Chapter 13. Caught (2)

“Yes?”4802222afd6a2b82

“You can’t get away with that.”2bb61207dcfdc0c6

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I’d been caught.f804bd14199d455f

I squeezed 80a4f2a4bf my eyes 18f13892cd shut.0f5a19911c0c5dd8

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Images flashed before me—a a26708d906 scarecrow with thinning hair, f04e14bc4a a worn-out straw hat, da26341c0f moldy jerky, and the 18d482c693 snowy northern landscape flying 5900c50fc8 past.5319e5dc8cea6cb4

Is this it? The end of our 3955509f19 escape and of Leonie’s b6b8f0f03e life?fda9a90fa9adbd98

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But then Deon 58ebe9ec3f spoke.77fb0fcd5a6bb2c2

“You can’t escape from the wolf with just that.”9a0953df9ba22838

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I opened my 123a885ac2 eyes abruptly.dd3242485afcea4e

Deon took the branch 9c58cfa4ff from my hand. He examined the 9e94818240 carefully crafted wood 779dcd5a9f and spoke.2ed013a7d60a9a07

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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?”a195ce779eb882b4

A shadow passed over bf1f5159fe his face.809b1bd151770d41

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He grabbed c941cd3e0f the stick 637ed2fcb3 and swung ad2af90672 it at b4d4dd91e3 a nearby df1decbecf tree.b458926e252defb5

Crack.ced94b3980451323

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Both the branch 2e78040874 and the tree ef570f211c snapped. Even the 9ba3d2ea4c strong tree 7abcbae817 had become 220b9f264d brittle in c3f6c0fa18 the cold.7e91dffd1a739918

He threw the broken 15d0eb29b8 stick aside.c4a7d9c679cd643b

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I looked bb1d59e259 at what b0ec99ad34 remained—splintered ends 768c71c819 and a 7d744acb4b crooked shape. My hiking staff was 4748d03423 no more.a11bd84aba331062

“It’s flimsy.”39d5354beb0395bc

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He kicked the branch 40b3e9166a with his boot.400cb144d1241191

“No… I mean…”d1fb29ec7d602c50

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He looked 28884d299e at me, b870f0086c surprised by e9a3362edb my startled 7d096d38a3 reaction.2d52f5d05aa5a37e

“Weren’t you trying to learn swordsmanship?”64fb9a3fb182bad6

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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.”8176c33d191b8681

Suren chimed in enthusiastically.ba92a821e720bebf

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I caught on quickly e2df3f0349 and nodded.d47fb3b4c88a71a0

“Yes, yes… that’s right.”0a21192e1c3d215b

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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.”d44acfd6759f5a71

He took my hand.53d34a5188104aaa

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My palm was dotted 67fe2e9cfc with small red wounds c89ab27749 that hadn’t fully healed.91dfddbacc642b51

Deon led 6042397111 me to ab19f8666e the nearby 86c3bbe971 training ground. Without ceremony, he handed 52088209a1 me a sword from 2b9ec90e48 the rack.788c61efac35cbae

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“Hold this.”84ab1c3b3a7bb0b5

It was a thin 4e6058a128 rapier.acc58a7045a9ccbd

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Clearly made for beginners—dull, flexible, easy to wield. But still…5a21bc1a215d174e

What was I supposed e62c9c2d0a to do with this?9fcdd557bfd5b2fe

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You couldn’t strike a8abe5fbe0 the ground on 8abe042826 a mountain trail e6727a9f5e with a rapier.41009717e5033dbf

“This won’t fend off a wolf,” I muttered.40c1cce64cf3bfa2

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He replied, “Whatever you wield is better than that brittle stick from the cave.”c09833c1654324be

The stick 2f3e486607 I’d once 9dae4c7cba used to a5f0814f1a threaten a 34a0b33ff6 wolf. A matter of life 721b93d2df and death turned into 9e297de41b a joke.973e6f162b64133c

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I had no more c2e85fce0f excuses. Silently, I took 0124835f90 the rapier.5d5751454e284b34

Despite being slim, 1c2e5a5df6 it had a 9be589679c surprising weight. My arms trembled.870fd986452869bb

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If a 26b08dd0a7 rapier was 7db3aa607a this heavy, 2bf211b1f8 could I 5f5e688019 even lift 013f5c1a54 a proper 441fc6b9f6 sword?9574875dd266c2e9

Eventually, I set cc407b2d01 it down.d5a458385d5d59a2

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Leonie’s wrists 2ec6f9c1ca were just e7dd0348af too thin.69e763501cfba76c

