Liesl followed Rowan back through the series of hallways and then partially down the same stairs before the two veered off into yet more unfamiliar territory. Honestly, this castle was so big. How was she ever going to remember all the different ways to get around? Thankfully, it seemed like she wasn’t expected to go anywhere on her own. At least not yet. And hadn’t Arwik felt big when she was first learning to get around? However, by the time she had to…leave, Liesl probably could’ve navigated the small town with her eyes closed.

It wasn’t until they passed through a barracks of some sort that she retreated from her mind and really started looking around. That was her guess for the area’s purpose, anyway. Mostly because of the sheer number of soldiers hanging around, all performing various tasks. Mending armor, sharpening swords and knives, or even just playing cards. Some wore armor, others their uniforms or even simple clothing that would’ve been commonplace on the villagers back home.

“So, what games did you and your father play, Liesl?” Rowan asked as they walked.  

“Oh, um…tag, hide and seek, throwing a ball back and forth. Sometimes, he would give me a stick so I could try to hit it.”

“I see,” Rowan mused before looking thoughtful. There were others too, but did he really expect her to list every one of them? “And did you go play in the woods? Did your father teach you how to find your way around them?”

Liesl nodded as a flood of memories returned to her. Lessons planned and informal about how to move in the deep woods so you didn’t fall and hurt yourself. Or how to find your way back when everything looked the same. But that was all for their silly little games, ones she and her father would never play again. “We spent a lot of time outside of town.”

“That sounds fun. Well, it might be hard for me to get you down into the forest, but we can keep playing the others until we think of more.”

When they exited the castle again, it was into a large, grassy courtyard filled with more soldiers. Except, in addition to the previous activities, these were also those practicing fighting. Some had swords and shields, others had spears. Others were even shooting bows and crossbows or fighting with their fists. Men and women alike, which didn’t surprise Liesl, considering where she grew up.

“Besides the games, your father didn’t teach you how to fight, did he?”

“No…” What an odd question, and the tone of Liesl’s voice made it clear that’s exactly how she thought of it.

“Right, I suppose not,” Rowan said with a chuckle. “But did you ever watch him train?”

Ah, now that she did. “Yes, Father wanted me to see him drill with the town guard.” Of course, it hadn’t taken much convincing. Liesl was always interested in whatever he did, but watching her father sword fight was among her favorite pastimes. Even if her mother didn’t like it as much. Come to think of it, she hadn’t always been keen on all the games either for reasons that escaped Liesl.

“I expected nothing less. Well, I’d like you to do some of that too, in addition to playing. Is that alright?”

“I suppose,” Liesl started, but then a look of concern spread across her face. “But shouldn’t I be with Princess Zelda? For my duties?” Whatever those would end up being. Games and watching soldiers sounded like it would take up too much of her time.

“Don’t you worry about that,” Rowan assured her. “The Princess takes the afternoon almost every day for instruction on her magic. We’ll have you back together when she finishes, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Hmm, Liesl wasn’t so sure about that judging by the looks the King gave earlier, but if she were being honest with herself, she found comfort in the prospect. Rowan kind of reminded her of her father (if not an older version) and being around all these soldiers felt…familiar. Just like when she was growing up. Arwik was a border town, after all. The last stop on the way to the mountains and the land of monsters that lay beyond.

“Are you going to fight?” She asked a moment later. “Like Papa did.”

“Maybe, but there are plenty of others you can watch. No doubt younger and more exciting, just like your father. At least that’s what I recall when I trained him.”

Rowan taught her father to fight? What? When? Honestly, that piece of information spawned so many questions, but before Liesl could get to any of them, the older man steered them toward a ring that had its grass worn down to dirt. In it, two people faced off with swords. A big man that was easily Rowan’s size, if not a little broader in the shoulder. The other was a woman who looked around the same age as Liesl’s mother and was at least a head shorter. However, they both wielded swords equal in size and length and Liesl thought it was impressive she held it just as steady. 

Both of them wore the black uniform pants of a guard, but their jackets lay draped across the wooden fence that surrounded the outline of the little arena. Only their tank tops remained, no armor, no other protection.

