章 106: She Meets A Traveller
Robin was swinging her wooden sword, carefully following the master's instructions. Her brother was swinging a wooden sword alongside her. They were on the last set. Robin practiced just as diligently as when she did the first set.
Finally, they came to the end, and the master called for a break. Robin reluctantly put away her wooden sword. Then she sat down on the ground to do some stretches before resting.
"You don't have to do this." Her brother told her. "You know that most places don't even allow you to carry swords openly in broad daylight. And the places that do allow it are far too dangerous for you."
"No, this is something I feel I must do." Robin replied.
"Why are you pushing yourself like this?" he asked.
"Why do you think I am pushing myself?" Robin asked, returning her brother's gaze.
"Please. Trying to catch up to me, who had a six year head start isn't pushing yourself?" Her brother scoffed. "If it's because of what happened with uncle, then-"
"It's not that." Robin interrupted. "That matter is already finished. I know that."
"Then why are you doing this?" her brother asked.
Robin paused mid-stretch and considered things. "I don't know. But I'm doing this because I want to. Not because I have no other choice. Besides, even if I don't use a sword, a cane would also do nicely for self defense."
Her brother looked at her with a conflicted smile.
"Robin, sometimes we can know things in our head, but not realize them in our heart. Aren't I here for you? Don't overdo it trying to do everything on your own."
"I'm not overdoing things! I'm perfectly fine! Jeez, bro! You're such a worrywart!" Robin shrugged him off.
"If you weren't becoming such a survival junkie, then I wouldn't have to worry." Her brother snorted, ruffling her hair. "Until you are satisfied, I suppose I can accompany you."
"Isn't that obvious? There's no way you can survive on your home cooking." Robin sniffed.
"Heheh, ouch!" Her brother pretended to be sad. "Come on, I followed that recipe exactly! Who knew I would fall asleep so deeply that I wouldn't hear the alarm?"
"Can't even set the oven timer." Robin shook her head. "I am never coming home to the house filled with smoke again, bro."
"Fine, fine. I can't do without you anymore. I get it. Older bro here is useless for everything except being a placeholder, huh..." Her brother sighed in mock depression.
"As long as you realize." Robin brushed her clothes off as she stood up.
"...Robin..." Her brother hesitantly asked. "What will you do with all of this training you've been going through?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Robin said. "I'll become your bodyguard in the future, and protect you from your enemies. That way, you'll be safe, and I can have a big fat paycheck at the end of the month!"
"Why, you!" her brother ruffled her hair again. "Are you thinking of leeching off of my good fortune?"
"Who else would you spend your money on but your cute younger sister, though?" Robin replied jokingly.
"Mmn. I suppose you're right. Okay. You can leech off me as much as you want until you find out what you really want to do." He replied seriously, patting Robin on the shoulder.
"But...perhaps now and then you could wear a skirt or two. I won't push you to wear a dress, but I don't like people saying that I'm raising you like a boy."
"Brother, we've already discussed this. besides, skirts will just get in the way if I need to protect you." Robin ended the conversation.
Her brother looked and her, raising his eyebrow in quizzical disbelief. "You keep saying you're fine, but then why do you stay away from dresses and cut your hair short? Just what is it are you still afraid of?"
Robin didn't answer that question because she didn't know the answer.
---
Robin awoke to her older brother's words still echoing in her heart. It was still dark out, but she wasn't in the mood to sleep anymore. She got up, put on her mask, and moved outside to join the knights on duty guarding the fire.
Since it was Sir Raymond and Sir Grey on duty, the time was somewhere close to dawn.
"Wearing that mask again, Hero Robin?" Earl asked, poking fun at her.
"It can't be helped. My face is so charming as to cause all the ladies to swoon." Robin answered, unabashedly.
"Che! With all that confidence, I don't see why you must take such efforts." Earl grumbled.
"A gentleman must never do anything that would harm or tarnish the good name of another." Robin said in mock seriousness. "That being said, to sacrifice my face for the sake of the good health of all the fairer gender about me is one of my great honors."
The two men chuckled.
"Can't sleep? Raymond asked, softly, ending the exchange of BS.
"Mmn." Robin nodded, sitting down near the fire. "I slept a lot this afternoon. Also, there's a bit too much on my mind to sleep now."
"That's all right. I actually like this time of the night. It's perfect for pondering on things." Raymond nodded as he looked up at the almost full moon.
"That's right. While this guy is busy daydreaming, I'm the one who's stuck with all the actual work of guarding the camp." Sir Grey joked.
"Sure! As long as you forget the times you're busy thinking about your lady love back at home~" Scoffed Raymond. "'I think of you every night, until the stars grow dim' Or so it said in your letter, unless you were lying through your teeth, that is."
"Wha-how did you..?" Sir Earl stammered.
"It's hard not to see when you leave your unfinished letters lying around in your tent." Raymond sniffed. "The smell of damp...It might rain later on today. We may need to unpack the horse blankets. spring rains are known to be chilly."
"I'll give Ponzu a heads-up to serve hot food today, then." Robin nodded.
"What? You're not cooking?" Earl asked, slightly disappointed.
"It's not that. I just need to test how well Ponzu is absorbing my knowledge, in case the company finds itself separated for some reason." Robin stood up.
She couldn't tell them that the real reason was because her monthly pains had arrived, and she wasn't up to it. She stood up, intending to go relieve herself before heading back to her tent. But she paused when Raymond suddenly asked a question.
"Ah, that reminds me. The others might not have noticed much, but you carry a faint scent of blood on you. Did you get injured?"
Robin paused. "Ah. I thought I had hidden it well...A cat scratched me a while back, and the wound was a bit deep. It's a mere flesh wound, so I didn't want to worry you."
"A cat? Do you mean the flying one that is your pet?" Sir Earl asked.
"No, no. It's different." Robin quickly denied. "It was back in Port Oracle, after the contest. I was careless, and got swiped. But, as it is properly bandaged, it should be fully healed by the end of this week."
"Is that so?" Raymond said. "Well, if you ever have another sleepless night, our shift welcomes another watcher."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." Robin nodded. Then her eyes narrowed as she focused on the darkness beyond the circle of the campfire's light. Footsteps, along with the sound of things bumping together. Someone was approaching.
"Halt! Who goes there? State your name and business." sir Earl called out.
The figure paused just outside of the circle of light, and raised his hands.
"Please forgive me for startling you. The name is Quinn. I am just a lone bard, travelling on the road. As I have lost my way, I came to ask for directions, and wondered if I might spend the night by your fire." The man said.
Sir Raymond was about to reject his request, when Robin tapped him on his shoulder.
"Step forward, so that we can see you a bit better." She said.
The man paused, then stepped into the radius of the firelight. The man wore a broad-brimmed hat and also wore a mask over his eyes.
"Why do you wear a mask?" Robin asked.
"I could ask you the same question, actually." The man said.
"True." Robin laughed, examining the man. He wore light travelling clothes, that were of good quality. While his upper face was obscured by a mask, his well-sculpted lower jaw indicate that he may be quite handsome.
"Very well then. You say that you're a bard? Where is your instrument?" Robin asked.
The man winced. "Well, sadly enough...would you believe that a boar rammed into me and broke it this morning?" He withdrew a lute-like instrument from under his cloak. The bridge was separated from the drum, and several strings had snapped in half. Both pieces now hung from the intact strings, looking pitifully like a dead duck.
クリエイターの想い 
BriarRose
BriarRose Please forgive the late chapter. My dad had appendicitis surgery. Since, my dad and I work at the same company, I was busy helping him while he was recovering. So I only had time today to finish this.
Enjoy~!
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