Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 21

By midmorning the following day, Lord Briggon and Zyvon left the confines of the study after researching for most of the night and only resting for a few hours. They both ventured out to the courtyard. There, near the west gardens, they found Otswana sword fighting with Captain Greypol.

While Zyvon wandered off into the gardens, Lord Briggon stayed to witness the swordfight.

He studied Otti's form, noticing much improvement with her footwork, her lunges and her deflections. She maintained a consistent amount of time being on the offense, advancing quickly to impede the captain from finding an opportunity to strike her with all the deflecting he was doing.

Lord Briggon found it curious Otti was not using her magic. If she refused to practice her enchantments, she would fail against the dark forces that will soon be battling against her.

The moment Lord Briggon neared the swordplay, Otswana caught a glimpse of him, but did not lose her concentration. Instead, she grinned and advanced with a diagonal move. She repeated the move so the captain was now facing Lord Briggon. The captain hesitated for only a moment, and that was the opening Otti needed. With one swipe, she tore the collar of his shirt and stopped the sword just an inch from his neck.

"Well done," the captain said. He backed away from the sharp blade and raised his sword to his face to signify the end of the swordfight. "Do you feel better? You have released quite a bit of your negative energy, as you call it. You don't seem as angry with me now that you bested me in swordplay," the captain said to Otswana as they turned to Lord Briggon.

Otswana nodded her head. "Yes. I am still sore, but most of my anger is gone. I still need some time," she confessed.

"Very well," Klav agreed. They both turned their attention to Lord Briggon.

"Lord Briggon, what news do you have to report on the summoning portals?" Klav asked.

"Zyvon wishes to meet with everyone in the study now to report our findings." The sorcerer briefly glanced at Otti and then to Captain Greypol. "You told her of what occurred yesterday?"

"I thought it would be best for her to know. I also discovered she forgives faster if important secrets are shared with her," Klav said with a straight face, but his eyes sparkled with humor.

Otti rolled her eyes at his teasing. She didn't seem to be in the mood to be amused by the captain. Prince Greggor met up with the three of them as they conversed.

"Are all the arrangements made for Otswana's coronation tomorrow after the hanging?" Lord Briggon asked Prince Greggor.

"Yes. There will be twenty nobles present as well as forty guardsmen. We decided all guests shall remain standing. The coronation is to commence at three in the afternoon," Greggor explained.

A cool breeze swept through the courtyard. Otswana shivered, and rubbed her arms.

"Let us continue this conversation in the study. There is already a warm fire there. We should also go inform the king of the meeting," Lord Briggon said.

"I will go find him. He still keeps to his room since yesterday," Prince Greggor said and left them to make their way to the study.

Before they reached the shrubbery, Klav took Otti's hand and looped her arm through his. Otswana seemed oblivious. She was woolgathering again. Klav kept eyeing her to see if she would turn her thoughts to the present.

Lord Briggon watched as the captain snagged a drooping flower from one of the bushes they passed. The captain placed the flower into Otswana's hair to draw her attention to him, but she was still deep in thought. The wizard gave the captain an amused smile as they entered the castle.