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The sea had been merciful as they fled La Cuna.
The light of day had started to peak over the horizon of the gentle waves, almost blinding Sophia from where she stood, hands white on the pole that steered the ship. Her fingers rubbed raw against the rope, but she didn’t care. The tiny blisters and hairs of cuts were nothing compared to the night behind them. From the horrific and haunting dungeon she, Amicia, and Hugo had gone through, to seeing the two sprinting towards the ship, their mother and a family friend in toe as a sea of rats surrounded them.
It was almost incredible to see. Little Hugo was walking with his hands outstretched, face grim as he created a circle around them. The mother, Beatrice, was holding his shoulder. And Amicia was half dragged on the family friend, Lucas’, shoulder. She seemed to wince with every step, her arm dangling like it was non-functioning.
She later learned Amicia had been pushed down a flight of stairs, causing her arm to get dislocated. She’d had to bite her own cheek at the scream the girl had released when Lucas pushed her arm back into place.
Sophia had gotten the four into the ship when Hugo had cried out for Arnaud, the man, somehow, fighting off a small legion of soldiers. Beaten and bruised he’d still managed to leap onto the deck, grunting once before passing out. If he wasn’t a damned mess Sophia would’ve found a way to insult him.
But now, as the sun rose, they’d all managed to calm down.
Lucas and Beatrice informed her and Arnaud what happened after Amicia and Hugo had gone back to the palace. Poor Amicia had been lured away for the Count to kill, only to have managed to turn the tables on him, and make it out with her life. More impressively, she had taken the Count’s sword and swung it at him. One armed and incredibly injured, the teenager had swung at a trained military count. She was either incredibly brave or a complete idiot, she’d voice her opinion when Amicia rose from her injuries.
Poor little Hugo had wandered into the amphitheater just before the Countess had intended to cut Beatrice’s throat. Just in time to save his own mother. The scene had enraged the boy, rightfully so, and he had thrown the rats at them. Momentarily distracting them enough for Lucas to free himself and grab the knife to free Beatrice. Slowly they fled the scene amongst a sea of rats as their guards.
Amicia had taken the blunt of the attack, her dislocated shoulder, various lacerations across her body. Even Arnaud looked at the girl with silent fury, mutters of curses left his lips when he seemed to think no one was listening. “Too much of a coward to face a real warrior, had to beat an injured girl instead,” She heard him spit into the dark sea.
While Sophia couldn’t disagree, she was glad Amicia was anything but a weak girl. She’d never seen a stronger girl in her life.
Sophia locked the pole, letting the ship free float for a moment, she needed to discuss where they would be heading and- more so for her own sake- see if Amicia had woken up yet. Lucas and Beatrice had worked throughout the night wrapping her wounds, and Hugo hadn’t left his sister’s side since they got on the ship.
Taking soft steps into the cabin, Sophia cringed at the squeak of the door’s hinges as she pushed it open. Amicia and Hugo had taken up the bed, sleeping soundly in the candlelight. Lucas was draped over the table by the wall, and Beatrice was still wrapping Arnaud’s own wounds, her face stern.
“How are you all doing?” Sophia asked softly.
Arnaud let out a sigh, and Beatrice simply finished the knot on the linen wrap before saying, “Tired,” simply put.
Sophia hummed, and locked eyes with Arnaud waiting for his response.
“Thank you, Lady De Rune,” Arnaud said before standing from the stool. He gave a simple nod and walked over to Sophia, “I’ll be alright, just need some air.” He walked out onto the deck.
Beatrice and Sophia remained silent for a moment, letting the sound of the waves be the only interrupting factor. Beatrice let out a sigh and stared at her children occupying the bed. Hugo shifted in the sheets, and if Amicia wasn’t unconscious from medicine, she would probably have woken to the thump of the boy’s head against her shoulder.
Sophia stepped up to the bed, moving slowly as she noted Beatrice’s gaze. Crossing her arms she continued forward until she leaned against the bedpost.
“These children of yours,” She began, “They’re… certainly something.” For a moment she struggled to find the words, extraordinary? Remarkable? Unreal? They were all those things and then some.
Beatrice let out a breath of a laugh, “They are,” She said simply.
Silence followed and Lucas fell from his perch as the waves seemed to push his unconscious body to the side, waking with a harsh thump on the floor. He sat up quickly and rubbed his eyes and sat back onto the chair, trying to gather his awakening mind.
Sophia held her laugh, before turning back to the mother. “Did they tell you what we found in that… tomb.” She almost spat the word like a poison, a tomb and a prison, a dungeon made for a small child to be locked away forever.
