Kingdom’s Bloodline

  Chapter 634 Sharpening the Knife

  Star Lake Fort, in the wide Starlight Courtyard—commonly known as the lumberyard—soldiers, guards, workers, farmers, and many people gathered together to enclose a clearing, and the atmosphere was warm.

"Go up, go up, go up! Give her a hard blow, yes, just like that, float-wow, this fall is hard enough! It's okay, believe in yourself young man, get up and beat her! Ah yo you this sword So soft, is it always like this? Is it because the life is too beautiful or is it looking forward to the wife's derailment?"

  In the center of the clearing, Miranda Allende's figure flexibly turns between the two fighters-she is engaged in a one-to-two unfair duel with the guards of the Star Lake Guard, Nexi and Bastia. The young trainee vanguard officers continued their offensive and courage as always, while the tower-like guards stood firm and drip-proof.

"And who else, the iron barrel or the iron tower?" On the wooden watchtower, Sonya, the flower of the fortress, leaned halfway out of the railing, shook her arms enthusiastically, cheering for the battle below, "Don't be stunned. Come on, smash the hammer, and hit her head desperately! Hey, yeah—what, this is the perfect head? Does it get you into the pit when you pee?"

  In the warehouse on the second floor, Thales sat by the window, oiling and maintaining the ancient sword "Warner" while watching the battle with interest.

  He quickly realized that although one enemy was two, Miranda was the one who led the battle.

The female swordsman of the Arund family deliberately encouraged Nexi to continue the attack, consuming his energy, and at the same time forced Bastia to use her position as a shield to stop Nexi’s fierce offensive, but Nexi and Bastia The two of them were jerky and restrained, and they couldn't see the advantage of double flanking.

  In this way, Miranda has the leeway to control the rhythm of the entire duel, and as the battle progresses, it becomes more and more handy.

She is different-the information from the **** sensory feedback made Thales judge: Compared with seven years ago, her movement steps are messy and random, and no longer reflect the obvious rhythm and style, but no matter whether Neshi or Ba Stia, when they take the initiative to attack, they will find themselves in the worst time and position, giving Miranda the greatest opportunity.

This feels as if it was not Miranda taking the initiative, but the opponents rushing forward, shaping the fighting environment and situation, and stimulating a bunch of messy and meaningless notes into a vivid and orderly movement, waiting for Miranda to end. Play.

"She's diligent," Thales stopped her work, a little lost. "Seven years ago, the northern offensive and defensive style could be clearly seen in her movements. Turn the tide of the battle, but now..."

"No, although the style of the End Tower's Pegasus series is quite influential, she still has the foundation of the Northern School." Mallos sat beside Thales, grinding a short knife without raising his head. It’s just that the superficial tactical style is submerged into the deeper strategic style. You will know if you look at it too much."

   Here comes again, Xingchen Wang Yuyan.

  Tyers sneered sarcastically: "So, you see a lot?"

   "Fortunately," Mallos replied indifferently, "When I was a hairy boy trainee, I did record work."

   "So, which battle impressed you the most?"

   "Here."

   Thales raised his head.

  Malios kept moving, but changed one side and continued to sharpen the blade:

   "A long time ago, a master in Xinghu Fort competed with a senior in the Royal Guard. I was ordered to be the assistant of the flag officer. While listening to his explanation, I observed the records."

  The master of Star Lake Fort, the predecessor of the Royal Guard.

  Tyles narrowed his eyes.

  "Limited by the conditions, they did not move their hands, they only moved on the flat ground to replace offense and defense. The power of ending was more like a flash in the pan, and they stopped abruptly before their intentions, so they could not enjoy themselves."

  Malios's eyes are slightly stagnant:

   "But in that short period of twelve seconds, the two of them advanced and retreated, back and forth, and every detail reached the peak or even higher level in the extreme realm, enough for me to remember for a lifetime."

  Tyles was waiting for further questioning when he heard a boo in the crowd:

  Miranda took the sword and turned around, the crowd consciously separated a passage for her to leave.

