Tom and Juan filed into the knights' council chamber with hands folded behind their backs and grim faces. The nine members of the High Council besides Juan had already seated themselves and now eyed the newcomers with expectation. Alden especially appeared so, leaning forward with folded hands. 

"Please shut the door, gentlemen." he said, "We have pressing matters to attend to." 

Tom obliged, but not without a frown. "I fail to see what matter could hold so much importance that even Princess Kate's birthday celebration pales in comparison. Or so you apparently think." 

Alden's eye shot daggers at Tom. "The festivities will go on without our presence, and surely, she will hardly even notice. It is our duty to ensure the safety of the kingdom, not to eat, drink, and be merry." 

"Well, we're here now, so you may as well get on with it." 

"The unmarked swordsman continues to inflict terror across the lands, leaving orphans and widows aplenty in his wake. But yet we have been unable to capture that murderer as of yet, nor garner any clues as to his identity." 

Tom took a step closer to his grandfather. "I ask you now as I have many times before, Grandfather. Let me hunt this bastard down, and I promise you I'll have him back in Monterayne ere he can bat an eye. You have my word." 

"And as I have done many times before, I refuse. You would only tire yourself out in riding the countryside in a vain search, not to mention in the chance you do find him, there is much potential for him to take more than just your eye this time." 

"I've had a whole year to prepare for a rematch, Grandfather." 

"And so has he." Alden retorted without skipping a beat. 

Juan closed his eyes and sighed, crossing his arms as he did so. "Enough bickering, men, please. What have you summoned us for, Alden?" 

"As I said, we have been unsuccessful thus far in uncovering the identity or whereabouts of this unmarked swordsman. But one thing we do know." 

Tom grew impatient in the dramatic pause the old man left between his statements. "What's that?" 

"Whoever he is, he possesses a mastery in the Raskan style, a dead giveaway that one of our knights has trained him. That, Juan, is why I have not sent you or any other Raskan warriors out for the past few weeks, and why I have called Jay Martin back from his station in Aroria. But one knight has not heeded the call to return to Monterayne at once." 

Juan's dark eyebrows slowly elevated. "Peter Raska himself." 

Tom frowned. "Surely you don't suspect Sir Raska of this treachery, do you?" 

Alden shrugged. "In my experience, anything is possible. I only call them back for questioning, and I consider all innocent until it can be proven otherwise. However, I do find his refusal to return rather...vexing." 

"Has he refused, or merely finds himself otherwise occupied? After all, Sir Raska is spearheading the Monteraynian advance in Shafaria, is he not?" 

"That he is." 

"Well then, how do you expect him to withdraw?" Tom asked. 

"He has competent enough officers with him to leave another man in charge while he presents himself here. And believe me, I have been most patient with him. Three messengers have come and gone between us, and he has not merely failed to come; he has sent word back each time that he refuses. He is not merely busy, Thomas, he is being obstinate." 

"So you've called us to go retrieve him?" Juan asked, running a finger along his chin as he did so. 

"Precisely. I gave him abundant enough chances to come willingly, but now he has pressed me to unwilling seizure of his person." 

"Indeed. It it quite a shame to see my own teacher stooping so low so as to defy the very Council he once was part of." 

One of the other council members, an ancient-looking man with a bald head, sighed. "I fear our investigation will uncover the worst." 

"Like what?" another councilman asked, "That Raska himself is this unmarked swordsman?" 

Alden shuddered. "If that were the case, my one eye would count itself cursed that it remained to witness such evil upon the earth." 

"At any rate," Tom interjected, "All this speculation breeds nothing but vain suspicion. If you have no further words to speak with us, we should be swiftly on our way." 

Juan nodded. "The sooner we settle this matter, the better for all concerned parties." 

Alden bowed his head slightly. "Well, all the best to you, men. Be aware you will likely be extricating him from an ongoing battle, so I would advise you not arrive lightly armed." 

"Duly noted, Alden. I wish all the best upon you in our absence." 

"Likewise. Be careful, men." 

With a subtle bow, Tom and Juan removed themselves from the council chamber. They strolled down one of the hallways in silence for a minute. 

But then Juan broke it. "I have a dinner to attend this evening with a few noblemen, so I'm afraid we'll have to set out tomorrow morning." 

Tom nodded, sparing a glance through the latticed window and seeing the rain pouring down again. "That's fine with me. Hopefully, the weather will be better tomorrow, as well." 

"I think it will be. After all, even clouds' capacity is finite." 

"That's true." Tom said thoughtfully, "I'll arrange preparations for our ride, if you'd like. I'm sure you have plenty of your own to set in order for tonight." 

Juan grinned. "You are a perceptive one, Tom, and generous, too. I think I shall find you a rather pleasant riding companion." 

"I'm flattered, Juan. I truly am. Now, it's a three day ride to Shafaria, right?" 

"Indeed." 

"Alright, so I think six to eight days' provisions each should be wise." 

Juan chuckled. "With all the riding you do, this is far more your area of expertise than mine." 

Tom shared in his laughter, slowing down at a fork in the path. "And diplomacy is yours, I'm afraid. Until our paths cross again, God bless." 

