Author's note (please don't skip this one): Thank you u/Rue333Tufo for the idea for the title of this chapter. Next contents notes. Yes we have Ferdi's first ditter! I had so much fun with this and I'm excited to see what y'all think. But because I was relying information from the academy short story books I had to make the ditter a little different from what Rozemyne has experienced. For starters Rauffen implies that ditter is a whole school event based on Ferdinand's tactics of pitting other duchies against each other. So the gathering spots were made the home base as I am fairly certain that the 'sports fields' couldn't accommodate the whole school. As for how people knew the game started and ended, and spectator seats I took creative license. Finally I have a cannon change. Yes I am aware Heisshitze's cloak was made by his wife. I'm changing that, trust me it will hit the feels so much harder later. There is method to my madness... sometimes.
Ferdinand 3rd Year Royal Academy
My scholars and attendant had outdone themselves this time. Piled in front of me were weeks' worth of investigation notes. The boards covered a wide breath of topics including the names of all people participating in the first school wide ditter of the year, with emphasis on the personalities of those who would be leading the various duchies. As well as list of those who held agreements and grudges. There was also a treasure worth a small fortune in the form of a parchment map of the royal academy and the surrounding forest with gathering spots of each duchy marked. Something the library shumils had procured for me. Next to theses collections of notes were several magical tools that I had prepared over the break under the guidance of Hirschur. They were arranged in order of escalating danger. The most dangerous ones of those present would launch a person; within a certain range, high into the air. If the person wasn't wearing armor there was a significant chance of multiple broken bones. These also incorporated the flash bang magic tool I had created after experiencing Minerva's highbeast attack. Lastly there were well over two dozen different potions.
With all this in front of me I began to formulate a plan. Ehrenfest had neither the skill nor the man power to even give the upper duchies a challenge. But with the things I had assembled could effectively give us a fighting chance. How could I bring the odds more into our favor? I looked at the information and noted two of the biggest duchies were warring, both had deals with lesser and middling duchies. A wicked grin spread across my face. If we weren't strong enough to take down our enemies then we needed only to convince someone else to take our enemies down for us. I gave orders to Justus and Heidemarie to spread rumors to increase the hostility of the two larger duchies.
I was looking forward to this match.
The day of ditter dawned un-seasonally warm. Eckhart confirmed that many of the knights had at least been willing to listen to the plan. Justus, Lasfam, and Heidemarie had gone early to plan where they would set traps. This left me and Eckhart to make our way to the gathering spot with the rest of the knights. Though we kept ourselves slightly distant from them, just in case. I had not forgotten what the first lady had done.
"Lord Ferdinand!" A boisterous voice called. I resisted the urge to cringe and turned to face Lord Heisshitze. Behind the troublesome knight was his equally troublesome lady and her female knight. Her scholar and attendant were nowhere to be seen. "How about a friendly wager?" The other boy grinned at me with open excitement. As if he had nothing better to do than to bet on ditter. I was about to refuse when I noticed the cloak he wore was new. There were several protective circles on it that I had never seen. A very fine thing, much better than the blank one that covered my back.
"Hmm," I pretended to ponder his offer. "I currently have no need for materials since I recently restocked." Not entirely true, I could always use more resources, but I also wanted to curb Heisshitze's enthusiasm going forward.
He chuckled. "I have a book that I would be willing to wager." I nearly blinked in surprise. Heisshitze and books were not something that I ever expected to hear together. He was certainly studious enough in his knight courses, but his written courses had left a bit to be desired for as I understood it. "Peter gifted me a medical book in hopes I would learn not to damage my body beyond repair, but I think you will get more use out of it than I would."
"Perhaps. What would the wager be?"
"If you beat me and if Ehrenfest beats Dunkelfelger I will give you the book."
Behind him Lady Minerva cleared her throat. Heisshitze stiffened ever so slightly. Clearly, he had forgotten his lady was there. "Cousin, the stakes are too low for the type of challenge you propose. You need to give something exceptional if Ehrenfest beats Dunkelfelger. We have a record of taking number one spot and Ehrenfest averages a rank in the high teens."
