209. Be Good To Nobles

209. Be Good To Nobles

Omen: 1, 10

Adam brushed his teeth after breakfast too, since he was going to be meeting a Noble today, and one which wasn’t from Red Oak, so he needed to be on his best behaviour.

‘I can’t just start fights with every Noble out there, no matter how much they deserve to be knocked down a peg or two.’

He slipped himself into his thick clothing, donning the breastplate, which was quickly becoming his typical attire. It was quick to don just his breastplate, and provided him with ample protection, without the stuffiness of his entire plate mail.

It was today that he was going to meet Sir Landon, which posed a new problem for Adam.

‘What am I going to do with Sky?’

He decided to think about it another time as he approached the room which had been prepared for Fate’s Golden and the Noble.

“Morning,” Adam said, nodding his head to the rest of his group. “Sir Vonda, a pleasure to see you.”

“And you, Adam,” she replied.

Adam sat opposite her, beside Jurot. He reached out for some fruit which had been placed between them. “So, where’s this Noble fella then?”

“He will arrive when he means to,” Jurot said.

“They say Nobles are never early or late, but arrive precisely when they mean to,” Sir Vonda joked.

“What is he, a Wizard?” Adam coughed, unable to contain his laughter as he slapped his knee. “I can’t believe I heard that phrase.”

Jurot looked to Adam.

“I’ll explain it another time,” Adam said, shaking his head and sighing. His smile slowly faded as he bit into the sweet fruit, looking out to the corner of the room, losing himself in reminiscing his past.

It hadn’t taken long for the Noble to arrive. He was younger than Adam expected, just a little older than himself. He had black hair and blue eyes, but his most prominent feature was the large gash across his face, which had caused part of his cheek and jaw to droop from the way it had healed. He wore a breastplate, and held a blade at his side, one which was no doubt magical, even if it was only a small bonus.

“Sir Vonda,” Sir Landon called. “It has been some time.”

“It has, Sir Landon,” she replied, exchanging a bow of her head.

“This must be Fate’s Golden,” he said, looking to the Half Elf, the savage, and the horned bitch.

“Sir Landon,” Adam called. “Adam, son of Fate.”

“The Elf,” he said.

“Half,” Adam corrected, noting the sharp glares of the Knights behind the Noble. The pair of them wore full plate, and wielded at their sides weapons, which also were no doubt magical.

“Yes, Paul informed me that-“

“Vice Master Paul,” Adam corrected. ‘Oh, damn it.’

“Yes,” Sir Landon said, his eyes narrowing slightly, “Vice Master Paul mentioned you were capable folk.”

“Allow me to introduce you,” Adam said. “This is Jurot, son of Surot, and this is Lucy, a friend of ours.”

“An Iyrman and a Devilkin, who doesn’t appear to be an Iyrman, meaning you are most likely an Aswadian,” Sir Landon said. “Aren’t our people at war?”

“Most likely from Aswadeen, or whatever it’s called, but there’s a chance I’m not, right?” Lucy said. “I’m actually from somewhere else, but that’s not important.”

“A two horn with unknown origins,” a Knight said. “Who is to say that you aren’t here to assassinate my Lord?”Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

Adam looked to Jurot. “You know, I woke up today thinking I didn’t want to start any bother with the Nobles. They’re not making it easy, let me tell you that.” Adam shook his head as he reached for another fruit.

“Right, so how much should we bet? A hundred gold?” Adam offered.

“As you wish,” the Knight replied.

“Not going to say something like how I can’t have a hundred gold?” Adam asked, grabbing his die, donning his shield, and hoisting up his axe.

“I am not going to beat you down for the money, but to put a dog in his place,” the Knight stated, simply.

“I know the feeling,” Adam said, “but taking a hundred gold from a Knight is just too alluring for me.” Adam raised his axe. “Vice Master Paul, please write down the terms of the duel. I’d like for it to be signed, that way there will be no complaints or slipperiness from the Knight.”

“You would dare to suggest that-“

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I would dare to suggest that you have no manners and that you are just a troublemaker.”

“Adam,” Paul called. “He is still a Knight.”

“If he can’t handle the banter, he shouldn’t start it,” Adam said, simply. “However, since you did me a solid, Vice Master, I’ll be a good little Half Elf boy and leave him with his limbs intact once I’m done with him.”

Paul rubbed his forehead. “I want you to promise you’ll be good during the quest too.”

“Alright,” Adam said. “You’ve treated me well thus far, so I’ll be sure to repay the favour by not being a brat.”

“I’ll get that in writing before you go,” Paul said.

“You don’t trust me?” Adam asked, shocked.

“I will be sure he keeps his promise,” Jurot said. “He has promised it as a Nephew of the Rot family.”

“Alright, since you’re going so far, Jurot,” Paul said, relenting.

‘Why are they ignoring me?’ the Knight asked, clenching his fists together.

The terms of the duel were in place. Fighting until the surrender or unconsciousness of the opponent between the Knight and Adam. Also, if there is a death, it will be ruled as an unlawful killing.

“An unlawful killing?” Adam asked. “Will a Knight be harmed by that?”

“Yes,” Paul said.

“What about me?”

“It will be worse for you since you’re a, you know,” Paul said.

“Adventurer Half Elf?”

“Yes,” Paul said.

“Of course,” Adam said.

The contract was signed, and Paul slipped it into his cloak, where it would remain safe so that neither could shirk their responsibilities.

“Hey, Paul. I can use my Smites, right?” Adam whispered into the ear of the Vice Master, who nodded.

Sir Landon watched intently. If something were to happen that was the Adventurer’s fault, he’d be able to put pressure on Paul. If the rulings were too even, he could also bring it up as Paul’s favour for the Adventurer, something which would be unbecoming of the Vice Master whilst he took the impartial role of a referee. The whispering between the pair only added to the evidence the Noble was gathering.

“You should have known your place,” the Knight said, drawing his blade angrily, which held a low glow of magic.

“I’ve already taught Sky his place,” Adam said. “I suppose I can teach you yours.”

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Adam about to beat two dogs back to back.