"Frack!" he shouted as Jaessa thwacked the flat side of her sword across Sir Thom Percy's red face. He hit the ground with a thud and remained there for a short while.
He was very lucky it was a wooden sword but it didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell. Jaessa helped him up despite his usual and irritating complaints.
"You sly dog!" he scoffed, dusting off the dirt of the large courtyard from his brown tunic. He grabbed his own training sword and pointed it at her, "Never drop your guard, girl!"
"I didn't," she said, smiling as she punched him in the jaw with her left hand. This time, he hit the ground and did not get up. She then swirled around to clapping from a man of a similar age dressed in grey with muddied black boots. Jaessa pretended that she had not noticed him ten minutes earlier, "Pat – I mean Lord Hoff. I didn't notice you." She curtsied sarcastically.
"Jaessa. Don't you dare do that again," the young lord said with a grin that somehow felt to Jaessa like a frown. He jogged over to her and thumped her arm. She tried not to show the excruciating pain. "Firstly, you deserved it. Secondly, what should I call you then, milady?"
"Jaessa. Just Jaessa," she replied clasping her arm, "The Lady of the Dark or whatever nonsense the other girls call me. If you call me anything else... I'll kill you."
Young Lord Hoff hit her again in the same place, "Not with a dead arm you won't."
Jaessa knew he was trying not to think about the unofficial Lady of The Dark title that she seemed to have inherited in the eyes of the serving maids. She didn't blame them though. On one side she was descended from a noble family steeped in history but on the other... she didn't know. No one did. Yet, despite her noble upbringing in her early childhood, the other girls still jeered at her behind her back but that was a while ago. She was now a young woman – one without fear. However, even now she wondered where that other fabled half of her came from.
"I know what you're thinking. Just remember it's a mystery and probably for the better. Not all mysteries were meant to be solved," he said, compassionately. Jaessa knew he hadn't meant it but Pat's words hurt her.
And not all mysteries have solutions I suppose. For all she knew, her family could have been the monarchs of a foreign land generations ago or pirates who had lost their way or maybe she really was from The Dark where all manner of unnatural things and people lived. Jaessa was convinced she knew more about Pat and every individual grey, moss-covered stone of Greenthorn than her own heritage.
Usually, talk of her ancestors and family wouldn't bother her but today she was leaving her second family. Jaessa's second was unconventional, to say the least. Out of the four children that lived in the castle, only one was a Hoff – a descendant of Arhen Huff – or so the stories tell. The rest of them had been taken in by the old Lord and Lady of the land.
Jaessa hugged him, "We won't see each other for a very long time. Will we?" A tear scraped her rosy cheek.
"No. No, we won't." He let go of her but then took her hands in his own. "I have a present for you. It will remind you of this day and hopefully, that there are indeed good things to come. It's going to be a long journey and you need to be prepared to stick it."
"I will. I know what I have to do and I'm going to do it to the best of my ability," replied Jaessa, rubbing her eyes. She paused to regain her composure, "So, what is my present kind sir? I'm expecting a lot!"
"It's a surprise," he said, "Rose is looking after it for you. I'd better get going. I need to meet them tomorrow and I have a long way to go and so do you. Your belongings were delivered yesterday, you wouldn't want them to get stolen. So you should probably leave soon as well."
"By them, are you referring to your idiot friends who do nothing other than cause trouble," replied Jaessa, grinning.
"Yes, that would be them," he said, beginning to back away. "Goodbye, Jaessa... well, more like a farewell for now. Gods be with you and all of that nonsense." With that, Pat marched out of the courtyard to the stables as if he was a soldier off to war.
"That cow was watching us the whole bloody time and you knew! If you'd have told me, I might have tried!" screamed Sir Thom Percy, getting up in frustration and disbelief.
Jaessa didn't answer. She was focused on what lay ahead – an adventure in the capital and the Chambers of Law. She had now said goodbye to Cabbage and Jace Fran and Pat Hoff as well as of course Lord and Lady Hoff. In fact, she was convinced she had said her goodbyes to just about everyone and everything in the castle...even the serving maids. It had only been three years since her life had taken a dramatic twist but it felt like a lifetime ago.