"My apologies, I did not intend to under compensate you, Lord Ferdinand." I waved off the apology, already I was all too familiar with Heisshitze's excitement and how it could carry him off. So, I wasn't surprised when sudden inspiration struck the other boy's features. "Then if Lord Ferdinand beats me in a duel I will give him the book, and if Ehrenfest beats Dunkelfelger I will give my cloak that my family made."
"If you lose that cloak I will tell mother, and I will inform her that we will not make you another." Minerva looked amused at her cousin's antics. The was none of the annoyance I would have expected from him betting something that had clearly taken a lot of time and effort to create. But then I realized what her words implied.
"You made the cloak?" I looked at Minerva.
"Don't get it twisted, Little Flower." That name, and her grin made it very clear she did it just to annoy me. "My aunt died young. As my mother is her sister, we were the closest female relatives. Mother made the materials, Lady Magdalena created the circles, I provided the mana and embroidered everything as we know I am the most comparable to my dear cousin. What with Angriff and Leidenschaft's blessings that I have in such abundance. It was least I could do for my aunt." So, the cloak was a product of the archducal family ladies which would make it very powerful.
"And what would you want in return?" I asked turning back to Heisshitze who was practically vibrating with eagerness.
"A five-on-five ditter match every other week."
"Rejected." I was surprised to hear my voice echoed by Minerva.
"Ehrenfest does not have that kind materials or time." I did not even bother to hide the annoyance in my voice. Was ditter all he could think of? Even if I wasn't taking on several extra courses that wouldn't be feasible
Heisshitze grumbled. "At least three matches a year then."
I thought about it. It could work, but I did not have enough people that I trusted to make up the numbers. "Make it three-on-three and you have a deal."
Before Heisshitze could agree Lady Minerva added. "I will have no part in these games, Heisshitze."
The knight deflated a little, but nodded in agreement.
"If that is all the business you two have, then we should probably get moving. Don't want to miss our first ditter, do we, Heisshitze?" Minerva summoned her dragon highbeast and swung herself up into the saddle. Her guards summoned their highbeasts as well. She pointed her highbeast at me with a wicked grin playing across her face. "See you on the battle field, Little Flower." Then she made the dragon jump for me. I stood my ground and glared as it flew over and past me. The tail of her dragon passing mere inches from my cheek as it took off into bright sky. Her laughter on the wind was unmistakable. Something akin to anger burned inside me at her blatant provocation. We'll see who's laughing by the end of the match, I thought at her retreating back.
"Eckhart, let's go."
"Yes, my lord."
We summoned our highbeasts and flew off towards the Ehrenfest gathering spot. The rest of the knights had gone ahead while I had spoken with the Dunkelfelger students. When we landed Lasfam made his way over to us.
"My lord. It seems everyone is aware of their part. We will see how things go." They had told the knights part of the plan. Enough that most seemed on board with the idea, but they had left out just enough to protect me. Only time would tell if they were willing to actually carry out my orders or if they were merely looking for a way to sabotage me.
I nodded and glanced at the wooden stands. They were virtually empty other than the teacher who was working as a judge. If I recalled correctly, they would send up a yellow-colored flare the moment our treasure was killed or captured. But I was dissatisfied that even in our own duchy there was absolutely no expectation for us to do well in ditter.
How infuriating.
My scholars and attendant knew to keep an eye out for trouble once Eckhart and I left. Justus, Heidemarie, and Lasfam would all being staying to help with potions and traps, which belatedly made me grateful to both Peter and Minerva. Now all three of them were largely able to hold their own and were at least proficient in knife use. And with the three of them together they would be safer. Still, I waited with nervous energy building for the signal.
It was actually a relief when the horn blared over the forest. I gave a quick command to several knights to gather our treasure. Justus and Heidemarie would take care of placing traps around the edge of the gathering spot. While they were doing that, Eckhart, myself, and Leonhard; a medknight of neutral leanings, would begin our plan. With Emilio; layknight, as our eyes to observe behind enemy lines.