  Behind her, Nexi and Bastia fell to the ground, one exhausted and the other with a bruised nose and a swollen face.

   "The outcome is divided, Your Highness," Mallos said without looking back, "Now, follow the instructions I have taught you, and concentrate on maintaining your weapons."

  Order was restored on the training ground, everyone returned to their positions, practiced practice, and on-duty duty. In a small corner, several Star Lake guards also gathered together for a heated discussion, and their intentions for this wonderful asymmetrical battle were still endless.

"Quickly, quickly, the outcome is divided, I am willing to accept the bet," Doyle squeezed past the crowd with a righteous expression, but showed a purse under his elbow, "Before Mallos gets down-don't cheat. , I remember who paid how much."

   "Damn it, you can still lose after two hits and one. It's dying home." Fulateng counted out a few coins with a heartache, and threw them into D.D's purse.

  Other people who lost the bet—including Rolf, who was dissatisfied with grunting—reluctantly paid out and stuffed their coins into their pockets.

"I know that she is in Broken Dragon Fortress, belonging to the flower of the fortress," Paul Bozdorf, son of the Earl of Black Lion, calmly handed out a gold coin. Two, can't let the wind fall."

   "You bastards, how did you know that you want to hold her?" Kusta asked uncomfortably.

"Obviously, she killed people, and there was a lot of blood on her sword." In front of the team, Glover rejected the coin handed by DD. He looked at Miranda's back, his eyes sharp, and he was eager to try. ."

   "Chief Miranda's swordsmanship is quite profound, I have learned it before-but it is still wrong to gamble." Wiya looked around nervously.

   "I don't know the girl from Arund's house, but I saw Lao Kong escorting her, so..." Logistics officer Piloga shrugged.

"Um, I actually don't know Miss Arund, but when the flower of the fortress makes them two-to-one, I know that Nehy will lose. Don't ask why--" Kong Muto of the winner coughed With a sound, he saw the gray-headed Nexi coming sullenly, and immediately stepped forward to comfort him: "Hey, Nexi! It's a good game, but it's just a little bad luck. Keep up the good work! By the way, I will treat you tonight!"

  Above the waist and pretend to be indifferent, D.D who counts money happily below the waist is the shortest:

   "His Royal Highness Thales is on it, staring at the girl."

  Everyone looked at him together.

"What's wrong?"

  Doyle raised his eyebrows, and hurriedly put away the purse, taking it for granted, "This is very telling, okay—His Royal Highness is finally starting to pay attention to women!"

  The crowd booed in disdain.

   "It's best not to let your highness, let alone Miss Miranda hear you," Wiya sighed and shook his head, "This is a talk of experience."

   "Of course." D.D weighed his purse smartly, vigorously.

  In the warehouse on the second floor, Thales, who had heard this through the senses of hell, turned his head indifferently:

   "Tor, how many people in the Star Lake Guard can defeat Miranda?"

   "I don't know-why is Thor?"

   "Tormond's nickname-guess what."

"The nickname has to be approved by me-after all, the people of the Star Lake Guard have not directly fought against Miss Arund, and the battle is also very affected by the environment," Mallos sharpened the knife meticulously, "It's about being on the arena One-on-one, a fair match between tricks and tricks. I dare say that both Glover and Doyle, who have received strict knight training, can be worthy of a battle with Miss Arund."

  Tels raised his eyebrows:

   "D.D? Is he so fierce?"

  Malios did not answer, just glanced at the corner of his mouth.

"But if DD is allowed to encounter Miss Arund in the wilderness, in the battle of life and death," the watchman put down the sharpened blade and cleared the debris on the table, "I hope she can be kind and give him a good time. "

   "So exaggerated?"

  Thyls frowned, but his eyes rolled:

   "What about you? You, against Miranda?"

  Malios took out the knife oil and smiled after hearing the words:

  "Miss Arund and I...well, let’s get out of 50."

   "Wow, Thor, your face is so long."

"please forgive?"

   "Oh, the face is long, I mean, literally."

