Chapter 13. Caught (2)

“Yes?”41fd2eb85b01c3e8

“You can’t get away with that.”8b0239d05b1c9c5c

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I’d been caught.22047a053e465fcf

I squeezed my eyes 88714ccb65 shut.3c18a4093fdd7b87

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Images flashed before me—a b57688d497 scarecrow with thinning hair, 7707587ea6 a worn-out straw hat, e3a8e57aaf moldy jerky, and the 54fe93edd6 snowy northern landscape flying e9a2ffd84d past.efa6001892173378

Is this it? The end 817c1c0ea7 of our 5f320d96e5 escape and aa75ce6679 of Leonie’s ccf45beb12 life?0b6d9c877ad26cc3

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But then Deon spoke.fa42cdc5e4bb282d

“You can’t escape from the wolf with just that.”1a17c07403424942

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I opened my eyes 82c1f8a3bf abruptly.8e2a644e14c3baef

Deon took 06fac3936b the branch 5b746dd9a5 from my 71a3d78a77 hand. He examined the ce67dfbb74 carefully crafted wood f1232816b6 and spoke.5a85f5d766da3f8b

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“This wooden sword is useless. It’ll break if you hit a sturdy animal. Plus, it’s too long. What do you expect a beginner to do with a sword as tall as herself?”9e41a846220a4e34

A shadow passed over 8fb45dca1c his face.7880e996ecb889cc

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He grabbed the stick 6fb7668114 and swung it at 3e50ee97dd a nearby tree.88b74b79999e6815

Crack.31d1189dea7e1584

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Both the 58fec34781 branch and c79de2f7cf the tree afc11f568a snapped. Even the strong tree 7a6924db9e had become brittle in 50c7bd49cf the cold.e2c78830fb665d77

He threw the 12b7697184 broken stick aside.d8a5e214b16e0be0

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I looked at 4a48987a25 what remained—splintered ends 5d17f667a8 and a crooked 94dd6cd537 shape. My hiking 0c3c402514 staff was 374fbda1e0 no more.e73217d405f897a1

“It’s flimsy.”7712a52bab855e60

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He kicked 373adf6846 the branch 7ad99b2e21 with his 2c70bb0a69 boot.8104775110b37020

“No… I mean…”a5809e5b4d8bd214

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He looked 77d54a669f at me, d018f53594 surprised by 9a28830444 my startled d2fc66e246 reaction.2923a6c8def67f04

“Weren’t you trying to learn swordsmanship?”45d3d925aba26a2c

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“No! That’s right! The lady really wanted to learn. Right, Leonie? You even sharpened branches and practiced early in the morning—hitting trees and everything.”27dd70fed7e3196e

Suren chimed in enthusiastically.6a8068d4d29eb21d

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I caught on quickly 64bf5b8d27 and nodded.6b5c953f26b84431

“Yes, yes… that’s right.”e2ab96c7073ded07

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“You didn’t need to go through all this trouble carving a wooden sword. You could’ve just asked for a real one. Looks like you got pricked by a thorn, too.”88e30ef6d6dbf154

He took my hand.0f6f55d185add186

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My palm was c06dcc18e1 dotted with small ef5f88c842 red wounds that 151b387e39 hadn’t fully healed.af46fd3bcc665903

Deon led me to 476c40d666 the nearby training ground. Without ceremony, cc3badf8e3 he handed 7d834173f9 me a c76324884e sword from 957da13d8e the rack.bdc46c8ba0e35299

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“Hold this.”99863e073b8097c4

It was a 72a57c5e0f thin rapier.0d41965ec5b0c753

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Clearly made for beginners—dull, flexible, easy to wield. But still…1283bf84766af480

What was I supposed 3678d52cf9 to do with this?ce7d092b6c720374

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You couldn’t strike 7a951b031f the ground on 5523ebb1a2 a mountain trail cbd24ad617 with a rapier.e9e5872d351c6798

“This won’t fend off a wolf,” I muttered.89a5605f7456d52b

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He replied, “Whatever you wield is better than that brittle stick from the cave.”df0d26a87b95224c

The stick 4c3e5f2446 I’d once bc88a54b73 used to e99547d53b threaten a 87c210ed10 wolf. A matter 1b1b408f2b of life e537b13b96 and death e29156e072 turned into c051e530f1 a joke.bd49552555cfff83

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I had no more 7c65883e74 excuses. Silently, I took the 0ee5c0b9ac rapier.2e9ddbd668ca7744

Despite being 716f50448b slim, it cd49ee8eba had a 04db1a1b25 surprising weight. My arms trembled.ecafaa46e671f027

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If a 7681661241 rapier was 6d0a2e91fc this heavy, 8d8382c9bd could I fa7bf53214 even lift c8cd355950 a proper 3f06c5d7e4 sword?7981aa4c00a36616

