A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

In the midst of all these well-prepared individuals, Verdant hung quietly at the back. He too was dressed the the occasion, though he was doing his very best not to let his excitement show. He'd brought with him the finest spear that Oliver thought he'd ever seen, and he was dressed in plated steel all over his upper half, making him seem half-golem from the waist up.

This was rich steel too, as was expected of an Idris heir. In places, it even had jewels set in. Verdant had embarrassedly declared that he would have them removed when Oliver pointed them out – apparently, this too was borrowed plate, and he found the lack of modesty in a battlefield item a little much - though there was no denying that he suited it. And, more importantly, he wore it well.

His strength easily carried the plate for him.

Seeing them all as well equipped as they were reminded Oliver that he would need to find the time to get armour for himself, at some point. Skullic had all but demanded that he be properly uniformed for future missions, after all.

"Well," Oliver said, "I suppose it's about time that we get started."

…

…

It was the three boys that he put up first, though he tested them one at a time now, rather than as a group. They'd made their way to the familiar goblin spot, where they'd first begun all those weeks ago, and Oliver put an eager Karesh out to prove his skill.

The first party of goblins came, a good four of them, enough to put any able man in an uncomfortable position if they worked together. Karesh, however, didn't allow them to show any of their worth.

He wielded his greatsword with admirable straightforwardness. He feigned a lack of reach, tempting the first two goblins to come in, and then he executed a simple step-in slash, both closing the distance and extending his range all in one movement. The large blade caught two of them at once, and by then, the battle was already over.

Oliver raised an eyebrow at the results, seeing the goblins cut firmly in two. He knew that a younger him would have been jealous of that feat – the single-handed weapons that he preferred could never have done that so easily, after all.

"Well?" Karesh said, puffing his chest out, after hunting down the last two goblins with even greater ease than the first two, now that they'd lost their pack.

For some reason, after seeing Karesh do so well, Kaya's confidence had plummeted. His fidgeting was distracting enough that Oliver had to make a mental effort to block it from his mind as he gave his response to Karesh.

"You've improved," Oliver said. "As a man, you're certainly worthy enough to fight alongside the soldiers. Putting a greatsword in your hands is one of the better changes in weapons that I've seen."

"All right!" Karesh said, pumping his fist. "I passed!"

"But," Oliver continued, "it's not individuals that I'm looking for. I will only pass judgement once I see how the three of you fight as a group. With your style, Karesh, it wouldn't be surprising if you were ill-suited for group combat."

"Wha—" Karesh looked stung by the sudden reversal. "But…"

"Relax. I said it wouldn't be unexpected. I'm sure you'll still do fine, but it still remains to be seen."

"Argh… Alright. I'll show you what I can do, Ser Patrick!"

"Who's going next? Jorah? Kaya?" Oliver asked.

He ignored a Blackthorn just off to the side of him that was stomping frustratedly – but measuredly enough that she thought no one could see – in the snow.

Jorah glanced at Kaya, who looked nervous beyond expression. His hands were shaking. "Kaya," Jorah said kindly. "I think you'd better go first. Your nerves will only continue to build if you wait."

"But… Is the fact that I'm nervous already a bad sign?" Kaya said, biting his lip.

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"Who's not nervous going into battle?" Oliver said. "If you're to follow me on this mission, you'll be fighting against men, and there's a real chance that you could die. Nervousness will be with you the whole time."

"But, Ser Patrick, look at Karesh," Kaya said, pointing out his cousin, who seemed more fired up than nervous.

"Karesh is an outlier," Jorah told him. "It's not even a positive thing to try and emulate him… you'd reduce yourself."

"Hey, wait… Are you making fun of me?" Karesh paused his sword swings to glare at them.

"Go on, Kaya. We've practised. Once they're in front of you, you'll know what to do," Jorah said.

The boy didn't look convinced, but he could feel the weight of so many stares on him, and he didn't have much of a choice. Besides, by that time, they could already hear goblin calls sounding off from the distance – a sign that the next party would soon be arriving.

"There are eight," Oliver noted before they'd left the trees. "Blackthorn, cull them down to four, and herd them so that they're roughly positioned as Karesh's were."

He didn't have to tell her twice. Only Verdant seemed to notice the fact that Oliver had managed to sense the goblins so accurately without even seeing them, but he didn't comment on it then. His only reaction was the slightest twinkle in her eye.

Lasha shot off to the centre of the clearing. Her strength, by now, was obvious. She was coming into her own as a fighter. These goblins that had troubled her before were now mere minor hindrances, even eight of them.

She met them head-on, her trusty rapier with her. She didn't pause her steps for even a second. Her first act was to circle them, and provoke those reckless lunges that she knew would come.

A pair were the first to launch themselves forward, clawing for her hair. There were more than a few students who would have been appalled at the sight – the quietly beautiful Lady Blackthorn, often admired from afar, beset by creatures as vicious as goblins. It would have inspired a protective urge in a good number of them.