Better for it…I had my doubts by that night. Uther wanted a full measure of what my father had given him, from horsemanship to archery. Both I had been considered better than competent at, Uther just beetled his brows and glowered as he studied the pattern of shafts protruding from the target. "Your accuracy is acceptable." He stated, and I sighed, fighting the urge to let my fingers tremble. "But you will not be hunting rabbits. And that would be all these would kill. But you have a grasp of archery, yes. And horsemanship. Your father is correct, it is best to send you untaught in the ways of war. You will require no…unteaching." His glance fell to Arthas, who only twisted his lips in a wry smile. Obviously he'd not been that lucky, a prince would have been schooled in swordsmanship from childhood. "Arthas will drill you until you are good enough for me to take over. It will do him good to teach what he has learned. That is the true measure of comprehension."
He strode off, leaving me an exhausted and filthy puddle of sweat and nerves. He was well gone before Arthas clapped me on the back. "Good job." He said, "You made it."
I stared at him blankly for a moment, too caught up in myself to catch the moment. I was just… too tired, too grimy and lost to not show it. "You've been accepted to train with us. You will be moved into the barracks, as we all are. He was quite impressed. Come on, I'll get your kit issued and give him enough time to go through your things…I hope you don't have anything too private in it."
"Um…no." At least I didn't think so. I hadn't packed it….
"Good. I just know how my sister would react to Uther going through her things like that. Never hear the end of it." He shrugged. "Let's go get your kit."
My kit. My father was not a soldier. He'd fought on the walls of Lordaeron because quite simply, there was no other choice. He knew when to fight, and that was then. He'd always had a sword and a harness because he was nobility, and noblemen had such things. So if I was to train with knights, I must need those as well. He'd had no use for shovels, fire sets, ground sheets, tents, portable tin dinnerware. I was to have all of the mundane gear of a soldier in the field and not a noble knight at his estate. My lovely harness was put away as well; it was too fine for an initiate. I would wear what all the others wore, including Arthas.
"Let's go see what Uther has left you." Arthas laughed; shouldering one of the bags I'd been given. My own hands and shoulders were full, my kit was everything I'd need here, bedding, clothing…had I arrived completely empty handed, I would be set to
go….right down to socks and undergarments.
"Your room." He noted, moving to a door. It was ajar, and I could hear someone within, moving. I was afraid for a moment that I would have to share, but it was only Uther when Arthas pushed the door open with his shoulder. It was obviously meant for only one, little more than a cell. The cot, chest, and small desk within took up most of the available floor space, and Uther the rest.
"Evening, Lass." He greeted easily. "Arthas calls this the checklist of confiscation… although not much of what you brought is not here. Some of your gowns are too fine for here, but I left you some pretty ones for festivals and market. You brought a great many books…" his gaze was puzzled. "Some I would like to borrow from you and have copied for our library here. Your father does not strike me as so… intellectual… a man. These you will be permitted to keep, of course." He patted the teetering pile.
"When I realized I would be here for training, I took steps to read all I could about the arts I would be facing here."
"Ah. And your apparent fascination with maps?"
"Nothing apparent at all. Maps are… the answer to most questions." My lute rested on the desk next to him and I eyed it. He saw where my eyes rested, and picked it up. His hands were too large, too great, to hold it correctly, and he obviously had no idea how to anyway, but he treated it gently, like a baby passed to him by an overzealous relative.
