laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

After two weeks of battle at the outskirts of the city, Alexander and his friends were in a schedule with their chores and duties to the church. Classes had been suspended until the war was over but, he still found time to read before going to sleep.

"You still with us, Alex," Nicholas interrupted the daydream as they peeled potatoes.

"Of course," he eyed his friend, then scanned quickly for Afton to see their tyrant supervisor at the doorway to the pantry talking to Sir Donegil, then leave with him. "I wonder what's going on," he asked as he turned back to Nicholas and Martin, another classmate and a year older.

"Maybe they've finally needed his services on the wall," Martin suggested.

"Then, who would be in charge here," Nicholas asked as Jacob, a short but stronger version of their previous kitchen sergeant walked over.

"Once you three are done here, I want fifty from all of you for talking," cold, brown eyes glared as he then strolled around to the other stations to check on progress.

Alexander smiled as he glanced to his co-conspirators, gaining glares from both. Once their quota of ingredients had been delivered to the cooks, they walked over to their stools and began their penance. He found that fifty wasn't as hard as it used to be and finished sooner than the others. Once done, he headed to the line at the wash basin and cleaned up for the second part of their chores.
As they congregated at the back wall and waited for the baskets and bowls to fill, Jacob strolled over to stand before the table, hands clasped behind his back. Strong, tanned features as if cut from a stone framed his face and bald head. Some had nicknamed him 'goblin' - behind his back of course.

"Alright, we have guests tonight that have come from the dukes palace, I want everyone on their best behavior and I especially need those with the wine to be present when their goblets are half full, you fill it. Everyone understand?"

"Yes, sir," the collective reply.

"As soon as these are filled, begin with the bread and follow up with the main course," he reminded uselessly. Alexander half-heard the instructions that they knew by heart as he wondered how soon he could get back to his room and read.
He soon walked over and grabbed a pitcher, full of some of the finest wine that had been tapped now that merchants couldn't travel the highways at the moment. Pushing on the door, he walked out into the great hall to see the nobles and clergy sitting about the long, rectangular table graced with tall candelabrum down it's length. He began from the bishop and worked to the others who all sat according to rank, leaving the second half of the table to Martin. He backed and stood by, watching and studying the guests. Father Gaiven seemed overtly respectful of the middle-aged man to his right and Alexander studied the noble as he spoke. Grey hair streaked his strong features on the sides of his head and within his thinly trimmed beard. Hazel-green eyes, narrow from the sun and age spoke of a serious politician and stern noble who gained the young templar's respect immediately. He also noticed the polished armor below a thick, white surcoat with large black dragon rampant, breathing black fire and checkerboard pattern on the border in black and white. A thick, gold rope necklace hung heavily from his neck that sported a large pendant with the same emblem in white gold and obsidian.

"The battle will be won, with Arhus's help and on the strong arms of our men, mark me," the noble stated and took a long draught of wine from his goblet which prompted Alexander to round the bishop and move to refill it, then retreat again.

"I have all the confidence in the city, my lord," Gaiven agreed. "The gods have secured our borders for many generations and I have every confidence in your leadership. You've come from a long, distinguished line of military leaders and great politicians," the elder priest smiled. "I've also received word from Davos that the king had marched south to Bakony to meet an army marching north."

"A great evil has been awoken in the ancient city of Flint," Father Edmund revealed. "Templar from the compound north of Inellan have marched to meet them and the kingdom should be free of this danger soon."

Alexander listened to the news being an invisible part of the dinner and enjoyed not being noticed as the world outside the walls came home to him firsthand. Suddenly, he noticed the woman four seats down from the noble glance to her nearly empty goblet. Quickly, he moved to refill it and as he backed, she grinned.

"Thank you, young sir."

He bowed respectfully as he backed away, noticing immediately that she was one of the most beautiful ladies that he had ever seen. Her long, auburn hair and green eyes sparkled in the candlelight and matched the elegant, dark blue, silk dress that flowed from her. During services, he had seen her with her mother and sister before and sometimes alone with her servant and man-at-arms, privately praying at the altar. But, seeing her dressed up this way made him realize how much they missed being in an all boys school.

As the night wore on, he eventually cleaned up the table as their guests left the great hall and went home, and he finally got a chance to eat something himself. He sat on his stool in the kitchen as Sister Camerin from the nursery entered for her nightly snack.

"Hello, young sirs," she greeted happily, rosy cheeks pumped out from the broad smile, beneath curly, red hair that peeked out from beneath her low cap.

