Just One More (1/2)

  Nathaniel was always into doing “just one more”.  Just one more shot, just one more spar, just one more throw, just one more jump, just one more mile, just one more night spent outside, just one more week before we go home.

  “Charlie, you can do this,” he was saying now as they stood outside the inn. “Just one more go. And then we’ll head straight east. Promise.”

  Charlie weakly held his foil up. “Fine. One more, and that’s it.”

  Nathaniel grinned. “Just one more.”

  But as always, Charlie’s heart was not in it. The fight was over in less than a minute, Nathaniel striking just left of the centre of Charlie’s chest lightly and frowning. “You’re more absent than usual.”

  Charlie shrugged and sat down on a convenient rock. The inn’s yard was empty save for them and the dust. He dropped his foil, took off his gloves and wiped his forehead. “I’m just anxious to go home. Genevieve hasn’t been home since Winter Festival, and I want to see her.”

  “Once she graduates, she’ll be home all day every day. We’ll be sick of her.” It was true. Once the summer was over, his cousin Gen would return to Avery’s Academy for Future Female Rulers only once more, and then would be finished her formal training.

  “Yes, but I won’t be there. I’ll be off training, or possibly if I pass this year, torturing a squire of my own.”

  Nathaniel sat beside him. “I don’t torture you.”

  “Nat, you just beat me six consecutive times in fencing. It’s not even noon yet and we’ve been up for six hours, I only had a slice of bread for breakfast and you made me run at least two miles in full armour this morning, and I have a feeling you’re going to make me do it again before you even think about letting me have lunch. I think this counts as torture.”

  Nathaniel ran a hand through his hair. “I just want you to pass the Masters’ exams this time, Charlie. Surely you want to as well?”

  “I do. Gods know I can’t face another year of squiring…” It had been a little humiliating, but mostly expected, when Charlie failed the final evaluation at the Masters’ House for Squires the first time. When he failed the second time, it had been nothing short of mortifying.

  After his second attempt, the Headmaster took Charlie into his office and said plainly, “Charles, somehow, we have to make you into a knight. How do you suggest we do such a thing?”

  “Sir, I think you and I both know that I’m not knight material.” The Headmaster had not disagreed. But he knew- as Charlie himself knew- that there was really no other option available to him. Genevieve would inherit everything the Ribbon family had.  And Charlie would be a knight. The prospect terrified him, just as he knew the prospect of being a countess terrified Gen.

  In the inn yard, the sun hiking up the sky, Nathaniel stood up and offered Charlie a hand. “Come on.  If we want to be there before the royal party arrives, we better make a start.”

  Thank the gods for Nathaniel.  As Charlie saddled his horse, Monty, he remembered how Nathaniel, by then a fully-fledged knight, swooped down on the Masters’ like he was a hero (which he was) and Charlie was a damsel in distress (which he might as well have been). After his second failed attempt to qualify, Charlie faced a third year at the Masters’, until Nathaniel offered the Headmaster a compromise. “Charlie doesn’t have any problem with the theory, he passes top in that every year,” Nathaniel reasoned. “Let me take him for a squire this year, I know the curriculum inside out, and train him for the practical exam next winter.” The Headmaster obliged his star pupil, glad to be rid of Charlie Ribbon at last, however temporarily.

  And so, Charlie Ribbon and Nathaniel Bolt rode to Iron Holdings in the midday sun together. There, Charlie hoped, he could get some rest, at least for the few hours before the Princess arrived. It was surely only a matter of months now before the betrothal of Princess Alicia and Nathaniel was formally made. Nathaniel, however, seemed rather nonchalant at the prospect.

  The Ribbon family’s estate was a study in symmetries. Charlie was happy that he and Nathaniel could arrive on matching black horses so as not to upset the pattern. Until, of course, as they passed through the gates to the estate and up the drive, a jumble of red hair and stained skirts ran headlong down to meet them.

  Charlie grinned and swung himself off Monty’s back to meet his cousin. Gen ran into his arms and nearly knocked him off balance.

