As the last flickers of light from the carriages melted into the darkness, Duke Raine and his family were gone but the words said still lingered.
It was the second time Ashton had confronted Duke Raine, and although this time was more private, it was a lot more resounding.
"This isn't over..." John said to his men, his eyes locked onto Ashton. "Let's head to bed. The days will be getting long soon."
The knights in sequence took a bow towards Count Shaun, all besides Titus.
Instead, he bowed to Ashton—and while still bent forward, looked up until their eyes met.
While the other knights rose and walked away, Titus remained bowed while staring at Ashton.
"Chamberlain Olaf, who is this kid?" Ashton asked, still meeting Titus' eyes with curiosity.
"If you asked me that before he announced his name I would have apologized. But now I remember him, he was praised by his instructors for his talent and attitude. They noted that he absorbed martial knowledge like no other."
[A martial prodigy... Interesting] "What do you want, Titus Magnus?"
"Lord Ashton, do you have your own forces? I want to join!"
"I don't have my own order.... yet." Glancing over at his father, the exhaustion within him visible, but Ashton pressed even further. "I am actually starting a squadron-"
"Alright son. It's time to talk, my office. Five minutes." Count Shaun snapped, interruptingly. Then, without another word, he rose into the air and floated up to the third-floor balcony.
"Whoa! Flight magic…" Titus whispered, starry-eyed as Count Shaun floated away. "One day, I'll do that too." Titus decided to switch paths form knighthood and become a mage then and there.
"Maybe one day," Ashton responded. "Flight magic requires six circles, as my knight I expect you to at least achieve four."
Ashton laying down his expectation was more surprising to Olaf than his perceived acceptance of the knight.
He after all, he was a knight despite his age and not a mage or magic swordsman. The best teachers and magical engineering instruments gauged his mana potential to peak at the third circle.
Olaf had wondered if Ashton could truly teach people how to breathe, if he could put his innateness into words to elevate the mediocre and plateaued.
"My Lord, you mean you accept me?" Titus had already begun to kneel, one hand reaching for the hilt of his sword to offer it, but Ashton's voice stopped him.
"Not exactly," Ashton said. "Soon, I'll be holding trials. Tests for those who wish to become my personal warriors."
"What are the requirements to participate, Lord Ashton?" Titus was hopeful that he would meet them, not his confidence cracked slightly.
[There are many firstclass kinghts who would be interested in serving Lord Ashton] Looking up at Ashton with anticipation, Titus' thoughts were honest, devoid of delusion.
"As a matter of fact, you are the template for what I am looking for. Unmolded and young."
"What?" The word came out dazed. He wasn't sure if he'd been chosen or disqualified. He walked back toward the barracks in a fog of hopeful confusion, replaying Ashton's words like a riddle.
Ashton and Olaf both on a time crunch, leap from the ground to the balcony and step into the manor.
"Chamberlain Olaf, allow me and my father to talk in private."
Ashton's directive caused the two to split paths, Olaf headed to his room to retire for the night, while Ashton strides into his father's office.
The count wasn't angry, Ashton may have acted out of turn Infront of the knights and mages but that hardly mattered.
It might have seemed weird to the men, as they left the estate before the trial, but they will surely learn of Ashton's feats before they fall asleep tonight.
What the count is feeling is only expectation.
"What was that about Ashton? Why were you so heavy with your words?"
Rising from his bow Ashton responded, "Honestly father, it was to pressure you. I could have gotten my message across subtly, leaving no room for rebuke, but I am over that."
Shaun contemplated for a moment, and he agreed that they have been too reactive but he was still not satisfied with Ashton's answer, "So that was your emotion talking then? Have I not raised you better than that son..."
[My emotions talking? Thats funny] "It wasn't emotion, it was my resolve father. Despite my words, the duke has no cause to wage war on us. But we have cause."
"If you're talking about how that knight almost died, that is hardly enough reason for inter-empire conflict." Dismissing Ashton's words, the count is growing disappointed. He had a plan to force concessions from the Duchy, but Ashton ruined it. For nothing in his eyes.
"Father, for those with power cause is nothing more than a roadblock. Through lobbying and manipulation of events, anyone can create cause from smoke. Think about it, the moment the duke leaves an assassination is attempted on me, then they try to kill our men. We can easily hold the duchy responsible for tonight through war."
"Politics asides, war with the duchy has crossed my mind but it is not a possibility. Fighting Duke Raine is to fight the east as a whole. They are too wealthy. The mercenaries they could hire alone is equal to that of what our vassals pledge to us." Count Shaun was no longer disappointed, he could tell Ashton thought deeply on the matter. His expectations were back. And growing.
"War is not only fought in a field or forest. War is unpredictable, numbers or wealth it not enough to decide the outcome of our fight father."
"Why are you being so stubborn? I understand that the duke is probably already lobbying for a war against us, but that just means we should be leveraging the magic towers to our side. Why do you want to fight?"
"Because I promised to. I promised not only to myself, but to our people that I would not hide father. I will lay myself bare upon my enemy on his best day, before I allow even a single death on my side. That is the only way I can prove worthy of my gifts."
Ashton's words, words of heroism they were, but they were also naive.
At least if anyone else had said them the count would have found them naive, but Ashton made them sound like prophecy.
[That look in his eyes... He is serious] Count Shaun was struck, unresponsive to the statements, so Ashton continued.
"Father, please pay attention to the life I lead from here on out. I will show you not only the shield of my mana, but the reach of my vision as well."
Count Shaun looked down at his worn and scarred hands, [Since when has your mind become so burdened my boy...] he thought solemnly.
"I can see you are not playing games, son. Just remember that you will never stand alone in anything that you do, for I and your mother are always behind you."
"All we have is our games, father. But with yours and mothers support, we can control the board."