“They did,” Beatrice said, “I’m not sure what to think about it, the order has been our answer for so long but-” She stopped herself.
Sophia hummed, “Do you know where we should head then?” She asked.
“We have a cottage in the mountains towards the east border of France, I think we’ll head there.”
Sophia nodded, “Alright, I’ll see how close I can get you,” She straightened to head over to her map. She leaned over the table Lucas had previously leaned on, the boy rose and walked over to the bed with the sleeping siblings, he silently checked one of the cuts on Amicia’s leg.
“Oh, Sophia!” Beatrice said, almost too loudly, “Thank you,”
Sophia turned and raised an eyebrow in question.
“Thank you, for taking care of my children,”
Sophia smirked, “Don’t worry about it, I owed them,” both Beatrice and Lucas cast each other a glance, “That girl of yours, she saved my life.”
Beatrice sighed with relief.
“How?” Lucas asked, somewhat sleep addled and messy haired.
“When we first met, I had a guard attack me, she stabbed him.”
“Sounds like her,” Lucas whispered, so low that Sophia almost didn’t catch it.
Sophia then took the map from the table, and turned to the both of them, “Get some sleep, both of you- proper sleep,” She said pointedly at Lucas. “We’re free sailing until everyone is back on their feet, or until we run low on supplies.” With that, she took her leave from the cabin, closing the door. And she barked a laugh at the sight of Arnaud asleep against the side of the ship as if there weren’t cots in the hull of the ship.
Another day passed before Amicia properly woke up and was able to walk again. She’d half stumbled out of the cabin one evening, frightening everyone from Sophia and Lucas at the stern to Arnaud, Hugo, and Beatrice chatting on the deck.
She had promptly collapsed again as soon as she made headcount of everyone.
The girl was lucky she hadn’t ripped any stitches.
So when she finally was able to move again, she almost refused to sit still. Taking any chance to help on the ship, from pulling the sail to tying ropes. It seemed Hugo was the only one able to get his sister to sit down, even if it was just for a moment. Until that day when Sophia had found herself the guard, Amicia sat on the edge of the stern, head resting on the guardrail over the deck, feet dangling over the wall. The girl was quiet and listening to the waves below and the seagulls above.
“Amicia!” Arnaud broke the silence from the deck, and Sophia glared at him.
Amicia hummed, “What?”
“How are your wounds?” He asked bluntly.
“They’re alright,” she replied shortly, the sarcastic spite in her tone could be heard across the whole ship.
Arnaud simply nodded, “Come down here a moment, I need your help with something,”
“Arnaud,” Sophia half growled, a simple warning. But Amicia was already on her feet. The other three were in the cabin, what they were doing, Sophia didn’t care to know: it sounded too studious for her.
When Amicia reached the front of the deck, Sophia almost choked on her own breath as Arnaud handed the girl a sword.
“If you’re going to be reckless enough to sword fight a count, you might as well do it right,” He said bluntly.
Amicia hesitated before taking the sword, feeling the weight of it in her hand. Sophia laughed at the mixed expression flashing across the girl’s face, wonder and the small flashes of rebellion as Arnaud talked.
The man took another sword holding it out, pointed towards the sea, showing her his arm. “Hold it like this, like it’s an extension of your arm.” He started, Amicia followed silently, swinging the sword in the air a few times. Her movements were hesitant, but slowly built confidence. Her grip tightened, her eyes focused, her movements became less staggered.
“Good,” Arnaud said, “It’s not the best training, but you’ll have a chance now,” Sophia snorted at his words, the man almost sounded scared, as if he knew he was giving a dangerous weapon to a feral animal. “Not that you need training in killing,” He muttered.
Some time passed, Sophia watched the impromptu training session, Amicia swung the sword in the air. Small pointers followed by mocking teenage banter.
It was calm, amusing to watch. Until Arnaud took a spot opposed to Amicia.
“Alright,” He said, voice laced with hesitation, “Hit me,”
“W-what?!” Amicia startled.
“Come on,” Arnaud followed, “I know you want to,” He said.
Amicia deadpanned, glared, before swinging her sword at him. Arnaud easily blocked the attack with his sword. “Good,” He said, Sophia stabilized the steering before leaning on the rail to watch the two clash swords. “You’re smaller, use it to your advantage,”
They danced for only a few seconds before the cabin door flung open, “What’s going on?!” Beatrice yelled. Lucas and Hugo followed behind her.
