That day Angelina was in a particularly good mood, she was shining like the sun. Smiling and grinning at people.
And Bernadette had no idea what was going on, the mute looked questionable at her employer as they made their way to the city in the little coach.
"What's not to be happy about Bernadette?" Angelina asked in a smile. "Look at this weather, it's lovely. The Captain has been to busy trying to figure out who the Fox is to cause any real trouble, the land looks beautiful. We should go celebrate!" she said holding up a hand. "Bernadette is there something you would like to do? We could go listening to some music, a heard this flamingo dancer will come to one of the taverns in the afternoon and they should have great tamalas to!" she said.
Bernadette smiled amused as she shook her head then looked questioning at Angelina.
"You really didn't notice huh?" Angelina asked. "The way father was walking, his left side was stiff particularly his shoulder and he was pretty tired this morning."
That made Bernadette look extra confused, how on earth would that be a good thing?!
Angelina smiled amused. "Those are the exact muscles you use for sword fighting." she then explained. "He's been up practicing sword fighting, probably after Lolita and I went to bed." she commented. "And from what I heard he hasn't used a sword in two years so of course he'll be a little rusty, i'm really happy though. My father not fighting with a sword just isn't right, he loves sword fighting."
And Bernadette smiled amused as Angelinas reasoning finally sunk in, lightly shaking her head.
"Yeah, I got that from no stranger." Angelina replied amused. "When I was really little I used to beg him to teach me how to sword fight and he kept promising me he would do it when I became older." she said then her smile faltered. "Then finally he pulled me aside one day, he apologized a lot and said he couldn't teach me how to sword fight. It's not for a lady and people in Blakeney would really raise eyebrows at it. It's because I am half Akapaki, so we really have to assure those people that i'm not a savage." she said then sighed deeply. "I was so mad at him, I think I called him all sorts of things yelling it into his face. That was also when I started to work on my plan, about going to Blakeney and create a fake identity. I guess what I had figured back then that if he wouldn't teach me how to sword fight I just had to find someone who would." she sighed deeply as she fell back into her seat. "Well I guess it worked, there were plenty of sword instructors at the university. It sucks though, that I can't even tell father I was the top of my class." she muttered looking to the side. "What do you think he would say if I showed him my gold medals? …. Well, the ones I managed to hide in the linings of my suitcase. Always gold, yay me." she grinned. "And poor Daniel was always second." she chuckled as she shook her head. "Anyhow!" she stated as she sat up. "We don't have to linger on that do we? My father is getting his fighting spirit back so lets drink in my fathers honour okay?" she asked.
And Bernadette nodded as she smiled.
Soon they found themselves at Angelinas favourite tavern and got a cold glass of lemonade each in Francescos honor, even if Angelina had to keep her voice quiet as she chatted to Bernadette.
Not that to many had their eyes on her at all, they seemed to be more interested in what was going on in the direction of the port.
For a moment Angelina was getting concered if the Captain was up to no good and she would have to suite up but then finally a coach revealed itself, it seemed to contain a good noble family that had just gotten off the ship in port.
Wide-eyed Angelina looked at the coach with the luggage and closed doors. "Who on earth could that be? The Tax collector?" she asked. "He should be coming pretty soonish right?"
Then the coach stopped in the middle of the plaza and the door opened to reveal a bright young man with brown hair and shimmering eyes. "Oh so this is the place he always talked about." he commented.
And Angelina spewed out her drink. "DANIEL?!" she exclaimed and Bernadettes eyes widened as the young man jumped out of the coach and behind him appeared an older woman.
"You really have a friend whom live here?" The woman asked.
"Yes mom!" Daniel grinned. "I'm sure he'll help, he's always so generous." then he walked to the nearest civilian. "Excuse me sir, do you know where a Ange—-" At that Angelina stood up straight and screamed so loudly that Daniel was cut off.
"SIR FABRINO!"
Wide-eyed Daniel turned to her as he blinked. "Huh?" he asked.
And Angelina rushed towards him and embraced him in a tight hug. "Oh it's been so long! How I missed you!" she cried in a loud voice though then her arms around him proved itself to be put into a dead lock holding him into position and her much lower voice whispered to him. "Play along or i'll kill you."
"What?!" Daniel asked looking wide-eyed at her.
"Daniel." The older woman still in the coach spoke up. "Who's this?"
"I…" Daniel blinked only to get a harsh elbow into his side making him loose air.
"Didn't your son tell about me?" Angelina asked. "I'm lady Angelina Pulido, he was ever so kind to me at Blakeney where he helped me and the other women at the Christian school with some of our charity projects."
"I did?" Daniel asked only to get a big stamp over his foot.
"Pulido?" The woman asked. "Daniel, didn't you say it was an Angelo Pulido we were looking for?"
"Well." Daniel blinked.
"Oh my gosh you are so smart!" Angelina exclaimed right into his face. "You wanted to protect me, so you called me by a made up name even changed my gender!"
Astounded Daniel looked at her, then his eyes narrowed. "Wait." he asked in a frown as the wheels inside of his head seemed to be working over time and he frowned then his eyes widened as he finally put two and two together and it dawned on him. "WHAAAAT?!" he exclaimed.
"Shut up!" Angelina hissed at him and stomped on his foot again.
