Chapter 14/Week Twenty-Four/Eight Months Left
"He did what?!" Griselda gasps loudly, donning an innocent smile when the dueling goblin-bloods pause momentarily to look over at her.
"Sir Tigler said it was a magnificent fight," Marianne murmurs once the attention leaves. "He's quite impressed by it and he was already impressed at Bog's skill when he agreed to train him four weeks ago."
"Bog doesn't appear to be in pain, so he wasn't hurt too bad during the fight, was he?" Griselda questions worriedly.
"He joined me for mid-day meal in my study shortly after the fight and he hadn't been hurt too bad. A few minor cuts and he was heavily bruised in some spots, but otherwise, he was mostly unscathed. That's not saying his opponents faired just as well, especially with Sir Tigler's orders for them to be placed in the stocks for the day," Marianne informs.
"Some rumors had reached Glenndale about several men being placed in the stocks within Brightvale several days ago, but they didn't elaborate why," Griselda mentions.
"Sir Tigler felt the punishment was duly deserved, though no one would repeat what the offenders said that caused Bog to challenge them. They only excused Bog's behavior as that he was acting as the Queen's Champion and was defending my honor," Marianne explains.
"While I'm...relieved to know that he was defending your honor, I do not like the thought that Bog has gotten into a fight. And it's not just because a mother worries, either. There's also that I'm unsure how my husband will react to such news when the portal finally opens. Best not to let Stuff hear about this incident, in any case," Griselda cautions.
Marianne nods her understanding before returning her focus to the ongoing fight as Thang dodges an incoming strike from Bog's training staff and retaliates with a quick shallow blow to the half-goblin's shoulder. She understood Griselda's concerns. Understood them too well, in fact. If it wasn't for wanting to make sure Bog's mother didn't find out about the incident through only a rumor, Marianne would have preferred not to relive that day so soon after. It left far too many concerns for his well-being at the forefront of her mind.
She already knew well that Bog's position in the kingdom was a precarious one since before his arrival at the castle, whether from human or fae, and something like this could only put him at even more risk. Her expressive rage at seeing Bog walk into her study a week ago with bandages covering the wounds he received hadn't helped matters. No doubt more lively rumors of their queen's affection spread as fast as wildfire throughout the castle when she stormed to the training yard to demand answers to what happened to Bog.
And worse, the rumors wouldn't be lies that she could easily dismiss to others as idle talk. Not now after the past four weeks. Even the speculation of sordid kisses and hidden touches that were whispered in faint tones were no longer mere fiction. For Bog's sake, she can only hope that no one will discover the truth.
"Thang has overheard some talk from several of the harvesters that Roland is petitioning to have the royal fields restored to his stewardship," Griselda mentions, disrupting her thoughts.
"He has made that petition every single day I've held court for the past seven weeks," Marianne sighs. "It seems he must have thought that I wouldn't follow through with my offer or that you wouldn't follow through with accepting it. Today, he was especially persistent, almost refusing to let anyone approach me without interrupting."
"He should at least be grateful that you're allowing him the benefits of this year's harvest. But I guess that's asking too much of him," Griselda chuckles. "If it's any consolation, your subjects tending the royal fields have expressed their relief at the change of stewardship. It seems that Roland has not only been neglecting his duties to patrol the land around Glenndale for the past two or three years, but he's also been failing to deal with matters concerning the royal fields for far longer, blaming any loss incurred onto the servants or whatever hapless beggars that wandered nearby. They feared to bring the matter to the royal family's attention because of his favor with the royal court and they didn't want to incur his wrath."
"I wish I could say that I am surprised at such news, but I'm not. I had begun to suspect he's been dealing as such with those of lower positions when I bought this land from Roland's steward. The man hadn't hidden his fear of his master well enough. Though, at the time, I had believed that I was the cause," Marianne admits before biting her lip when Bog barely manages to dodge an attack from Stuff, striking her leg as she passes.
Despite having won the unfair fight of last week with him fighting nearly a dozen more experienced fighters, Bog appeared to be having trouble defeating Thang and Stuff. It may be because goblins are stronger than humans, as Stuff reminded her, but Bog had told her that he had deliberately held back his strength during the fight in the castle training yard so as not to injure his opponents too severely. She didn't doubt that Stuff will follow through with her threat of moving into the castle should he fail to win a match against the full-blooded goblins before the snows come, and that happenstance would most likely result in more chaos in her kingdom than even Plum's curse.
