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

Eager and yet disappointed, Alexander walked into the classroom and noticed many of the older squires that he had known from the opposite side of the choir loft. Afton motioned and he headed to sit beside the tall, raven haired boy.

"How've you been," Afton queried.

"Fine," he stated as he set his narrow pack on the wooden top. "How about you?"

"Sir Brannoc has taken me on as his squire, we're just waiting for a templar to replace his previous one to be assigned."

"Congratulations."

Afton smiled as Father Sulio stepped in and Alex noted the conversation stopped immediately as all eyes gravitated to the short, stout priest. His serious dark eyes scanned the crowd of young men as he set his pile of books on the desk before him. "Most of you have never attended any of my classes before," his deep voice announced. "I want you to know that you need to pay attention to everything that I have to tell you about the world outside these walls, for I've faced many of those dangers personally." A strong hand reached for the hourglass on his desk and turned it over as he began instructing them on spirits and demons, including elves that had plagued the world before the first Dark Age.
Alex listened intently, hanging on every word the veteran adventurer for Arhus had to relay and felt some kinship after his encounter in Thetford. A cold shiver coursed up his spine as the memory of the piercing, yellow eyes stared at him as they charged one another.
He quickly pushed the thought from his mind as his eyes began to water.

"Alright, that's it for today. Report to your respective lords for your duties."

Alex collected his notes and shoved them into his pack, then shouldered it and followed other classmates out into the main hallway. He soon allowed the surroundings to envelop him again as he began looking for Dominic, Nicholas or any others and soon noticed them heading up to their dorm. Perhaps later, he thought as he turned and walked back the opposite direction and headed up to the apartment. As he walked in, he noticed Sir Kenneth sharpening his sword, running the whetstone up its length.

"How'd it go?" the fighter asked.

"Well, sir," he stated, closing the door and headed towards his room. "I never knew that the elves used to treat humans like slaves long ago."

"Not many talk about those days any longer. The Emperor has changed people's perceptions on that topic over the years. He's actually good friends with the Queen of Kevelaer, or has become so of late. It's rumored that the elves from that kingdom actually helped the fighting at Fort William and the baron there said they actually turned the tide."

After setting his pack on the large, wooden trunk under the window, he returned to the living area. "If they're our enemy, why would they do that?"

Kenneth smiled. "Good question. Makes me think that times have changed finally."

Alex nodded, contemplating the ramifications of a new ally against the orcs and their co-conspirators as he headed into Sir Stephen's room and gathered his lord's armor, then carried it out into the light pouring through the large window. He sat on the floor and began polishing the metal.

"After you're done, Sir Stephen wanted you to accompany me into town for a few things."

"Yes, sir." He hesitated for a moment. "Have you ever met an elf?"

"Me, no," he shook his head. "They're an elusive bunch. Have met a dwarf though, on our ride to Carbost two years ago. There's a few that still live in Borge', a town that their king offered to King George the First after their peace accord that ended the war against the Kuzomen Empire."

Alexander's blue eyes lit up with the thought of meeting some of the world's greatest smiths.

He soon finished with his chores and then strapped on his sword, then followed Sir Kenneth to the stables where he noticed Drystan who grinned and waved from the doorway heading into the kitchen and then disappeared. He saddled their horses and mounted up. Riding out into the sunlight that began melting the snow that now huddled within the shadows of the bordering shrubs and around the base of the large fountain, they soon exited into the busy street. Spring was overtaking winter and he loved this time of year as the trees budded and the city seemed to come alive as well. Pigeons flitted high above as they headed west to soon enter the marketplace. They dismounted and Alex guided both horses past vendors and potential customers who all mingled and flowed around one another. He smiled as he noticed the veteran stop to buy a large slice of cheese.

"Well, look who I found," a familiar voice stated, prompting Alex to look to his left and notice the two fighters that he had met years ago.

"Hello, sirs," he greeted.

Arms loaded with various goods, Erik and Tobias both smiled at him. "They finally let you out I see," Erik mentioned then took a large bite from an apple.

