Kain laughed.
The malice was thick in his voice as he smiled down at our Felix. He wore half armour that only covered his gorilla like chest and shoulders. Chainmail leaked out down towards his thighs. Being one of the King’s Vassals made him incredibly powerful, able to call upon knight factions to do his bidding.
And to test newcomers.
He wore a purple tunic under his armour, letting it poke out and tell the world he was extremely wealthy. I had seen him demand knight’s wives, drive peasants out of homes, and make difficult demands of anyone who came too close. He was quick to accuse and easily created a following to his plundering and cruelty. I suspected the king enjoyed him simply for the drama and terror Kain wrought.
Now, before an assembled crowd Sir Kain smiled down at Felix. He sat atop his battle horse Albion, eyeing the archer the way cats hunt mice.
“You have proven your aim is true,” Sir Kain said, “you truly have been taught well. You have entered archery contests and come out if not on top, top three. The kingdom is proud of your achievements.”
He inspected his nails as he talked, as though Felix’s feats were a bore to him. “Now let us see how you fare in battle environments. This is your scenario.”
Then Kain turned to look at us watching from the side of the practise field, meeting first Killian’s, and then my gaze. He smirked at us from his warhorse, unsheathing his massive battle-axe. Both Killian and I have fought that blood tinted axe. Without conscious thought both of us bared our teeth. Kain grinned and my blood boiled. In my minds’ eye I could still see him towering over the children he had planned to take to the mining camp, that same grin plastered to his face.
Kain turned back to Felix, smirking, and fixing his gloves, “You are a foot archer in the King’s army, cavalry is riding towards you at high speeds. Our shields are down, backup is still to come. You are all there is between the enemy and the town you swore to protect.”
He rode away, giving the boy room.
“If you shoot my horse you are disqualified.” He shouted, “you must disable me without harming Albion.”
Felix watched with his body tightening in fear as Kain rode further away, giving the true amount of time between cavalry smashing into unprotected archers. We had not prepared him for this. How could we have prepared him for this?
Killian looked dismayed, shaking his head. “Punishing the boy on our behalf.” He muttered. “What a foul creature he is.”
Rogan suddenly stood from his seat, anger vibrating from every pore in his body. But he calmly held up a hand to Sir Kain. Intrigued despite himself, the knight nodded his head to the smaller man.
Rogan smiled and leaned forward, his voice bellowing out of him. “ROVER BOY.”
The audience and knight were silent for a long moment, shocked by the usually silent archer’s thundering command. We eyed Rogan with open surprise, who simply returned to his seat to watch. Rovers were the nickname given to moving metal machines created by the Mechrorians. They were near impossible to kill, moving at alarming speeds and mowing down anyone who came too close. The boy had seen many in his three years, most of the time we crept by them as the screaming of dying horses and men echoed around us. But sometimes, if rarely, we would turn and face them.
Felix didn’t turn to look at his master, only raised a hand in acknowledgement. We watched his shoulders straighten, placing his arrow back into the quiver. Kain watched the boy, eyeing him with interest before touching his heels to his horse. Albion picked up speed, heading straight for Felix waiting in the centre of the field. Kain lifted his axe above his head, leaning down. Felix began to run backwards, meeting the small thicket of trees outlining it. He swung up into them, easily pulling himself up.
Kain laughed, slowing Albion a little as he neared. “Oh, I see! Tree cover is a clever idea little birdy.”
I looked to Rogan whose eyes were fixed on where Felix was, his hands opening and closing. Kain slowly rode into the small clutter of trees, confident in his axe swing.
“So, Sir,” Felix’s voice called from the trees, “in this situation I have been taught to first shoot the horse, if only his leg so he would fall. And you know I am a decent shot.”
Kain smiled, “cocky little creature aren’t you.” The knight looked around, narrowing his eyes for any sound or movement of the young man.
The audience had gathered along the edges to watch, entering the training field to see the huge battle horse standing in the small gathering of trees. Rogan bumped my shoulder, motioning his head. There I saw him, Felix calmly waiting inches from Kain’s head in the branches.
An arrow shot an inch from Albion’s right front foot, causing the horse to skitter slightly backwards. In that same instant Felix shot again to disorientate the horse and moved from his space, moments before Kain’s axe bit the wood where he had been. Felix had already dropped down near the horse, his razor-sharp dagger slicing through the belt that held the saddle in place.
We all watched the King’s Vassal slide sideways, Felix deftly cutting and yanking his helmet strap as he fell. We all watched Kain look up, his helmet in the grass and Felix’s arrow inches from his throat.
A roar erupted from the crowd, Galahad’s booming laughter rising above it. Felix waited with his arrow poised, watching his prey. Kain looked up at the boy, fury and respect battling across his face. I knew that expression, the same one he had given me when I had placed my own sword against the man’s vitals.
“Have I passed, sir?” Felix asked, his eyes never leaving the knight’s face.
“Aye lad.” Kain said, “you’re one lucky bastard.”
Only then, as we had taught him, did he back away out of the aim of the big knight and return his arrow to his quiver. We watched a man in flowing robes run towards Felix, his arms outstretched. I followed at a slower pace, grabbing Rogan by the arm as I went. The rest of the Silver Swans followed behind.
