Standing awkwardly with his hand resting on his rapier, Bartholomew stared at his feet for a moment. Countess Reyna was steps away pacing back and forth behind a large mahogany desk. Papers were scattered across the desk with a fountain pen broken and ink spattered across the desk. A small phone in the shape of a fish was off the hook, the receiver hanging from the cord off the desk.
“You know Bart, I've been having a hell of a day. First you appear claiming to be investigating our export logs. Which in and of itself is incredibly stupid because you're accusing us of shipping catnip to Hawks and Falcons. Do I need to explain why that's stupid?”
Bartholomew looked up and met her frustrated gaze as she paced. Of course now it all seemed a bit... silly. Why did Ricky send him here if not for a genuine investigation?
“I assure you I understand how ludicrous it all sounds. However I am under orders. Whether you choose work with me to this end is a different issue entirely.”
Fluffing her black and brown fur, her tail flicked back and forth erratically. Patting herself in the face a couple times she took a deep breath and calmed herself. Grabbing the phone cord, she pulled it up and pressed the receiver down onto the phone. Picking it back up, she pulled the circle on it six times and waited.
“Lydia, fetch me my fencing gear. Bring an extra set for Sir Bart please. Thank you dear.”
Bartholomew cocked an eyebrow and laughed inside his head. Countess Reyna no doubt could take care of herself in combat. Whether she could keep up with Bartholomew is another story entirely.
“You wish to spar with me m'lady?”
Slamming her paw on the desk, she displaced a dozen papers in the process.
“You bet your ass I do. It's nothing personal. It's just not every day I have an opportunity to spar with someone properly skilled. Judging by the craftsmanship of your sword there, you must have some level of skill. Am I wrong?”
Clever girl.
“Not at all. There is a reason I was sent here m'lady. It should prove for an interesting match.”
Cocking her head back and smiling, she eyed Bartholomew's sword.
“Care to make a wager to make it more interesting?”
That didn't sit right with Bartholomew. The way she was looking at his weapon made him believe she wanted it. Bartholomew wasn't giving it up.
“I am one to partake in a gentleman's bet from time to time, but my blade is not on the table. Perhaps there is something else worth your while I could wager?”
Pursing her lips and flicking her whiskers, Reyna thought for a moment. The sun shone through the window with the view of the catnip fields. Rows and rows of green and purple, cats and dogs sifting carefully to prune each plant.
“If I win, you leave and tell your superiors they get nothing from me.”
Wager the success of his mission? Bartholomew wasn't entirely comfortable with that. Obviously if he were to make this wager he needs something equal in turn.
“Very well. If I win, you make fresh copies of all shipping records within the last two years and send your own courier to Ravenhome.”
A sly smirk pasted to her face.
“Done. I hope you know what you're getting into Sir Bart.”
Smiling lightly he looked her in the eyes.
“Also, stop calling me Bart.”
Reyna let out a guffaw and a chuckle. Pointing her paw at him she looked past him as the door opened.
“If you win, I'll stop calling you Bart. Deal.”
Rubbing his chin he debated arguing the details. He would much rather prefer she didn't call him Bart regardless of the outcome of the match. Something told him it wasn't worth the time. Tipping his hat to her, he turned around and walked out the mahogany door.
#####
Adjusting his padded outfit, Bartholomew felt like it was a size too small. Though tight, he could still move with relative ease. Pulling the sparring mask over his face, he prepared himself for a more controlled fight. He had gotten so used to fighting with the real thing. Fighting by rules will be much more difficult.
Pacing a few steps around the marble floor, he tried to get used to moving fully in the sparring suit.
“You look uncomfortable Sir Bart. Having second thoughts?”
He let out an audible laugh, though stopped it as soon as it came. He didn't wish to disrespect his host.
“No second thoughts m'lady. Simply being reminded of how different sparring is from real fighting with a sword. I assure you I aim to give you a match worth remembering.”
Pulling her mask down over her face, she signaled to a calico who tossed her a sparring sword. Bartholomew watched as another calico brought him his own sparring sword. Feeling the weight in his hands, Bartholomew wheeled his arm around once. It felt lighter than he was used to. That was an advantage.
