The Four Swords-Chapter 144: The Mother of Surprises

The celebration of Carrion dispersed without too much fuss from my babysitting charges. Princess Alina, Lady Calista and Lord Jacobson hung around the grand hall until all of the other partygoers left.

"I cannot believe that I'm going to be fighting Gavin!" Jacobson miserably moaned.

"At least you aren't up against my brother. He has been insufferable lately and is looking for a fight." Calista rolled her eyes.

"Well I can look forward to seeing him in the second round if by a miracle I survive the first." Jacobson offered.

"Let's just hope that Agnar puts Lord Carrion in his place," Alina added. "Lord Carrion. It feels funny giving him that title."

"I do not think I will ever get used to hearing that." Cali admitted.

"Is this your way of throwing down your gauntlet to challenge your brother?" Alina joked.

The group of friends laughed at the teasing and Calista swatted at her best friend.

"Glad to know that Lady Calista still has a fighting spirit." The Queen interrupted. None of my charges seemed to notice that Queen Valerie had well wished the last of the guests and approached with Lord Garrison and Lord Carrion following closely behind her.

The joyous banter of my charges quickly sobered. I could tell in their stolen glances to each other that they hoped Carrion had not heard their exchange.

"My dear, I think that the Swordsmen have enough to worry about today without us taking up their entire day." Queen Valerie softened her tone toward her daughter.

"I think the palace guards can handle our safety if we remain in our chambers." The Queen basically confined her daughter to her room. Not a bad idea after the Princess's last comment, if Lord Carrion's ego is as fragile as we all believe it to be.

The Queen turned to the rest of the crowd gathered. "Swordsmen, you are all relieved from duty until tomorrow. You're dismissed."

Queen Valerie turned on her heel and left for the royal wing while the majority of the gathered crowd was still bowing toward her.

"Come along, Alina" echoed down the passageway.

Alina gave her friends a strained smile before following her mother. For once, I was free from babysitting!

I almost ran home. Well, Benate's home. For once I thought everything was looking up. An afternoon off while I was in the city was unheard of. An early dismissal usually meant I was on my way home, but this was the next best thing.

I passed by the shop and saw a few eyes follow me from the window. I hope Gella was not too embarrassed at the sight of me. I tried to not let my eyes get drawn into the shop by staring at the ground.

I basically flew up the steps two at a time, only to be met with Benate at the door.

"You're home early!" I said as the shock of running into someone faded.

Benate was supposed to be spending all of today helping a family fix something or move something. I should have paid more attention last night when he told me what he was up to, but my mind was clearly occupied with today's festivities.

"Yea. I guess news travels fast. While I was helping the carpenter move the bulk of his inventory into his new workspace, one of his kids came home chanting my name as a tournament champion." Benate's tone was depleted.

I would think he would love to have a fan such as a child to raise his banner on tournament days. I guess I was wrong.

"As the child knew I was visiting his father, a crowd gathered in the shop and it became impossible for the carpenter to work or for us to accomplish any of the tasks he needed done. I was sent home with partial payment for today's work. Even though I saw his savvy wife make a sale or two off of my presence." Benate moaned.

"That is awful," I responded, better understanding my brother's despairing attitude.

My brother shrugged. "Maybe I can get in some more practice before the tournament. I doubt that many of my other jobs that I had lined up want a mob to accompany me."

Just then we heard someone coming up the steps. The tell tale creek was unmistakable.

"Do you think some well-wishers followed you home?" I asked as we both looked at each other in confusion. Benate rarely had visitors and I was already here.

Before he had a chance to respond, a voice from the other side of the door rang through. "I'm sure my boys won't mind at all!"

The door flung open as my mother walked into Benate's home with Sergeant Agnar in tow.

"Mother?" Benate gawked. "What are you doing here?"

"Is that the way you greet your mother after having not seen her in forever?" Mother laid it on thick.

"I am, well, just surprised I suppose. I was not expecting so much company." Benate recovered as well as he could even if the shock and annoyance was barely veiled.

"I'm glad I got to surprise both of my boys then! I would have thought that Holden would have shared my secret." Her tone triumphantly announced.

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Benate shot me a look that was somewhere between betrayed and annoyed. "No. He did not tell me he had seen you today."

"In my defense, I just got here." I also had no idea that my mother would be visiting here.

"We would not miss the tournament! Especially Sergeant Agnar," My mother joked. "Now where can we put the belongings?"

Benate and I shared a look for a moment. The space was already cramped with two grown men occupying the house.

"I'm sorry, what?" Benate asked.

"Surely you did not think we came all this way empty handed when we will be staying here for a tournament?" My mother asked.

"No. Not at all, Mother." Benate acted like that was a silly question even if his face did blanche. "Did you say 'we'? As in, Sergeant Agnar is staying here as well?"

Mother was full of surprises today.