  Nathaniel also dismounted and Gen appraised him. “What a convenient time for you to appear, Sir Bolt,” she said.

  “I have no idea what you mean, Countess Ribbon. My squire simply wished to return home.”

  “Of course,” Genevieve said playing along. “I’m sure the fact there’s a royal visit coming had nothing to do with it.”

  “There’s a royal visit?”

  Gen elbowed Nathaniel but was smiling the purest of her smiles. “It’s good to have you two back.” She linked arms with Charlie as they began to walk. Charlie couldn’t help smiling to himself. With Gen there, it felt like they were complete. They had grown up that way, closer than any siblings could hope to be. Charlie had lived with his uncle and aunt since his parents died when he was five, and Nathaniel's home was close enough for him to visit nearly every day of their childhood.

  “Are any of the other Avery girls coming to join Alicia?” Nathaniel asked.

  Gen shook head. “I invited them, but Astrid doesn’t leave Hazel for at least a month, Antonia hasn’t even gotten home, she’s still sailing, Setter doesn’t go anywhere and Bette’s grandmother is sick. So it’s just us and the princess.” She squeezed Charlie’s arm. “So we’ll be spending a lot of time together, coz, while these two are off canoodling.”

  “I do not canoodle,” said Nathaniel, straightening to his full height, considerable more than either of them, as they reached the entrance.

  “Of course not, Nat. So tell me all about your adventures,” Genevieve said, and she held the door open for them herself. “Oh, and welcome home.”

--

  The royal party arrived just before dinner, with Charlie’s aunt Helen going mad about preparations. “Is the duck cooked? But not too cooked- dear goodness, Genevieve, why aren’t you dressed yet?”

  “I am dressed!”

  “Not for the Queen, you’re not! Heavens, look at that skirt… Charles- where are you, let me look at you.” His aunt pulled him down to her height and kissed the top of his head. “Perfect. Now try and get Genevieve in order, please.”

  “I’m perfectly in order-“

  “Gen, go put on your yellow dress with the short sleeves,” Charlie said. “And pin your hair up.”

  Gen rolled her eyes. “But-“

  “Just do it, it will stop Aunt Helen whining.”

  Gen ran upstairs. “Your Grace, the royal party is approaching,” said a footman rushing into the hallway.

  “Oh gods,” said Aunt Helen and ran off.

  Eventually, the Ribbon family managed to pull themselves out of their constant state of confusion and disorganisation long enough to stand in a row and greet the two silver-haired women who came through their doors. They all bowed and curtseyed low. “Your Majesty,” Bernard said. “Your Highness. Welcome to Iron Holdings.”

  They were then greeted each in turn. Charlie, of couese, came last.

  “It’s Charles, isn’t it? Bernard’s nephew? Sir Bolt’s squire?” Anneliese had a gold and diamond crown encircling her head, with her hair coiled up like snakes inside it.

  “Yes.”

  “Is Sir Bolt here?” Alicia asked. The princess' hair, unlike her mother's, floated free to her waist. She always seemed like she walked on a different plane, like she truly was closer to the divine. While her father was kindly, her brother was arrogant and her mother was, to be honest, downright terrifying, Alicia was just… royal.

  “I actually don’t know where he is,” Charlie said, looking around as if he expected Nathaniel to appear at any moment. “I mean, we travelled here together and he’s eating dinner with us tonight, but at this very moment I appear to have lost him.”

  “That’s not particularly good squiring,” Alicia teased.

  “No,” Charlie sighed. “No, I suppose it isn’t.”

--

Author's Note- this is set in the world of my curret WiP or 'Astrid' as it's generally referred to. Charlie's a relatively minor character that I wanted to spend some time with. So while no critique on this is urgent, I'd like your thoughts on characterisation! (For those of you who have read any of Astrid, this is set between the Prologue and Chapter One. I probably should have mentioned that at the beginning). Part 2 will be up in a few days!