Chapter 252: Chapter 237 – An Outing in Disguise

“Being immortal is not the same as being invincible, and those who mistakenly correlated the two concepts would be in for an unpleasant surprise. I had the fortune of understanding this fact early on, but have definitely heard stories of others who were less fortunate.” - Aideen deVreys, the Silver Maiden, circa 356 VA.

The convoy reached the Royal City of Oleynuos shortly before sunset a few days later, exactly one day before the yearly meeting was to be held. Pedro mentioned to Aideen that it was their group’s habit to drag their feet and only arrive at the last moment like this. Nobody could find fault with them either, since they were technically not late.

 

While the noble scions retired to an inn to rest, Aideen took her leave as she went out into the town. That night she was not alone however, as the nobles had asked if she would mind if one of their men came with her. Aideen saw no reason to disagree, as even if they ran into trouble - which given that the capital was where the Unburdened Healers’ Guild had their headquarters was almost certain - chances are the person they picked knew how to handle themselves.

 

She had not expected it to be Rodolfo, the old knight-captain, however. The old man had simply dressed himself in simple traveling clothes complete with a hooded cloak, and at a glance would only be seen as an old, weary traveler.

 

“Why the surprise, Miss?” asked the old man with a smile as they walked, his voice kept quiet enough that it would only be audible to the two of them. Walking side by side like that, if Aideen had not been of pale skin - which was practically nonexistent in the region - they might have passed for a traveling grandfather and granddaughter.

 

“I had expected one of the junior knights, to be honest. Not one as venerable as yourself, Sir Rodolfo,” she replied with a smile of her own. The old knight-captain was a rather popular figure amongst the younger knights, two of whom were his own grandchildren. He was also one of the most veteran knights still in service, having served three generations of the family.

 

“Eh, the kids are safe as it is. Nobody would dare to touch them here in Oleynuos, and even if someone was stupid enough to, Graciela and Armand would take them down with the rest,” said the old man with a shrug. “They wanted someone experienced and skilled to see you at work, so I volunteered rather than be bored with noble brats posturing all day.”

 

“I can sympathize with that,” said Aideen with an undisguised frown. While she had the fortune of never having been forced to be part of such gatherings, she knew all too well what the old knight meant. In a different life, that might well be her fate, if she just grew up normally and maybe later married elsewhere for the benefit of her country. “I myself can’t stand such things.”

 

“That and the shit they serve in such gatherings tend to be more pretentious than tasty, too,” said the old man after they paused for a moment to buy a few skewers from a roadside vendor. The vendor wasn’t the most well-off, and the skewers were rather anemic, if cheap. The meat - probably some kind of poultry from the taste - was well seasoned, if on the tough and chewy side. “Simple stuff like this fits my old palate better anyway.”

 

“I’m more surprised you still got the teeth to really chew these on,” replied Aideen half in jest. The meat was definitely on the chewy end and took a while before it was crushed enough to swallow. “I thought old people were supposed to have softer foods.”

 

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“Hey now, Miss. I’m just old, not infirm,” said the old knight with a laugh in return. To make a point he took another bite of the tough, chewy meat and made a show of savoring it thoroughly. “I still got another good decade of service in me at least, and I'm gonna stay working as long as I can.”

 

“Not looking forward to retirement then I guess?”

 

“Not really. I know my son and grandkids would be able to take care of me without trouble, but I can’t really stand doing nothing. You can only play with your great-grandkids so long before you get tired, you know?” said the old man. Aideen had heard that his wife had died young, and he had not remarried since, despite his popularity among the women of the Duchy. Rodolfo just had the one son, who worked as an instructor for young knights, and four grandchildren, two of them were knights themselves.

 

“I can relate,” said Aideen, who knew she herself would probably go stir-crazy if placed in the old knight’s shoes. She herself had a similar experience with her grand-nieces and their children. “I’m honestly surprised you stayed single in your old age given how all the others described you as an old playboy.”

 

“It’s… just how it is I guess. Reina was special. None of the others I’ve been with since could fill the hole she left behind when she left this world,” said the old man with some melancholy. “It’s why I stayed away from those ladies who were more serious in their pursuits, and only agreed to have some fun with those who only wished for a night, or maybe a week, of fun times with no strings attached.”

 

“I… know how you must have felt, yes,” replied Aideen as she unwittingly reminisced about the days she spent with Artair as well. “I guess I have to applaud you for keeping things at such a clear distance. I sometimes found it hard to keep such a clear line, even though I made sure to explain to others just what I am.”

 

“Anyway, it’s nice chatting with you and all, Miss deVreys, but what should we do with these stalkers we got behind us?” asked the old man with a smile after they took a turn towards a darker, less populated area of the city. Just as he said those words, a group of five men appeared at the other end of the alley they were in, and the five that tailed them from a while ago also closed off the way they came from. “And in front of us too, I guess.”

 

“What you’d normally do with vermin,” said Aideen with a cold voice as she looked at the two groups that had pincered them. They carried cudgels, knives, and axes in their hands, a hodgepodge group of thugs likely hired by money, and she spotted nobody who looked like they were part of the Unburdened with them. “Take care of yourself.”

 

“Why, Miss, it’s just some silly thugs,” said the old man with a smile as he drew his large two-handed sword from his waist. “Nothing these old bones can’t handle yet.”

 

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