Today turned out about how I expected.

I had not thought that everything would go smoothly with the Redwynes coming to visit. In fact I anticipated our bandits would make some kind of moves to hurt the Tuttle’s fortunes. What I had not foreseen was the cowardly lengths to which they would stoop.

I am no Ser. I have earned my place with sharp eyes and an even sharper sword. But today I feel that I have played the part. I was guarding the door of Lord Aleric Tuttle‘s study while he met with Lord Redwyne. Hearing their conversation wasn’t hard; caring about trade agreements and concessions is. When my sister came by needing my help I could not decline. I was on duty and loath to leave my post, but there was another guard to take my place at the door. And my sister would not be the agent to lure me away if someone was making an attempt upon Lord Tuttle. Her news that Betsey had taken the Redwyne baby out a secret passage was alarming. I assumed that she was mistaken and Betsey herself had been kidnapped. Leaving my sister to delay any discovery that would hurt House Tuttle’s reputation, I raced down the dark passage with torch in hand.

When I reached the end of the passage, daylight crept through a closed trapdoor. I heard two men speaking about their plot. Betsey had brought them the baby in order to discredit House Tuttle and make us look weak. They were some of the bandits that Ser Gareth has been looking for. Overcome with displeasure that they would break the sanctity of a nursery, I burst from the trapdoor and cut them down with a single, swift motion. I saw no tracks, so I assumed that Betsey would head towards the port.

After running to the port I found the smallfolk in a bit of chaos. Apparently other Redwyne children had been causing some ruckus and the bandits had started a fire. Knowing my limitations, I asked if anyone had seen Betsey. Thankfully I came across Meridora Vigneron just as she was heading off to help care for a baby in the care of Betsey.

We knocked on the door and then entered presuming that if someone needed help, a doctor is always welcome. Unfortunately that is not the case. Lyndon Tuttle blocked our way with sword in hand. He offered that we could leave with our lives but not with the baby. I offered him a chance to hand over the babe before blood was shed, but he refused and attacked.

I parried his first blow and countered with a slice through his silken shirt. Lyndon took advantage of the opening that my attack made and extended his arm for a stab towards my abdomen. I twisted my torso and avoided any mortal wounds, but the longsword did bloody on my side. With his arm fully extended, I saw my chance to end this fight. I brought my sword around as I righted myself. By the time I was standing, Lyndon Tuttle was collapsing onto the floor; his sword arm shorn at the elbow. Miss Betsey saw her protector fall and tried to rush out a back door. I followed and knocked some sense into her with the hilt of my sword. With the baby Desmera safely in my arms, and Betsey wearing chains in the care of a garrison sargent, I started walking up the road towards the castle.

My sister met rushed out of the woods as I climbed the hill. After serving her lady, she had come to assist me. I thanked her for her spirit, but showed her the baby and informed her that it was well in hand. I would walk up the front steps of the castle, unmask the perpetrators, and bask in the glory. But my sister didn’t want the fact that she let the baby get kidnapped be the highlight of the day. I didn’t see how it was her fault, but I decided to let her have the moment and kept quiet about the whole thing. I even went back to guard the door to the study and heard the end of the negotiations between the Lords. Like nothing ever happened.

And that’s the difference between me and all of those "Ser"s out there. They might be knights with fancy horses getting fame and glory. But I would rather be a man that has the ability and freedom to save a single child, regardless of what accolades might come my way. I’m happy with my simple life here. Let my older sister run our House. Let my younger sister have her secrets. I have plans and adventures too, but I don’t need to shout them from the roof top.

Tomorrow, I’ll go to work just like always. I won’t ask for any special favors or considerations. I won’t even mention the fact that I saved House Tuttle from having it’s name drug through the mud. I didn’t do it for them. I did it to keep myself and my sister safe. Today was just another day of doing my job. Just like tomorrow will be.