   "Your Highness, you say that, I'm even more curious about what it means literally."

  "Don't, know that'curiosity kills Thor'."

   "Thank you for your teachings, I dare not forget it."

   Thales made a mocking snort, but the next second, he suddenly spoke:

  "Do you know in advance that he is coming?"

  The problem was caught off guard, and Mallos paused when he was oiling the knife.

   "Know what? Who is coming? What are you coming for?" Mallos continued his work with a calm tone and no waves.

  Tormund Mallos.

  Tyles looked at the most unpredictable watchman in front of him, recalled the moment they met for the first time, and pondered the identity and position of the captain of the guard.

  He is the personal guard appointed to him by King Kessel, the guard of the guard appointed by the royal guard, and the person with the highest status around him.

  But, what role will Mallos play between himself and the king? Servant? protector? Teacher? Watcher? Or is it--

  Betrayer?

   Thales stared at Mallos for a long time, and finally shook his head: "Nothing. Then you know, what am I doing now?"

  Malios's complexion remained unchanged and calm:

   "Sharpen your knife-you have to learn to maintain your weapons."

  Looking at him, and listening to his vague and meaningful answer, Thales had to sigh and handed the well-oiled warning to Mallor for inspection.

   "Well, Thor, let me ask: Who can you trust in the current Star Lake Guard?"

   Hearing this nickname, Mallos also sighed, and took the Empire Sword. He had no choice but to check Thales’ maintenance work:

  "Someone who can believe...Why do you ask me this?"

  Tyers raised his eyebrows:

   "Because I paid your salary?"

  Faced with Thales’ response to shifting the focus, Mallos apparently wanted to discuss more about the question of “Is it you or your father who paid the salary”, but the Duke’s eye-catching eyes made him dispel this idea.

  The watchman raised his head and sighed.

   "Anyone I can trust? Your Highness, do you mean that you believe that they will nod and bow their heads and work hard, or do you believe that they can go through water and fire without hesitation?"

  "What if the former?"

  Malles waved his sword, his expression solemn: "The Star Lake Guard is a carefully selected elite in the Royal Guard. Most of them have the title of Royal Seal Knight. They are all great heroes."

  Nodding and bowing down to work hard, he is a very tall hero...

  It depends on your guards, the group of defenses that are useless, the guy who can't even find the prince being beaten on the balcony?

  Tyles nodded, his expression is quite intriguing:

   "What about the latter?"

   "Oh," Mallos instantly regained his indifference: "Toledo, Tang Xin, and Cuifanov of the command wing, they are my old subordinates. The Glover of the vanguard wing is okay, maybe there is Morgan..."

   "Morgan, is that veteran with a stinky face all day long? Where did he serve before?"

   "The throat-cutting guard with the blade. Yes, there are not many when he is not angry, but fortunately he is not responsible for warming your bed."

   "Warm the bed, really?"

   "In the guard wing, I can single out Bastiya and Kusta, and D.D can barely count as an addition..."

   "Does D.D count as well?"

  "Excuse me for being obtuse, I can’t tell if you are in a panic or a surprise. In addition, Vincenzo Italiano from the logistics wing can be used, as well as Francisco Capone from the penalty wing."

  Mumbling these names, Thales scratched his chin.

"Among your old men, Casso's attendant and the dumb-thank you, I know his name is Rolf-both are good, and Willow is also fine, just don't let him do a messenger that requires brains, um, facts Don't entrust him to any messenger except to die."

  Just such a few people.

   But going to take down the Emerald City.

  It's really reassuring!

  Tels broke his hands and counted, with a smile on his face:

   "Well, it sounds great. Is there such a thing, if, if, someone who raises the flag for the sake of the master and is not afraid of losing his head?"

  Malles looked at the ancient sword of the Empire without looking up:

   "How much did you drink last night?"

  Thyls pretended not to hear, picked up the rag and began to wipe his hands:

  "Very good, then bring all the above-mentioned manpower with you, and then pick a few ‘good guys’, keep the guard’s manpower, and be prepared. Let’s go on a long trip."

