I follow the squire into the keep. I follow his instructions too. Especially the one to keep my hands off my weapons' hilts. Keeping my hands to myself is easy by comparison. As it turns out I have gotten pretty used to resting at least one hand on the hilt of my sword. Not doing so now takes some conscious effort. In the end the easiest solution is to clasp my hands behind my back.

The interior of the keep, or at least the part I get to see, is surprisingly plain. It reminds me a little of the ruined tower in the woods, except bigger of course and less smashed up. In fact it is very well cared for. At the same time I can't help but note that the place seems much older than its current occupants. Yes, I very much suspect, that this keep has been around before the current city sprung up around it.

Something else that catches my attention is, that the place is surprisingly quiet. Shouldn't there be more people about? Well, I guess I'm not headed in the same direction in general as most of the other people that I have seen waiting in line at the gate, but still, the place feels a little eerie and it gets worse as we start ascending stairs. They are very narrow and defensible stairs too. Even as the defender I'd probably be best served by a blade a little shorter than my current weapon though.

Curiously enough, that is when both my [Perception] skill and my [Tactics] skill improve a little. In fact I even receive a level up notification regarding the latter.

[*Ding!* Your skill Tactics has leveled up to level 4!]

Well, that certainly is a pleasant surprise. This one counts towards the progress of my scoundrel class and as the skill levels up my spirit attribute improves a little too, which in turn makes my mana pool expand as well, even if not by much. Overall though I'd say, that this quest is off on a good start.

The impression remains, there are not very many people present, at least in the upper floors of the keep which are probably home to the lord and his family. There aren't many guards or servants around up here either.

Our destination is the keep's fencing room. I know the adventurers' guild has a room dedicated to the practice of swordsmanship too, but it still strikes me as a little odd to furnish large halls for this purpose only. Well I probably shouldn't complain. I'm going to benefit from this arrangement too in all likelihood after all.

Before we can actually reach our destination though we run into someone I know. Justyna, who is coming down the hall we are currently traversing, with an armload of books. I guess the young lords education takes many different forms and possibly the young noble lady gets to benefit from it too, very much like me. She of course recognizes me too, although she does her best to not let on to the fact.

The squire guiding me moves aside to make room for her and so do I. Before she can actually pass us by, he stops her with a brief bow though.

"Lady Justyna, could you spare us a moment of your time?"

The squire's request takes her by surprise, but after the briefest moment of hesitation she nods anyway.

"Certainly. What can I do for you?"

He gestures towards me, as he answers in turn.

"This young lady is here to answer Lady Izolda's call for a training partner for the young lord's swordsmanship lessons. I'm showing her to the fencing hall. Would you happen to know where I can find the lady, so I can let her know?"

I wince internally as he calls me a lady, but I guess there are only so many respectful ways to address me, so I can't really complain.

Justyna on the other hand seems back in her element. She seems to be aware of the request placed with the adventurers' guild. It's either that or she is pretending, not that it matters to me right now. In the end she nods.

"Just show her to the fencing hall. I'm on my way to see the Lady Izolda anyway. I'll pass the news along."

Then she bows, more towards the squire than me, and is off again. Of course she doesn't curtsy and bows instead. With her heavy load of thick books she doesn't have a choice really. I'm still wondering what to make of this brief exchange, when the squire clears his throat motioning for me to keep following him.

I pick up the pace again. We are almost at our destination anyway. I almost expect him to just leave me in the fancy fencing hall, but of course he doesn't. That would completely counteract any security measures after all. Lead an apparently legitimate stranger into the castle and leave her alone in a room full of weapons, close to the lord and his family? Of course that doesn't happen and I'm a little relieved too. If he actually had left me alone here, I would have had to wonder what other security measures there might be.

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Well, no, I wonder about additional security measures anyway. Secret watchers behind cleverly disguised peepholes in hidden passages? I can't rule it out. Especially not in this hall. The heavily ornamented, wooden wall paneling with its carvings certainly would offer plenty of spots where such peepholes might be hidden.

I doubt there is anyone else watching me right now though. I doubt the lord who keeps his staff to a minimum would allow hidden watchers like that in his house. They would be able to keep tabs on him too after all.

The observers of my choice would be housekeeping personnel, servants and maids. They can see and hear a lot while going about their usual work. That is not an option in this household though, considering the relative lack of servants so far. There have to be some around, there are neither dust nor cobwebs after all, but I haven't actually seen any up here so far. Justyna doesn't really count. She is a personal attendant after all.

Ghosts! They would make for some impressive unseen observers. Assuming of course, that you happen to be on good terms with the restless spirits of the keep's previous inhabitants and that you have some ability that allows you to communicate with them. It would be difficult, but an arrangement like that certainly would make for impressive security.

