None of them had taken too serious a hit. Well, not when you had access to magic anyway. Lily quickly distributed health potions to the fallen trial takers while keeping an eye on them. Concussions seemed to be the most common injury Ratface could see judging by the slightly confused faces. Oh, there was also the face she’d watched them be slammed into the floor.
Once they were all sitting up Lily offered them a smile.
“I’m afraid this is where your trial ends,” she told them “Do not be ashamed that you only made it this far, my own group had even less of us pass and I failed my first attempt.”
She stood up and walked away from them, the smile falling away into that same frown as she did so.
“All of you will be banished until you have come to understand your failure. I am to understand the bog lands have been having a surge of monster recently. Perhaps you can start there.”
Silence met her declaration, followed by them all standing out and walking out. Lily only spared them one look back and that frown deepened. Ah, not irritation, worry.
Ratface felt conflicted at that. It was easy to think of Lily as a villain given her antagonistic relationship with Abigail, but here she was caring for the people who had failed.
Lily looked over at Ratface and her face hardened. Oh yeah, that was a scowl all right. It was a wonder she’d mixed the two up.
“Still here are you traitor squire?” she asked. She looked at Ratface’s crossbow with derision. “Skirting the rules once again I see.”
Ratface shrugged.
“I saw what it did to the others. I can go without being slammed into the floor.
Lily’s lips thinned. She turned her gaze onto the rest of them.
“The rest of you have made an impressive showing. As rune knights you will be forced to fight against great creatures. It is good to see you too will be just as great.” She glanced back at Ratface again. Ratface suspected the champion would love to see her come up against those creatures.
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The champion was still watching her and Ratface was careful not to let any of her conversation show in her stance. At least the helmet covered her face.
“We will be making our way to the Lady’s city soon. You may gather your retainers and prepare to journey with us. You will not be allowed to leave the group once we leave tomorrow so spend your evening well.”
Ratface frowned inside her helmet. She didn’t really want to be stuck with Lily and her squire for a trip. Abigail probably didn’t want to do so either.
There was the other problem that the goblin glamour almost certainly would try to make contact. He was stealthy, but he was also arrogant. It was surprising given he’d lost to three children. She couldn’t fault his self-esteem. The rest of him was pretty miserable.
The lady left them after that, her squire trailing behind her. Fulgora was the next to leave, she stopped by Ratface quickly.
“I must go, if I’m quick we may be able to recruit some of those banished squires.” She rushed off leaving Ratface and the orc together. They walked in silence back through the doors and into the city.
“So… you want to be a rune knight?” Ratface asked. The orc snorted.
“Do you think it’s a safe question little one?”
“I hope so. I make a point not to upset people who can wrestle monsters.”
“Something about your armour has changed. You can turn it off?”
Ratface offered her a faint smile.
“Something like that,” she said.
“Wise not to tell me,” said the orc, “we may have to fight in the next trial.”
“Yeah but we have to travel together before that so let’s focus on that. Can I at least get a name?”
“Mathilde,” said the orc. Her voice took on a more musical aspect to it when she said her own name. It was like she’d completely switched. Maybe the orc was so less quiet and more not fluent.
“Ratface,” said Ratface. She held out her hand and ignored the amused smile the orc gained as she took it.
“Until tomorrow Ratface,” said Mathilde. Her voice took on what Ratface now recognised as a more careful tone as she walked away.
Ratface made it back to her inn where her group greeted her with a cheer, Kryssa having given away the good news. She told them that she had to travel with the Champion and watched their collective grimace before they resolved to enjoy this evening.
Ratface tried to join them but now that she had a moment to think, the squire’s talk about the field kept drifting to the top of her mind.
She watched Abigail. The knight seemed as subdued as Ratface did.
Ratface bit into her dinner and nodded to herself. She couldn’t leave this question if they were going to travel with Lily. It’d have to be tonight, after everyone else went to bed.
She’d find out what Abigail’s sin was. What happened at those fields.