  Malles was not surprised by the wording of "outbound", and his words were calm:

   "As you wish. No other people? The maid? The cook? The groom? The star's private soldier? And the Valencian grandmother?"

"It's not that I don't want to take it," Thyles let out a sigh of relief when he thought of Mother's cat-catching stick, "Let's put it this way, if... I want everyone around me to be capable, able to fight, to use their brains, and to run. Guys."

  Malos nodded: "Then I suggest to bring Oscarson from Pioneer Wing. He is from the south and is more familiar with the climate and terrain."

  Thyls frowned: "I didn't say we were going to the south."

   "Well, I must have remembered it wrong," Mallos grabbed the alerter in his hand: "Then don't take him."

  Tyles stared at him, still sighing dejectedly after a few seconds:

   "Forget it, you... take it."

   "Yes, Your Highness."

Mallos played a sword flower and put the alerter into the scabbard: "Then, this martial arts class ends here-your maintenance is done well, I mean, there is still some unevenness in thickness, but at least you start to get started. NS."

  Tyles stood up to pick up his sword, but paused when the scabbard was pressed in his palm.

   "I found that I was asking one less question, Tormund."

  Thank God, Mallos was thankful that he didn't call Thor.

   "I will be happy to answer, Your Highness."

  Tels raised his head and looked straight at Mallos:

   "Is this scabbard easy to use?"

  Malles frowned slightly.

  Thyls pointed to the scabbard that contained the alerter, meaning something: "After all, the ancient sword cannot escape its scabbard."

  Malios was silent, rubbing his fingers on the scabbard.

   "It looks good leather, but you will know it after you use it."

  But Thales stared at him tightly:

   "Then I'll be straightforward, among so many people in the Guard, Tormund Mallos, can I trust you?"

  Malles stared sharply.

  At that moment, the two people in the storeroom stood opposite each other, and both stretched out their right hands, holding the ancient sword "Warning" that lay across it.

  Malios was expressionless and was silent for a long time.

  Finally, he opened the scabbard lightly:

   "Maybe you should ask the other way around-can you not believe me?"

  Tyles stared at him for a long time, sighed a long sigh, and took the alerter.

   "I hope you can keep your sword skills up to your sarcasm, my dear guard."

   "Then you can underestimate me."

   "Oh? Could it be that you are actually not weak in swordsmanship, but you hide it deeply?"

   "No, I mean, I'm sarcasm of your ability, I just made it less than half."

  Tels pursed his lips, speechless for a while.

  "It just so happens that I also have a question for you."

  Malios turned around, put away the sharpened short knife on the table, and inserted it into the scabbard on his chest:

  "When you have a tryst with someone late at night, you don't like to go to the main entrance, and would rather go through the window and climb to the top?"

  At that moment, Thales, who was holding the alerter, froze.

  I saw Mallos squinting his eyes and raising his arms:

   "I remember I told you, that ‘air corridor’ will one day turn you into a meatloaf?"

  Tyles stared, and blinked his eyelids with all his strength:

   "You, you, me, I don't understand too much..."

"Oscarson and DD are just clear whistle," Mallos looked calm, "just when you met the flower of the fortress, that is, Lady Sassere, the commanding wing Italiano was in a deeper place. On a secret whistle, he saw you clearly in the telescope and immediately reported it to me."

Hold.

  He really knows, not cheating me!

  Thyls was furious in his heart.

  Malios hummed:

   "Wait, Your Highness, you won't be so stupid as to think that the defense of Star Lake Castle is useless?"

  Who knows then.

   Right, dumb dumb?

   Thales reacted and coughed.

   "Yeah, of course not. Well, I know that you are close by, so I feel relieved."

  But Thales remembered something, his expression changed:

   "Wait, so you must have seen Sonia act on me, but indifferent?"

   "Do it?" Mallos looked calm and calm, "Sorry, you are famous, we all thought it was your new trick."

  This pen is so annoying.

   Thales suppressed the desire to growl:

   "Why do I have such a premonition: one day I will be killed by you?"

