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

In the snow covered training yard, now splotched with dirt and grass as the class of squires trained with polearms, Alexander raised his halberd, yanked on Nicholas's shield. Knowing the move, his opponent spun with the shield and continued to backslash with his sword which Alex caught with the handle of his weapon, ducked to the right then pulled the large blade from behind and swept Nicholas's legs. As his friend hit the ground, splashing snow outward, he then jabbed and caught his downed foe in the chest, then backed away.

Frustrated, Nicholas jumped up. "Squires for two weeks and I'm already dead. Pitiful."

Alexander grinned as he leaned on his halberd. "Best done by a friend than an orc that would invite his friends to dinner afterwards."

Nodding, Nicholas eyed the progress of the others who all tried their best not to be taken down or defeated. Alexander also noticed their fierceness in competition had accelerated with age and he hoped that they would never have to use it too often.

"Nicholas," Sir Donegil called as he walked by. "Fifty."

"Yes, sir." Nicholas dropped his wooden sword and shield as Alexander joined him as they pushed out their excercises. Once done, they stood. "Why did you do them, you didn't lose?"

"We're a team, right?" Alexander stated, then eyed Dominic with sword and shield defeat Amayis with a flurry of moves and feints.

Once the class was done, pushups completed and corrections made, they formed up and marched back to the dorm. Alexander leaned his practise halberd against the wall within the tall closet meant for all of their weapons, then headed back down to the stables where Drystan and Afton stood and talked with Sir Stephen.

"Here he is now," the smith stated, motioning with his eyes as they all looked to Alexander who bowed to the paladin.

"My lord, good to see you again."

"Likewise. I was wishing to speak with you."

"I am at my lord's service," Alexander stated, then followed the knight down the shoveled pathway to the fountain and stopped as the knight turned to him.

"I am in need of a squire. I've been watching and hearing great things about you over the past few years and I think that you and I would work well together."

Alexander felt his heart leap. "I would be honored, sir."

Nodding, Stephen smiled. "Good. I was hoping that you'd accept." He sat on the edge of the stone ringed fountain. "We're going to be doing a lot of traveling within the duchy as well as other places, wherever Arhus or the king needs us, understood?"

Alexander nodded excitedly.

"Before you get too excited, know this. I face people and things that most of your books have never touched on. We're going into the mouth of the dragon, so to speak, and you're going to see and hear things that I'll try my best to prepare you for, but remember this, we're never alone. Arhus guides and will protect us throughout our journeys until he's ready to call us home. Stay true to Him, keep close all you've been taught thus far and pray every day and you'll be fine."

"I will, sir." Alexander still couldn't believe his ears as a myriad of thoughts and emotions coursed through his mind and body.

"Alright," Stephen rose as he patted his squire on the shoulder. "Go get your things and meet us here."

"Yes, sir." Alexander ran to through the stables, passed Drystan and Afton, then up the stairs to his bunk and began stuffing his backpack with his clothes. As he shouldered it, he felt his jacket pocket to feel the small pouch that still held the silver necklace that his mother had given him. He turned and headed back to the main door, then the realization hit him as he slowed. He wouldn't see his friends very much any more. And if they would be traveling to distant towns, his mother either whom he had missed the past two sabbaths for some reason. No one was able to tell him why she didn't attend but Drystan did say that she still worked at the Dark Stallion.
Turning to look down the long bank of beds, he sighed.

'You'll be fine,' a distant, soft, female voice stated in his mind.

Shocked, he looked back to the door, still ajar with the quiet hall and stair beyond. Then decided not to keep his lord waiting any longer as he headed downstairs to see Drystan smiling at him.

"Congratulations," the sweaty veteran stated as Afton also approached.

"Arhus go with you, brother," the older squire bid as he slapped Alexander on the arm.

"Thank you. I'll be seeing you both."

Drystan nodded. "Take these horses with you," he motioned to three saddled, light warhorses waiting nearby.

Alexander turned, grabbed their reins and led them back to the fountain where Sir Stephen and his man-at-arms - a templar that Alexander had seen many times - as Sir Kenneth nodded.

"Ready?" Stephen asked.

"Yes, sir," as he handed them the reins to two of the warhorses as they mounted, then stood to the side with the third whose black mane hung over it's eyes and complimented it's medium brown, muscled skin.

"Are you not coming with us," Kenneth motioned to the third that stood waiting.

Alexander eyed the horse, then turned to them.

"A knight's first duty is to care for those that serve him," the paladin stated. "He is yours as are the sword and shield hanging on the saddle."

"Thank you, sir." He walked around to the stirrup, almost giddy as he climbed up into the saddle and felt the power in his new companion as they rode out into the main street amidst the daily traffic. He couldn't believe this feeling of finally being allowed to serve their deity directly and he wasn't quite sure he was ready for this or not. Time would tell. As he and Kenneth followed Stephen through the crowd of walking mothers and merchants, boys playing and horse drawn carts, he realized that they were headed to the duke's palace as he looked ahead to see the main gate standing open and several armed guards standing within the towered building.
They approached and Alexander noticed that the sergeant in charge stepped back and out of the way and allowed them entry into the low hilled, large palace whose flanking towers rose into the sky, pointing at the white and light grey clouds that still dropped a light snow. Alexander reined in his horse along with the two men that he rode with, jumped down and took command of their horses as they both headed up to the wide stair that rose to the main doors also guarded by armored men with halberds.

"We won't be long, Alexander," Sir Stephen informed. "Wait here."

"Yes, sir." He watched them ascend into the foyer of the palace, then disappear behind the closed door. Blue eyes scanned the large bailey whose curtain walls were bordered with stables to the far right, barracks buildings and workshops for many trades that all served the duke and his men. Soon, he heard the approach of two more horses, their muffled hoofbeats in the snow slowed then stopped just beyond where he stood and he noticed Sir Michael, the chamberlain dismount and straighten his robes. His tall, lean frame and rich attire accented the clean shaven, long face and fur cap that he wore. Steel-blue eyes gazed to him and the horses as Alexander bowed respectfully.

"You serve Sir Stephen?"

"Yes, milord."

Reaching into his dark blue robes he produced a folded letter and walked over, handing it to the squire. "See that he gets this," the cold, professional directed.

"I will, sir," Alexander tucked the sealed letter into his jacket as the chamberlain turned to leave. "Sir, I was wondering..."

Turning, the noble glared.

"I was told you were my father," he shrugged as his voice trailed off.

Dark brows furrrowed as the chamberlain turned back squarely. "And who told you that lie? Praytell no one in your Order."

"No, sir. Charlotte, my mother who works at the Dark Stallion." He noticed the change in demeanor at the mention of her name.

Calmed, the noble stared. "Really? And what proof did she give you?"

"She said that your lordship and she were together about the time that I was born, sir."

He nodded. "And how do you know that she's your mother?"

Alexander had no solid proof, he just believed her.

"None, I take it," the long face neared as the chamberlain leaned over. "Son, I don't ever want to hear about this again, do you understand? I don't need you and that harlot spreading these lies about me."

Alexander nodded as his eyes sank. He watched as the noble wrapped his cloak closer, spun on his heel and headed into the palace and slammed the door.