This is a work of fiction. All characters portrayed in this story are fictional and representative of anyone living or dead. Copyright 2010 by robertx5sf@yahoo.com, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form without the author's consent, with exception of license granted to Nifty.org per Nifty's terms of use.
Author's Note: All constructive comments are appreciated by please if no flames. Thank you, Robert - robertx5sf@yahoo.com
Squires of Telisan Keep - 3
MIKEL
Mikel was devastated. He had hardly gotten any sleep that night, even after he had cried himself out. As the guardsman had led him away, he told the boy that he would stay at the guards' quarters that night and tomorrow he would compete in the Squire's Tournament, but that it was unlikely any Knight would select him as a Squire.
The Squire's Tournament was first thing in the morning as the afternoon would be devoted to the Jousting Tournament for the Knights. There were about a dozen twelve year old noble boys that were of age to become Squires. This tournament would be fought without weapons, a test of brute strength. When Mikel arrived he noticed one boy that made him forget about his immediate troubles. He asked one of the guards who that boy was and found out his name was Rynil. Mikel could tell by the way the others acted that he was one of the best fighters and most popular boys there. Occasionally he saw Rynil glance at him with an odd expression on his face that Mikel could not read.
The rules in the Squire's Tournament were different than the games. Here the fights would last until one boy conceded defeat or failing that, the fight could be stopped by the Lord's Champion. This was done because many of the soon to be Squires felt it was cowardly to admit defeat. Therefore the Lord's Champion would end the fights before any of the noble boys were beaten senseless. The contests were also not random. The Lord's Champion ranked all of the boys and the worst would fight the best. This was to prevent the two best fighters from meeting up in the first round. Since the 'rank' of this cohort of Squires would be determined for the year based on the results of the tournament. After the first round the Lord's Champion would determine the pairings to deal with any complications such as an odd number of boys. As a 'cowardly backstabbing peasant', as one of the nobles boys said as he spat at Mikel, he was ranked worst. That meant his first round match would be against Rynil.
Their fight would be the last match of the first round. As the fights started the other boys started boosting about how they were all going to win their fights. Mikel was trying to secretly watch Rynil out of the corner of his eye when Rynil turned and approached him. He stopped as he got to the smaller boy and looked him over, seeming to size him up for their fight.
The noble boy raised his hand up and held it palm outward in greeting, "Can I ask you a question?"
Mikel hastily returned the gesture and tried to say "If you wish" but it come out as some sort of grunt.
Taking that as an indication he was free to ask his question, Rynil continued, "Why did you attack one of your opponents in the back and strike another that was defenseless?"
Mikel could hear the disapproval in Rynil's voice. He felt dirtier than a pile of manure. He struggled to keep from crying and turned away, looking at the ground. "I don't know, I didn't mean to do it. It just happened."
Rynil frowned, "To do those things in an honorable contest are the acts of a coward." He then turned and walked to the other side of the fighting circle.
Finally a Page called them into the circle, "Rynil, son of Sir Azryn Wolfe, Page to Sir Alred Refren shall fight Mikel, son of Marel, winner of the Squire Games." As Mikel entered the circle watching Rynil his mind wandered, 'I guess when Rynil becomes a Knight he will be Sir Rynil Wolfe, what a great Knight he will make, he already looks like a Knight'. Mikel shook his head to clear his thoughts and focus on the matter at hand, not getting killed by the boy he was just daydreaming about. Rynil was wearing only a pair of dark blue hose and leather boots, having removed his tunic when he entered the fighting circle. Mikel felt poor, weak and very small standing across from him in a pair of patched hose and worn sandals.
Mikel looked over towards the Lord's Champion, waiting for the signal for the fight to begin. He saw that the Lord's Champion was looking at him with contempt. After a moment he signaled for the fight to begin. Rynil came right after Mikel. He threw a couple quick punches that Mikel either avoided or blocked with my arms. Then he started making little fakes with one fist and striking Mikel with the other when he reacted to the fake. When Mikel brought his arms up to protect his head Rynil would hit him in the stomach. The crowd cheered every time Rynil landed a solid blow.
