I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 129: Finding His Apprentice

Chapter 129: Finding His Apprentice

To say he was irritated when Agnes delivered him the message that one of his apprentices had left without telling him anything was a bit of an understatement. In most cases, it would be seen as insubordination despite the nature of the journey being a supposed emergency. Practically their only rule through the winter was that apprentices needed to stay in the Duke’s Tower during wintertime. Considering the low risks and lack of monsters in the season, they were the castle’s defenses.

Upon receiving the information, Sir Gunnar then called for whoever was assigned outdoor duties at the time and gave them a brief scolding. It was their duty to report to him who came and went during the winter and they failed at that.

Apologies ensued and he wasn’t that harsh with his punishment. That was mostly the end of it.

At least until the knight began to stew in his thoughts.

With all Gunnar knew about Irene, he realized that those were the actions of a child who didn’t fully trust the people who surrounded her. It also made him realize he needed to come clean about a few things.

The fact that she was willing to endure a two-day journey alone made him feel terrible. It must have been terrifying considering she was only about to enter teenage hood. He wasn’t sure any of the other apprentices, outside of Felix, would have the courage to accomplish such a journey alone.

After Sven, Phillip, and Felix assured Gunnar that they had everyone left in the castle handled, the knight felt free to go on the journey.

He left only a day after her, so he assumed he would get there a day after she arrived.

The path was simple, but his guilt worsened when he saw her lonely tracks in the snow since there hadn’t been any snowfall since then. At least she was smart enough to go to an inn rather than camp alone. When he arrived at the hotel, the first thing he asked was "Did an apprentice pass through this way?"

He already knew the answer based on the tracks but he decided if there was anything else worth learning from the innkeeper.

"A well-behaved quiet boy with red hair, yes?" the burly man asked. "Checked out this morning, actually."

Considering it was very late in the evening, Sir Gunnar decided he would stay there for the night. There was no evidence of struggle in the tracks so far.

Soon he would cross over into the Litharion’s land anyway. Once Irene was in her father’s place, she was more than likely safe. That man pretended to be a relaxed person, but he undoubtedly had eyes everywhere. He was too paranoid not to.

The following morning, Gunnar continued following the tracks whenever he could. A few times they were covered by other travelers or wildlife, but otherwise the apprentice’s path was strong and led him right to the Litharion’s front door.

The knight took his tired horse to the stables and helped himself to one of the unused spots. He couldn’t help noticing the stables were bare which likely meant the Litharion’s weren’t home. All he could hope was that they would return soon.

There were a couple of sharp knocks on the door before Sir Gunnar was allowed inside. Luckily it was a maid who recognized him considering her long career as the family’s nursemaid.

"Sir Gunnar," the maid greeted with a curtsy. "What a surprise to see you. We’ve had quite unexpected visitors lately. Would you like to get out of the cold?"

"Please," the knight responded. "I have had a hell of a time tracking down that apprentice, after all."

The maid who had been sworn to secrecy seemed a bit standoffish at the knight’s tone. She knew of Irene’s real reason for being home. She also knew that none of the knights were privy to the girl being a girl in the first place.

Since the knight simply stood there with an expectant look on his face, the maid decided she would lead the knight to the sitting room. It would be easy to warm up the place since it was an area she could close off easily.

"Please forgive me for the cold. I will start a fire quickly," she explained. "They weren’t expecting visitors so arrangements haven’t been made. Will you be staying the night?"

Considering it was evening and to go back to the Duke’s Tower would be another two day long journey, Gunnar responded affirmatively but the shortness in his tone kept the maid on edge through the entire interaction.

When Sir Gunnar was comfortable in an armchair that was closest to the fire, the maid excused herself so she could pick up some of the burning coals from another room and use them to start a fire quickly in the sitting room. Upon returning, she was hesitant to say much else. However, in her many years of work, she knew how to remain polite.

"Would you like something to drink?" she asked. "I have dinner ready as well. Perhaps you’re hungry from the journey.

"This is more than enough," Gunnar insisted. "I would prefer to wait until the Litharions are home to do anything more. They are due home tonight this evening, yes?"

"Yes, sir," the maid responded. "If that’s everything for now, I will be in the kitchen."

It was also the warmest room in the house which meant she would be hidden from the cold mood the knight was in.

It only took a short time for there to be a knock on the front door and the maid was the one who was required to answer it so she moved forward through the large house rather quickly.

She checked through the slide and saw Irene and Lady Rochelle. When the door was unlocked, she backed off to the side only to hear Sir Gunnar stand up, but she tried to handle the situation by suggesting he keep sitting down.

When Irene was at the door and she saw the maid and knight, she seemed shocked at the present company.

Arthur and Arne ran to the house quickly having seen a horse in the stables that wasn’t supposed to be there.