She bounced on her feet lightly and warmed up her own arm. Bartholomew took a deep breath and readied himself for a fight. They both paced slowly until they were within steps of each other. Extending their arms, they crossed sparring swords and waited for the signal. Focusing everything he had, he watched her face intently.
“En Garde!”
A calico shouted and spurred a fury Bartholomew had never seen before. Within a moment she had pulled herself back to lunge. Thankfully Bartholomew had fought enough to be able to read it before it happened. Even with knowing it was coming, he nearly lost a point right off the bat. Swiping his own sword left and right, he parried her every move. She continued to grunt and thrust, lunge and swipe. For a moment, he thought she had caught an advantage in putting him on the defensive.
Her stamina betrayed her as she began to slow and become frenzied. Swipes turned into lunges. Calicos were talking to each other and placing their own bets on who would win. Loud cracks of steel echoed through the gymnasium. Grunts turned into shouting. Clearly she was getting frustrated. That was all he needed. A lunge turned sluggish, and he seized his opportunity.
Swiping her sword away, he lunged in turn and paced the bead tip of his sword directly in her sternum.
“Point!”
She stood up and stared into space a moment. The Calico's whispers turned to silence. Pulling her mask up, she had a grin from ear to ear.
“You Sir Bartholomew, have won yourself a duel. Not one of these sad saps have ever beaten me in a duel. You managed to beat me without even breaking a sweat. I can see when I am out matched.”
Pulling his mask up, Bartholomew smiled at her.
“Well, my dear, more often than not when I fight a single strike could mean the end of me. 'Tis a skill honed out of necessity.”
Throwing the sword down, she snapped at one of the Calicos in the corner of the gym.
“Go get the word to records, we're going to need double copies of all outgoing shipments for the last two years. Oh, and tell Darrel he is definitely getting extra paid time off for the extra work load. Have him come to me directly with any issues. We'll procure a courier when copies are complete.”
As she finished her sentence, one cat ran off to relay the message while the other ran towards her with a water bottle in each hand. Handing them both to her, she tossed one to Bartholomew. Catching the cold bottle, it nearly slipped in his paws from sweating in the gym's heat.
“I imagine these copies take quite some time to recreate. Is there a time frame I could give to my benefactors?”
She thought for a moment as she took a drink of water. Bartholomew followed in turn while he waited for her. More so to be polite, considering he hadn't even begun to breathe heavily from their match.
“I'd say give it about a week, which includes time for the courier to travel. Although I can't say we've ever sent a courier to Ravenhome. Not much call for our product out there. In the mean time, what will you do now Sir Bartholomew?”
Good. She's keeping her end of the bargain in more ways than one.
“Well I don't need to travel all the way back to Ravenhome to file my report considering they had no other assignments for me. There is a tale going around taverns of a gem of power lost to the Tabraskan Empire. My benefactors have expressed interest in investigating it so I was considering taking a personal look out there for more information regarding the matter.”
Her eyes lit up as she inched closer and closer to him. Nodding her head, her whisker twitched slyly.
“Wow really?! I figured you were going to go wander and find a dog to beat up or something but that is way cooler!”
Bartholomew got the twinkle in his eye he always gets when someone appreciates his brand of adventuring. Many find it foolish and dangerous. He finds it exhilarating and freeing. It's always nice to find others who see it as such.
“Yes, yes. I do tend to get into some fantastic situations but I suppose that's what happens when you go looking for adventure!”
Laughing out loud she darted at him and hugged him tight. Looking up into his eyes with her biggest cute kitten eyes she could, her whisker twitched slyly yet again.
“Take me with you! I want to go! You have no idea what I wouldn't give to do something other than run around the nip fields and yelling at the workers! I don't even like doing it! It's just because I'm bored! Take meeee!”
Bartholomew was taken back at the sudden excitement. It was impossibly hard to look into those green eyes and say no. Still, something itched at the back of Bartholomew's mind. This was more dangerous of an adventure than most even just in theory. The Tabraskan capital of Omeowha was now neutral territory after the truce of the second great predator war. It didn't mean that there weren't still birds out there preying on the weak. Reyna was not prepared for a hawk or eagle.
“Hmmm. I don't think you fully know what you're asking of me. If you're to fight by my side I need to know you can fight as well as I can. That takes years of open wounds and close calls. You also need to know how to dress your own wound, and deal with pain when you have no other choice.”