Soon Mikel was having trouble focusing and was feeling dizzy. His jaw ached but he could not feel the rest of his face. Blood was running from his nose and his lip was bloodied. Next thing he knew he was on the ground, not having even seen or felt the blow that felled him. Rynil looked down at him with a strange expression on his face, sort of fearful, and almost pleaded, "We all know you're a coward, concede! You can't become a Squire."
Mikel got angry. "I am not a coward!" He yelled. As he got up Rynil took a step back and took up his guard position. Mikel charged him. Rynil hit him in the side of the head as he stepped out of his way. Mikel spun to the ground but got back up and charged him again. Over and over again Mikel went down, but kept getting back up. Each time was a bit more difficult and finally the boy was struggling to get to his feet. His legs were having trouble supporting him and he could not maintain his balance. He looked at Rynil and saw three of him, unable to focus. The Rynils were not looking in his direction, they turned towards the Lord's Champion. Mikel was able to bring the scene back into focus, he could make out that the Knight was laughing. Rynil must have said something because the Knight suddenly stopped laughing, his look of amusement replaced by a look of outrage. Rynil turned and looked at Mikel who had managed to stand but was still swaying. Rynil stepped towards him and Mikel tried to brace himself for another blow. Instead Rynil was saying something. Mikel concentrated on trying to hear what the boy was saying above the ringing. Finally after Rynil repeated himself a couple of times Mikel was able to make out his words, "I wish to declare our match a draw, will you agree?"
Mikel nodded and barely managed a "Yes" before falling unconscious. Rynil quickly reached out and grabbed the falling boy.
Mikel woke up lying on a straw pad with a Priest of some god wiping his face, he could not focus enough to make out the man's holy symbol. When the priest saw that the boy was awake he said, "Rest young lad. Your presence is not required until the ceremonial choosing of the Squires before dinner." Mikel found it easier to fall asleep then think about his chances of getting selected as a Squire.
Shortly before the choosing of the Squires was to take place, a guardsman woke the sleeping boy, gave him a set of clean hose and a tunic. They were slightly worn but in good shape. Then he led Mikel to where the other boys were assembled, just outside the jousting grounds. Mikel could not open his left eye, his whole body hurt, his head was throbbing and he was still a little bit wobbly on his feet. Everything seemed sort of foggy like a dream.
After a few minutes, the boys to be chosen as Squires were led out into the center of the jousting yard. They lined up in front of a large pavilion. Lord Velarik rose and started speaking but Mikel was still having trouble hearing and missed what he said. Then a Knight approached the Lord, bowed, and said something to the Lord. The Lord nodded and the Knight rose. The Knight then turned and spoke. One of the boys stepped forward. The boy approached the Lord's pavilion and bowed. They all talked. The Knight bowed again, then left with the boy. Another Knight then rose and did the same thing.
As this was repeated Mikel began to be able to concentrate and hear what they were saying. The Knight would bow before the Lord and ask his permission to take one of the boys as his Squire. The Lord would agree and tell the Knight that he was now responsible for guiding the boy on his journey to Knighthood, then grant him permission to select a Squire. The Knight would then call out the name of his new Squire. The Squire would approach and bow before the Lord and his Knight. The Lord would ask "Do you swear to loyally serve King Azris, Myself, and Sir (whatever the Knight's name was) with honor, with courage, and with obedience?" The Squire would always reply, "I swear it upon my life," and then bow again. Then the Lord would speak for all to hear, "By the authority of King Azris, I hereby grant you the title of Squire." Both the Knight and the Squire would bow. The Knight would thank the Lord and depart with the Squire.
Mikel saw Rynil get chosen by a large muscular Knight whose brown hair and beard were in the midst of turning grey. Once chosen the Knight led Rynil off to the side and appeared to be lecturing him. Soon all the other boys had been chosen and Mikel was standing alone on the field.
Lord Velarik looked down at the bruised and beaten peasant boy with pity. "If any other Knight wishes to select a Squire ask now or we shall retire to the Keep and begin our feast." As he raised his hand to declare the choosing over, a figure emerged from the darkness at the back of the Lord's pavilion. He was covered head to foot by a black robe with red trim. The robe of a War Mage. He lowered his hood and knelt beside the Lord. Mikel could not see the wizard clearly but could tell he was almost six feet tall, had an average build, grey hair that fell to his just above his shoulders and was matched in color by a short, trimmed beard. He spoke to the Lord and the assembled nobles, "Lord, I humbly ask your permission to select a Squire."