Alex nodded, not sure what that implied. "I've been taken on as a squire to Sir Stephen, a paladin."

Their eyes went wide. "Congratulations," Tobias grinned. "Just make sure you leave us something to kill out there, alright? We've been at this a long time and are due our share of the enemy. Deal?"

Chuckling, Alexander was glad that he got to see the pair again. "I'll certainly try, sir."

Both laughed. "We certainly appreciate that kind gesture," Erik mentioned as Sir Kenneth stepped up and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Sir Kenneth, this is Sir Erik and Sir Tobias."

The men exchanged nods and greetings as Kenneth glanced at the squire. "How do you gentlemen know Alexander?"

"He was at the well one day when we visited the cathedral and got to talk to him for a few moments," Erik informed.

Kenneth nodded. "Whom do you serve?"

"The duke, we're both in the Kumai," Erik revealed proudly.

Kenneth's smile faded. "Oh." He turned to Alex, "We should be going, our lord is awaiting our return."

"Of course," Alex nodded, then eyed both of the elite fighters, "Good to see you again,sirs."

"Take care of yourself," they both bid, then drifted back into the crowd as he followed Kenneth towards more vendors.

"I want you to stay away from them," he instructed. "Their methods are less than heroic and I don't want you picking up any of their bad habits."

Joy faded as confusion set in.

Kenneth's brown eyes glared, "They're assassins that do the dirty work of the army, behind the scenes, in the shadows. No honorable knight would ever employ their methods in battle. Understand?"

"Yes, sir." He quietly continued on with their shopping, packing candles, oil and other necessary items into their saddlebags and realized that their trip had ended before the doors of the Dark Stallion. His heart leapt as Kenneth led him into the establishment, nearly empty of customers as they entered and claimed a table. Wafting from the kitchen he smelled the bread, meat and other items being cooked as Amelia stepped out through the door and headed to their table, smiling.

"What can I get you, gentlemen," she asked, then winked at Alex as he smiled back.

"Lunch, water for the boy and I'll have some wine," Kenneth stated, then grinned.

"Right away, my lord," she headed back as Alex scanned passed Kenneth's arm and into the kitchen for his mother.

"Alexander," Kenneth sternly warned. "Women are to be respected. The eyes are the windows to the soul, be careful what you allow in."

His mouth fell open, "I was actually trying to see if my mother was here, sir."

Brown eyes studied him for a moment, "I forgot that you mentioned that before, I apologize". He turned to gaze beyond a trio of older merchants at the table behind them, then looked back and rested his arms across the table. "What was her name again?"

"Charlotte, sir," Alex informed as he glanced up to a woman as she exited the nearest door to the top of the stairs, then turned. Her long dark hair was now wound up beneath a white, cloth bonnet and his smile melted as she descended the stairs and he noticed the fresh bruises on the left side of her face. He stood up as Kenneth turned to eye the barmaid who then headed quickly into the kitchen. Without thinking, Alexander followed her.

He entered the kitchen and pushed his way passed Amelia and several other women to reach his mother as she began gathering candles from a large stack on a high shelf, then turned and stopped as his eyes began to water.
"What happened," he asked.

Her blue eyes sank, "I...tripped last night on the hem of my dress and hit the edge of a table. I'm fine," she nodded, then looked beyond him. "Can I help you sir."

"Actually, I was here to retrieve my lord's squire," Kenneth informed as two large hands rested on Alex's shoulders. "Come on, we shouldn't be in here, Alexander."

He couldn't take his eyes from her as the anger welled within him. Larger than the corner of a table, the wound didn't match her story. "Who did this?"

Charlotte looked back down to him, "No one. You should go back to your seats and wait to be served. I'll see you later, okay," she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, then moved beyond him.

Alex turned and followed her into the main room and watched as she replaced many of the candles consumed during the previous night's revelry and was pulled beyond by his escort's hand. Guided around and back to his seat, Kenneth sat across from him.

