cellars will have plenty sweets to eat. Hilda move away from the kitchen and hide in th glimpse, behind stone figure of some saint, to taste cookie. Just one, to check if everything is in the order. Fresh baked lemon cookie, smell delicious and small bite brings Hilda joy and pleasure, as reward for risking her skin to obtain it.

“Hilda! Novice Hilda”! Suddenly somebody calling for her. In the first moment Hilda panic, thinking Madame Victoria by some six sense find out it was her who stole cookies. But then she realized, that voice come from opposite direction. Hilda takes deep breath and left cookies hidden behind stone figure, in the glimpse. She stepped outside and move to familiar voice.

“Novice Hilda, where are you?! Oh, there you are”! It was Madame Theresa, mistress of combat in the order. Over her robe she wore tunic with sigil of the order, sword with scales on the hilt.

“Why are you not at lesson of history of the order”?

Hilda hates history lessons, there were boring and endless, so she takes any chance to somehow break out of them.

“Well… I have to use restroom. I was on my way back”. Hilda said with fake confidence.

[Persuasion test 1d20, Difficulty 10. Roll: 15]

“Hmm… it took you long enough, some serious matter”? Madame Theresa said with disbelieve in voice, making Hilda nervous under her scared face, but Madame didn’t press subject.

“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. Abbot Margarita is calling you to her chamber. Without delay”.

Hilda begin to sweat again. Oh no! Did she crossed the line? In way that Hilda would be kicked out the order?! Being called to abbot means nothing pleasant!

“Did… did something happen”? Hilda asked carefully, trying hard not to sounds too terrified.

“You will learn it from Abbot Margarita, go”!

Like prisoner coming to her execution, Hilda follow Madame Theresa to the chamber of the Abbot. She thought about nice taste of the cookies and regret that she didn’t eat more of them before this catastrophe. Madame Theresa open heavy door leading to chamber and Hilda has to get inside.

In the chamber, behind massive wooden desk, Abbot Margarita sit in her massive chair, dressed in full plate armor, with blonde hair tied in the crown style.

“Sit down” She command Hilda, using her powerful and confident voice. Hilda sit on the small chair, over made by authoritarian aura coming from Abbot Margarita.

“Novice Hilda. You been trained in the art of the paladin for the past five years in monastery. Your grades”. She take a look at documents.

“You get moderate results in the sword fighting, your writing skills are average, your knowledge about history and doctrine of the order are barely minimum, but your skills with the horse riding are the best in your year”. Abbot Margarita descripted most of Hilda’s marks, which doesn’t sounds too optimistic. Hilda keep her hands on her knees, not daring to interrupt abbot, while Madame Theresa stands behind her. Tension filled in the air, while two most important woman in the order will decide Hilda’s fate.

Finally, Margarita look at Hilda.

“From what I hear you are trouble maker, don’t you? You don’t follow the rules, finding loopholes and ways to move around obstacles, don’t you”?

“Yes…, yes I’m, Abbot Margarita…” Hilda nod, wet under armpit, under direct stare from abbot.

“Also, it was noticed that you never throw the blame on others, if you get caught red handed with another novice, you always take punishment on yourself. Once you throw yourself on Madame Victoria to let others escape”. Hilda bushed on that memory. She called her friends to escape and she stopped Madame Victoria, which wasn’t too pleasant. Madame give her fifty whips on bare ass and then order Hilda to clean entire dining hall all alone, dressed only in the tiny apron. Hilda remember how much she was embarrassed making these task barely dressed.

“So, despite your flaws in some subjects, your reputation makes you trustworthy”. Abbot Margarita continue. “And because we are right now short on man power, we are going to give you important mission to fulfil”.

In that moment Hilda realized that she wasn’t called to being kicked out the order.

“I…. I’m sorry, Abbot”? She asked confused.

“ You will get opportunity to prove yourself in your fist mission outside the order”. Madame Theresa said behind her. “Novice Hilda, you will be promoted to the first rank of paladin and given task to deliver important message to the Abbot Sarah, in the Watcher’s Keep”.

Margarita close hands to praying.

“In more peace times you would be first rise to rank of squire, attached to one of the paladin as her student and learn for her example. Unlucky, this mission demands full pledged paladin, and only you are close enough to that level”

Hilda once heard that name on geography lessons, but she have no clue where it is exactly. It doesn’t matter anyway, she still unbelieved that her worth fears didn’t come.

“Do you want to say anything Novice Hilda”? Abbot Margarita asked with stern voice.

“Eee… I mean. Thank you for such honor, abbot. I didn’t expected that” Hilda managed to find some words.

“Yes, It is an honor for you and I expected from you, that you will take this mater seriously”. Abbot Margarita gives her deep stare. “Because once you become paladin, not only your name you will have to uphold, but also name of the order. Your action and decisions will be judged by outsiders, so it will come to you, to keep our reputation. Do you understand that”?