Since the squire is keeping an eye on me, even if he tries to act casual about it, I doubt there is anything I need to worry about. I have no idea when Izolda will arrive, even if I doubt that she will keep me waiting indefinitely, thus I decide to take the time and study the room around us and especially the weapons on display. The suits of armor too. Some of those are rather intricate suits of full plate. Very impressive! Expensive too for sure, but old and well cared for rather than new and just for show. They obviously have seen use too. The latter is true for most of the weapons on display too as I soon realize. This isn't just a display out of vanity. It's a fancy armory!

Just as I'm studying some of the more elegant weaponry on display, actual fencing weapons, including various off hand daggers and bucklers, and before I can ask the squire for his opinion, the door through which we entered opens again.

It's the pale young lord accompanied by Lady Izolda. Justyna is there as well, holding the door open for the other two and entering last. I can't help but notice that the younger noblewoman looks a little nervous. Is she afraid that I might embarrass her? Is it about the way we got to know each other? Possibly because Lady Izolda doesn't know? Not all the details anyway?

Well, she doesn't have to worry. Not on my regard anyway. I'm not here to give her a hard time. I'm here on business. And besides there is another little detail that is of greater interest to me. The innocent little fact that Lady Izolda entered ahead of her charge, the young lord.

The squire bows and so do I. First towards the young lord and then, almost as deeply towards the head maid. I decide to speak up, as I maintain my bow towards Lady Izolda, before the squire can do so, to take control of the situation. As I do so I hold out the quest papers from the adventurers' guild. They are my legitimization to be here after all.

"I'm Viviona. I'm with the adventurers' guild my lady and I'm here regarding your request to have a training partner for the young lord's swordsmanship lessons. I'm at your disposal."

The formal approach has another benefit, beyond getting in the lady's good grace. A divine whisper lets me know.

[*Ding!* You have unlocked the Etiquette general skill at Level 1!]

Well, that is a nice surprise. One that helps my masked mediator class along. I don't let it distract me though, as I maintain the bow towards the lady that has everyone else so spooked.

Thankfully she doesn't leave me hanging and accepts the papers. She doesn't look at them though, setting them aside instead. She probably knows every word anyway since she is the one responsible for it. Her next words are addressed at the squire that accompanied me here.

"Thank you for your dedicated service, Nierod. You can return to your usual duties."

The young man bows again, as she dismissed him, and is off without delay.

Lady Izolda's posture doesn't relax in the slightest though. Not even for a moment. Instead she is quick to turn towards me, just as I straighten up again.

"Let us not waste any time. Please deposit your weapons over there. I'll help you with the armor, Viviona. Justyna? You help Szymon with his."

I hurry to follow her orders, depositing my pack as well as my belt, sword, knife and all, on a side table.

True to her word, the head maid does not waste any time either. Without delay she helps me slip into what looks like a leather vest with rivets at the first glace. Except the rivets aren't just decorative, as I come to realize quickly. This vest consists of several layers of soft leather, with overlapping metal plates cleverly hidden within. A brigandine vest if I'm not mistaken. With practiced ease the head maid fastens all the belts and straps to make sure it fits properly.

I can't help but wonder if this still counts as light armor. I'm not sure. With overlapping plates and given its weight in general it might just already be considered heavy armor. Well, I probably will find out before long.

We aren't done yet though. The brigandine vest isn't all I get to wear, just like Szymon, the young lord. The plate gauntlets Lady Izolda helps me slip on next most certainly aren't light armor anymore, although they are still lighter than the ones on the suits of full plate I have admired earlier. The same is true for the greaves.

The young lord looks ill at ease in the getup, although I'm not quite sure why. He certainly looks even paler now than before. Does he suffer from some condition? Well, if so, I'm almost certain that no one will let me in on the secret.

Finally Lady Izolda gets a buckler and a rapier, both for her young charge and me. They are, of course, practice weapons without an actual edge.

Overall the difference to my usual long sword is rather marginal. The weapon is of similar length and only a little lighter. The only real difference is the basket instead of the plain cross guard. I have no trouble getting used to it at all. The buckler isn't too bad either. It's a small, relatively light weight, full metal shield. Unlike heavier shields it isn't strapped to the arm though. Instead it comes with a handle.

Lady Izolda musters me for a moment. She scrutinizes Szymon too. Finally she nods satisfied.

"Very well. Justyna, please stand back and observe. You two move to the center of the room. We will start with some basic positions."

As she finishes speaking she grabs a buckler and a rapier herself to demonstrate.

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