I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 313: Surprises

Chapter 313: Surprises

What was she meant to say? A part of her wanted to go to Felix and curse him out for keeping something so shocking from their commander. She liked to think that her achievements thus far were enough for at least a mere mention of her.

"It seems they didn’t warn you about me," she realized. "Will you not spar with a woman, Commander?"

There it was, her test.

She had been having such an easy time with all the knights she considered her brothers. Only when she went around the duchy did she get a few shocked glances and unnecessary comments. However, most were aware of her at this point. With her hair that stood out amongst a crowd, she was someone hard to miss. In eighteen years of life, she had learned as much.

And then, his response to her test.

"It’s an honor to spar with anyone who has such effortless control of their blade," he explained. "But please tell me your name."

Was it rude of her to size him up for a few moments? While he didn’t outwardly show he was shocked at that moment, it had been blatant to her before.

"Irene Litharion," she answered, but then she decided she needed to get something straight. "Please don’t call me the Cub. I would prefer to prove myself beyond what my father has laid out for me."

"Fair enough," he responded. "Ready your sword, Lady Irene."

Rather than dwelling further, Irene tucked her practice sword underneath her arm and twisted her hair so that it would fit underneath the helmet she wore. Once it was back on her head, she readied her practice sword and her gaze was set on the larger man before her.

Her heart felt heavy with anticipation.

Commander Henry offered his sword, and Irene had no other choice but to offer a show of good sportsmanship by tapping hers against his. She wanted to show her acceptance of him, so long as he accepted her for who she was as well.

With her eyes watching him intently, she noticed a slight smirk appear on his face as his sword pulled away from hers. Simply by body language, she could tell he was preparing to do something suddenly and try to catch her off guard.

Considering his large muscles and great height, she knew she would have to rely on speed if she was going to attempt to keep the upper hand.

He lunged forward and Irene deftly dodged him. She had no choice but to duck his arms and she pushed off of her feet until she was behind him. The Commander then spun his sword and narrowly missed her if it weren’t for her flipping her sword within her gloved hand and turning the flat side towards his wooden blade.

The wooden swords met one another with a loud crack and Irene had to admit she was shocked the swords hadn’t splintered and shattered at the impact.

If Irene’s face was visible from under her helmet, the others would see the grin spreading across her lips. It seemed that just as quickly as the man realized her gender, he had forgotten it. He was fighting her for fun and not holding back whatsoever.

The young Duke sent a feint, but Irene was so hyper-focused on the man she wasn’t going to fall for any cheap tricks. She parried the second slash and, yet again, their swords smacked together with a loud crack.

"You haven’t stopped practicing like the others have," the Commander observed. "I won’t believe otherwise."

If he had time to chat, she hoped he also had time to block. Hoping to catch him off guard, Irene thrust her sword towards his stomach, but he slapped it away with the greave on his wrist.

"What’s a nice without refinement?" she shot back, feeling as if they weren’t sparring merely with swords but words as well.

"Sharpness of the sword and tongue," he taunted, as if reading her thoughts.

However, Irene felt her head get hot at that comment. She fell into the trap of thinking he was telling her that because he believed she was too emotional to weild a sword. It was a usual low blow for men who were insecure that she was better than they were.

"I’m not quite like other women," Irene responded through clenched teeth. "I won’t bow to any man."

He had distracted her enough that another of the Commander’s strikes was met with a messy block.

Shit, she cursed internally.

In what felt to be a millisecond, the Commander found a weak spot and he kicked her foot from underneath her as she thrusted her sword forward once more. This was enough to put her on her knees in front of him.

His sword was pointed at the gap between her helmet and shoulder armor. Since he wasn’t wearing a helmet, she could see his dark eyes boring into her. Despite the intense gaze, he still offered his hand.

"You said you wouldn’t bow to any man and yet..."

He was smirking at her again and she hated it because it made it seem as if he could see all the way through her.

However, she also realized that he had figured out quickly how to heat her up, which in turn made it so that he could control her. It was something she worked every day to get better at. It was surprisingly insightful for someone who had been in her presence for such a short amount of time.

Irene reached towards his gloved hand and allowed him to help her to her feet. She pulled off her helmet and looked into his eyes, searching for an answer for this spectacle he was purposefully causing. What sort of point was he trying to make?

It also led her to the realization that he most certainly had earned this seat he held over all of them. His skills were unbelievably natural. He had wit and charm between each slash of his sword. He was a dangerous man whom she was glad was on her side

The practices wound down with the Commander choosing a few others to spar with who caught his eye. She felt relieved that he hadn’t singled her out.

When they were dismissed, it was finally time for breakfast, and they all started heading to the dining hall—everyone except for the Commander, it seemed.

Irene passed by Felix as they walked into the hall and she urgently pulled at his wrist greave.

"Do you have a moment, Sir Felix?" she asked urgently.

The way Irene was saying his name and title made Felix feel as if he was in trouble. Since the practice yard had already been dealt with by apprentices, he glanced at the Knights of Hydrogia he had been walking with before shrugging.

"Sure, Dame Irene," he responded more sarcastically as he nudged her to a corner of the dining hall where there weren’t tables or benches which meant no other knights would hear their conversation.

Felix merely looked at Irene with a raised eyebrow expectantly.

"Did you happen to forget to tell the Commander something before he arrived in Chemois?" she asked, her tone accusatory.

Felix had seen the entire ordeal pan out before. Commander Henry had referred to her as a ’he’ before he went to test her sword skills but he was too quick before Felix could stop him.

At this, a chuckle escaped Felix’s lips and it only served to make Irene feel irritated. It reminded her of all the teasing he used to dish to her when she was younger.

"Perhaps I’ve gotten so used to you it slipped my mind to mention that we have a woman in our order," he admitted guiltily, but it didn’t keep the laughter from his lips. "The Commander took it quite well. He was even willing to take you down and not treat you like a lady, so I think he will fit in just fine here in the north."

"I shouldn’t have to be relieved that a southerner doesn’t treat me like a second rate citizen simply because I’m a woman," she responded in disbelief. Felix raised his eyebrows at her and she quickly added. "But I am relieved nonetheless. I suppose you’re right. He will fit in."

Felix nodded, but before Irene could step away and get her breakfast, it was he who stopped her that time.

"Give him a chance," Felix requested more softly than before. "I tested him the entire journey north, only to realize I was being foolish. Our Duke is a good man. Even if he lacks experience, I fully believe he makes up for it in determination."

Despite still feeling somewhat suspicious of that, Irene let out a light sigh.

"I will follow your lead, Felix," she relented. "Yours is the only opinion I trust."

"Of course," he responded. "Now you ought to eat, but not too much. The maids are preparing quite the feast for this evening. We’re going to properly welcome Commander Henry and I have a craving for ale."

Irene smiled faintly at that. Now he really was speaking her language.