Amicia and Arnaud froze, causing Sophia to laugh from her perch. Two deadly warriors frozen by the yelling of a mother. It reminded her of Hugo’s soft “Is she going to scold us?” as if the three hadn’t just climbed out of hell itself. The two seemed more frightened by their mother than the hoard of flesh consuming rats that had just chased them.
“Wow!” Hugo yelled, sprinting past his mother to the center of the sword, “You’re learning how to swing a sword!” He proclaimed, turning to Arnaud, “Can you teach me too!?”
Arnaud blinked, glancing quickly at Amicia and Beatrice for guidance. Meeting two faces pleading for no, the man shifted on his feet. After a moment he stuck the sword into the wood beside Hugo, the sword towering over the boy.
“Sorry, shortie,” Arnaud said, “You gotta be taller than the sword in order to wield it.” Hugo let out a soft whine, but Beatrice nodded her thanks.
“Maybe one day,” Amicia comforted, sitting on one knee in front of him and placing a hand on his shoulder.
Hugo pouted, before looking up at Arnaud, “Do you promise?”
“What?”
“Do you promise, when I get tall enough, you’ll also teach me to fight with swords!” It sounded more like a demand than a question by the end of the statement.
Arnaud laughed, “Sure, shortie,” He ruffled the boy’s hair, taking the sword from the ground and laying it against his shoulder. Hugo jumped with joy and rushed over to his mother, excitedly declaring he would one day be the best knight ever.
Beatrice seemed less than pleased but bit her tongue, smiling to her son. However as soon as the moment passed, Beatrice rubbed her brows with her fingers. “As thankful of your aid as I am, sir Arnaud, I don’t think they need more ways to kill-” She stopped herself, breathing heavily before sighing.
Arnaud snorted, “It’s not like she needs it,” He pointed a hand at Amicia, “She’s good at killing even without a sword,”
“I am… aware,”
“You wouldn’t have been caught if you’d had a sword in that barn,” Arnaud said, placing the sword against the mast, sensing the day’s training was over.
“What barn?” Beatrice asked.
Amicia visibly tensed besides the knight. Lucas, from behind Beatrice, made a face.
Arnaud laughed, “So, you didn’t tell her.”
“Tell me what?”
“Your daughter killed a dozen or so of my soldiers in the barn outside the Red City,” Arnaud announced, a mixture of pride and resentment in his gaze.
“That night,” Beatrice said low, barely above a whisper, turning to Lucas, “That night the two of you went to get the nightshade!” Lucas stuttered and backed himself into the wall, half stumbling into a barrel. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Amicia shifted as well, taking a step away, trying to sneak into any shadow that could hide her from a mother’s wrath. “No, you don’t-” Arnaud grabbed her shoulder, holding her in place as Beatrice turned back to her daughter. “If you’re not going to face the gallows, you’re going to face your mother,” There was almost a gleeful, childish, joy to his tone as he pushed the teenager towards her mother.
“Amicia De Rune!” Beatrice yelled.
Even Hugo had the sense to back away, not truly afraid, but he seemed to sense his sister was in huge trouble.
“And Lucas!”
The two guilty parties sat on the ground.
Sophia snickered at the sight, especially Amicia as her mother ranted and raved. Hugo found his way besides her, leaning against the rail. Arnaud seemed to also be taking a lot of joy in the scene.
“We have killed before, why is mummy suddenly so angry?” He whispered.
Sophia ruffled his hair, “Doesn’t make it right, kiddo,” She sat down next to him, legs dangling off the wall, “Killing slavers is quite different from killing guards of the province.”
“I don’t know what happened,” Amicia yelled, “I just couldn’t stop!”
“Couldn’t stop?!” Beatrice started, “Why did you start?”
“They were going to hurt Lucas!” Amicia defended. “I-”
Lucas cut in, “I went to the barn to find the nightshade by myself, something was happening to Amicia and…” He paused, “She was struggling and I just couldn’t let her go on, but I was caught,” He glanced at Amicia, eyes soft as if apologising, “When we got the nightshade we were about to leave when more guards came, and… then I don’t know what happened, it was like she blacked out.”
Amicia’s shoulders fell and she lifted her fingers to her head, rubbing her temple. “Again, I don’t know what happened,” She defended.
“But why did you lie?” She asked, voice now slightly softer.
Again it was Lucas who answered, “We didn’t want to worry you, and-”
Amicia cut him off, “And I was so proud to announce I had become a felon within a few days of being in the city,” She growled sarcastically. Arnaud snorted, and Amicia pointed a glare at him.
Beatrice rubbed her forehead and started pacing, muttering under her breath. Before she shouted, “That’s why you and your army came after us?” She turned to Arnaud.