Hilda smiled nervously and nod.

“Yes, I understand, Abbot Margarita, that I won’t bring the shame to the name of the order”. She promised. Margarita gives her piercing stare, but in the end nodded, satisficed.

“Good, I expect nothing less from you, Novice Hilda. Now, more practical matter”. Somehow Hilla get more relaxed than before this talk begin. “ You will take part in the ceremony, where you will be promoted to rank of paladin, in the temple. In the normal circumstances we would call most of the notables and high ranks of the order to witness of novice promotion to paladin, but situation is dire and we don’t have time to wait for them to come. So your witness will be only members of the order who are present here, plus mayor of neighbor town, as outside witness”.

Hilda listen to this, over made by emotion of disbelieve, joy, curiosity, excitement. Paladin. She will become paladin, after so many years in the monastery. Not only that, but her superior already gives her important mission! That was the best day of her life!

…

That was the coolest day of her life!

Hilda kneel in the center of the temple, dressed in only in short white shirt and nothing else. She feel cold from the stone floor on her bare feet, and multiple eyes staring at her. All novices, teachers and presents paladins stand before her, among some local nobles, to witness Hilla’s ceremony to become paladin. They sing song about glory, honor and duty.

Abbess Margarita stands behind altar, on which lie down sword, armor, helmet and rest of new equipment for Hilda after she become paladin. All shiny and new, fresh from hands of artisan. It is second reason why Hilda has problems with focusing on the ceremony, knowing that weapons soon will be her.

Third reason…

“Novice Hilda, are you ready to swear your oath and be reborn as paladin of the Order?” Margarita ask towering above Hilda.

“I’m ready” Hilda speak with confidence, or at least she tried to sound confident.

“Then step forward and wash away your novice live”. Margarita commands and Hilda obeys. She take off her shirt, standing complete naked. Hilda used to take bath among with novices, but there been only few of them, not whole temple. She feels their stare on her naked body, as she stepped into the pool with holy water. Hilda slowly drown under water, with praying hands and heavy bushed face. She feels eyes of all novices, nobles and teachers on the nude body, that makes her body hot, in oppose to cold water which surrounded her whole.

Margarita stepped into pool behind her, grabbing Hilda head.

“I, Abbess Margarita bring Hilda to the ranks of paladin, in the name of justice”.

She pressed Hilda head under water and pull out.

“In the name of wisdom”!

Hilda hold her breath when Abbess push her underwater.

“And in the name of courage”

This time Hilda keep her calm. She stepped out the pool, letting fellow novices dry her with towels. Then Hilda turn around to Abbess Margarita and bend the knee, naked before full armored superior. Margarita rise her sword and with lighting speed she cut off Hilda pony tail, leaving her with short hair.

“Take that strike and fight back everyone who comes next”. Margarita change grip on the sword and offer grip to Hilda.

Hilda stand up and taken offered weapon.

“I swear to follow rules of the Order of the Steel Rose, obey commands of my superior and always bring justice to the world”. Hilda said with more self-confidence, feeling stronger and mightier, forgetting that she is standing naked.

Abbess gives her serious smile and wave for novices. Girls slowly dress up Hilda. First come white shirt and panties, Hilda pull it on glad to cover her body.

Next novice give her pants, mixed in red and green colors.

Hilda was surprised when she put on leather boots, how comfortable they are. She was used to wear sandals, so this feeling was new to her.

Novices take woolen gambeson and help Hilda put it on. She realized how thick it is material, and in the same time how much is better suit her than novice robe, no ticking or annoying itching.

Hilda put on surcoat, with sigil of Order of the Steel Rose. Despite being crafted of light material, Hilda suddenly feel overweight, like somebody put big weight on her shoulder. Now she wear sigil of Steel Rose, she is one of members to maintain reputation of the order, it is not child play anymore.

Finally Abbess Margarita wrapped knight’s belt around Hilda’s waist, tied it up, as final symbol of her becoming paladin. With attached small dagger and pouch, her imagine of the paladin was almost complete.

At last Hilda get simple basinet helmet, her final piece of equipment.

There she is.

Full dressed in the gear of the Steel Rose, Hilda stand with sword in her hands, happy from emotions.

“Now you are full pledged paladin, knight Hilda of the Steel Rose Order”. Abbes Margarita proclaim, and crowd cheers for Hilda. Hilda feels coming tears into her eyes, she whip them off with her hand.

“Serve the justice and harmony, as true knight”.

Hilda just nod happy. She gain such confidence that she was sure that she could defeat even dragon, and nothing wrong could come to her.

Oh, sweat summer child...

(If somebody wants, please share your ideas who should be her first companion in journey)

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