Our first targets were Klassenberg, Ahrensbach, and Drewanchel. I certainly wasn't avoiding Dunkelfelger, no matter what Justus snickered to the contrary. The groundwork for them had already laid out with Justus and Heidemarie spreading rumors. Pitting Werkestock and Dunkelfelger against each other when their archduke candidates were already feuding had been child's play. I chuckled to myself at the thought. Then our small group began by finding the groups that were hunting for a treasure. We laid in wait for their main group to pass and attacked those sweeping behind that were tasked with protecting from ambush. Each time we took them down by using a of magical tool of my own creation. It would cause a bright blinding light followed by a deafening sound. From there, it is was a simple task to render two or three stunned knights into Schlaftraum's realm.
I commanded Eckhart and Leonhard to devest the unconscious knights of both their cloaks and recovery potions. Leonhard balked at first, until I pointed out there was no rule against it.
"It just seems…"
I scoffed, what childish mentality, it was no wonder Ehrenfest was so far behind. "That kind of thinking handicaps us, what matters is the results."
Eckhart grinned and quickly did as I asked. The other knight soon begrudgingly following his lead. Occasionally, if I was feeling particularly spiteful, I would pour a bit of Schlaftraum's Gift on the armor of the defeated knights. A trap for their comrades who would need to roll them over in order to provide potions and healing. It brought no small amount of joy knowing the chaos I would rain down on my unsuspecting foes.
Once we gathered enough cloaks, I took them to their allies in lesser and middling duchies that were less than pleased with their 'partnerships'. Many were suspicious until we handed over our spoils as proof of the upper duchies' weakness. Then the light of Verdräos and Greifechan gleamed in their eyes. It was almost too easy.
"As you can see, the upper ranks have lost Angriff and Sehweit's blessings. They reap from our harvests, but still can't fight off someone as lowly as Ehrenfest." I tossed the red capes and a couple potions to the feet of Lortzing's archknight. The fourth-year eyed the cloaks, a bright cunning in those light purple eyes. A distant roar made me glance up at the sky. Having had more than a passing acquaintance with the thing that had made that sound, I knew it was time to retreat.
"Think about what I said, and may Angriff's blessing be upon you." I steeped back into the cover of the trees. Just in time for a familiar whoosh, whoosh noise to echo overhead. Lortzing's knights took up a defensive position in preparation for Lady Minerva's arrival. Only for the blue dragon to fly over and not even spare them a passing glance. The last thing I saw was the righteous indignation on the look of the Lortzing's students when they were not even worth a second glance. I chuckled and silently thanked that vexing woman for making my job that much easier. We repeated the process I had just done with a couple more duchies. Then we waited for a few minutes. After a short wait I pulled an ordonnanz and tapped it with my schtappe. Once it was in bird form I told it, "Emilio, report." Then sent it on its way to the other knight. His response came in short order.
"All according to plan, the tides are turning." The words were repeated thrice. I knew a wicked grin spread across my face. I send the ordonnanz back with an order for Emilio to return and guard our treasure.
"Lord Ferdinand, what do we do next?"
I smiled at Leonhard. "Now we pay Dunkelfelger a visit." I make those two eat their words. Judging by the direction Lady Minerva had flown off to she would be busy taking on Werkestock right about now. Knowing her ditter brained guard knight, he would not be too far from her. Two of the strongest third-years Dunkelfelger had were now gone, while Werkestock was likely attacking them. It was the perfect time to attack their cache of potions. Just the thought of all their hard work tossed out brought a smile to my face.
We moved through the cover of the trees. I was constantly casting glances both above and around us. I wasn't sure how much Minerva taught those who weren't her people, but I didn't want to be caught off guard by Peter's level of stealth again. Already the lesson of caution had been carved into me and my people. It was one of these sweeps that I heard a twig snap. Eckhart and Leonhard closed in on my flanks looking for the source. Nothing. Yet I could not shake the feeling that we were not alone. A creeping sensation that had my internal alarm blaring. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the brush shift as if something had passed by, but there was nothing there. Too close.