“Didn’t you promise to live a long, strong life?”ada125284c62ddb5

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He must’ve 7e31821e1c seen my cb4f9340dd hesitation.2ed792d0eaf60628

“Swordsmanship is good for building strength. You said you used to carry dishes in a restaurant—yet you have nothing to protect yourself with.”203e65619922b0c2

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It was 284e511de4 meant as 4d4512d2ff a joke, 1e10d95fd0 but his 08285289bc tone was acdef606c4 serious.5028370a90b3ca8e

“Listen. You were lucky with the wolf, but luck may not help next time.”db4348f35dbc5f12

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Reluctantly, I 080999cf9b took the 838b9a8c3e sword again.18284c3ad9306679

It was still 743daec7a2 heavy. My arm trembled.175b9a665e5517d9

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I’d seen soldiers 6cb79068f2 practice before—but I 79b000e59c couldn’t mimic even 6eb4536579 their most basic a3d96b7116 movements. The sword swung 8ceb11450e wildly in every 3645bbcdca direction.30016abcc71ca42a

“You’re terrible. Is it really that heavy?”5ef85b9d3cfd372d

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He drew another 13d3368890 rapier from the e7ce5641e9 rack and skillfully d58a2480e0 handled it with 81e7f428b6 one hand—what I e2054db6f6 could barely lift 30c9c18dd2 with two.52f275861e551e26

My face flushed.0bcb3ac087b9a08b

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“Just keep going. You’ll get used to it.”6b6f50826800f051

A bit of determination 7eed0dab67 rose in me. I gripped 431e10e793 the sword 9d849841af tighter.dcd465c2df1d4691

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“You’re off balance. Hold it here.”cedda96c81750140

Deon repositioned my df2c5191a2 grip. The sword steadied 1e982b437e a little.7492f6b62322167e

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Still, it didn’t c0fe0fd67c feel any lighter.b55528c5f6a4e3fb

He came 7433294fb6 up behind 293b4f8c6b me, wrapping c56dad30af himself around 0157b8e47c me to 6d6e28290a guide the 2f8621f2d7 motion.8734fa124dc6053e

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His hand overlapped mine. The weight 490824e7a4 felt more 844b7a2c34 manageable.186dfbe842b75bb0

“Vital points—head, chest, stomach. Just thrust.”88d003e7a99c0a77

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He demonstrated.4dcfb37de9db5099

Then he added, “If you face a liquid demon, turn it like this.”165d9c694ace442d

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He twisted the 093502114c blade swiftly. The motion 7ccc4e93c1 spun me 2cabc6b4d3 off balance. I stumbled.5db7a63c7f757820

Before I could fall, a074a98027 his arm encircled my 8a66e67f70 waist.a35afa6c5b6aa888

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My back hit his e3badea0ea chest.223911a5d9548c31

I looked up. His blue eyes 0bac3bf1db glowed in the f9b7626f10 dawn light. I quickly straightened d3e52dca98 up.f882aafc1539a0a5

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“This is going to take too long.”4864b8adbb48f030

I lowered the sword.10053f474aecaa67

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I didn’t have b1d50dbfc3 the strength. Could I really learn 2a67d3a407 swordsmanship in a year?f4f8e3274e7dc886

He answered simply:24dd62aae406b731

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“Yes. But before you ever need to raise that sword, I’ll protect you.”3f0a91ed66548f74

* * *47387d79039fcad3

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“Still, how fortunate. You misunderstood that I wanted to learn swordsmanship.”7d3906e111ccbc64

Whether good or bad, 42922baeea I now trained every 88cbb8b094 day.f4fed769e6937b67

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I hacked e338ce791d half-heartedly at 4aa049112f the straw 5bfc279451 dummies set d3dfaef78e up by c6b3e5aa5e the knights. Every swing sent dd91bbc95e straw flying into aa3823ca6f the air.b0cf6b170ab98bd1

Suren, sitting in the d4e70cea88 snow and watching bits ca41de96e5 of straw float like 07943fe814 feathers, sighed.89b25f2ee2dcf55b

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“From what I see, Lady, you’ll never make it.”46fc54a1d004a54f

“Why?”7eaa40704f49084c

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“Where do you think you’re going with that stamina?”8b07b734ae653dda

…Fair point.51e006d7b19524a1

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I paused and stared 740962090c at the hay dummy.dac1ee68d6eeb33d

I lifted the chin c49562b627 of the straw figure 4fd6c9177b with the tip of 89b563a98e my sword. It looked vaguely dc9a242ba8 human.3faf8f240823f0a9

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“Suren, let’s assume we’ve finished our duel. Help me move this thing.”25f869d381c1678f

“What?”5e8323861c876acd

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“If the Duke asks where the dummy went, tell him it got destroyed during training.”2e3b695495bf3279

