I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 209: Northeast

Chapter 209: Northeast

Cold was nothing but a certain reality as the three apprentices went northeast through the duchy in search of mages. They had brought a way to build small tents, but it seemed like a fussy luxury they didn’t have time for.

Rather than sleeping within the townships or villages, they opted for a quick rest during the day in the fields. Since nighttime was freezing more and more, it was smarter to move at night and hope that the cloud cover wasn’t too thick so they could catch the moon that was their only light on many nights.

Three villages they went through before they realized just how close they were getting to Earl Auden’s lands. He was someone who had been told about the state of the duchy, considering the lack of a duke and the possible war.

Rumors spread quickly that he had left the north for the safer south, and Irene’s respect for the man withered away. He was outwardly kind and generous, but his stance with the north was flimsy. That much should have been obvious by all the trips he took to the south in the first place. There was no doubt to anyone that he became the King’s shoulder to lean on whenever he visited. It was also why his event was selected for the royal children’s trip.

As Irene considered this, she realized it had been two years since then. How incredibly things had changed since then. Things were so lighthearted.

Even last winter was comfortable. They participated in winterization, and the stakes felt much lower despite having to see all those monsters.

Could they have predicted what would happen? Was there something they missed for it to escalate like this so easily?

They rode on into the night, each apprentice occupied by their stormy thoughts.

The urge to pull her reins so Sorrel would run west was always just under the surface as Irene considered her family as well. Her father was filled in on most of what had happened, but there wasn’t much time to let him know about the siege. Sir Phillip disappeared after sending a final letter that told Sir Gunnar they needed to return, but beyond that...

Her father’s business was in the central region. At least if he were left there, they would know that area was protected. It was quite a large area compared to others. It would be best if he didn’t leave.

That realization was enough for Irene to keep in the northeast direction they traveled. Her father didn’t need to be involved in this. He was doing what he was supposed to at that moment.

Earl Auden’s township was seen for a long time before they arrived.

Just like the man’s home, he was sure that the township that represented his status as its reeve was a bit more modern and bright than other places in Chemois. Each pristine building was lit up with torches or lanterns. There was also a small wall that divided it from the rest of the area.

Overall, it seemed rather peaceful, even if it meant they were almost out of places in the duchy to search.

It seemed most likely the mages would go to Nickron, but if that wasn’t the case, they were out of ideas, and searching would be a more random endeavor.

So far, each village or town had no sign of the mages. They were quickly losing hope that perhaps they should have tried their luck south. Although that may also mean the other knights who went to Hydrogia in search of help might have run across them. If they recognized the mages, would they have the wherewithal to tell them they should return to the Duke’s Tower?

The sun was rising as the apprentices made it to a convenient stable and left their horses with a stablehand who seemed awfully tired as he took their horses.

Since Earl Auden was the reeve in that place and they didn’t want to bother going further north until they were at his tall gates, they decided to keep their searching in town.

They always had luck when they went to the churches of finding someone morally opposed to mages and were already on high alert of making sure no being such as that would get into their precious church or find their township comfortable.

It felt a little bit hopeless when they stood in front of the church with a lantern on either side of the door. They stared up at the brick structure for a few moments, feeling a bit taunted. It didn’t represent anything other than their failure to find the mages by that point.

"There should be someone awake, right?" Irene asked the others as she walked from the small front gate and stood in front of the large door.

"It’s sunrise," Felix responded with a shrug. "Time to get up and worship God."

She turned her head so she could look at the oldest apprentice. Her eyebrows raised at him, and she was tempted to say something smart in response.

No energy for that, she decided.

Irene raised her hand and knocked on the door, but since church doors were always unlocked for those who sought the comfort and ridicule that came with a church, she decided to step through.

The warmth of the place was all-enveloping. She realized she hadn’t been that warm since she and Leif shared a barrack. It made her want to collapse on the floor and merely enjoy it for a while.

"Father, are you here?" she called instead.

The man who came forward was a bit younger than the priests they had come across in other villages or Samson’s township. It was a welcome surprise that they would at least have someone who, hopefully, wasn’t insane to ask questions to.

"What can I help you with?" he asked the three apprentices, with a slight bow of his head in subservient obedience.

"We have been searching for a group of mages," Irene explained, seeming to have taken the role of the one who communicates with the church. Leif and Felix were far less polite than her in these situations. "Has there been any sign they came through this way?"

The man’s head snapped up from the posture he held before, and Irene saw a few moments of his true nature before he put over a well-natured mask once more.

"Two days ago, they were refused their offer of their services in exchange for a place to stay in the inn," he explained. "Since I will not open my church doors to heretics, I believe I last heard they are headed east, where they belong. "

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