"Schwert." I summoned my schtappe as a sword and brought the point up into ready position. My two guards did the same, keeping their backs to me. Thankfully, neither of them spoke to ask what I had seen. That could potentially hide the sounds of whoever was stalking us. Not to mention tell the enemy what we knew about their position. But it also meant I had to trust them both to act as I did. A double-edged sword of a predicament. Deep breath, I told myself. Look for what is out of place. Scan the whole area, do not be tempted to focus on the spot of last movement. They wouldn't still be there.
Another flash.
This time it was to my left. It was light refracting off of something. Before I could even think to change my sword to a bow and attack, several things happened in quick succession. Something whizzed passed my cheek from behind. It slammed into the thing I caught sight of. The sound of shattering glass was followed up quickly by screaming. Blood, a second fluid I didn't recognize, and broken glass was spread out in a small area. The blood spattered on something invisible making an outline of a boy.
I struck swift as Steiferise. Silencing the screams before they could attract attention. I transformed my sword back into a wand and cast waschen on the prone figure. He was cleansed of blood and whatever had been in the vial. Then I groped around until I found the charm that was hiding our stalker. Dimitri was revealed. Even in Schlaftraum's realm his expression was twisted in pain. Good. Minerva had not been wrong with her warning about this boy and Heidemarie. His gaze had followed her in a way that made even me uncomfortable. I had taken to sending Heidemarie to work with Professor Hirschur whenever I trained with Dunkelfelger.
"What was that?" Eckhart asked.
"Depends on what you are referring to." I told him as I pocketed the charm to study later.
"What struck him?"
"That I intend to find out. Sheild me while I work." The last thing I needed was for whatever struck Dimitri to rain down on us. But it was odd because with how close it past to my face I should have felt mana if it had been an attack from a schtappe. Which implied it was a physical weapon. A projectile that I was unfamiliar with? Maybe. There were no arrows anywhere. That I was certain I would have noticed. So, it had to be something small. I also ruled out a sling. There was too much blood from a hand wound to be from a sling type weapon.
I donned gloves and pried open the boy's fisted right hand. Blood flowed quite freely through his fingers. Once I had his hand opened, I nearly jumped back. It was only the fact that Eckhart and Leonhard had their shields up that allowed me to remain calm in face of Dimitri's injury. There was a perfectly circular hole going straight through the other boy's hand. I could clearly see where a projectile had smashed through bone and flesh as if they were parchment. Around the wound glass was imbedded into his flesh and his hand was taking on a withered black and blue color. Likely a result of the contents of the vial.
"My Lord?" Eckhart must have sensed my distress.
"Keep those shields up." I snapped frantically searching for the projectile. My eyes caught sight of a small gauge in a tree not far. "Guard my back." I moved to the tree clearing away the splinters of wood. Something reflected back at me from inside the groove. Quickly I changed my schtappe into brewing forceps and extracted a small metal object from inside the tree. It was smaller than the last segment of my thumb and was shaped like a mushroom. Though I suspected that was more the result of impacting both Dimitri's hand and the tree than an actual design. The bottom of the stem looking part had markings that could have been a magical circle but they were too smudged and burnt to make out their function. I sealed the metal mushroom into a vial along with some dirt samples that had the mystery potion on it. After a quick healing spell on Dimitri; no need to be accused of killing the fool, I had Eckhart bind him in some course rope that I had prepared. Just in case. Too bad there was not a convenient pile of Schnefeld shit to dump the boy in. If I wasn't worried about being ambushed, I would have been tempted to look for some.
"It's a shame."
I glanced at Eckhart.
He grinned maliciously. "Perhaps we could use him as bait for feybeasts."
