I Will Be the Greatest Knight-Chapter 39: Attack in the Night

A weak head meant a weak body.

As the Duke spent most of his time inside, loose threads throughout the knighthood started appearing.

The man was once a good strategist and an even better sword fighter. However, having someone like the Wolf of the North in his order took pressure off of him and his focus shifted to ducal duties rather than knight's work.

Once he got sick and could hardly focus in the meetings where his two highest in command updated him on the goings on of the knighthood, they realized a change needed to happen. Duke Arlin constantly promised that he would get better and things would change, but Gunnar and Arthur couldn't take that chance.

To Rochelle's displeasure, Arthur took over the touring of the duchy that year to ensure there were enough knights being sent to all corners and that the people were feeling safe. He would also ensure the people didn't need supplies to successfully winterize their towns. If they didn't, he would have to hunt down supplies as needed.

Gunnar, on the other hand, had his hands full in the Duke's Tower trying to keep the apprentices educated and practiced.

They would meet as often as they could to talk about strategizing and monster campaigns. As long as they were keeping an eye on the mountains and cutting down what was coming into the valley should have been enough.

Yet there seemed to be something they were missing as goblins and ogres continued to appear. It was almost as if they had endless numbers ready for the next time the humans cut them down.

The night after the group returned from the north-central township, there were goblins spotted going behind the stables. Night watch caught them before they could cause trouble.

However, the sheer amount coming down was what required more attention. Not only were the knights called out, but the apprentices were also asked to stay towards the practice yard and ensure that nothing could break through and into the heart of the Duke's Tower.

Even with a dagger claimed to be much too short for the situation, Irene stood there confidently with the weapon drawn. In the darkness of night, the mana stone in her handle glowed faintly blue.

Strangely enough, she was always told that it would only glow in the presence of mana but she couldn't explain its glowing in the cave or at that moment. There was no time to fret over what she didn't understand.

On the other side of the stables, they could hear the croaks of goblins and clashing of blades. The horses inside of the stables that had been secured were stirring and getting spooked.

Irene hoped that Sorrel wasn't among the ones afraid. She wanted to comfort him but knew it wasn't her job at that moment.

Irene's eyes had adjusted to the darkness by that point and she kept focused on her surroundings.

To her surprise, she glanced up towards some of the windows on the Duke's Tower letting off a faint golden glow into the night. She thought she saw a woman there but when she focused more directly, it seemed that she was mistaken.

The only woman she knew who would be that high in the Duke's residence was the Duchess, but she wasn't supposed to be home—at least that's what everyone had been saying. There didn't seem to be a reason to lie over such a thing.

Felix stood a few yards away and he wore an expression unbefitting of the usual jokester that he was.

"They're coming closer," he spoke confidently. "I can hear them."

His mental wounds presented themselves but they were useful in that moment.

On the other hand, Irene's heart was racing as the thrill of impending battle caused her blood to move quickly through her body.

However, as she looked in a different direction than Felix, she noticed that there was more to do between the barracks and the end of the northeastern wing.

"Over here!" she cried.

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"Here, too!" Felix responded.

They ran in opposite directions, some of the apprentices going one way and the rest the other way.

Since they were in the armory that day, Irene and the other apprentices were allowed to bring shields with the additional caveat that they would have to clean them once they were done with them.

Based on the number of goblins rushing out, it seemed like a good decision on the knight who permitted them to take what they needed since they didn't have time to get into armor.

While only a handful of goblins made their way into the practice yard, it was still a lot for apprentices who were just beginning their careers.

Irene had personally never used a shield before that moment.

As she sprinted towards a smaller goblin that was moving far quicker than others in its pack, she didn't know if the shield she held was inhibiting her or helping her more. Movements felt awkward and she felt a bit bulky.

She silently considered it yet another lesson as she raised her dagger.

The goblin had a wooden club but used the arm that coincided with her shield. Despite the monster's speed, it was easy to block and Irene thrust the blade forth while holding away the goblin's club with her shield. The speed at which she thrust her blade into its soft stomach over and over again made her arm burn.

"Ah!" she cried out in pain and frustration, begging her instincts to give her a more decisive attack

Eventually, she simply dove on top of the monster, using her weight to drive her dagger further into the putrid flesh. She heard a sickening crack and wondered what she severed—regardless of what it was, it made the monster stop moving and that's all that mattered.

Since the apprentices were running defense from the edge of the practice yard and monsters were unpredictable, it wasn't a perfect execution.

One of the larger goblins slipped through the cracks.

The bottom tip of Irene's shield was partially buried in the dirt and under part of the goblin. Rather than holding onto it, the girl let go of her shield or she would become an easy target.

She heard the shuffling of a goblin sprinting towards her and she attempted to strike it before it could strike her. However, her ribs were met with a mallet and she was thrown to the side.

The thrill of the fight made her hardly feel the blow and she got back up as quickly as possible. The goblin was incredibly close and swinging again. She ducked one of its blows and attempted to stab it in the neck.

Its mallet swung again and she braced for the worst but the weapon didn't meet her again.

"What in the hell is the point of a shield if you drop in during battle?" she heard Sir Gunnar's deep voice bellow out above the noise of fighting.

In the nick of time, he beheaded the monster. He wouldn't allow it to kill one of his apprentices.

The panic of seeing one of his own in such danger was familiar. It triggered deep dread within him and he knew he was going to be awake late that night.

What was more important was the apprentice kneeling on the ground next to him, holding her side from where she had been dealt a blow before. The knight pushed his dark thoughts to the side to lend the child a hand.