The next day, Agnes and her men began to prepare for their journey back to the Palace. With Rodrigo’s help, Max reviewed the packing list while coordinating the servants to prepare for their guests’ departure.
The original plan was to consult with Riftan to provide a gift to the King, but the monster bones and skin took up most of the available space in the horse-drawn carriages. Besides, between Agnes’ spoils from the monster raids and the purchases she had made in town, the servants could only fit four tapestries and six ruby-encrusted wine glasses in miscellaneous places.
“Ha-have you inspected the carriages?” Max asked Rodrigo.
“Yes, my Lady. I replaced one of the wheels and fed the horses. The blacksmiths also plan to check the horseshoes prior to departure”. Max continued to scan the packing list as Rodrigo briefed her. He watched her quietly for a moment before saying nervously. “My Lady, it hasn’t been long since you’ve recovered. If you need rest, please leave everything to me.”
Max gave him a sour smile. Riftan’s overprotective personality seemed to have spread amongst the servants. It was now a recurring theme for someone to ask her to rest whenever she was engaged.
She moved her thin body, watching the skirt of her pale, green dress swish faintly. Did she look sickly? She knew she didn’t look particularly strong, but she wouldn’t break from standing either. Max raised her head and said assuredly.
“I-I’m not sick. I have had enough r-rest, thank you. I-I’m fine now.”
“I’m glad to hear that, my Lady, but please don’t overwhelm yourself.”
“Yes, I know”, Max said wryly, unperturbed by the butler’s words. She turned to focus on the servants scurried around the castle. She wanted to help the busy staff and didn’t want to be treated like a weak, old man. She strode down the corridor with a nonchalant expression to look professional.
Agnes and her knights were inspecting their weapons, magic artifacts, and other equipment near the Great Hall. A knight had told Max that crossing the Anatolian Mountains in itself was already a dangerous journey, so they had to prepare for monster ambushes. The knights dressed their horses with protective armor and installed sharp blades on the flat roofs of the carriages to prevent monsters from roosting there. Finally, the knights began to check their personal armor for defects. Even the attendants were lightly armed with swords and leather armor. Instead of going home, the party looked like they were going to war.
“Maximilian!” Agnes waved at her happily. “Thank you for helping my men and I pack.”
“Yes. Pl-Please let me know if there’s a-anything else you need”.
“We just need enough food and water now to reach the estate of Baron Luvein. Any more goods, and it will be dangerous to maneuver. The extra weight will slow our movement.” Agnes viewed Max’s packing list and nodded in approval. “Looks accurate.”
“Y-you requested medicines this morning?”
“Thirty shekels of detoxifying potion (about 330 grams), and twenty shekels of recovery potion (about 220 grams) will be enough”, Agnes said.
Max wrote down the quantities before handing off the list to Rodrigo. The princess watched the transaction with a sad smile.
“I’ve had a headache since dawn. I considered prolonging my departure a couple more days, but my father has sent an urgent message.” She sighed, motioning to a messenger hawk resting on one of the carriages.
Max’s eyes widened. “Ha-has something happened at the Capital?”
“The typical drama. Another territorial dispute”, Agnes rubbed her forehead. “After the rainy season, the bloody fools who have been locked inside all day tend to make noise, as if they’re bears waking up from hibernation. There really is never a peaceful day.”
Max’s heart fell. She remembered the Knights of Croix often leaving the estate for one of her father’s campaigns. Knights seemed to spend most of their lives on the battlefield.
“R-Riftan will also have to depart a-at some point.” Max said deeply, trying to hide her dejection.
“Yes, if the conflict grows large enough to require the Remdragon Knights”, Agnes said with her usual, cheerful attitude, checking that the goods were secured tightly on her saddle. Max hid her face, trying to review the packing list again, but her eyes were too blurred with tears to read the words properly. She bit her lip to hide her disappointment.
“When that time comes, Maximillian, you can come too.”