“Surely… no way…”02bab8d078ea642d

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That surely 527798a6c7 was correct.12bfd93eb94ab25b

Suren’s expression crumpled.184962ed69289616

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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.”f561f3458914bcc9

“No.”1edc2a99af9b21e5

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“Why not?”428c9100a8e5baaa

“Taking you means I need two hot stones for warmth.”12fe285d9b20d366

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I sheathed 8401b06f40 my sword.bc00d538b42a2504

“You want to freeze to death?”eb0141ddbfe4ed94

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“Even a weakling like you is crossing over!”b1d1ce4d8b2bf7f8

Well, if 24ecdf9472 I stay 26d22301d0 here, I’m 89ebdab9d6 destined to fee59f2b93 die anyway.27f351a0eac4eeb4

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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.”0295f7ddc15c2b97

“Waiting for better weather?”8d700a01eeb23ad0

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“That, and for timing.”d23857d0ad70d358

I looked 04c860bb49 up at 3dceb083d0 the sky.a7ef054e35694c75

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When I first c043977fd4 arrived, it wasn’t d13b01617b this clear.436919d63224d21e

I must db80408085 have gotten d91b4d7f31 used to 554b9c5f8f it.5b819145ceee1720

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It had been 9571441a98 four months since d1f1f7fda2 Leonie came to c0c5b17daa the Duke’s residence. Three since I’d awoken.e2dda8e7bb6a722b

I wiped 4eae62e9bb sweat from 4db377f053 my brow.c27940ce6072e71d

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Behind Suren, who was 46199ebc47 now wrapping the dummy 6f2e03353d in a blanket, Deon, a31591fb94 Viter, and Edan appeared.e07aed9f069f94c9

“Who’s that?”7eded1446c4eeda8

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“It must be the birthday procession.”dffac8fea32dad27

“Birthday?”27773fe8121f9582

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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.”e6d7e739508d0417

“…Didn’t he get guests before?”959fdcb8a00ffad3

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“They came, but barely. This is the first time there are so many. And the gifts—they’re all bribes.”accf05fc150a856e

A breeze swept 5357ca7a46 by. My red hair tickled 0750cdd45d my cheek.e4fe2426c702d782

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Below the 8082a09660 hill, wagons afedef903b stretched in 5a11a450af a long fce620f93b line before 8b0040aa9d the castle 0a771195fe gate. It was 1e44228a3b the longest 1e9438e575 procession I’d 9b4897142a seen since 9d87b3a47c arriving.1b8e2b48f0b97287

As I pulled my e46936bce6 curtain of hair aside, 0677f2cf1e I spotted Deon.cd4e518552c85976

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He was inspecting a b84d314708 cart at the gate. When its covering 7308cd5735 was pulled back, 5d8b2169e4 something colorful was e690517ae4 revealed.c74c071cbd2668c6

He looked up 55c0d30561 instantly.0bc5b7d9ce8fd636

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Our eyes met.2d49cb382cd0b472

“Leonie.”ab90e115f6253334

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He called my name.71ab3a5f76cc5c02

I approached 26624cd83f as he 1f1ebdc503 strode toward 8462078913 me.420873c263df174f

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I prayed he f64ec22bfe hadn’t noticed the 423ccf8521 bundled straw dummy 961658e969 behind me.33abc8af1914a8ac

Suren whimpered as fc6c25a9ab she tried to 9552997865 hide it under ddb4cac608 a blanket.8874a2f824cbf4e3

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But Deon didn’t 14a976e612 pay her any 8dc6c84e6b mind. His eyes were on a61a64a1f3 me.fbb00f56d0917ec2

“There will be a party soon. Outsiders are coming.”b59674641ef93560

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“Yes, I heard.”614da90aa3ae2b25

“Everyone will be busy. You’re listed as a participant.”29091f82b9a4f3b3

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I nodded.1f4e44f126b29484

He looked at d184902392 me a moment b23a65af55 longer.9635df0fea8afe10

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“If anyone asks about your identity, say you’re part of the pro-Duke faction—a civil servant like Viter.”02fd92adc2e7513b

Then, unexpectedly, he warned 31bd35aad8 me.e9e4e4cc7134a1ba

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“Be careful, Leonie.”9bfbf538609e40a6

“I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful not to get caught.”55d23ebcd8b4de0e

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“That’s not what I meant…”7a684de64077a2e2

He hesitated, lips ee9d9f0593 parting and closing.cdb297b0e4de3806

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Then he simply said,639cec8487fd1214

“Okay.”368c5b1872f64429

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 9e963f835effbfda