Chapter 17
Jason had to admit, they were well matched. Percy had only been practicing swordsmanship for a few months, but he was a natural. Yes, his stance wasn't great and his style of fighting was undisciplined, but that didn't change the fact that he was good. He had good instincts and was quick with his movements.
As the dull swords clanged together again, Jason was able to catch just a hint of a smile on Percy's face, before the boy had pulled his sword away and was swinging at his side. The blow was quick and usually would have landed if Jason wasn't trained to fight. Percy probably wouldn't be beating any knights any time soon, but Jason was confident in his ability to defend himself from bandits and the like.
For a few more minutes the swords clanged together as they moved about the area, until for just a moment Percy managed to get behind him and the flat of his blade landed on Jason's shoulder. Breathing a bit harder than normal, Jason turned to see Percy grinning at him, the other boy speaking before he could.
"I know, I know," Percy was still grinning as he let his sword drop "My stance was sloppy, my style all over the place, and it was un-princely to stab you in the back."
"All things I'm sure your instructor would say," Jason agreed, laughing as he let his sword fall to his side as well "I'm not your instructor though. My job is to make sure you're alive. If fighting dirty keeps you that way then I'm all for it. Though you're right your style of fighting wouldn't have been accepted in a knightly competition."
"Good to know," Percy replied, laughing as he looked over at Jason, though a moment later Jason noticed Percy look past him. Turning he saw Piper watching from the side of the area marked out for training. Smiling a bit Jason took a step to the side to allow Percy a clear path to her.
Percy moved past him, smiling as he approached Piper "M'lady, do you just get a thrill from watching us spar?"
"As thrilling as it is to watch you two attack each other with dull swords, no that's not why I came down here," Piper agreed, laughing a bit at the comment "I was planning to take a stroll through the garden, but I was hoping for some company. Also I heard it is a bit of a maze, so I figured I should see if someone who knew their way about would be available."
"As much as I would love to, I have to go to my actual studies soon," Percy replied, and Jason knew he meant it, though wasn't sure if it was due to wanting to go or just wanting an excuse to get out of his studies. To his surprise, Percy continued, looking over at Jason as he did "Perhaps Jason could keep you company in my place? He's a bit more of a stickler for the rules, but a good conversationalist. If neither of you mind of course."
Percy meant that too. Jason could say he didn't want to and Percy would just figure something else out. He wouldn't even be upset. Jason knew all of that, and yet he nodded "Of course your highness, as long as the princess is alright with it."
"Wonderful," Piper smiled at him and nodded, before looking back at Percy "Good luck with your studies, My Lord."
"Thank you, I'll need it," Percy smiled at her again, before nodding to Jason and heading back towards the castle.
Jason moved over to grab his actual sword from where he had left it, before turning to Piper and crossing the rest of the distance to her "I hope you are not disappointed your highness. If I'm being honest, I don't really know all that much about the gardens, though probably enough so that we won't get lost."
"Not at all," Piper assured, smiling at him as she turned towards the garden "Mostly I just wanted someone to keep me company. I'm sure the gardens aren't complicated enough to get lost in."
"For someone like you most likely," Jason agreed, nodding as he fell into step beside her "But you wouldn't believe how much trouble some of the people who come to visit have with it."
"I've had my fair share of interactions with people of the noble class." To Jason's relief she was laughing a bit as she said it. He was pretty sure he had her pinned, but he only had a few limited interactions to go off of. "I would not be surprised in the slightest."
Smiling, Jason turned his attention back towards the garden, a bit at a loss for what to say. He knew Piper wanted conversation, she had said as much, and really he wanted to talk with her as well. The only problem was he had no idea where to take the conversation.
Luckily Piper didn't seem to have any problem with that, and after just a moment of silence, though to Jason it felt longer, she asked "Why did you become a guard? You don't have to tell me if you don't wish, I'm just curious why you would pick it."
"I needed a job, and the pay is fair," Jason replied honestly, shrugging as he thought about it "Comes with free lunch- and for a reduced wage I can stay in the castle and receive all three meals."
"I suppose those are all good reasons," Piper agreed, though it was clear she still wasn't convinced "I just- can't imagine choosing a job where you will have to take orders your whole life."
"I'm glad to see you have faith in my ability to get promoted," Jason teased, raising an eyebrow at her, before shrugging "It's not like I'm a soldier. There's not constantly a superior officer watching me and barking orders."
"I know," Piper assured quickly "But you are still subject to any order the king or prince may give. Of course, everyone is, but most don't have as much contact as a guard."
"The prince isn't to big on orders," Jason replied, laughing a bit, "And I suppose I'm just used to following rules."
"How do you mean?"
Jason looked over at Piper as she spoke, having been expecting the question to follow his statement. He knew he didn't have to answer, she had already established that, and like with Percy, Jason knew she had meant it. After a moment though, he did anyway.
"I was raised in the church. Most of the priests were nice, but they were pretty strict and there were very specific rules we needed to follow," Jason glanced over, judging her reaction to the information that he was a foundling. He was relieved, but not terribly surprised, to discover Piper seemed unphased.
"Why would you leave then? If the priests were nice and you don't mind rules? Why leave at all?" Piper asked, tilting her head a bit as she looked over at him. That was a fair question. Most children brought into the church ended up as priests or nuns.
"Because I was eleven and wanted more than that," Jason shrugged "I didn't want to just be stuck at a church. Once I left I needed a place to go and I thought if I became a guard it could lead to becoming a knight. I really wanted to be a Paladin- despite leaving I was still very devoted to the church. Of course, I realized pretty quickly that being a guard is not a step towards knighthood, but it's a good job and still offered the opportunity to travel if I worked hard and became a personal guard of the king or prince. So here I am."
"I suppose that's true," Piper sounded slightly disappointed, but Jason couldn't figure out why she would be.
There was another moment of silence, before Jason asked "Why are you so against rules?"
"It's going to sound rather bratty of me," Piper was trying to sound teasing about it, but it was clear that sounding bratty did actually worry her "But my mother has always placed a lot of rules on me. Always telling me what I couldn't do, and what I had to do. It was just a lot of pressure. If I had my choice I would just go stay in the woods, just live freely that way. I can't imagine anyone picking a life that has so many rules tied onto it."
"It doesn't sound bratty," Jason assured, looking over to smile at her "It sounds human."
"Thank you," Piper smiled at him a bit in return, before softly adding "I'm sorry that you'll never get to be a knight."
"It's alright," Jason assured, still smiling as he looked over at her "Just promise whenever you and the prince go on trips to other kingdoms, you'll let me be part of the guards that come along."
It was said as a joke, and he was fairly sure from his voice that it was obvious. To his surprise though, Piper nodded, her voice serious as she replied "I promise."
"And in return whenever it's just the two of us, you may break any rules you like," Jason offered, smiling at her. After a second thought though he added "Well, any that don't jeopardize your safety. That still has to be my priority."
"Thank you," Piper smiled at him again, nodding. She sounded grateful, which just made Jason smile more.
"I do the same for the prince. I don't see any reason I can't extend it to you." Jason shrugged a bit, before looking back out over the flowers. This time the silence didn't feel awkward, he didn't struggle for something to say. He just let it sit, and there was a sort of peace between them.