Juan laid a warm hand on Tom's shoulder and nodded. "May he bless you equally so." 

With that, the two men parted ways, Tom to the stables, and Juan to his manor a few miles north. 

**** 

Tom had busied himself in preparations all day, gathering provisions for himself and Juan, some food for the horses to supplement their grazing along the way, canteens of water, and other miscellaneous supplies like gauze and the healing herb, hesparia. He'd also had to search long and hard for the special bridle designed for one horse to lead another unwilling equestrian along, just in case Raska's mount possessed a similarly stubborn spirit to its master. 

Now, evening had arrived, and Tom made an exhausted trudge to his quarters, sweaty and sore. The corridors of the knights' hall were lit only by a handful of spaced-out torches, gently flickering their warm glow onto the walls nearby, but abandoning the spaces between them to darkness. The moon showed its face outside, but the angle of the windows, combined with the network of tiny criss-crossing wooden beams constructed over the openings, mostly urged the pale light to linger outside. 

Tom had almost reached his quarters when he heard breathing beside him, and he jumped. He squinted into the darkness with a hand on the pommel of his sword until a familiar face emerged from the shadows. 

"Keely?" he asked, disbelief steeped in his tone, "What're you doing in here, let alone at this late hour?" 

"My apologies for frightening you, Tom." she said with a giggle, "I had spoken with Sir Feliz in his quarters this morning, an interview if you will, but I inadvertently left my writing utensil behind upon leaving. So I just retrieved it." 

Tom eyed the indigo quill she held up and nodded. "I see." 

"So, how did the council meeting go? The one you were so rudely snatched away for." 

"It went alright." Tom said after chuckling, "I depart tomorrow morning with Sir Feliz to hunt down Sir Raska and bring him back." 

"That hardly sounds good for Sir Raska. Why does he need hunting?" 

"It's a long story, and one I'm afraid you're not privy to." 

"I see." she replied pleasantly, "Necessary secrets?" 

"Something like that, yes." 

"So, where are you headed now?" 

Tom shrugged. "I was on my way to my quarters. You?" 

"I hadn't fully thought that through, but I figured I would seek a resting place in the royal family's guest lodgings for the night." 

"Ah, I see. Well, have a good night, Keely." 

"Of course, I wouldn't mind continuing our conversation in your quarters, if you wouldn't mind." she said, staring into his eye hopefully. 

"I suppose we can do that. You can't linger too long, as I need to rest up for my journey tomorrow, but long enough." 

"You're too kind; thank you!" 

With a smirk, Tom led the way to his door, and after unlocking it, he stepped through into the dark room. By sheer memory, he reached into the closet and found his box of short, slender twigs, which he used to transfer a flame from the nearest torch outside to the candle on his nightstand. Then he beckoned Keely through. 

"It's not much of anything," he said, waving a hand at the tiny corner desk and continuing over to his bed and nightstand, closet on the opposite wall, "but it serves my purposes just fine." 

Keely nodded, giving him a smile after she'd completed her appraisal. "It's rather comfy. I like it." 

"I find myself inclined to agree." He sat on the edge of his bed and removed his coat. "Make yourself comfortable." 

Keely settled herself beside him, sitting near the head of the bed. She glanced at the nightstand and widened her eyes at the gleaming dagger. Her hand darted out to snatch it up, and she studied it with pleasure. 

"This is lovely! Where'd you get it?" 

Tom laughed. "That unmarked swordsman attempted stabbing me with it on our brief second encounter a year ago. But I managed to scare him off, and he left the blade behind. I must admit I'm rather proud of that trophy." 

"As am I. It's quite a specimen." 

Tom rose and unclipped his scabbard from his belt. He laid it to rest on a pair of twin hooks on his wall. Then he turned to Keely with a smile. 

"Do you have any hobbies, Keely?" 

She shrugged and bit her lip. "Not particularly. I write for a living, and I write for fun as well. I'm hardly an interesting individual." 

"I'm not sure that's true, but I am sure very few of us would not say that about ourselves." 

"Well, that's fair, but a man such as yourself would have no good reason to say so." 

Tom smirked. "Your flattery is excessive, but not unappreciated." 

"It's no flattery, I assure you. It comes straight from my heart, untainted by any other motive than pure admiration." 

He tracked her hand's movement as it returned the dagger to the nightstand before he stared into her sky blue eyes. "Well, thank you. Your kindness is a pleasant respite from the stresses of regular duty." 

"You're very welcome, Tom. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to hear more about your dealings with this unmarked swordsman. It seems to be quite a fascinating tale." 

Tom smiled and started into an accounting of his experiences, a thoroughly interesting tale that kept Keely entertained for hours, more than a few past when he'd intended to go to sleep. And the longer he spoke with her, the more he found himself drawn to her. When she finally did leave, he found himself entirely unsure whether he should have offered to let her stay the night or not. 

**** 

A/N: Well, Tom's got his assignment and a...potential suitor, perhaps? At any rate, if you enjoyed this chapter, please remember to give it a vote and a comment, and I hope to see you in the next one! I'm off to post it right now. 😉