“Yes,” The man said, “She killed a dozen soldiers and then the two of them escaped prison and the gallows. Quite a mighty bounty on her head.”
“Then why are you suddenly deciding to teach her how to use a sword?” Beatrice asked the knight.
The man shrugged, “We have a common enemy.” He said as if it was common knowledge, “Taking the sword of a count, one-armed and injured, and swinging it at him- it’s quite impressive.” He admitted, “If she wasn’t a felon she could’ve been quite the knight herself,”
Something flashed in Amicia’s eyes at the words, appreciation or thankfulness almost, before it vanished just as quickly. “As if I want to be a knight,” She hissed, but the pride laced its way into her tone. Arnaud rolled his eyes, but his lips perked into an almost-smile.
Beatrice sighed in disbelief, “Please don’t encourage this,”
And Hugo laughed, breaking the tension. “Knight Amicia!”
“It would be Lady Amicia,” Sophia corrected.
“Lady Amicia! The knight of my kingdom!”
And despite the tension, none found themselves able to hide their smiles.
After another few days and Amicia’s ability with a sword steadied, she was able to defend herself, which is what Arnaud had promised in the end, the ability to defend herself. Hugo cheered her with every swing and block she managed, and booed at every swing Arnaud landed, causing the man to feign offence for every time the flat of his blade hit Amicia’s unguarded spot. Sophia was quick to join Hugo in his shenanigans, laughing with pure glee at Arnaud, especially when Amicia landed her first hit on Arnaud’s arm.
The swords were blunt, bruises being the maximum of damage they could cause each other. But watching the old knight blink in surprise was the best price the woman had seen in a while.
The ship docked in a small seaside town as they restocked. Lucas, Hugo, and Beatrice had gone to land to get the supplies, they would be back before night fell.
Amicia stood with Sophia at the back of the ship, admiring the view of the sea, the calm waves rocking the ship and the seagulls screeching above was like a lulling song. “Feel the call of the sea yet?” Sophia asked.
“I can see why you love it,” Amicia admitted, “It’s beautiful,”
“Aye,” Sophia drew in a breath of the fresh ocean air. “Never get tired of the salty tinge at the back of the throat.”
A comfortable silence fell around them, before Amicia’s hand fell into her hair, the messy cut of her hair and messy attempt at braiding that Hugo had tried that morning, she’d been silent about the cut since it happened, but now… as things had calmed down, it started to get to her.
“Want me to fix it?” Sophia asked.
“It feels weird being this short,” Amicia admitted, “I haven’t had it this short since I was Hugo’s age,”
“I get it, hair means a lot to girls,” Sophia said.
“It’s stupid to worry about,” Amicia hissed.
“It’s not,” Sophia countered, “Come on,”
The two walked down to the cabin, settling on a stool, Sophia grabbed a pair of scissors. “I’ll just fix the tips, alright?” Amicia nodded.
“Why?” Amicia started, “Why did the count cut my hair? He could’ve just cut my throat.”
Sophia paused, and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder, before she crouched down next to Amicia, meeting the girl’s eyes. A hollow sorrow shone back at her, a grief she hadn’t permitted herself to feel.
“It was meant to hurt you in a different way,” Sophia said, “It was meant to humiliate you, to cut your strength. Hair means a lot to people, especially women, so when he left you alive doing that, it was meant to break you.”
Amicia bit her lip to keep it from wobbling, “It shouldn’t matter that much,” She argued.
“Hey,” Sophia gripped her harder, shaking her slightly, “It’s okay to feel upset about this- You didn’t deserve to have this happen, and it’s not right. You’re strong, this will not define you.”
Amicia’s breath hitched, trying hard to hold her cries, “It just feels stupid… In the light of everything,” A shaky laugh escaped her before she wiped her eyes with the back of her palm.
Sophia couldn’t help but laugh too, “I understand, just remember this, okay?” She followed, and Amicia nodded. Sophia quietly went back to work, tidying up the hair enough to make it more presentable.
“There, the hair of a warrior,” Sophia announced. It wasn’t much different from before, the strands on top of her head were still long enough to be braided into a small ponytail at the back of her head, however it was better than the chopped and uneven cut that had strands of hair standing out and up in random directions.
Amicia laughed. And luckily, her insecurity was diminished as Hugo waltzed into the cabin and became in awe of her new style. Easily falling into calling her hairstyle one of warriors, his fingers brushed through the shorter strands, smiling brightly.
Sophia patted her shoulder before she left, “Next time you need a haircut, you know where to find me,” She joked. “Might as well do it right,”