I Will Be the Greatest Knight

Chapter 521: Onward

"How has everything been since I’ve been away?" Irene asked

The visit would be disappointingly short this time, but she was busy, as was Arne.

It was so strange to see her brother arrive at the set meeting spot, behaving like an entirely new person now that he had more responsibility. He seemed more stoic than before, more mature.

"I underestimated all that father got up to during winterization," Arne admitted, cracking a faint smile, to Irene’s relief.

"If you need any help in that regard, we always have knights to offer," Henry reminded his brother in law.

"I appreciate it," Arne thanked him, "but it will be unnecessary. The villagers are insistent of keeping things the way they were when my father was here. That involves self sustaining our lands. It’s more work, but it’s fine with me. Now, here is Froid. He’s a good horse and eager to go on the journey with you."

"Thank you, Arne," Irene responded. "Would you like us to put you up in the inn for the night? The sun sets fast lately."

"I can get back in time," Arne insisted. "After all, Duke Henry Mattson’s horse is of high pedigree and, from what I’ve heard, fast."

That was the brother she remembered as he became slightly more animated and eager about something.

"And how about mother?" Irene wondered. "Is she as good as she says in letters?"

"She’s lonely, but trying to fill her time with things," Arne admitted. "Says that this is the time of life she deserves grandchildren because then she will be occupied once more. Since I’m not settling down any time soon, it’s up to you."

Irene balked at that. She was uninterested in exploring this thread with her brother.

"I’m just glad she’s not shutting herself away," Irene responded, changing the topic as quickly as she could.

"The same with me," Arne responded. "It was nice to see you both."

Irene stepped forward and hugged her brother tightly. She was admittedly worried about the journey ahead—as was only natural for all she had been through the first time.

"Please come to us if you ever need anything," Irene insisted. "We will see you."

"Yes, don’t hesitate," Henry responded. "Safe travels."

"To you two as well."

It was easy to get Henry’s things onto Froid before the husband and wife turned to one another.

"One last night in the inn?" Irene asked.

"One last night," Henry confirmed. "We have plenty of time to sleep outdoors in the coming weeks."

They would have to backtrack towards the east in order to stay in the inn, but neither one of them were complaining. It would set them back hours but not days.

+

The Duke and future Duchess emerged from the inn well-rested and looking forward to the journey ahead. They were well-fed as to not dig into their supplies and quick to get onto their horses.

"I always thought Sammy looked so big because your set of armor is small compared to others, but it turns out this pedigree of horse is simply massive," Henry commented as he got onto the animal.

"They’re large and meant to sustain well through the winter," Irene explained. "You will see the difference in the way that they run through the snow as if it’s an afterthought."

"I look forward to it."

That day, it wasn’t as biting as before, or perhaps the travelers were simply optimistic considering they would face true coldness shortly, but neither Irene nor Henry pulled up their scarves so that they could understand one another more easily.

Less than an hour into their journey, the trail returned to Irene. Despite everything being laden with snow, it was the same as when she last rode upon it.

"Here!" Irene called to Henry and slowed her horse. "This is the place we must go to reach the switchbacks. If we were to miss it, we would continue to the valley where my father lost his hand."

Henry also stopped his horse, whom he was still getting used to, before turning to his wife.

"It’s no wonder the village east had requested more help in my first season here," he realized. "Quite a few buildings were destroyed. People had to move away before it was done. I believe it’s mostly settled again."

"And hopefully without an ogre like last time," Irene responded decidedly.

"We wouldn’t let that happen," Henry insisted. "I will be a thorough Duke compared to those in the past."

Irene smiled at him, fully believing him because he had already proven as such.

After redirecting themselves, they made it to the foothills that they would be climbing for a couple of days before even reaching the switchbacks. This area of the northern rocky mountains was wide and perilous. Most wouldn’t think there was a possible way to get over it if it wasn’t for Irene’s prior knowledge and all the maps she memorized on her first journey to the Sünstoian north.

Hours passed and the two only took one break for a bit of water and jerky, but both of them were plenty hungry now.

"If we leave the horses in this part of the trees, we can find a rabbit, maybe even a grouse," Irene suggested. "Shall we attempt a hunt to conserve supplies?"

"A wonderful idea," Henry responded. "But first, I have something for you and there seems like not a better time to give it to you."

Irene’s eyebrows rose. "What could it be?" she wondered.

They both slid off of their horses and Henry went to get something from behind his saddle that had been wrapped up and added to their packs without explanation. She figured there was a use for whatever was there, but would wait for an explanation.

However, once the item was unrolled from where it was kept, she was shocked to see a quiver full of arrows and a finely crafted bow.

Irene’s lips fell open in shock. Her green eyes searched her husband’s face for an explanation. Her heart was racing, still unaccustomed to the way Henry cared for her despite all they had been through at each other’s sides.