Chapter 248 - 246:Knightly Activities.

Chapter 248: Chapter 246:Knightly Activities.

But Vogrid just adjusts his glasses and reaches for his quiver; clearly done for the night.

Binny had noticed that his fingers had felt cold to the touch.

​"...Ensure you don’t misplace it again."

​Everyone thinks that Vogrid Vector has a face and heart of stone.

But Binny knows better.

He just finds it hard to say what he means sometimes.

And really, it’s not hard to see past the walls; one only has to take the time to look.

It’s just that not a lot of people took that time.

So while his tone might irk others, Binny hears the words that go unsaid.

When he’d asked him to hold onto this knife all those years ago he still didn’t quite understand, but he figured it out, in time.

​(He’d wanted Binny to carry this piece of him.)

​(And apparently still does.)

​"You can count on me," Binny promises, a small smile creeping across his face as Vogrid passes him by, and while it feels risky it feels right when he adds, "...Vector."

​The old nickname makes him stop.

And even in the grey evening light, Binny’s eyes catch the corners of his lips twitch into the barest of smiles, like it’s something he’s been longing to hear as much as Binny’s been longing to say.

​"Goodnight, Binny."

...

That following morning, it’s Mural who notices first.

​"Hey Gandy," he hollers from the other end of the stables. Gandy sticks his head out of his horse’s stall to find his friend standing in the doorway, a bucket of meal in each hand,

"Didn’t Montrel say he was busy this

morning?"

​"Hmm? Yeah? Why’s that?" he calls back, ducking with a curse as his horse tries to graze on a mouthful of his hair.

​"...Because he’s over at the archery range."

​"Huh?" Gandy drawls, eyebrow raised as he closes the gate behind him and heads over to leer in the direction Mural’s pointing.

"The archery range? What’s he doing there?"

​Ditching them to give the princess a private lesson, apparently.

​Because while he has to squint, it’s obvious that that’s who he’s there with.

​Interesting .

​This, Gandy needs to see.

​"She’s back again," Mural remarks conversationally, heading off to attend to his horse like he hasn’t noticed anything unusual about the scene, "Her Highness is getting surprisingly into it."

​"So is Montrel," Gandy points out, and just gets a shrug in response.

​"So she’s requested him," Mural supposes, "He’s just doing his duty."

​" Pfft , what are you talking about? Montrel hates doing his duty."

​Mural pauses, then concedes.

They were going to head into town for a drink and something off the regular castle menu after tending to their horses but there’s been a change of plan, and the moment Mural is done with his horses Gandy wheels them in the direction of the archery range to investigate.

​No one pays them much mind as they approach; half of the lanes are empty, and the ones that are occupied seem much more interested in chatting amongst themselves than actually getting some practice in.

In fact, the princess seems to be one of the only people there taking the day seriously; miming the action of nocking and drawing to practise her form without a bow.

She looks very determined, and Montrel must’ve found a shooting glove for her somewhere because she’s wearing one that actually fits her this time.

Although where he would’ve found one so small is anyone’s guess, and it looks far more shiny and new than anything they usually have lying around.

​Montrel doesn’t notice them immediately; too busy assessing her stance and explaining what will happen if she lets her form slip.

Maybe Mural’s right in that he’s just doing his duty, because he’s looking awful serious, and he’s even wearing his official guard uniform instead of the plain old armour they usually train in.

Correctly, too; which would have to be a first.

​"Mornin’ Montrel," Gandy greets cordially, waiting until he’s right behind him to let him know he’s there.

Montrel jumps, meeting his wide grin with a glare as Gandy drops into a bow for the princess. "Your Highness."

​"I thought you were going into town,"

Montrel states flatly, indicating to the princess that he’s pleased with her form.

Gandy has to commend her –and Montrel, he supposes, for training her –it does look impeccable.

​"We are," Gandy assures him airily, "Just thought we’d say hi before we headed off."

​" Hi ."

​Up close, the shooting glove that the princess is wearing looks exceptionally new. It’s really the only reason he notices it, because pretty, clean things always stand out in this sort of environment.

It’s why the princess is so easy to pick out of the crowd here.

​The brand on the cuff he recognises.

It’s very popular with the castle soldiers.

Everything there is excellent quality, and not cheap.

​Hang on.

​Montrel went in there yesterday.

​It was the only place he bought anything.

​No way .

​He wouldn’t’ve.

​Right?

​"That’s a nice glove, Your Highness," Gandy remarks conversationally, because he’s nosy, "Good make."

​"It is quite lovely," the princess agrees, which is such a noble thing to say.

His mother says the exact same thing about everything she’s ever been complimented on, regardless of whether she loves it or hates it, which is why Gandy’s father had taught him very early on how to tell which it is.

​And the princess very clearly loves this.

​"It was a very thoughtful gift from Montrel."

​Um, what the fuck?

​"... From Montrel , eh?" Gandy echoes, eyebrows shooting into his eyebrows as he turns to find Montrel wearing a particularly grim expression, and deliberately not looking at him, "So thoughtful. Isn’t that thoughtful, Mural?"

​"Very thoughtful," Mural chimes easily, and Gandy’s grin widens to extremes.

​"...My apologies for interrupting, Your Highness, but could I...quickly borrow him, for just one sec?"

​"Of course."

Gandy wheels Montrel just beyond earshot by the arm, then smacks him in the chest.

The breastplate of his uniform stops it from hurting him, but doesn’t stop him from looking annoyed at being hit.