Irene at least wanted a while to settle before she would have to face soone from the knighthood. Since nothing had happened so far, she assud that she had at least a day before she had to leave and then another two days before she would have to see the others. Once she healed a bit then she could face the others and resu as usual as long as she was determined enough. By then, perhaps her father would have advice for what she could tell Sir Gunnar when she returned.
To say it was an ergency wasn’t necessarily a lie, but it was still not the entire truth because she couldn’t be honest with anyone.
She was still fatigued and the tattoo on her arm was still a flesh wound, but she managed to stand up straighter at the sight of the knight.
"Sir Gunnar," she greeted with her head bowed, not willing to show him the petrified expression she likely wore from being caught off guard. "Why have you co all this way?"
"I heard there was an ergency," he justified. "I figured it was my duty as the apprentices’ guide to check on you."
However, there was a bit of sothing else in his expression when Irene lifted her head. He was practically glaring at her and his crossed arms seed a bit hostile.
Irene internally panicked to form a response, but it seed that her mother sensed what she was feeling because she spoke up quickly.
"Sir Gunnar, if you’ve been traveling all day, you likely haven’t eaten well," Rochelle realized, deciding there was never a more opportune ti to play Lady of the House. "Please join us for dinner. I’m sure Ella has already prepared a guest room for you considering how late it is in the day."
The maid, who had made a place at the bottom of the stairs and out of the way of the others bowed her head.
"Yes, my Lady," she responded. "The fire is heating the space as we speak."
"Very good," Rochelle complinted. "Then, right this way, Sir Gunnar."
Since it was clear what Rochelle was doing but he wasn’t in any position to deny her hospitality, Sir Gunnar relented, but not before he turned to Irene.
"We have much to discuss later on," the knight warned her.
At least, it sounded like a warning. She had dropped her gaze by then and witnessed the hardened expression he wore beco one of concern. He didn’t find Irene to be a liar but he also wasn’t sure what the ergency was considering everyone in her family seed to be in decent spirits. If it was her grandmother, they would likely remain with her or bring her to their ho.
Sir Arthur contemplated Sir Gunnar and his daughter’s interaction for a mont and he tried to think of how he may approach this situation if it weren’t his daughter. If an apprentice ran off under his watch, he would be far angrier than the knight was presenting himself.
Was he going easy on Irene because she was a knight’s daughter? Perhaps there was sothing else he had missed...
With unanswered questions, the family and unlikely guest went to the warm kitchen where Ella was already putting together food. That night it was stew and bread, using the last of the fresh vegetables for the season. They would then have to rely on rooted vegetables that lasted a lot longer, preserved vegetables, or dried ones so that they were still getting a wide variety of foods.
In a few months, they would be relying entirely on dried ats and cured sausages to get through the winter and that always made the als quite boring. At least they always had fresh bread.
The table they sat at was big enough for six people which was much smaller than the one in the dining hall. However, Arthur still refused to get out wood to heat such a large space when they had set up a table in the nook of the kitchen for that reason.
While Irene felt so incredibly heavy, small talk felt pointless but it didn’t stop her mom from filling the space with words.
"Was the travel difficult?" Rochelle questioned the knight. "I suppose not since my child made it without help, although I do feel bad you went all this way to check on Iro."
She carefully spooned so of the stew into her mouth with a small, pleasant smile on her face. She was picking her words carefully.
"Fortunately, the path here is straightforward," Gunnar answered. "I wouldn’t recomnd apprentices to travel such a long distance alone regardless. So circumstances aren’t worth the risk."
His words felt pointed and Irene further felt worse.
The bottom of Irene’s bowl found her much faster than she wanted it to and, even though she was perfectly full, she didn’t want to face Sir Gunnar’s wrath.
Even if she was brave against monsters and the hurdles she would have to jump to be a knight, she still hated disappointing other people.
"If you could excuse ," Irene said as she stood up from the table. "I will be in my father’s study. Don’t rush on my behalf."
Despite her saying that, both of the knights were quick to finish their food and they soon excused themselves as well.
When both n made it to the study, Irene was sitting at one of the chairs near the fire and she turned towards the door when she heard it open. She stood out of politeness. The two n entering the room were knights, after all.
"Before you say anything, Sir Gunnar," she began, "I would like to apologize for leaving without saying sothing. It was an ergency of sorts..."
"But you refuse to elaborate," Sir Gunnar responded.
Irene glanced at her father who wore a serious expression as he stared at his daughter.
"I won’t elaborate," she admitted. "I can’t."
The knight simply moved deeper into the room until he was next to one of the other chairs. He sat down when Arthur did as well.
Irene simply watched Sir Gunnar as he contemplated what else there was to say.
"My purpose for following you here has changed," Gunnar admitted. "I wanted to co here and scold you, but that journey alone is punishnt enough. Instead, I would like to ask that you be my apprentice."
Irene’s eyes widened and the confusion she felt was unbridled in her expression.
"Why?" she asked breathlessly.
Even Sir Arthur’s mouth hung slightly open in shock.
"Because I am the only knight other than your father who knows that you are a girl."
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