   "Actually, Your Highness, I think this should be my line."

  It would be great if it was.

  Tyles smiled sarcastically, waved and turned around.

  Well, this is the arrangement here.

  Next, he is going to the South Bank...

   "So, your lord from now on--"

   "Okay, okay, okay, I know, I won't climb the wall anymore, I swear, next time I want to engage in women, I will go out from the front door with a beating on the gongs and drums..."

   "I asked Tang Xin to pull the safety rope outside the window."

  Malos’ voice sounded behind him: “Before climbing the wall next time, remember to tie it up first.”

safety rope.

   Thales' hand stopped in the air.

  He turned his head in a daze:

  "Safety rope? Tormund, you..."

  Malios sighed, helpless.

  "We have been together for a while, Your Highness, I know that I can't stop you from being stupid, stupid, sick, scourge..."

  Thyls's expression turned black.

  Well, this pen is really annoying.

  "...It's like there was no way to stop you from getting out of the carriage that day, or desperately rushing out to find someone to fight."

   "But I don't want to order a coffin for you, your majesty, or for me, for anyone in this castle."

   Thales frowned.

   "So, before leaving this far door, if you can be merciful and pitiful for us," Mallos took his arms and pointed out the window with his thumb, "Safety rope?"

  Malios tapped his chin, turned and left.

  Looking at his back, Thales felt complicated for a while and didn't know how to react.

  Tyles lowered his head and looked at the alerter in his hand.

  The size of the scabbard is just right, and it fits in the hand.

  I think it’s the same when the sword is out of the sheath?

   Thales took a deep breath.

"Hey."

   Thales stopped Mallos.

   "After returning from the Fuxing Palace, I have never had a chance to say it, but...thank you, Thor."

  Damn it.

  Malles sighed in his heart: Why did the title change back again?

  Thyls walked forward, flat his mouth:

   "I know, I'm a hard-to-serve boss, impulsive, naive, self-righteous, and always embarrass you by making stupid decisions. It's almost bad."

  "You can remove "almost"." Mallos' expression remained unchanged.

  This pen...

  Tyers smoothed out the squeezed eyebrows, taking a deep breath and opening:

   "But, thank you for your help all the time, you will... cover it for me."

  Tels swallowed.

  Fortunately, I didn’t blurt out "wiping ass".

  Damn secret.

  Malles looked at him, with doubts in his eyes.

Thales tried hard to speak: "Especially on the day I rushed into the Fuxing Palace, thank you for the manpower and plans you left for me, thank you for reminding me before entering the palace, and... afterwards, all these things, and so on. "

  Malios frowned and looked at him—as if he was seeing a neurosis.

  Tyles forced a smile.

  Well, he is not suitable for saying these sensational words.

  The Duke put a stiff smile on his face, spread his hands, and mechanically turned and left:

   "Anyway, thank you."

   "And the previous royal banquet." Mallos said suddenly.

  Thyls turned half of his body and paused:

"what?"

  I saw Mallos exhale from his nose: "You should thank me for the thing, and you have to add this."

  Thyls reacted and coughed awkwardly:

   "Oh, yes, there is this one too, uh, thank you."

   "There are still days in Mindis Hall."

   Thales had to nod in agreement: "There are still days in Mindis Hall."

   "And the day when I returned from the Western Wilderness."

  Tyles closed his eyes and sighed: "There is still the day Xihuang returns."

  "And the management affairs of Star Lake Castle."

  Tales repeated nonchalantly: "There is also the management affairs of Star Lake Castle."

"and also--"

   "You have enough, wow," Thales finally couldn't bear it, "how far do you have to count?"

   Mallos smiled.

   "You are welcome, Your Highness, this is my duty."

  His smile at this moment is very similar to his usual professional smile with politeness and a touch of irony.

   is very similar.

   "I dare not to thank you so much." The watchman said lightly and turned to leave.

  Thank you for being paralyzed.