"How long has this fight lasted?" Marianne asks.
"They only started moments before you arrived. Bog had been waiting for you to join us, but he mentioned that you've been staying longer at the Judgment Hall than before and Thang worried that you wouldn't be able to make it in time for them to have a match today if they didn't start when they did," Griselda explains. "They're only testing each other right now, though. When Thang began teaching Bog, he explained that goblins don't use their full strength at the beginning of a fight, preferring to gauge their opponent's skill first. If they're fighting another goblin, it will give the weaker fighter the chance to bow out before any serious injury happens."
"And with a different kind of fighter, it'll make them underestimate the goblin, which will lead to an easier victory," Marianne continues knowingly, getting a nod. "When my father taught me the art of swordplay, despite the many complaints of it being inappropriate, he told me to never show my true skill until necessary. He said that I should take advantage of my opponent's self-assurance of their superior swordsmanship and let it be their undoing."
"That's what Thang taught Bog. Always make your opponent underestimate you until it's too late. That's the goblin's way, he said," Griselda repeats.
A subtle change in Bog's movements calls Marianne's attention back to the fight. She watches in fascination as his graceful, almost fluid, steps turn sharper and with more power as he dodges another attack. He moves quicker than before and forces Thang to meet him head-on before the latter retreats. Thang's human glamour shifts minutely as he parries several hard-hitting strikes in quick succession, but he manages to keep the hold on his magic when Bog is forced to dodge an attack from Stuff.
"They're done testing each other. It shouldn't take too much longer to find out who's winning this match," Griselda states.
"How can you be so sure?" Marianne questions.
"Goblins also don't like drawing out a fight. Once they're done gauging their opponent, they'll hit as hard and as fast as they need to win. Like that," Griselda moans, wincing when Bog stumbles from a hard blow to the back.
The strike isn't enough to cause more than a slight stumble, Bog being able to dodge the swift accompanying attack and allowing a nearby tree to take it instead. It's a short-lived success and both human women gasp when he receives a punch to the stomach just as he turns to face Stuff, the blow sending him into a bush.
"It's not over yet," Griselda assures hastily. "Thang and Stuff have to disarm him. That was what they agreed upon."
Their hope is dashed when Thang steps on Bog's weapon-holding hand before he manages to return to his feet. Despite his defiance to let go of his weapon, both full-bloods relax and give their trapped pupil critique over his performance.
"Ah, well, there's still at least another week or two to try again before the snows come," Marianne sighs. "Which reminds me. I had best say this now while they're preoccupied, or I won't be able to without certain individuals overhearing. Sir Tigler has requested for me to permit him to petition Thang to come to the castle for a talk concerning his training of Bog."
"Why would he have to request your permission first if it's just to talk?" Griselda asks, her tone and face belaying her suspicion.
"Although Thang has lived in this kingdom for twenty-two years, he is still the subject of another king, and as such, in the perspective of a human kingdom at least, it could appear of hostile intent if a high-ranking member of my army were to question him about training methods unique to his native kingdom. I've been thinking of the matter since he requested it last week after the fight, but I was unsure whether such a talk would appear offensive to Thang and thought to ask you first," Marianne explains.
"I'm not sure whether Thang would actually explain his training methods to him but as long as this Sir Tigler won't take offense himself if Thang refused to answer certain things, then I'm sure he won't mind the invitation to talk," Griselda answers after a moment.
"Sir Tigler has already sworn that he won't press for more information than what Thang is willing to give, and I trust him to keep his word," Marianne assures before chuckling. "He's been eagerly waiting for an answer to his request, and will no doubt have a messenger sent as soon as I allow him."
A sharp cry draws their attention back to the goblin-bloods and both women blink in astonishment to see the full-blooded goblins laying on the ground without their glamours on while Bog stands smugly over them.
"That's cheating!" Stuff yells.
"As you said, Stuff, a hostile fae won't care about the rules of combat for a fair fight. Therefore, it's only right that in a fight for my life, neither should I," Bog defends, leaning casually on his weapon. "Besides, neither of you disarmed me, so it's not my fault that you let your guard down before you actually won the fight."
"Don't say it," Stuff growls when Thang opens his mouth.
"He's got a point, Stuff," Griselda comments instead, laughing when the gobliness groans loudly.