Eventually, I set it 46e17d7ca1 down.6b4460e3eab1282b

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Leonie’s wrists a6e045415c were just 9eb993a49b too thin.11d15535b0139c79

“Didn’t you promise to live a long, strong life?”cb70a806d1c6a50f

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He must’ve ba656336b8 seen my 0b1867719d hesitation.8d0bb4c1a7cfdb03

“Swordsmanship is good for building strength. You said you used to carry dishes in a restaurant—yet you have nothing to protect yourself with.”f73ea52215870daf

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It was meant 4f0d1a07d9 as a joke, 6f6acdd7df but his tone 47a3ef98d5 was serious.ec3aeaf381d9db76

“Listen. You were lucky with the wolf, but luck may not help next time.”f6e02f677fee89bc

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Reluctantly, I took the 026425dd75 sword again.c5bc6d5a97687e8a

It was still heavy. My arm trembled.47eaece53394dd6e

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I’d seen soldiers bde3bc3bf1 practice before—but I fcfea2ab27 couldn’t mimic even f09ee4847b their most basic f18365b02d movements. The sword swung wildly 715af5e8dd in every direction.ffe63f452b8952dc

“You’re terrible. Is it really that heavy?”2679afd31216fa26

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He drew another 60d11e67d9 rapier from the 8d1216b9c2 rack and skillfully 26d6b80c40 handled it with 88648b4904 one hand—what I a689684fe6 could barely lift ef2afc30ef with two.3ea700176002bd1b

My face flushed.248e078dc545ed67

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“Just keep going. You’ll get used to it.”26fea2e4721c638e

A bit of determination e247446e1d rose in me. I gripped d72b16c122 the sword b6c48ce400 tighter.dab6fbdd24c0ad20

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“You’re off balance. Hold it here.”464162b8873cfff4

Deon repositioned my d9adc88f84 grip. The sword steadied a f8fcd1bb09 little.ebf28f79073c173f

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Still, it didn’t feel 0d17630118 any lighter.e23191279e41bd43

He came 1612021673 up behind 1d31a77c1e me, wrapping 75afd4163e himself around e0af973ed9 me to 67a2d96c87 guide the 5b16e68617 motion.2ce926295b24e2ab

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His hand overlapped 3ace3c0939 mine. The weight felt c12d10779e more manageable.15a6418bc096923d

“Vital points—head, chest, stomach. Just thrust.”8c6a6ea8903842c6

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He demonstrated.f9bf98631a282cd6

Then he added, “If you face a liquid demon, turn it like this.”4e6bb079afea01e2

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He twisted 08866ce436 the blade b7d8c93e67 swiftly. The motion spun 003af75c8e me off balance. I stumbled.c43ddd3f9a62f687

Before I could 8936ea626b fall, his arm 95af4db766 encircled my waist.20464a8304f34ef5

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My back 37939ae2d3 hit his 23c400b345 chest.35b2bf588c035979

I looked up. His blue eyes glowed f3c25cfc6c in the dawn light. I quickly 4dca2695a3 straightened up.f85081b246e8924b

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“This is going to take too long.”daafce109f62d1a5

I lowered the 37b4c0eeda sword.439c588d7a7c2306

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I didn’t have 2c0d2bc1a1 the strength. Could I really learn 09e0632b0d swordsmanship in a year?5f9f579f7eb58e5a

He answered simply:71dbeb70f2040add

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“Yes. But before you ever need to raise that sword, I’ll protect you.”786c21e5539142ca

* * *f456a1e2468a29f2

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“Still, how fortunate. You misunderstood that I wanted to learn swordsmanship.”873741aba464b421

Whether good or a52ab10cc5 bad, I now ce4f651760 trained every day.2c43f479fbd940db

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I hacked half-heartedly 0404b2c391 at the straw 777b2cccaf dummies set up 5cd5c3526e by the knights. Every swing 266eef27e1 sent straw c3e0a85f1c flying into 4e1bba6676 the air.882cbcfd0623a57e

Suren, sitting in cb1906cb25 the snow and a681a71c08 watching bits of 679d6a8f38 straw float like d1e5696a1d feathers, sighed.930606346ae8bb94

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“From what I see, Lady, you’ll never make it.”b2a27d99e69e80bf

“Why?”ee3d1ad7ba981c53

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“Where do you think you’re going with that stamina?”abb3e13f7d77efe5

…Fair point.a638276b70074fe7

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I paused 5e237f2c5e and stared 0362743a63 at the 29571ba30b hay dummy.eccce23fb0d013f1

I lifted the 5a6053d943 chin of the fd6c08d97c straw figure with a24833e9cc the tip of e4f0a13959 my sword. It looked vaguely human.bbc0037178ed4bd7

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“Suren, let’s assume we’ve finished our duel. Help me move this thing.”f974e06c7c01bd8d

“What?”d32d210ba185ce0a

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“If the Duke asks where the dummy went, tell him it got destroyed during training.”8ccc5c6bb8410361