Making Daniel jump as he hissed in pain. "Yes it's definetely you." he concluded.
The woman looked confused and now and older man looked out as well as to get a view of the spectacle.
"what's all this?" He asked.
And finally Daniel managed to stand up again though he had to suck in some breaths to hide his pain. "Mother, father." he said. "This, is Angelina Pulido. The true identity of Angelo Pulido, i'm sorry I lied to you, it was to protect her identity while we travelled." and he looked at Angelina as if to ask if that was alright and Angelina returned with a nod.
"I see, that was very smart of you." The older man said. "It's an honour Lady Pulido."
"Please sir Fabrino." Angelina curtsied. "And Lady Fabrino of course, what brings you to our fair city fairbanks?" she asked.
Daniel blushed. "Well, you see." he said. "We are only traveling through really, and I may have assured my parents you would be able to accommodate us. Just for one night I promise… maybe two."
Angelina blinked. "Well, I think that could be arranged. My father don't get a lot of visitors from the mainland. But I suppose that's just an even better reason to accommodate any visiting nobles." she said. "Urhm, my coach is over there." she pointed over her shoulder. "Why don't Daniel ride with me so we can catch up, then you can follow the coach from behind."
The woman frowned. "Is that not rather inappropriate?" she asked. "A young noble man and a young noble woman? Alone?"
"Oh we wont be alone, Bernadette will be with me, she'll make sure everything is decent." Angelina said as Bernadette had appeared.
"Hey Bernadette." Daniel smiled at the mute. "Long time no see."
And Bernadette smiled back at him.
"At least you haven't changed." Daniel commented only to get a killer look from Angelina before she turned back to the older couple.
"Please, there is a few things I wish to discuss with Daniel. About your stay and all." Angelina said and finally Lady Fabrino nodded.
"Very well."
And Angelina exhaled deeply as she grabbed Daniels hand and pulled him towards her own coach, she opened the door and pushed him in then jumped in herself slamming the door tight before she turned to Daniel.
He looked pall as a sheet as he held his forehead looking out in front of himself. "A.. Angelo?" he asked turning to Angelina.
Angelina exhaled deeply. "Well, actually it's Angelina. But yes, it's me." she said.
"You… You're a girl!" Daniel exclaimed.
"Well quite obviously." Angelina muttered.
"For how long?" Daniel asked.
"What do you mean for how long?! I was born as a girl you dimwit, people don't just spontaniously grow boobs do they?!" Angelina groaned.
"THE ENTIRE TIME!" Daniel shouted then wide-eyed he looked in front of himself. "Oh god that explains so much." he commented. "So that's why you never went to the beach with us."
And Angelina pouted as she looked to the side, then she felt the coach starting moving and they were on their way.
For a while the two sat in pretty awkward silence and Angelina bit together then she turned to Daniel. "You can't tell anyone." she said.
"What?" Daniel asked.
"About what I did in Blakeney, my father thinks I went to an Christian only girls school. Everybody thinks that." Angelina said. "As far as they are aware, I just spend my days praying, knitting and admiring new dresses."
"Are you serious?" Daniel asked.
"Of course i'm serious!" Angelina exclaimed.
And Daniel laughed. "You? Sitting around all day knitting and praying?! HAHAHAHAHA!"
"That's not funny!" Angelina asked.
"Of course it is, the little monkey actually sitting still long enough for a full prayer!" Daniel exclaimed.
"HEY!" Angelina exclaimed. "This is serious!"
"I guess but I just.. I.. Haha." Daniel swallowed as he shook his head but now he looked more pall. "I.. I'm sorry, I guess i'm trying to wrap my head around this. My best friend just turned out to be a woman!"
And Angelinas eyes widened then she looked away, now becoming more sad. "Yeah." she admitted. "I… erm.. I'm sorry I lied to you." she swallowed. "If I didn't lie, they wouldn't have allowed me to learn how to sword fight and I.."
"That's sad." Daniel commented.
"What do you mean?" Angelina asked.
"Well, clearly you are born to sword fight. To say you can't just because you're a girl, that's really sad." Daniel said. "So now you are here and you… Have to play the role of a lady? That's really sad."
And wide-eyed Angelina looked up at him. "You're not mad?" she asked.
"I don't know, I see why you had to do what you did." Daniel said. "I mean, it hurts a little bit you didn't trust me enough to tell me about your secret but… Well, I guess I see where you would be coming from. I mean, if people refused to teach me how to sword fight just because... you know. I would probably do something like that to. Angelo, sorry Angelina. You're my best friend, so well erhm. And I think it would be pretty bad to pick an enemy with the person I am asking for help." he said turning to her. "Also you don't look half bad as a woman actually. Way better than I thought you would."
"Shut up." Angelina muttered turning back then she took in a deep breath. "Daniel, please listen to me. This is seriously important, you cannot let it slip, not just the tiniest bit that I know how to sword fight." she said. "Please, promise me!" she asked.
Stunned Daniel looked at her then slowly he nodded. "I promise." he said. "I swear to you."
And Angelina exhaled deeply. "Thank you."
Daniel smiled a little wryly. "And I mean it, you're really pretty." he said.
And Angelina blushed deeply as she turned her head away. "Shut it." she muttered under her breath.