The rain started to descend gently and quietly as if it were reminding her of the importance of today but as quickly as it had arrived, no less than a few minutes later, the rain subsided and the clouds parted slightly as the sun joined in with the farewells. Patches of the ground were illuminated as its gentle rays broke through and reminded her of the hope of seeing her family again soon.
Jaessa knew where everyone was going but it didn't help her very much. She knew that eventually all four of them would grow older and part ways. Jace was headed for the distant south to join the crusade in a land never heard of, Cabbage for the East on a personal journey and Pat, wherever he pleased. Time to go, she thought. She grabbed Thom's ear and dragged him to the stables that lay by the Green Gate on the outer wall.
"Rose has been waiting for you, m'lady!" shouted James Pip, the stable boy, as he led her towards them, "A present for you as well."
Jaessa saw the long, cylindrical parcel wrapped in red-dyed leather in his hand. "Well, what is it?"
"How'd you mean, m'lady?"
Thom sighed and boxed James' ear. "We know you've opened it. What is it?"
Jaessa watched excitedly as James opened the parcel hastily, revealing a night-black sheath and a red hilt. "He got me a sword!"
"Aw, how nice, the rich pig got his lady a sword and wow- looks ugly," remarked Thom, sulking on Muck, the white rouncey who had seen battle two years ago.
Poor Muck thought Jaessa pitifully, He has to let that idiot ride him all the time.
The stable boy shuffled nervously. This time Jaessa boxed his ear. Thom nodded in approval and grinned. She then blushed, remembering that it was the first time she had ever done that. "You'll never open something that doesn't belong to you again...understood? I should have done that before."
It was also the first time she had scolded anyone. Jaessa sensed the opportunity still lingering and so she brandished the black sword with great anticipation and it did not disappoint. The sword seemed to simmer as the sun shone upon it.
"What in the hell is that dreadful thing?" asked Thom.
"I'm sorry, did I hit your head too hard? It's a sword and I love it," replied Jaessa. It was only the second time she had held a sword - a real one anyway so she attempted a few practice swings, "It's perfect for me."
"Jess tha-" he began.
"Jaessa," she said, correcting him.
"Jaessa...that blade did not come from anywhere around here. No smith in the land forges whatever that is. I can't remember the name but I've heard it's most unfavourable."
He's right, she thought. A moment later, she had decided that she was not going to let Thom ruin her mood. "And how should you know what every smith in the land can forge, Sir Knight? You haven't been anywhere or done anything."
At this, he laughed but Jaessa knew it hurt him on the inside. He knew as well as her and everyone else that his knighting was unfair and undeserved. After all, what could he have possibly done in his short life to deserve such a high honour, given that he and Jaessa were the same age? She didn't know exactly as she'd heard multiple unpleasant rumours but she intended to find out the truth eventually.
Jaessa sheathed her sword and bent down. She kissed James on his right cheek, "Stay out of trouble until I get back."
The boy nodded, his cheeks rapidly reddening and ran off in search of his friends no doubt to boast about the kiss.
"How come I don't get any kisses?" asked Thom, rolling his eyes.
Jaessa turned to face him, "Number one – because you're not twelve and it won't make you behave. Number two – I don't like you that much. Number three – I don't like you at all. Number four - you're repulsive. I feel for Muck." She smirked as she clambered on top of Rose because she didn't mean it but it felt good to say it to his face. "You look nice today, girl," she said to the chestnut mare as she led her on a trot out of the Green Gate.
"And you look like awful today," Jaessa heard Thom say as he jokingly complemented Muck, who snorted in offence. Thom and Muck weren't far behind as they followed her and Rose along the old dirt path emerging from the black, open gate.
She turned to face Greenthorn once more as the gate was closed behind them. Goodbye, she thought. It wasn't often that Jaessa ventured beyond the old castle's grounds but now that she was, she wasn't sure she really wanted to. As the distance between her and home increased incrementally, she started to be able to make out a lone figure in the distance atop a horse on a different path. "See you soon, Pat," she whispered as she watched him travel along the old Bushwalk beyond the green cornfields.
Jaessa knew she had to concentrate on her own journey. It wouldn't be too long until they reached the start of the Queensway. It was a long and legendary road that ran far into the north and would soon enough lead them to the capital.
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