Thales rolled his eyes at his back and swallowed "Then I will take care of you" into his stomach. By the way, he threw the little bit of gratitude and a little bit of guilt to the watchman into jail. At the bottom of the river, pray that they will never be overborn.

  Malles is very efficient. Only the next day, everyone knew that His Royal Highness Thales was about to leave to lead a visit on the South Bank. The entire Star Lake Fortress was put into operation. Everyone was busy preparing for the Duke’s trip. Many people began to wonder about the goals and affairs of the Duke’s trip. Unfortunately, these top secrets were only buried in the deepest part of the Star Lake Fort. The informant BB can only know one or two.

  But Thales didn’t expect that after the news of the Duke’s trip spread, it would be this person who came first to look for him.

   "It's nothing more than the flower of the fortress, but she also considers herself very high, as it is rumored to be difficult to approach."

  At the door of the Duke’s room, patrolling the son of the Earl of Black Lion passing by, Paul Bozdorf sighed as he looked at the cold back who entered the room, "I still want to say a few words."

  D.D, who was biting the sausage, closed the door while shaking his head to deny:

   "No, no, no, it's not arrogance, it's not that strangers don't get close, believe me, you don't like to put on a bad face when you are born."

  D.D swallowed hard sausage:

"For girls at this age, unpretentious color and coldness are compelling choices, and they are also the best and most direct protection-especially those women who have to work with men. Compared with the approachable smiles, this can save money. A lot of unnecessary trouble."

  Paul frowned

"how do you know?"

  Doyle stroked his hair, shaking his hair in a chic gesture: "I hope I don't know, but I can't help it. I'm so talented."

  Paul sneered and shook his head.

"You know the girl's thoughts so well, it should have been easier for you to be popular," Paul stared at him, "but why did I get to the royal capital? People in the circle say you are exaggerated and wandering, so that you are famous. Mess, the unmarried girls of good people keep away from you?"

  D.D heard the words, his smile stiffened.

  But in just two seconds, his expression changed, and he turned around to wink his eyebrows:

   "Hey, that's good if you don't understand mature women."

  Paul was speechless for a while.

   "But, she is not married after all. "Paul is in deep thought." At this time, he went to see His Royal Highness Thales in private. It was a little bit..."

  D.D's complexion was solemn.

"Oh, don’t worry about that. Ha, I asked Huaia—well, it’s a true Huaia. Oh, you don’t know what a true Huaia is. It’s okay. Anyway, it’s Huaia. Knowledge, once fought side by side."

  "Secondly, I believe you can see that she is not the daughter who only has love in her mind."

  Doyle blinked, chew, chew, and swallow the last bite of the meat intestines.

   "So I'm sure one thing: when she and His Royal Highness meet at this point, they will never talk about the personalities of Surisu's children, marriage and love!"

  In the room.

   "Miranda?"

  Thyls, who was copying the sunset scripture (pre-class make-up homework), was surprised and delighted when he saw the visitor.

  In front of him, the cold female swordsman unceasingly picked up the cup of tea he had not had time to drink on the desk:

"Miss."

"what?"

   "It's Ms. Allende," Miranda said coldly, "You are a prince, and you should call it decently."

  Tyles' face turned black.

real? Do it again?

  I am not enough after your blue pot friends have been cleaned up. Do you want too?

"Well, the respectable Lady Miranda Allende, the daughter of the Duke of the North, the glorious descendant of the Snow Eagle family, the proud chief of the Pegasus of the End Tower, the Neverwinter Sword of the Coldcastle, the Flying Falcon of the Broken Dragon Fortress, Thales had to push away the scripture, leaned back, and cocked his feet on the carpenter's newly made chair, and said with a helpless and bored smile:

   "You come here, what can I do for you?"

  Miranda put down the tea cup expressionlessly and stood in front of his desk, like a sharp blade in the snow.

"some."

  Miranda stared at him tightly, the meaning in her eyes was unclear.

  A few seconds later, she took a deep breath, her eyes firm:

   "Do you want to marry me?"

   With a bang, the leg of the chair shattered, and Thales slammed onto the floor firmly.

  (End of this chapter)