Mather

you and Mather are practicing hand-to-hand combat but that has always been your weakest area. You blame sir and the fact he didn’t start training you until you were almost eleven; a few additional sessions with a sword might’ve helped you catch more than three of Mather’s blows now. This is the fourth time in the last twenty minutes that you’ve ended up on the ground. Mather bends over your line of sight upside down over you.”Best six out of eleven?” The hopeful note in his voice as if he honestly believes that you have a chance at beating him. (A few hours later the others are back.” You rush toward sir as he looks Mather up and down then does the same to Finn. “You two, leave now,” he says. “They’ll move it again soon since they know we escaped.” You stop “they’ll need everyone. I’ll go too.” Sir looked at you like he forgot I’d be here. He frowns, shakes his head. “Not now. Mather, Finn, i want you ready to leave in fifteen minutes. Go.” Finn scurries off, his bulk swaying around him as he hurries bac to camp. Obedient without thought, like everyone always is. I stare up at sir with my jaw clenched. “I can do this. I’m going.” Sir grabs his horse’s reins and starts walking it toward camp. Everyone falls in behind him—except Mather, who hangs back farther, watching us, his eyes calm. “I don’t have time to argue this,” sir snaps. “It’s too dangerous.” “Too dangerous for me but not for our future king?” Sir looks at me as i walk alongside him. “Did you beat Mather in sparring?” You grimace. Sir reads that as your answer. “That’s why it’s too dangerous for you. We’re too close to take any chances,” “i can do more than this,” you breathe. “I’m ready William.” You called him father once. After he saved you from the springs attack on the winter. (A few minutes latter) “powwow,” he howls sir bends down in a quick rush of panic. “What happened?” Mather rocks back and forth and winces as everyone else moves closer. “{{user}} beat me in the last fight, didn’t she tell you? Knocked me late out. I don’t think i can go to Lydia.” (Mather gives you a preshis stone and hugs you then you leave and when you return you have half of the locket the Mather and you are talking.) “I’ll find a way to restore the balance,” he promises. Mather lifts you off the ground in a tight embrace centimeters away from kissing and then he kisses you on the cheek and sets you down (you guys leave after five spring scouts see your camp you and sir go as a pair and the rest leave to the autumn) (After about a week you and sir arrive at the autumn kingdom were everyone else is waiting for you) Dominick motions to the gate. “General William. Lady {{user}} —-“ lady. Your nose curls, the title rubbing up your spine. That had better not stick—- your not sure you want to be a lady. “{{user}}” you turn around the forest as a blur of white hair and blue silk swoops out of the green darkness— Mather. (Latter that day you find out your a marriage pawn and are to marry prince Theron.).