Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight - You've Gotta Right to Your Fights

Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight - You've Gotta Right to Your Fights

Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight - You've Gotta Right to Your Fights

I was expecting it to take a few hours to set up an arena and have someone send an invitation to Francisco. My expectations didnt account for Caprica being really good at leveraging her princess-ness to get others to do the work for us.

A few guards and messengers were dispatched across the city, zipping away on fleet wings to prepare things for our savagery.

We, in the meantime, finished our tea. It was a very nice flowery tea that tasted a bit like green tea, but significantly sweeter. I cant believe youre going to be in a duel, Gabrielle said. She was right on the edge of her seat, feet swinging with barely restrained energy under the table. Thats so cool!

Its less amusing when the person you have to fight is as loathsome as Fransisco, Amaryllis said.

You dont like him? Gabrielle asked.

Amaryllis sniffed. I dare say few people do.

That was a bit mean, but I didnt think Id be changing Amaryllis way of seeing people between then and the time the duel started.

What did he do? Gabrielle asked. She was genuinely curious, and only stopped leaning forwards when Orange decided that Gabrielle--being the centre of attention at the moment--had the nicest lap to sit upon.

Hes an uncouth, poorly educated, rude fool who likes sticking his beak where no one wants it stuck, Amaryllis said.

Hes her ex-fiance, I whispered across the table. They dont get along.

Gabrielle raised the hand that wasnt petting Orange to her mouth to stifle a gasp. An arranged marriage.

Deranged, more like, Amaryllis muttered.

Were quite fortunate in that regard, Caprica said. While I suppose father could technically arrange something, I dont think hed dare.

The king wouldnt dare arrange a marriage? Awen asked.

Caprica grinned and Gabrielle giggled. Mother would skin him. Besides, father broke with tradition when he married mother.

Hows that? I asked.

She was a paladin. A non-noble paladin. Better than a commoner, in the eyes of the nobility, but not by much, Caprica said.

Gabrielle nodded, entirely enthusiastic. They married for love; its super romantic. Apparently father tried really hard to impress her by becoming a good fighter, and she just kept beating him in every spar. Mothers very proud of her win record against him, and fathers face turns very red whenever she starts talking about it.

Thats really cute, I said.

Caprica chuckled. I suppose it is. In any case, I think if father tried to arrange a marriage for any one of his children hed have to deal with an entire cohort of angry princesses and a very irate queen.

A maid slid into the room and bowed next to Caprica to whisper something into her ear. She nodded, then patted down the front of her pants as she stood. I think its time for us to get going. Theres a carriage waiting for us out front.

Already? I asked.

It would be best to arrive early, I think, Caprica said. That way you can have more time to inspect the grounds and perhaps stretch before you have to exert yourselves.

We gathered up our things and headed out of the greenhouse. The cold outside stung at my face for a moment. I wasnt expecting it to get colder while we were inside. The temperature around Goldenalden seemed to vary a lot, but it was always hovering between cool and chilly. It probably had something to do with the altitude and all the mountains around us messing with the wind.

We boarded a nice carriage, Gabrielle, Orange and Caprica to one side, my friends and I on the other. Then we were off.

The Calcifer Spood Memorial Arena isnt far from here, Caprica said. Its not the most prestigious location for a duel, but its a respectable one. The arena is open at all reasonable hours, and there are quite a few young nobles who hang around either to watch others fight, or to spar.

12

Second Class Wonderlander Second Class Level

4

Age

16

Health

150

Stamina

155

Mana

145

Resilience

65

Flexibility

80

Magic

30

Skills Rank Cinnamon Bun Bun Skills Cleaning S - 04% Way of the Mystic Bun D - 100% Gardening D - 37% Adorable D - 100% Dancing D - 100% Wonderlander Skills Tea Making C - 03% Mad Millinery D - 89% Proportion Distortion D - 14% General Skills Insight C - 97% Makeshift Weapon Proficiency C - 17% Archeology D - 00% Friendmaking C - 75% Matchmaking D - 64% Hugging Proficiency E - 48% Captaining E - 49% Cinnamon Bun Bun Skill Points

1

Wonderlander Skill Points

3

General Skill Points

3

First Class Skill Slots

0

Second Class Skill Slots

0

General Skill Slots

3

I had improved a little bit, but it felt like it wasnt all that much. There was a natural slow-down as my skills took longer to improve, of course, but also I hadnt done any real focused practice in a while. At the rate I was going, it was going to take a long time before I hit any big milestone again.

I still had some free skill-slots for my General Skills too. Those werent, surprisingly, filling up with random skills. Id have to ask Amaryllis to see if that was normal or not. I really, really had to find a chivalry-based skill so that I could turn Adorable into Dork Knight.

This is the main arena, ladies, Augustus Spood said with a grand gesture to the side.

The main arena was about the size of a badminton court, with a floor covered in fine sand, and lit by hanging chandeliers filled with glowing crystals that filled the room with blue and yellow and orange light.

Three rows of seats circled the room about a metre off the ground, with a shimmering barrier between the crowds and the floor. Likely that was in case some spell went off and flew towards the witnesses.

I suspect this will do just fine, Caprica said. Lord Spood, do you have a way to inform people of an upcoming... small event? Ah, and a place where my companions can be filled in on the rules of a proper gentlepersons duel?

Certainly, he said. Then he glanced past our group and guards and to the end of the corridor.

We followed his gaze.

I hadnt expected Francisco to show up so soon. Did he know wed be here?

For that matter, I didnt expect him to show up with new friends. Two sylphs and a human, all in nice but well-worn armour, and all looking very much out of place amongst so many nobles.

I had a sinking feeling in my tummy as I saw the grin Francisco wore.

***