Her eyes remained wide, a smile growing even wider as he warned of the dangers. The prospect of danger simply calls her even stronger to a life of adventuring. Perhaps Reyna would be able to adventure with him after all. He wouldn't turn down a comrade at this point.
“Very well then. However, that means we have until your courier leaves to train you.”
Pulling herself back from him, Reyna threw her water bottle towards the wall of the gym. Walking back to her fencing sword and mask, she donned them both.
“Well then we'd best not waste any time.”
Bartholomew shook his head and began to take his sparring suit off.
“This, my dear, is not how you train to truly fight. We need wooden training weapons and minimal protection if we are to truly train you for what it means to adventure as I do.”
Pulling her mask up, she cocked an eyebrow. The gears were turning in her had as she began to realize what he really was preparing her for. Bartholomew stole a glance at the Calico that was looking at him from the corner of his eye. Without a word, Bartholomew understood what he was saying. Who are you?
Reyna instructed him to have the carpentry team begin crafting wooden swords. Without a word, the Calico left in a hurry.
“Hmmmm. I guess. Although if we're going to go for real pain and danger, then I would ask one simple request.”
Bartholomew had no idea what she might be wanting, so he nodded.
“Let my workers stand in if they want to watch. They work hard and all I've ever really done is berate them. Perhaps they'd enjoy watching me take a hit or fifty.”
Watch him beat her with a training sword? He imagined if she truly is unkind to them they would very much appreciate a little schadenfreude.
“I have no objection. Though, I must say, it is strange to see nobility care for their 'help'. It's not every day I encounter a countess that actually cares for those who work for her.”
Her eyes grew dim and faded. Something tugged at her heart.
“Well they've earned it. This valley has seen it's fair share of hardship and real jerk bags. Highwaymen used to travel the valley and steal what they couldn't grow or make themselves. My father was one of those men who would terrorize them. That's how I came to nobility. Thankfully my father has long since passed and now I run the place. They've eased up a lot since then. They didn't deserve what he did to them.”
There is more to this valley than meets the eye. Ricky was right in sending him to check their records. Especially if there was a history of an unsavory ruling party.
“Is that why you want to adventure? Give the valley back to the workers?”
Her eyes shot towards him and the light of passion shone again once more in them. He had hit the nail on the head.
“You got it.”
Bartholomew ruffled his whiskers with his paw a couple times. This Reyna girl was shaping up to be an interesting character. Her willingness to give up luxury to make her life her own told Bartholomew everything he needed to know about how far she would go to adventure. It brought a small flame of passion within his own heart, and his eyes started to well up.
“That is a beautiful act m'lady, and I will do everything in my power to ensure you live long enough to leave and return to the valley with stories of your own.”
One of the Calicos returned with two old looking wooden lacquered broad swords. Bartholomew knew they were a bit too big for what they would really be using, but sometimes it was best to start with something more difficult.
He hugged them both in his arms like he wanted to keep them, though he was simply struggling with the weight. These swords were designed for larger dogs. Perfect.
Handing Reyna one of the swords, she had difficulty lifting it with one hand, let alone swing it.
“What the hell is this? These aren't even our size! Are you mad?”
Reyna began to berate the Calico that had brought them as he walked to Bartholomew and handed it to him. As he did he mouthed thank you to Bartholomew and smiled slyly. Bartholomew smiled back at him as he grabbed the sword. It was hefty, sure. But he could swing it. It was about the weight of his own steel broad sword. Though he often preferred a rapier in the field, he did have broad sword training as well.
“Instead of cursing imperfect conditions, you must learn to adapt when things don't go your way. It doesn't matter how you fight, just fight. Prepare yourself. You have five seconds before I initiate my attack.”
Her eyes grew wide and she grabbed the sword with both hands. She looked at the sword, then at Bartholomew, and got a weird half-grin hidden beneath a look of panic. Three. Two. One.
The Calico jumped out of the way as Bartholomew kicked himself off the floor as hard as he could to gain a quick stride. Within a second he was on Reyna and making a half-assed swing at her arm. She blocked it and the wood clanked and echoed in the gymnasium, sending her recoiling backwards from the weight. The calico ran towards the gym door and shouted outside of it.