I chuckled despite myself. "That would be unwise." In my mind however I did the calculations of roughly where the projectile that had struck Dimitri had come from. Using my and the Dunkelfelger's positions as a guide, my eyes followed an invisible line into the forest and slightly up. Above the trees? The canopy was definitely too thick to see through and I hadn't heard any rustling of leaves. Using enhancement magic, I looked ahead. There were several spots up in the branches that gave a clear line of sight. But the marksman had long since vacated their spot. Were they helping u? Or had Dimitri been their target all along? Had they meant to hit me and just happened to hit Dimitri instead?
I changed my schtappe to a shield. "We should move. Whoever struck that blow clearly knows we are here and they could go for help." Or turn on us. I did not need to tell them to keep their shields up. Carefully and quickly, we made our way towards Dunkelfelger's gathering spot. Faintly we could hear the sounds of battle, but there was no sign of Lady Minerva or Heisshitze. I was confident we would easily be able to flank them in order to smash the recovery potions.
"Seems like they haven't made it back." I felt my braid catch on a nearby branch.
"Oh? Who might that be?" That familiar female voice was almost right in my ear. Instantly I transformed shield to sword and swung back and up. The ribbon in my hair pulled free as I spun. Bright silver eyes flashed back up into the higher branches, but not fast enough to avoid me removing the magical tool that covered her eyes. Something ricocheted off my magic defenses. The one that prevented physical attacks went dark.
Her chuckle drifted down from her perch. "Careful now, you could take someone's eyes out doing that." All I could see of her was her face and hands; which were idly twirling my ribbon between her fingers. The rest of her form was constantly shifting making it hard to focus on her. She was also completely silently, not even the branches made a sound under her feet. I gritted my teeth in frustration knowing I could easily reach her with enhancement magic. But it would leave me venerable while I was midair.
"How dare you!" Hissed Eckhart as he launched himself at Minerva. You fool, I wanted to shout, that's what she wants. However, instead of attacking, Minerva leaped back flipped as she descended, only to land in a crouch on the forest floor. Now I could see why I had trouble focusing on her. She wore a molted cloak of a variety of grey colors. The pattern coupled with magic circles I couldn't see made her almost blend in with the area around her and broke up her shape. The feline grace with which she stood back up was warning enough that Eckhart was in way over his head with her. Her taunting grin curled up her face as she twined my ribbon around her fingers more. Sadly Eckhart's devotion was now blinding him as he charged forward under the lady's provocation. I couldn't even command him back because I knew she would seize that split second of hesitation to attack.
She cackled at Eckhart's swing that sailed past her. "Well, you see, I just couldn't resist. It was too easy." She laughed in his face as my guard's face was slowly turning red with fury. "What kind of knight serves someone who has his things so easily stolen off his person, by a lady no less? Aren't you ashamed?"
"You are no lady."
Minerva tipped her head back and laughed still seamlessly dodging Eckhart's swings. "You might be right. But better be me and not a lady than a foolish you." She stepped back as Eckhart swung with a roar. Not once did she bother to summon her schtappe, and her glaive was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she flowed like water, bending and twisting out of the blade's way. Slowly she was stepping deeper into the forest. At least he was driving her back. If he managed to gain enough room I could easily-. No, something whispered in my mind, she was too smug. She wasn't being pushed, she pulling Eckhart.
Trap!
She was leading him to a trap. I switched to a bow and took aim. It was a testament to Eckhart's loyalty and trust that he did not even flinch when multiple arrows whizzed past him. Either that or he was fully prepared to sacrifice himself for me. Lady Minerva danced out of the way of both our attacks, but now she had a wild look in her eyes that I knew meant she was having to give it her all to avoid being struck. Now we were pushing her off to the right.
"Leonhard." I nodded for the other knight to move to flank her.
"Sir." He rushed to left. Minerva was so focused on us that she likely would not notice Leonhard until it was too late.
She laughed again. "Ah, truly, adoration is that state furthest from understanding."