"Evening, sister," they returned to the one that had nursed and raised most of them from infancy. As she made her rounds, gathering bits of bread and an apple, she eventually stood before Alexander and Nicholas.

"And how are you two doing this fine evening?"

"Fine," Alexander stated as he straightened and smiled.

"Who were our guests tonight?" Nicholas asked. "I've seen the ladies before at mass, but never the lord."

"That was the duke and his family. Bishop Gaiven and he are good friends, actually. But, he's so busy that he doesn't always get to come see us very often, especially now with the war going on," she stated between bites. "You two need to get your rest, tomorrow is another day," she shooed them out of the kitchen as they headed to their dorm. As they ascended the stone staircase, Nicholas turned to him.

"You ever wonder who your real parents are?"

"Sometimes," Alexander shrugged.

"Me too. I guess it's better to keep our mind on our studies and training though. If we had other distractions, we wouldn't be as dedicated, right?"

Grinning, he nodded. "Right."

"Arhus blesses us in different ways, we get to serve him and become one with the brotherhood, just like Father Edmund said."

"Yep." Alexander thought about the necklace that he had been given and hoped that his mother was alright and safe from the war. Quietly, he headed to his cot, removed his boots and laid down. He closed his eyes and imagined meeting her in her humble home, a fire cooking stew in a pot that hung in the hearth. He ran to her and held her as she hugged him tightly and tears began to stream.

'Stop it,' he told himself as he wiped his cheeks and sniffed.

* * *

As he filled Dominic's bucket the following day, they all turned to the main gate as a large group of riders entered and they noticed the darker, grey colored armor with green cloaks riding faster, light warhorses. They stopped at the main double doors to the church and dismounted on the steps. Two entered while the remaining twelve waited.

"Dominic, take this into the hospital, hurry," Alexander directed as he dropped the bucket back into the well.

"Alright," his friend hurried off, sloshing containers in each hand as he jogged back through the stables.

"Who do you think they are," Nicholas asked as Alexander began winding the winch.

"I don't know, never seen them before. Maybe they're from Newcastle."

"Possibly."

He sent the second round of buckets to the clerics as two human formed shadows approached him. Turning, he noticed a pair of the men from the newly arrived group.

"How much for a drink," the rightmost grinned. His tanned, creased face was also scarred from battles past and covered in sweat that also matted his dark brown hair.

"No cost, sir," he drew up the bucket and leaned down for the ladle that sat on the rim of the stone well, then handed it to the soldier and backed away. As they drank, he noticed no symbol or heraldry on their coats or armor. Even the leather covered shield was bare of insignia.

"What unit are you with, sirs, if you don't mind me asking."

They both looked down at him and he wondered if he had offended them somehow.

"You're training to be a templar, right? Which means that you're sworn to secrecy." Serious brown eyes scanned the surroundings, then looked back to the young squire.

"Yes, sir."

He leaned down and whispered, "Because, if anyone found out about who we truly are, we'd have to kill them, you understand?"

Suddenly, he didn't want to know any more. He nodded nervously.

"You ever heard of the Kumai?"

Alexander shook his head.

The soldier nodded, then straightened. "I have your word, now. No one will know that we've been here and talked to you, right?"

"No, sir."

Brow furrowed as strong hands went to his hips. "No?"

"I mean, yes, sir."

The quieter armored knight laughed, "Erik, leave the poor lad alone".

Joining with his friend, the first knight also laughed and Alexander finally realized that he had been tricked. Easing, his heart slowly sunk back into his chest as he smiled. Erik placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I apologize, my name is Erik, this is my best friend, Tobias. What's yours, young sir?"

"Alexander, sir."

Erik nodded and backed. "Pleasure, Alexander. You're a good lad, how are things going here by the way?"

"Well," he nodded. He still wasn't sure what to make of the pair of veterans, some were harder to read than others. "How do things go on the walls?"

"We've heard that the city holds and we'll soon be free of these beasts, mark me."

"You don't fight on the walls with the others?"

"No, we do our fighting in the surrounds, hunting their supply trains, leaders and messengers. Though, I do have to admit this enemy is a bit smarter than the previous foes that we've faced, not conventional, to be sure. Which has actually made our job more fun," he turned to Tobias, "Wouldn't you say?"

"Absolutely."

Erik looked over his friend's shoulder, then eyed Alexander again. "We have to be off, take care Alexander. We'll see you soon," they bid farewell and headed back to their horses, still ribbing one another about the joke as Alexander watched them mount up and exit the compound. He was beginning to think that the tedious job of drawing water wasn't so bad after all.