“Is that safe?” Liesl asked as she stepped up and took her place next to Rowan after he stopped.

“The swords are dull,” he replied before reaching over and lifting Liesl up so she came to sit on top of the fence. “They’re basically metal clubs at this point and heavier than the real thing for training.” Heavier? Jeeze. Liesl knew from holding her father’s sword just how heavy they could be, even though everyone always made them look so light. Following his answer, Liel’s eyes found the woman once more to continue her inspection.

Her blonde hair was tied up in a bun to keep it out of the way. Something that would no doubt get in the way of a helmet, but it appeared hastily done, as if specifically for this fight. From the edge of the ring, Liesl could tell her eyes were alert and determined, even as the rest of her remained loose. She was up on the balls of her feet and constantly moving around her opponent with lean muscle if the faint lines were any indication. Not soon after Liesl and Rowan stopped, the woman looked over toward them and flashed them both a grin.

Then she shot off her feet so fast it took Liesl by surprise. At first, she lunged her sword tip at the man, but not in a committed attack. So, he easily batted it away with a clang that rang out into the courtyard. However, she danced to the side before he had a chance to counter. Then another strike followed with much the same effect. And another as she tested his defenses.

“Who do you think is stronger?” Rowan asked while he watched the two continue their bout. 

Well, that wasn’t a hard question, was it? “The man,” she answered. His arms were thick and just one probably had more muscle than Liesl did in her entire body. He was even taller than Rowan too, nearly double Liesl’s height. All in all, she wouldn’t want to fight him…

“Barring any magical enhancement, yes.”

“Does she know magic?” Liesl asked, referring to the woman as she continued her strikes.

“Calla? No, she doesn’t. Grus there could easily pick her up and toss her across the ring if he got the chance. He’d have to catch her first, of course. But let’s see if that matters in the end, shall we?” 

Catching her appeared a tall order considering how quickly Calla was moving. Attack after attack came swiftly as Liesl and Rowan talked. High toward the face, low to the feet, and even toward where Grus gripped the sword. Each time Calla forced him to react to her moves and any time he tried to initiate, she backed up just out of reach. 

Liesl could tell after a few minutes of the struggle that Grus was getting frustrated. The look on his face communicated as much, but it was his swings that really gave it away. They became wilder as he sought to land a blow that would no doubt send the woman reeling. 

“She’s making him angry now,” Rowan said, as if to confirm Liesl’s observations. “And it’s making him think less and rely on his muscles more. All Calla needs is an opening.” 

“An opening?” Liesl asked.

“Yup, just one wrong swing to tip the scales.”

Eventually, Grus’s annoyance ensured that very thing. His sword lashed out in a furious slash that only caught air and extended a little too far. This time, instead of dancing away, Calla stepped in toward him. Just close enough that another slash would be awkward. So, Grus used the momentum of his swing to bring the sword up high for a quick chop instead. With his strength, Calla would never be able to block his blow, right?

Calla waited until he was committed to his swing and then stepped to the side and brought her sword up. However, instead of meeting the falling weapon perpendicular, she angled hers almost parallel so that his blade glanced off at an angle. Liesl could see the impact still shook her, but the tip of the deflected sword embedded in the ground with a thunk that kicked up dirt a moment later.

“There it is,” Rowan said as a smile kicked up on his lips.

“But she’s too close,” Liesl protested. Grus hadn’t been able to get a good swing in for that same reason, and now Calla had that same problem, right?

“The edge isn’t the only part of a sword…”

Calla stepped in further still and instead of trying to use the blade, she struck the man’s stomach with her crossguard. Liesl could hear the umph from where she sat, and the impact had him doubling over, right into the dull edge that was quickly pressed to his neck.

“You’re dead,” Calla finally said as that smile returned.

“Fuck, did you have to hit so hard?” Grus spat as he stood tall and rubbed his stomach.

“Hey, language!” Rowan called out before rolling his eyes.

Which caused the two to look over and a red tint to brush across Grus’s cheeks. “Sorry Commander, didn’t know you were there with…well, with the young lady.”