"Wizards do not take Squires!" Yelled one of the Knights seated to the side of the pavilion called out.
Lord Velarik glared at the Knight that had interrupted the ceremony. He then rose and looked around at the crowd making sure all of their attention was focused on him, "I will remind everyone that SIR Valen holds the rank of Knight, granted to him by King Azris himself, and as such has the right to request the services of a Squire." Lord Velarik let his admonishment linger in the air for a moment before turning back to the kneeling wizard, "Sir Valen, you have my leave to choose a Squire."
The old wizard rose and turned towards the lone boy standing on the jousting field. "Mikel, son of Marel, you will be my Squire. Come now and swear it before the Lord." Mikel's emotions were in turmoil, joy and elation at being chosen to be a Squire, fear and confusion about being chosen by a wizard. His feet seemed to act on their own accord and soon he was bowing before the Lord and the wizard. The oath of fealty was sworn and Mikel was granted the title of Squire.
Sir Valen grabbed Mikel by the elbow and led him from the pavilion. As they turned and walked behind it, the wizard stepped into the shadows and pulled the boy tight against his body. Mikel was about to scream when the wizard spoke a strange word and the world blurred around Mikel. A second later they were standing in a small room. The suddenness of the relocation caused Mikel's stomach to rise and he had to suppress the urge to vomit.
Sir Valen released his new Squire, who turned and tried to get a closer look at the wizard's face, but the hood of his robe was already back up and Mikel could see only darkness there.
"Your education begins now. Although you are officially my Squire and I am your Knight, you are also now my apprentice and will address me as `Master'. This will be your sleeping quarters. Your first test is to learn what is required for you to leave it." said the Wizard. He then turned and left the room. As he passed through the doorway, the door swung closed silently behind him without being touched by the wizard.
Mikel collapsed on the ground, overwhelmed by the day's events. After spending almost an hour curled up on the floor crying, he decided he had no choice but to accept the reality of what had happened and make the best of his new circumstances. He wiped off his puffy eyes and examined the room. First, he determined it was part of a tower since the outer and inner walls were curved. There was about eight feet between the outer wall and the inner wall. The side walls were about ten feet apart. The ceiling was low, with only about seven feet between the floor and ceiling. The lone door was in the middle of the inner wall. There were no windows. Mikel ran his hands over the stones on the walls. From the size of the stones, he guessed that this room was at or near the bottom of the tower. The floor was made of stone but the ceiling was wood.
The bed was a straw pad; Mikel examined it. The straw was fresh and the pad was much better than his old pad at the Temple, but not as nice as when he slept outside on a haystack. There was a large chest next to the sleeping pad. It was made out of wood, edged and banded with iron. It was about two feet wide, three feet long and two feet deep with no lock. Inside were three tunics and three pairs of black hose. The tunics were black with red trim, obviously styled to invoke the robes of his Master. At the bottom of the chest were two pairs of soft black leather boots. Mikel immediately tried everything on and was surprised to discover that everything fit perfectly. The boots even felt like they had already been broken in. Mikel marveled at it all since he was sure that these clothes alone must have cost more gold than he had seen in his life.
After dressing he resumed his examination of the contents of his room. There was a desk made of a thick hard wood. On top of the desk was a bottle of ink, three quills, and a lantern that provided light for the room. Inside the lantern was a glowing rock that seemed as bright as the sun when you stared into it, yet it gave off no heat. There was a thin metal sheath that could cover the lantern and block the light. Sitting on the chair that was at the desk was Mikel's bag which he had left at the guard station that morning. Sir Valen must have retrieved it sometime during the ceremony. The only other thing in the room was a night basin.
Mikel was too tired and sore to care about trying to figure out how to open the door right then, which after a quick inspection he realized had no door handle or knob, or any visible means to open it. Instead he crawled onto his sleeping pad and quickly fell into a deep sleep.