"Lord Ferdinand is worth adoration!" My guard knight declared boldly. For a brief instant I felt a warmth rush over. Minerva on the other hand smiled sadly at my faithful retainer.
"Yes, he is. So, why have you abandoned him to chase an enemy princess." Everything stilled as she shouted the last word. There was a trap, but it had been for me, not Eckhart. I knew he would turn his back to her giving her the upper hand. So, as I changed my bow to a sword, I stuck one hand into the cage that held his name stone.
"Do not turn your back on her." Then I turned to meet the roaring attack that was coming from behind. Heisshitze's swords came down with a resounding clang. If it had not been for the last-minute enhancement magic I would have been in trouble. The double handed attack had a lot of force behind it, and thanks to the blade Minerva had thrown I was out of protections against physical attacks. Well played, I admitted begrudgingly. Minerva had effectively and subtly stripped me of most of my protections. While I still had my protections against magical attacks they would be near useless against the iron sword Heisshitze carried. I would endeavor to make my future protections more retaliatory so as to avoid things like this from happening again. First though I needed to survive the grinning fool in front of me. If I didn't stop Heisshitze quickly I would be facing both him and Minerva when she finished with the other two. Odds I definitely did not like.
"Do not worry, Lord Ferdinand. My dear cousin set up this duel between you and I. Neither she nor other Dunkelfelger students will interfere with our glorious duel."
I snorted. The fool, who gives up an advantage? There was no honor is loss. Only winning. I parried his next blow with contemptuous ease. He grinned in excitement. Parry, parry, thrust, deflect, sweeping cut, reverse. For a long while we were evenly matched. But the longer we clashed the more the difference in weight was affecting Heisshitze. Gradually, I was chipping away at his endurance. Not nearly fast enough. At this rate someone else was going to come across us, and then it was a gamble of whether they would help or hinder me. This fool was still grinning as if he knew my thoughts and welcomed the challenge. I growled in frustration; I couldn't even reach my magic tools. Old fashion way it is then, I thought.
I swung with renewed vigor. Battering Heisshitze's defenses and forcing the other boy back a few steps. Just a little behind him was a thick low hanging branch. It was high enough that he wouldn't hit his head on it, but a downward swing would catch on the wood. Slow but steady maneuvered him backwards. He was suspicious after so many battles together. Even while I was forcing him back he was keeping on eye on his footing to avoid tripping. All the better because he wouldn't be looking up. Finally, he was in place. I made an opening that the other knight would be unable to refuse.
"My win!" He swung his sword in a downward strike with all his might as I feigned shock. I smirked when the weapon jolted to halt and his eyes went wide. I struck. Heisshitze let go of the iron weapon and jumped back. My strike skated off his armor throwing up sparks from the conflicting magic. The Dunkelfelger knight swore as he retreated. His left hand dropped to his leg while he summoned his schtappe in his right hand. My gaze went to the sword which turned out to be a feint.
Heisshitze threw a small knife with the left hand that he had dropped. I saw it just in time and leaned back out of the path only to have it score a small line across my left cheek. He thought it would distract me long enough to get a thrust in. Fool. I twisted like I had seen Minerva do countless times, my sword coming up and around for the other boy's shoulder where his cloak covered. It should have connected right in between the parts of his feystone armor, but the circles on the cloak flared to life. I was blasted back several steps by an unseen force. Only by Angriff's grace did I remain on my feet. But this had inadvertently gave me a chance. I grabbed at the contact Schlaftraum's Gift tool I had made, and tossed it at Heisshitze. Only one had survived the battle. As the other boy came racing towards it he sliced through the leather pouch dosing himself much the same way I had done to myself. He staggered after being soaked and blinked rapidly. Then he collapsed to the dirt.
It took all of my self-control not to heave a sigh of relief. My body ached even as my heart thundered in my ears. That was why it took me moment to realize I could hear clapping. I half turned to see Lady Minerva leaning casually against a tree clapping her hands. She looked… proud.
"Fine moves, Little Flower."
"You have something of mine."
