By Bolgerjc
Lady Gwen walked down the dirt road, kicking the occasional rock as she contemplated her next move. She was more confident in her ability to defend herself if trouble came along with a lighter set of armor and weapon, but the equipment still felt a bit foreign to her as she hadn’t used a short sword and a small shield since her early days as a squire. Luckily, the movements still seemed to be in her muscle memories as a few practice swings felt smooth and natural. A slight smile crossed her face as she thought about how many hours she had spend practicing the movements with Baron Armstrong, and realized it was only natural she should remember how to use the equipment all these years later.
As she left the sun fading below the hills she spied Squire Albert waiting patiently with the horses. Was she like Squire Albert at that age? He was tall and thin with the potential to become filled out with muscle and power as he aged into full manhood. His gaze avoided looking directly as he dwelled on his inexperience, and doubts but he had the potential to overcome these and become a great beckon of hope like a paladin should be. He was becoming a handsome man as well, and would likely have beautiful children . . . if he had the right wife.
A flush came to Lady Gwen’s cheeks as she wondered where the romantic thought had come from? Had she just been think about the future of her apprentice or was she thinking about her own possible future? She wanted to deny any interest in men because she had been a man until recently and she had a princess fiancee to think of well, but she was under an unknown spell that may have effects that hadn’t fully unfolded yet. Lady Gwen hated the feeling of doubt about who she was that was beginning to fill her mind.
“Is something wrong?,” Lord Albert asked peer into Lady Gwen’s blue eyes.
“No . . . Nothing but the journey ahead of us,” it wasn’t a complete lie but it was less truth than the paladin liked to use. Was it better to voice his worries knowing he could be wrong and placing needless worry on his squire or not voice them and possibly succumb to the effects of the nefarious spell she was under. She decided to wait on the decision until she had eaten and had a good night’s rest. “Let’s go to the hotel.”
