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

Charlotte arrived at the church as she had for the past three years as Alexander watched his mother walk into the main sanctuary with Amelia, another of her long time friends and co-workers from the inn. He was proud that he had been able to get her to attend and had noticed a big change in her. He stood in the western third of the large hall as the others of his class prepared for their promotion ceremony to squirehood.

"There she is," Dominic stated, his voice deepening as puberty was nearing.

"I saw her too," he smiled and hoped that she would look his way. Finally, her blue eyes scanned through the crowd to see him and smiled as she and her blonde friend approached. He stepped up as they still had some time before they began.

"Good evening, sir," she grinned, then hugged him.

"Hello, mother. I'm glad you could make it," he smiled, then backed. "Amelia, how are you?"

"Fine. You ready for this, one step closer to becoming a full fledged knight. It's exciting."

His grin widened. "I still need a knight to take me on as his squire first. It will be some years before I ever become one myself."

Charlotte backed, "Look at this, twelve years old and he's almost as tall as I am. Best keep an eye on you or the young ladies will be trying to take you away from me".

Alexander blushed. "I don't think you have to worry about that. Templar can't get married, it..."

"I know, it was a jest."

He nodded as Sir Donegil approached. "My ladies, please take your seats."

Charlotte acquiesced, then kissed Alexander on the forehead and walked back into the central part of the sanctuary and disappeared into the crowd.

"Alright, form up," the knight stated as Alex joined his classmates. Being head and shoulders above his friends, he gazed down a multicolored row of hair to the front of the line. As the congregation quieted, a heavenly voice sang whose voice bounced in the high ceiling, giving Alexander goosebumps. He enjoyed singing with the choir and hoped to continue that tradition with the main choir as the pages were only one of the groups for the services.
Quietly, Sir Donegil led the class around to the main door, then right and up the central walkway as the single male tenor sang acappella until they arrived at the foot of the dais where Father Gaiven waited with the duke to his right.

"This evening, we celebrate these young men who have dedicated their lives to the service of our Father. In the name of justice and preserving what is right, I call the following names to step forward and present the vows for the next stage of their lives."

Alexander quietly rehearsed the speech in his mind as one after another knelt before the bishop and recited his pledge, then accepted his blessing in the name of Arhus, then headed to the right and back to the area that they had originally mustered.

"Alexander," the bishop called and prompted the taller, brown haired boy to kneel.

"I vow my heart and soul to the One, the all knowing and guiding in justice, peace and the preservation of the furtherance of the same. This day, Kular the Twelfth, in the year Nine-Sixty-Six, I offer this pledge and promise."

"Then on this day, Kular the Twelfth in the year Nine-Sixty-Six, I name thee, Alexander, Squire to the church of Arhus, and in the service of Kecel and Sir Howard, Duke of Kecel. Rise and be recognized."

Alexander stood, butterflies wildly fluttering as he bowed, then turned right and headed back to the safety of his friends and out of the public eye. As the remainder of his classmates were promoted, his eyes gazed to another guest in the crowd that he didn't notice before. The lady whom he had nearly forgotten about that sat with her mother, sister, brother and apparently her husband in the front row.

Mentally, he called on the one that he had just been sworn closer to. 'Thank you for hearing my prayer so many years ago. I had hoped that she would be happy and I pray that never ends.'

A chill coursed up his spine, a feeling that he was becoming accustomed to and he knew that his deity felt the same way. As Albert, the last of their class was promoted, the duke stepped forward.

"I thank Father Gaiven for this honor to take part in this ceremony this night. I also hope that these young men hold to the life that they have chosen, or has chosen them. To serve Arhus directly and be within his closest ring is an honor that most will never understand, nor can comprehend. All of Kecel and the baronies that make it up honor you tonight," he smiled as he looked to them and a cheer went up that exploded to the rafters, nearly stopping Alexander's heart as emotion welled.

Afterwards, as the crowd was breaking up, most left as Sir Donegil gathered them together. "Gentlemen, you'll have some time to change, then report to the great hall's kitchen for regular duties. Congratulations, brothers," he smiled proudly at them all and patted them on the shoulders as they filed out towards the side door that would take them through the stables. He glanced back to see his mother motion to the courtyard near the stable entrance and he nodded.

In the evening light, a light snow fell and carpeted the bushes and well, as well as the curtain wall with a thick, pillowy topping. Crunching up to him, his mother and Amelia approached as she hugged him, then backed.

"Congratulations," she smiled, head wrapped in a thick, dark grey scarf now lightly dappled with white flakes.

"Thank you, I'm glad that you both could be here tonight. It meant a lot to me."

She nodded, then turned and he followed her eyes to see the lady's man-at-arms walk in and turn to his saddle that sat perched on the wooden frame to his mount's stall.

"We should be going, but I'll see you on next sabbath, alright?"

"Okay. Take care, mom, Amelia."

"Good night, Alex," her friend bid as they turned and walked towards the main gate. He headed up to the dorm and changed, then sprinted to catch up to the others in the kitchen. As he entered, James glared at him.

"Why break tradition, right?"

Without asking or being told, Alexander dropped and pushed out fifty, then headed for the wine pitcher. He carried it out into the great hall that had been expanded with another table nearer the large hearth as barons and their families had joined them this night for the celebration. He served and took care of the lower end of the baron's table but, was able to catch sight of the lady and her husband from Zariva. His younger face was strong, much like the duke's. Light brown hair and goatee was well trimmed and highlighted as his tan told of many hours in the sun as well as a strong build. His yellow surcoat boldy sported a black stag's head, sword belt held only a dagger that he used to eat with and he also noticed that he seemed to be good friends with the lady's brother, Sir Edward.

He returned to the kitchen and headed through the pantry, down a set of stone stairs into the cellar. Turning right, he headed into a large room where twenty large, wooden barrels sat heavily on frames, turned sideways to allow for easier pouring. He lowered the pitcher underneath the valve and turned the handle and watched as the dark red wine poured into it, then realized that he wasn't in the room alone. He turned to notice the veteran soldier. His dark leather coat, chain hauberk and greaves polished with the small split heraldry of Kecel and Zariva stitched to his left breast.

"Can I help you, sir," Alexander asked, surprised that anyone else other than kitchen staff would come down here as he closed the valve.

"Congratulations on the title of squire, you've earned it."

"Thank you," he turned to square on the older man, his grey streaked, brown hair cut short.

"Those two women that you spoke with outside the stables, who were they?"

"My mother and a friend of hers."

He nodded. "Where might I find them?"

Curiousity piqued, "Why do you ask, sir?"

Hesitating, he shifted his weight. "I need to speak to your mother, that's all. It's a personal matter."

Alexander studied the body guard for a moment. "Dark Stallion. They've worked there for some time, twenty years I believe."

Nodding, the guard turned to leave.

"I have your word that you're not seeking her to hurt her, right?"

Brown eyes looked back, "I have no intention of doing so. I just need to talk to her, that's all. Thank you, young sir".

"I didn't get the pleasure of your name, sir."

"John."

Alexander nodded and watched the man walk back upstairs and disappear. He shrugged, then finished filling his pitcher and returned to the great hall. As the night wore on, he watched many leave until only the duke, his family and son-in-law remained as Alexander helped clean his appointed table. After several trips with dishes and goblets, he noticed the royal entourage rise and start to leave and he hesitated for the opportunity to catch the lady's eye, but she remained focused on Father Gaiven, then walked out with the others. As the door closed, he grinned and finished up, then headed to the dorm.