Reyna noticed his holding back and aimed to punish him for it. After blocking, she swirled around with all her might and swung at his torso. Bartholomew simply dodged backwards.
“Very well, if you don't wish for me to pull punches.”
The calico was waving his hand outside the gym door as if to beckon someone to him. Looking back and forth, his eyes lit up and the smile on his face began to shine. Bartholomew jumped in as close as he could get to her and pushed her right arm towards her left. Throwing her whole body off balance was what he aimed to do. It did just that. She awkwardly tried to recover after the sword bounced off the floor. Putting a finger right in front of her eyeball as if to poke it, he smiled.
“That's all it would take for you to get run through.”
A small crowd of dogs and cats gathered by the entrance to the gym. Just for show, Bartholomew bashed Reyna's right arm with the hilt of his sword and kicked her down to the ground.
“I'm sorry m'lady, but this is the harshness of reality. At this point, reality wouldn't have even stopped here. Though it appears that you've gotten your wish of a show.”
Face in the floor, she turned around to look at the gym door. A couple dogs were laughing with a cat, and the Calico had his hand over his mouth and a smile you could see in his eyes. They thoroughly enjoyed watching even a simple maneuver like that. This was going to be a fun few days for them.
Reyna smiled and slowly picked herself up. Rubbing her shoulder, she pointed the sword at the crowd that had gathered. Their smiles faded instantly and every single one of them recoiled as if to get back to work.
“Enjoy it while you can! Once his courier leaves, I’ll be joining him in leaving the valley for bigger and better things. Then this whole operation is going to be left up to you sad sacks. Got it?!” she barked at them.
They shifted awkwardly for a moment in uncertainty. The quiet calico raised his hand as if to gain permission to speak. Reyna rolled her eyes and sighed.
“What is it Teddy?” asked Reyna.
“So, you won’t be running the farm anymore?” he asked shyly.
“Come on now, was I really doing much in the first place? At best I was delegating everything to other people. You all already own the dang farm pretty much. This just means I won’t be around to berate you because I’m bored.”
Their eyes lit up and faded almost immediately. One of the burly bull dogs stepped forward and pat Teddy on the head.
“Just make sure ya come back and in one piece miss. We’ll be missin’ ya. Ya may do a lot of shoutin’ but knowing yer pa it’s understandable. We’ll never forget what ya did for us after he finally… moved on.”
Bartholomew’s ears twitched and he took note. Despite her beratement these people appreciated and cared for her. How horrible was her father?
Reyna swung the broad side of her wooden sword and smacked the floor with it making a loud noise.
“None of this sentimental bull dog crap. We’ve gotta train!” shouted Reyna.
Readying her weapon, she turned to Bartholomew. He looked her in the eye and saw a small glossy sheen in them. She was trying to not let her emotions get the best of her. Raising his training sword, he smiled warmly at her.
“If you want me to make you cry m’lady, you need but ask.” boasted Bartholomew.
Her ears and tail twitched. She didn’t like people being cocky with her emotions. In her anger she darted at him and tried to make an attack. He knew her anger was a detriment to her, and considering he had little time to train her he figured he’d show her exactly how easy it is to punish.
Gathering momentum, she jumped and swung the sword around with all her might to slash at him. Jumping to the side, her sword missed his head by inches. Using her momentum, he pushed on her right arm to throw her sword off balance. Losing her footing, she tumbled forward and nearly landed face first over the blade of her wooden sword. Thankfully it was only wooden.
Her stomach slammed hard on an awkward angle on the dull wooden edge. Good thing they weren’t honed wooden swords. Coughing from the impact, her sword lay on the ground next to her as she heaved from her mistake.
“Harsh lesson to learn, but thankfully it was a dull wooden edge. If that had been a real broadsword, you’d have just sliced yourself open. The last thing you want in combat is to lose your head to your emotions. Normally I’d ease into this sort of thing, but you don’t have much time to learn from your mistakes.” explained Bartholomew.
She looked up at him and held up a paw to ask for a moment’s pause. Clearly she landed pretty hard and needed a moment.
“Well… hell… It’s gonna be… A long week…” she said through staggered breathing.
