Interlude: Ruud Family Meeting

Interlude:
Ruud Family Meeting

 

DOLPH—head of the Ruud family and vice-captain of the Fourteenth Knight Brigade—met the gaze of his eldest daughter. “Why have you called this family meeting, Oria?”

The Ruud family was gathered in the largest room in the estate—their father Dolph, the first son Ardio, the first daughter Oria, and the second son Leon. Fia was not present.

The topic of discussion? The girl who, moments prior, had ridden home on a black dragon.

“Father, what do you plan to do about Fia?” Oria asked, her expression betraying nothing.

Dolph stroked his chin in thought for a moment. “I suppose we should report her familiar to the knight brigade. Having a familiar is within one’s rights and usually isn’t reported, but a black dragon? A black dragon could spell trouble if left unchecked.”

Oria nodded in agreement. “Wonderful decision, Father. You’ve already thought of the best way to raise the status of the Ruud name.”

“What do you mean?” Dolph asked, confused by his daughter’s vague compliment.

Oria’s eyes went wide. “Father, you’re aiming to become a captain, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am! All knights aspire to either better serve their captain or to become one themselves!”

His daughter smiled sweetly as she lifted a hand into the air, pretending to give a toast with an imaginary chalice. “Then we must celebrate! To Father, who will soon be a captain thanks to the efforts of his daughter Fia!”

“What…is the meaning of this?” Dolph asked.

“Black dragons are the guardian beasts of Náv, and I’ve heard that the royal family desperately wants one within their direct influence. Once they hear that Fia has a pact with one, I’m sure they’ll be clamoring to bring her into their ranks through marriage.” Oria paused and smiled. “Aren’t you lucky, Father. As soon as you report the black dragon, Fia will be married off and you’ll be the father-in-law of a duke, or even a member of the royal family itself. You’ll be made captain before you know it!”

“What?! I would never stoop to such dirty means to become captain!” Dolph bellowed.

Oria inclined her head. “Dirty means? Not at all. It’s only natural to use your connections to rise through the ranks. You haven’t made much progress as a vice-captain, have you? You’re just as good as the other vice-captains, and there’s nothing wrong with using your daughter to stand out from the pack.”

“Absolutely not! I’d rather die than do something so disgraceful! One should become a captain through ability alone!”

Oria furrowed her brow, a troubled look crossing her face. “But…the moment you report Fia’s black dragon, she’ll be married off and you’ll be promoted to captain. I’m sure all the other vice-captains will line up to congratulate you!”

“Never! I won’t let them ridicule me for an unearned promotion… I will never report Fia’s black dragon! And I’m sure…I’m sure this is some terrible misunderstanding! A black dragon is a legendary ancient beast—there’s no way that Fia could make a pact with something like that! It must not be a black dragon at all, just some…blackish dragonish creature!” Roaring and scowling, he sent his chair toppling away as he stood up and made for the door.

“Y-you got that?!” he added, at the door. “Fia’s familiar isn’t a black dragon! Blackish! Dragonish! Creature!” He slammed the door, and his footsteps thundered as he marched away.

Oria gazed at the door with a satisfied grin before looking back at her brothers. “The head of the family has declared that Fia’s familiar isn’t a black dragon, and the head’s words are absolute. I trust you two won’t contradict this?”

“Wha—” Leon exclaimed. “Sister, you tricked him into saying that!”

Oria smirked. “Oh my, is my little brother of lower rank trying to offer his opinion? That’s ‘Elder Sister’ to you.”

“Fine. Elder Sister, I’ll respect your wish, but…truth be told, I don’t think Fia’s familiar is a black dragon either, let alone a Black Dragon King. I mean, think about it! Fia is far too weak to be a knight. There’s no way she got a legendary monster like the Black Dragon King to make a pact with her. You can’t just luck your way into that! I won’t spread any lies about Fia having something she clearly doesn’t, no matter what she’s deluded herself into thinking. A black dragon? No, it’s just some…blackish dragonish monster!”

Oria nodded, satisfied, and then looked at her eldest brother.

Ardio sighed. “I’ll obey Father’s decision,” he said indifferently. “Frankly, I’d rather not get involved at all. I’d rather just focus on myself as a knight.” He glanced back at Oria and continued. “But you made one mistake in your little rant, intentional or not: the royalty and upper nobility would never marry Fia, even if that blackish dragonish familiar were a black dragon. They only marry saints.”

Oria shrugged her shoulders. “I know that, of course. Personally, I think Fia’s blackish dragonish familiar makes her far more valuable, but the royal family has some odd infatuation with the saints.”

“Oria, hold your tongue!” Ardio warned.

“Yeah, yeah. Just thinking aloud,” said Oria. She clearly knew just how disrespectful she was being.

“Anyway,” she continued, “Fia’s blackish dragonish familiar is a bit too small to be a black dragon. Perhaps it really is some other monster. I don’t care much either way, as long as people aren’t running around calling Fia ‘The Black Dragon’s Master’ or something, tying her down.” Oria stood up from her seat. “I’ll go tell the other knights and squires of our domain about Father’s decision,” she said and swiftly left the room.

 

A week passed.

Even the ever-so-perfect Oria, daughter of the mighty Ruud family, can make a careless mistake now and then. She’d already returned to her knight brigade when she realized she’d forgotten to tell Fia herself not to speak of the matter.

Ah, shoot! Oria’s brigade was far from the royal capital. How could I have forgotten?! Oh, Fia, be careful…

All she could do now was pray to the stars. Surely her prayers would reach Fia…wouldn’t they?