Max rose her head. “M-m-me?”
“Aren’t you a wizard?” Agnes tilted her head, surprised at her response. “If a crisis is large enough to require Riftan’s assistance, his group will need healing magic as well. There are too many conflicts in this world and not enough wizards to support. He may need your help soon, Maximilian.”
“Oh, I-I’m not sure if I would be helpful. I o-only started learning magic a while ago. The l-last time I used healing magic, I fainted. I do-don’t seem to have that much mana”.
“Your magic will improve exponentially with practice”, Agnes said, frowning. She seemed to have expected a more enthusiastic response from Max. “I heard from the knights you only started learning magic a few months ago. You’ve done impressive feats as a beginner, Maximilian.”
“I h-have only done simple healing spells. Ruth does many other types of magic. I-I’ve tried other branches of magic with him, but h-have not advanced much.”
“It’s not uncommon for wizards to excel in certain branches. Most likely, Maximilian, you have an affinity for healing magic. If you train for a few years and take some risks outside of the castle, I have no doubt that you will become a great healer in a few years.” Agnes seemed so convinced about Max’s potential that even she almost began to wonder if she did have some innate talent. The princess lowered her voice to encourage Max, “Do not forsake the talents that God has given you.”
Max stared blankly at Agnes’ blue eyes, at a loss for words. She had lived almost twenty-two years being called a stammering fool by her father. Since she had arrived to Anatol, she pretended to act like a distinguished noblewoman, and was often discouraged about her poor performance. Yet now, a powerful wizard like Agnes who had traveled across the entire continent said that Max had a gift. She looked at the princess nervously, trying to see if she truly meant what she had said. Agnes’ expression was tender, but her eyes were firm. She seemed sincere.
Max swallowed before saying, “I-I’ll try my best.”
“You can do it”, Agnes smiled, trying to motivate her, then she lightly tapped on her shoulder before checking on her knights.
You can do it. Those simple words seemed to produce a ripple in Max’s mind, as if sprouting a new idea that she could control her future.
***
An extravagant dinner was set in the dining hall as an informal farewell party for the guests. It was a bit too simple to call it a feast, but the guests enjoyed their meal without complaint. Every Remdragon Knight was present to wish Agnes’ and her men good luck on their journey. After a short farewell ceremony, the knights lined themselves outside the castle.
Agnes leapt onto her red-brown horse without delay, wanting to camp at the foot of the mountains before sundown.
“Thank you all for your generosity. I had a wonderful time”, Agnes smiled at Max. She was thanking her host as etiquette demanded, as expected from a princess.
“N-no. I wish I h-had been a better host”.
“Let’s end the formalities here”. The princess looked over shoulder, making sure her party was ready to leave. Three stocked carriages and her attendants were behind her, her knights to her left and right were all staring at her, ready for the command to depart. Six additional Remdragon Knights had temporarily joined Agnes’ party. They had been ordered by Riftan to escort Agnes’ safely out of Anatol. “We should get going”.
Hebaron, who was part of her entourage, gave a huge grin while scratching his back.
“You came like a typhoon making a mess and now you’re leaving like thunder. Do you have to make a big impression on everyone who crosses your path?”
“I do hate the idea of leaving a mess”, Agnes said.
“It’s because you’re too impatient and reckless.” Riftan, standing in the front row with his arms crossed over his chest, muttered cynically under his breath and Agnes laughed as if Riftan’s suspicions were ridiculous.
“Lord Calypse is the last person who should be teaching me about patience.”
“Don’t even think about discussing patience with me”, Riftan warned. “I haven’t raised my voice at you once. I’ve been enduring your presence for the past few weeks while you’ve tried to coerce me with your schemes.”
“Haven’t raised your voice?” Agnes repeated him, bewildered.
Note – Nymeria: Agnes leaving ? I’ll miss this typhoon, I love seeing how she gives courage and boosts Maxi’s confidence.