"Alexander," he called but was initially ignored. Finally, a tanned, strong hand grabbed his chin and pulled it to face the templar. "Listen to me. Her profession deals with drunkards every night, these things happen unfortunately."

Blue eyes sank to the tabletop as Alexander felt helpless. "I thought he stood for justice," he stated, adrenaline pumping.

Kenneth sighed. "I'll look into it but, I can't promise that this will stop. It's the nature of her profession, son. Not everything in the world is fair, but we do what we can."

Alex nodded, trying his best to command his feelings as Amelia approached with two tankards and set them on the table between them. He looked up at the blonde, "What happened to my mom?"

Her smile faded as she stood, then eyed Kenneth. "Nothing that I know of. She told us that she had tripped last night," shrugging. "I believed her."

Straightening, the templar eyed her, "You and I both know that's not what happened. I've been in enough fights to know punches when I see them. As a representative of Arhus and his church, I'm going to have to investigate this further. I would appreciate your help."

Wiping her hands down the front of her apron, she glanced to Charlotte near the base of the stairs. "Sir Michael, the chamberlain visited her two days ago, up in her room. He left shortly afterwards," she revealed, then headed back to the kitchen.

Kenneth stared at the opposite wall for a long moment as Alex realized that his questions to the tall knight several mornings ago weren't well received. "This is my fault," he said as his eyes glanced back to Charlotte as she moved across the room and approached the large fireplace.

"What are you talking about?"

"I asked Sir Michael if he was my father, she said he might be. He got angry and went back inside the duke's castle while you and Sir Stephen were in there." Tears welled and streamed down his cheeks.

Kenneth squared and leaned across the table. "You what?" He chuckled in disbelief. "Alexander, you can't just walk up to a man of his import and ask him something like that without more proof. Do you realize who he is?"

Alex nodded as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve, sniffing.

"Look, I know it's important to know where you come from and perhaps who your parents are. We all wanted to know that at some point. But you have to realize that there are many out there who would love for the opportunity to think that some bright eyed young boy is their own if they've lost track of a child." He sighed heavily, then took a long draught from his tankard, then set it back on the table as he sat back.

Alex looked up to him. "You don't think she's my mother?"

His hands went wide, "I don't know that for sure. There are other ways to find out though." His brows raised.

Alexander thought for a moment, then realized that he had a direct link to the one that could confirm it, if He chose. They ate quietly and he noticed Charlotte as she made her way towards them from the front door, a few candles still cradled within her apron. She walked behind him and moved to the brass holder in the center of their table.

"Are you alright, mom," he asked.

She turned to him, grinning lovingly. "I'm fine. Stop worrying about me, I've had worse. Bruises fade, I'm still here."

He straightened and his hand fell to his jacket pocket and he felt the small pouch that had been with him for the past three years. He took it out and produced the necklace, shining now in the daylight that spilled through the window behind him.

"That's beautiful," she said as she neared and leaned over. "Where did you get it?"

His eyes shot to her face, not inches from his now. "You sent it to me years ago, before the invasion. Father Gaiven let me keep it."

She glanced to him and backed somewhat. "Oh, yeah. I remember it now. I had almost forgotten that I sent you that. A lot's happened since then."

He handed it to her as she stood. "Here, this is too valuable for me to keep."

"No, son. I gave that to you as a gift." She smiled as her eyes studied it as the silver shimmered, reflecting the daylight. "You should put that away, I would hate for you to lose it."

He replaced it into the pouch and then back into his pocket.

"Where did you get it," Kenneth asked.

Charlotte glanced to the knights-templar. "It's been passed down through generations on my mother's side. I don't have a daughter so, I gave it to Alexander to keep and maybe one day pass it on himself." She glanced beyond them as Amelia returned to take up their plates. "I should get back to work. It was good to see you again," she kissed Alex on the top of the head and moved around her friend.

He watched her return to the kitchen as Amelia smiled. "Come back and see us again soon."

Alex rose with Sir Kenneth and they headed back outside to their awaiting horses, then mounted up and quietly returned to the cathedral.