She titled her head as if she had no idea what I was talking about. "No, I don't."
"Where are my knights?"
I look of dawning crossed her face and she grandly swept her cloak to the side to reveal Eckhart and Leonhard were out cold behind her. The former was covered in bruises while the latter looked like he had barely been hit.
"I'll trade you, them for my fool of a cousin." She chuckled as if she could clearly see my mind going through the various strategies only to discard them in quick succession. I wanted, I needed to prove to her that she couldn't push me around like a gewinnen piece. "Don't throw away such devotion for pride's sake, Little Flower. Though perhaps temper it with-." I turned to fully face her. Minerva's eyes went wide. "(*Shit*)."
I did not need to know the word was to know it was a curse. But I wasn't sure what had happened to cause it. She was clearly looking at me, but now there was a faint blue arura coloring the air around her, not unlike when she had used Crushing. Though the sensation of being squished wasn't present and her eyes hadn't chan- but they were changing. Instead of rainbow-colored eyes though, the silver of her irises was seeping into the whites of her eyes. Like strange ink was leaking from a cracked inkwell. I never seen the likes of it before. What was causing it? Was it time length based. Obviously, this was why she wore the tool over her eyes, but what was the trigger? Her gaze was no longer directly on my face. I reached into my pouch hoping to find something to allow me to test the theory, but there was nothing.
How disappointing.
I was about to change my sword back to bow just to test the theory when a shrill whistle sounded announcing an end to the game. Inconvenient.
She let out a low almost relieved chuckle. "Better luck next time, Little Flower." What did she mean by that? Did she know what we had planned for Dunkelfelger or had she realized what I had been planning to do? No, I thought as I watched her walk over to where her magical tool had fallen. She reached for it and fumbled it in the most ungraceful I had ever seen her. Then she shoved them back in place and the faint blue arura disappeared. She took a potion from her belt and drank it down before turning back to me. Her eyes were normal.
"Well fought, Little Flower." She then walked over to Heisshitze. "Hey, fool." She toed her cousin with her boot. "Time to get up."
I didn't bother to point out he was dosed with a sleeping drug. If I was lucky she would attempt to shake him awake and get dosed as well. As amusing as would be to see Heisshitze get kicked by his lady; especially after all the aches and pains I was feeling, I had things I had to do. After a quick recovery potion for myself I went to my two guards. Each one got one of their own recovery potions shoved down their throats. Both coughed and sputtered, but only Leonhard nearly struck at me. Luckily for him, he stopped himself in time.
"Eckhart, we will speak about your failure latter."
He didn't protest. "Yes, my lord." Then he held out his hand to me and passed back the hair ribbon that Minerva had stolen from me. I felt surprised and something else that I did not care to look too closely at as I took back my property. Swiftly I retied my braid.
When I looked back at Minerva a small white bird was perched on her hand. She tapped it with her wand.
Peter's voice came from it. "Ehrenfest took first, Dunkelfelger took second, and Ahrensbach took third." I couldn't believe my ears even as the bird repeated the message two more times. A small smile curled up Minerva's lips.
"My, my, such an impressive feat. I wonder who Ehrenfest owes its victory to?" The she turned to her cousin and chuckled. "If you are going to be stubborn." She cast a waschen over him. The ball of water completely cleansed the sleeping potion from her cousin, but caused the brown-haired boy to sit up couching and hacking. "Please do not die, dear cousin. I have far too few retainers as is, and I will be quite cross if I have to find a new knight while mother laments my poor attitude."
"Yes *cough, cough* my lady." More coughing fits followed.
"Before I forget." She unhooked Heisshitze's cloak from his shoulders, surprising everyone. Then cast another waschen over it, folded it, and presented it to me. "I believe this is now yours."
"What?" Heisshitze sputtered.
"Ehrenfest won, cousin."
I took the fine cloth in my hand and ran my hand over the visible protections. I would inspect it later with the other objects I had obtained today.
"I will have Heisshitze bring you the book at your earliest convenience."