Felix was grinning at his father, moving back out of his embrace. As we approached, I watched Felix’s ears turn red with embarrassment, well wishes passing by and shaking his hand.
“Father, please.” He grumbled, “I am soon to be knighted.”
“And about time too.” I smiled, taking the older man’s arm. Odhran Dubhach turned his deep green eyes on me, nodding his greeting. An ancient bloodline ran through his family, tracing their heritage back to when our people were nomadic. Deep green and bright blue eyes, white and red hair marked the heritage of our forefathers. Dubhach had lost much when the dead king came to power, but still he held onto his castle and lands near the Fertile Vine. One of the few areas along the canal that did not have rot. He rarely came to court, not wanting to remind the king of the bloodlines that would not bow before him.
“Thankyou.” Sir Odhran said softly, “his mother would be proud.”
I pointed at the figure of Rogan standing back and watching, “he is the man you should thank. He has cared for your son well.”
The slight man smiled, turning to see his son interact with the other Silver Swans. They were joking with him, the twins mimicking his voice. Galahad picked Felix up, pulling him up so they could see eye to eye.
They grinned at each other, Galahad placing him back on the ground. The knights all turned at my approach, grinning at us. I placed hands on Felix’s shoulders, pushing him forward. Killian had Rogan by the arm, pulling the small man so he was walking beside his apprentice.
The group walked past them, Killian pulling Sir Odhran into conversation about farming. I looked over my shoulder to see Rogan gently pull one of Felix’s braids, their silent conversation speaking of years and hours spent together.
“Well done Felix.” Rogan said. And that was all that was said between them, yet the praise radiated off the young man the rest of the night.
o.O.o
We watched Felix kneel before King Deo, dressed in white ceremonial armour. It was bare of any allegiance or faction as I had given him the honour to choose. The court watched the king stand before the boy, the sword of Aseaviel resting in his hands. I remembered kneeling there ten years before, seeing the heavy padded gloves the king wore. I had stood here watching when the rest of my faction had been knighted, already having asked for them to be part of the Silver Swans. Apart from Gilihad and Rogan – they had been special cases. Sir Odhran watched his son, fear, and pride in his eyes. The throne-room was awash in darkness, dark and heavy sea green curtains draped across the walls. I no longer remembered what lay behind them. The natural light had been stifled, bands of white light trickling down towards the throne. The Glass Palace could not help but sparkle under the layers of cloth, though dulled. I glanced at the white light lining the pillars and returned to the knighting, a darkness settling on my heart.
Felix bowed to the king, waiting for the steel to rest flat against his shoulders. It was said that there were a few who the sword did not accept the oath from, burning them. There was a silent rumour that Sir Kain had been such as one. But none dared to utter it.
“I, Felix Dubhach,” The boy said slowly, “do solemnly swear true faith and allegiance to the Kingdom of Aseaviel, to serve her king, to love her people. And to place my life before the throne of my ancestors.”
King Deo impassively knighted the boy, the sword gliding through the air over Felix’s head.
“I do so hear and accept your oath, Felix Dubhach, son of Odhran.” The king purred. I knew he was uninterested, though his voice carried with it all authority, “May Aseaviel bless you and your deeds for your allegiance.”
The knighthood over, the king placed the sword back in it’s golden covering and swiftly moved it away from him.
“Now, Sir Felix,” The dead king said lazily, indicating that he may rise. “War Chief Tirowen has granted you the right to choose your faction.”
Felix trembled before the king, never once having met the monarch face to face. I remembered my first time meeting the king, though warned, the sense of guttural terror sticking to you never left your memory.
“Speak.” King Deo sighed, “this is a day of triumph.”
“I wish,” Felix said quietly, “to remain with the Silver Swans.”
Both Killian and I impulsively stepped forward, being my second he was present for the ceremony. We shook our heads, trying to catch Felix’s eyes.
“Are you sure.” The king asked in an uncommon moment of kindness.
Felix caught my eyes, a shy smile breaking across his face. “Yes. They are my family, Sir. I could not bear it if they left without me. They need me.”
The king eyed the boy slowly, a flicker of thoughtfulness crossing his face. He turned to look at me, his expression unreadable. “Very well. Before these people today, I present Sir Felix, knight of the realm and member of the Silver Swans.”
The court politely clapped, Felix walking down into the crowd.
“Oh, Felix,” Killian sighed, “why must you willingly walk towards your doom?”
The new knight came before us, his ears again tipped red. Fear still echoed in his expression, though warned of the Watchdog his face was drawn and pale. He had little to fear, but still he did.
“I know.” He said, “I’m foolish and impetuous and mad.”
Saying not a word, Killian and I walked out of the hall. He followed behind, watching us with a worried expression. We made a space for him between us, seeing a relieved shrug of his shoulders.
“Yes,” I said beside him. “But Felix means lucky, yes? We could do with a little Felix on our quest.”
He beamed between us; his worries forgotten for a moment. “And you’re right,” Killian said, “two archers are better than one.”
ns 18.68.41.146da2