“Surely… no way…”631c94634940f793

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That surely was correct.6c6e417b39287b29

Suren’s expression crumpled.3ed6b2c38d97b855

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“Young Lady, just take me with you. Then I’ll consider helping. I ended up here because no one else would hire me—said I looked too exotic.”33d01d754362c2b4

“No.”8040d769e55227fb

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“Why not?”828eb81137efd867

“Taking you means I need two hot stones for warmth.”b738e83db367f8cc

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I sheathed my sword.464c429b85566fb0

“You want to freeze to death?”6560b4e0a274c9ac

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“Even a weakling like you is crossing over!”6873d8075fa90266

Well, if I 118de2167c stay here, I’m 02aa58d288 destined to die e153bdd270 anyway.07b1f821687dfc16

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“Even so, the escape isn’t happening right away. I’m waiting for the right time—maybe a year or so.”40be7e147c0b9cae

“Waiting for better weather?”63a28409dbf7b846

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“That, and for timing.”7b4fb51efc3fb422

I looked up 67f22c586c at the sky.96bd0e12f279f220

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When I first arrived, 54b905c235 it wasn’t this clear.39e196b96a24af09

I must bbf20cc50e have gotten 92dae7a490 used to 6c8f51f9b2 it.9d9fc46a1ebd9cbd

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It had been four a43864230e months since Leonie came 8877600ed2 to the Duke’s residence. Three since I’d 1fbfc5d74f awoken.f979b326ca7c0e5a

I wiped sweat 9002c6400e from my brow.b5b3c3d0f64f45c9

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Behind Suren, who 222a414877 was now wrapping ef45dfa1b0 the dummy in 938ca11807 a blanket, Deon, 1d2d8f9ea6 Viter, and Edan 370ca394f1 appeared.6f34262d732d9b40

“Who’s that?”7b0eb543e49608d6

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“It must be the birthday procession.”310c25d22e563710

“Birthday?”6ff84a658af790cd

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“Yes, the Duke’s birthday is coming. Bigger than last year. He gained more recognition after the last battle—he might soon be formally named a prince. People are lining up already.”082b73f4d0524731

“…Didn’t he get guests before?”5dde14fd91489187

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“They came, but barely. This is the first time there are so many. And the gifts—they’re all bribes.”d8182fe94d2017d1

A breeze swept 4991dc38f1 by. My red hair tickled 88fc15a338 my cheek.09e20071dfd32b48

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Below the 211dce1f92 hill, wagons 295a6e93e1 stretched in c978b0c6da a long e8f18d2f44 line before 6f39413ee5 the castle 0a87c6221e gate. It was the longest cf5462a48e procession I’d seen since 583dd34534 arriving.fb0118dc09e3b1cf

As I pulled ded494b2a7 my curtain of 9698cbaf2f hair aside, I 984c7f4fc4 spotted Deon.3343b39e32697e39

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He was inspecting a 9187a78a40 cart at the gate. When its 4cf4acf4e4 covering was 8847ef0f70 pulled back, efde539ec3 something colorful 67ebb25541 was revealed.872903759bc287a7

He looked 15efc24539 up instantly.6ab65baba5a4b591

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Our eyes met.8dbb266bf74499ab

“Leonie.”ea81d316bee84c17

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He called 162dfa73f5 my name.8d90d65865c626d6

I approached as he 7e496cda43 strode toward me.25b56cd4f646873b

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I prayed c72ad83b15 he hadn’t ffd60657ff noticed the 761e968d00 bundled straw 9a44d86a88 dummy behind e9b6c05277 me.d112af6e088101a9

Suren whimpered 51b05e2419 as she eb5f6212fa tried to a83c6cdfe1 hide it c2aa6f7ce5 under a 5190ecf0f7 blanket.2f2c6c6993c180c6

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But Deon didn’t pay ce1b1799bd her any mind. His eyes were b8faa342a8 on me.22d3659f9c282f00

“There will be a party soon. Outsiders are coming.”0609780d6c00230e

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“Yes, I heard.”6b1736553f344705

“Everyone will be busy. You’re listed as a participant.”1badf6277f62c685

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I nodded.1377f1775a5ed969

He looked at c3084fcef8 me a moment b2a693cee3 longer.b25add50df80f39a

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“If anyone asks about your identity, say you’re part of the pro-Duke faction—a civil servant like Viter.”fe296f749f2f46a8

Then, unexpectedly, he fff7effc59 warned me.b477fa74b2d113e5

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“Be careful, Leonie.”25a95748f68014fa

“I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful not to get caught.”fb28922894f9c422

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“That’s not what I meant…”d99667290ea8e839

He hesitated, lips parting f3f270467c and closing.326a2eda65e3690e

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Then he cf2025d435 simply said,569be62e5f5d4831

“Okay.”cf5aca7f78e2744d

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