A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"Good work," Oliver said, leaving the edge of the clearing to join them. The three new retainers were short on breath, hands on their knees. They almost seemed exhausted. But, having seen the same thing in Blackthorn last week, Oliver guessed it was more an emotional exhaustion than a physical one. To put one's life on the line for the first time, to experience the adrenaline of true mortal combat.

That was liable to exhaust anyone.

They nodded at him as he approached. He checked with them individually. "Kaya, you're nervous with your weapon. You're going to need to overcome that."

Kaya bit his lip in embarrassment at that, but nodded to show that he understood.

"Karesh… I can't help but think that a spear isn't the right weapon for you. Your accuracy with it isn't a strength. You'd be better off with something to slash with," Oliver said.

The big youth didn't seem to be put off by that. "Aye, I thinks so too. Never been that good with a spear. I think I'm too slow with it. But a greatsword, or something, I chop up most of the kids in my class with those."

Oliver turned to Verdant. "That's worth looking into, don't you think? It's not as though I need a whole army of spearwielders."
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The priest looked thoughtful. "Indeed. I could certainly see the value in such things, especially under your command, my Lord."

Gavlin must have heard Verdant call Oliver 'my Lord' for he gave them both an odd look from the edge of the clearing.

"Well, we'll look into getting you a greatsword to try next week, Karesh," Oliver said, clapping his shoulder. "For now, we'll just focus on getting you sufficiently blooded, more used to combat."

"Yes, Ser!" Karesh said with a salute. Oliver grinned at the awkward gesture, before turning to Jorah.

"You do well, Jorah," Oliver said. "As expected. You're a natural leader. Your spear isn't as crisp as it could be, but that will come, in time."

Jorah looked surprised to receive a compliment rather than criticism, but he took it well.

"Maybe we could do with a stronger foe," Oliver mused, as he walked closer to Blackthorn.

"Or you could let me have more of them at once," Blackthorn said icily.

"How many do you want?" Oliver asked.

She hesitated. "Seven?" She looked closely at him as she said it, trying to gauge his reaction. He nodded slowly at that.

"I could lure a second party from the nearest clearing," Verdant offered. "Technically, such things are ill-advised… But with the numbers we have today, it should be a problem."

"Would that please you?" He asked Blackthorn. "Or are you so against fighting with them?"

She twisted her lips, but relented with a nod. "I suppose that could work," she said.

"When you can do ten by yourself, I'd think you should be comfortable taking on a Hobgoblin," Oliver said. Her eyes widened as he said it. The very prospect seemed to terrify her. The same went for the others that had been there last week whenever he mentioned it. They seemed to see the Hobgoblin as some sort of inconquerable demon, as Oliver himself had almost seen it in the past.

She didn't complain any more after that. They sent Verdant to the next clearing, and then explained the plan to the new retainers.

"Wait… Doesn't this seem reckless?" Jorah asked, alarmed. "They'll be close to twenty goblins about. We'll be surrounded."

"If it gets dangerous, then I'll jump in," Oliver said. "Don't worry. I won't allow any harm to come to you. But that last test wasn't nearly enough. You've all got a wealth of information that the Academy has given you to work with. You need proper tests in order to forge that information into something useful."

Jorah looked nervous, Kaya looked pale, and Karesh looked eager.

Seeing Karesh almost slipping into a grin, Oliver toyed with the sword at his belt. "This might be a bit small for you, if you're looking for a great sword, but a sword still seems like it would suit you better than a spear," Oliver said, offering him it.

The youth seemed stunned by the gesture. Oliver held it to him hilt first, but he didn't even dare try to reach it.

"But Ser… Such a fine weapon… I'll ruin it," Karesh said. It was the fine blade that Blackwell had had crafted for Oliver, with an owl engraved in its hilt.

"You'll do just fine," Oliver assured him. "Would you rather have a sword, or a spear?"

"A sword, for certain, but not a sword this fine," Karesh said, shaking his head vehemently.

"Besides, if he has your sword, then how will you fight, if necessary?" Jorah asked. "As retainers, it's meant to be our duty to protect you. To leave you defenceless would be in direct contradiction to that, Ser."

Oliver smiled. "I'll have his spear, worry not. Even though it's not my preferred weapon, and I have far less experience with it than a sword, I can assure you that I at least won't be infantile with it."

"But—"

Their conversation was interrupted by a thud at their feet.

Oliver glanced down. There, embedded in the snow, far too close to their feet for comfort, was a longsword. Thicker than most long swords that Oliver had seen. It was almost as thick as a greatsword, without the length. He looked up, searching for the sword's source.

The Minister of Blades stood hovering nearby. "A training sword. Plain steel, well used. You should have no complaints with that, no?" He said.

They were looking to him for more explanation than that. For him to give away a sword so freely… And what of his own? Oliver still saw that there was a sword at his hip. Where then had he gotten this other one from?

That thick fur cloak that he wore over his shoulders, perhaps under there? A quick revaluation of the title 'Minister of Blades' – could it be that it was a far more literal title than Oliver had first assumed?