“That’s because you don’t pay attention,” Calla quipped before turning and rolling her shoulders in a stretch.

“Well, excuse me for not being as great as you.”

“You’re excused,” she quipped before moving to the edge of the ring and picking up her jacket. “Besides, no one is as great as me.” The sword she let rest against the fence while she moved to put it on, but Grus only grabbed his and stalked off to nurse a bruised pride.

A little closer, Liesl could see the faint sheen of sweat from Calla’s exertion, but she didn’t seem to mind adding the extra layer. The color of which was a royal blue that contrasted nicely with the pants that all the guards wore. Once the jacket was in place, the embroidered crest of the royal family stood out prominently where it lay over her heart.

“Good fight,” Rowan offered as he leaned on the top railing.

“Thanks, boss,” she said as she finished doing up the remaining gold buttons.

“It’s Commander,” he corrected. However, judging by the smirk on his lips and the tone of his voice, Rowan was only joking. Probably.

“You’re lucky it’s not Old Man,” she said with a wink before her eyes found Liesl where she sat. “And who is this?”

“This,” Rowan started, before lifting his hand to place it on Liesl’s shoulder. “Is Liesl.”

Calla’s eyes widened just enough for it to be noticeable, but the growth of her smile soon masked her surprise. “Ah, Miss Liesl. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You have?” Liesl asked with unabashed surprise

“That’s right,” Calla confirmed with a nod. “You have an important job, you know.”

She…did? The look of confusion must’ve been plain on her face because Calla chuckled to herself and then leaned on the fence with one arm. “Serving the Princess, of course. We’re all counting on you.”

“Calla,” Rowan said in an exasperated tone. “Let’s not put the weight of the world on the poor girl. She’s been here all of one night.”

But Liesl wasn’t worried now. In fact, she was pumped up! “Yes!” She said before balling her fists…and almost falling off the fence. But even the embarrassment of being caught by Rowan didn’t dim the newfound fire in Liesl’s chest. “You can count on me!”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

“You were so cool out there!” Liesl continued. “He was so big and he swung his sword so fast. But you were faster!” Speaking of fast, the little girl’s words somehow managed to gain speed as she stalked, at least until her mind couldn’t keep up.

“Looks like you’ve got a new fan, Calla,” Rowan said with some soft laughter. “What do you think, Liesl? Want to watch Calla train? Perhaps she can even take you out into the woods when you’re older. She is our head ranger, after all.”

“You are!?” Somehow, Liesl’s eyes managed to get even bigger as they shifted from Rowan back to Calla. “Can I?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure…” Calla started playfully before picking up her sword and taking a step closer. “I don’t let just anyone hang out with me, you know.”

“Please!”

Calla looked as though she were still considering until she pointed back toward Liesl. “Alright, alright. Arms up, let me see those muscles.”

Liesl did so immediately, flexing her arms to show off her… well, whatever she had. Calla’s hand closed the remaining distance a moment later and gave a few testing squeezes while nodding to herself. “Oh yes, very strong! You stick with me and you’ll be just as great in no time. We’ll make sure of it, okay?” 

“Okay!” The smile on Liesl’s face in that moment was only rivaled by the ones Zelda had brought out earlier and she felt excitement surge throughout her.

“Smart girl,” Calla said before shifting her hand up and tussling the blonde hair atop the little girl’s head. The soldier hopped over the fence thereafter and gave Rowan a two-finger salute. “By your leave, Commander.” And then she was off before he could do anything but scoff in response.

“Goddesses help us,” Rowan sighed before shaking his head and lifting Liesl from where she sat to place her back on the ground. “It’s a good thing she has the skill to back up that arrogance. You can learn a lot from Calla but maybe pick up humility from someone else, hmm?”

“Humility?” Liesl asked.

More soft laughter followed, and Rowan straightened before holding out his hand for her to take. “I do think you are going to be great, Liesl. Just don’t let it go to your head, okay? Now, let’s stretch our legs. I think a game of tag sounds lovely right about now…”