A Knight's Path (The Path of Cinder Book 1)

by Nathan Grafton

  Warren rolled his eyes, “I thought you spent all your time there with Elise.”

  The smaller teen looked over at Warren and asked, “What all do you know about what I’ve been doin’ with Elise?”

  Warren felt that pang of jealousy again as he answered, “Just that she has been meeting you there. And that you are going to the Ball with her.”

  Alden stopped walking and stared at his partner. Warren looked back at him and spread his arms and the smaller man snapped, “That’s what this is all about. It’s not about Reginald. You’re pissed that Elise is goin’ with me ain’t you?”

  The large teen snorted, “That is ridiculous. Why would I care who Elise goes with?”

  Alden stepped towards Warren, his green eyes boring into the dark gray. Warren felt like Alden was rooting around inside his head before the young man answered him, “You’re smitten. You have a crush. And you ain’t even admittin’ it to yourself.”

  Blood flooded into Warren’s cheeks and he stammered, “That, I, she is just another girl.”

  Alden shook his head, “Warren, I’m sorry. If I had known I would’ve told you I had asked her. And I would’ve told you I was considerin’ askin’ her before I did. But I didn’t know so I didn’t think it was important. And I’m sorry.”

  The large boy stared down at his partner for a minute before letting out a breath, “You are correct. I never said anything about my plans to you. So you did not see anything interfering with yours.”

  Alden offered Warren his hand, “Water under the bridge?”

  Warren geasped Alden’s hand in his and smiled, “Water under the bridge.”

  Chapter 34 An Elegant Evening

  The week went by smoothly after that and the next thing Alden knew was that he was standing in his room pacing feverishly wearing his new suit. The black long coat and pants fit him well. It was the most expensive and finest set of clothing Alden had ever worn. The young man thought it itched.

  Warren had left a while ago, dressed in his dark blue and gold suit that probably cost three times what Alden’s had. The young man didn’t mention it though and hadn’t asked any questions. The rift between them was gone, but there was no use in digging into the wound. Alden stopped his pacing and sat down, he had to leave in a few minutes and he needed to calm down.

  The young man closed his green eyes and took a deep breath. He could handle this. The young man sniffed and began to wonder if he remembered how to dance. Alden thought back to those days in the barn at home. His sister had gone to town with their father and had come back excited and wanting to dance and look at dresses. She had learned how to dance through the next few months and then wanted someone to dance with. Of her three brothers, Alden had been the most cooperative and learned. A smile formed on the young man’s face and he rose to his feet.

  Alden made his way through the halls down to Elise and Enzo’s room. The green eyed man knocked once and Enzo opened the door with a glower. The young man hesitated until Elise swept passed her brother and shut the door. She smiled brightly at him, “Well, how do I look?”

  Alden opened his mouth, shut it, and then reopened it again before snapping it shut one more time. Elise laughed and eased him to face down the hall and took his arm, “That answers my question.”

  The pair made their way down the hall and rather then let Elise trip over her dress Alden lifted her and carried her up the stairs. At first she protested but finally let him carry her after a brief struggle. The green eyed man set her down gently once he reached the main grounds.

  The young man smiled to himself. She was beautiful. She had curled her hair and had a thin white shawl wrapped around her shoulders. The dress wasn’t a true mermaid, it didn’t have the curl at the bottom but it wasn’t a straight fall either. Irregardless, Alden thought she looked wonderful.

  Elise took his arm again and they made their way out of the Wall and into the Castle grounds. It was the first time either of them had actually been inside the inner perimeter of the Wall. The Ball was being held in the Great Hall. A pair of Knights stood at attention on either side of the doorway. The armor they wore was more decorated then their standard fare. It gleamed in the fading light and the crest of the guard was painted on each of their breast plates. The white crown was centered on their chests with the black sword running behind the crown, tip pointing down. Knights stood in each corner of the hall and two stood at each entrance. The Captain was taking his job seriously.

  The Hall itself had a long table on a raised section of the floor at the far. That was where the Royal Family and nine Lords would sit. Round tables were arranged in a three sided square. The tables closest to the King would be occupied by the lessor Nobility. And after that were the Merchant families, high ranking officials, Knights, and officers. In the back opposite the King would be the Cadets, apprentices, low ranking Royal Staff and anyone who had happened to earn the King’s ire but too important to ignore. Musicians would take places behind the high table.

  The only people who had arrived were those of lower rank. Merchants and Knights. They would bow when the King arrived and then the nine Lords would come in followed by the lesser Nobility. The Lords would bow to the King and take their places at the high table. And then the lesser Nobility would bow and take their seats. After that those of lower rank were beneath announcement and would simply find their seats. The whole thing promised to be a lengthy affair which irritated Alden. He was hungry.

  Alden let Elise lead him through the room and eventually found Skorri with a redhead named Anne. Alden recognized her as a waitress from The Weeping Oak. Leave it to Skorri to bring the girl who gave him his ale. The redhead seemed to giggle at all the things Skorri whispered to her and Alden thought it looked like the two of them had already been drinking. It actually didn’t surprise the young man. On the few occasions he had spent the day with Skorri the giant had convinced him to drink by noon.

  Enzo appeared, alone, sent a steady glare at Alden. Elise set her twin next to her and Alden took teh seat between Skorri and Elise. The blonde girl being between them didn’t stop Enzo from making Alden sense his animosity. The green eyed teen dismissed it. He hadn’t done anything to Enzo. Trumpets sounded from the back of the room and Alden and the others rose to their feet.

  King Edward walked into the room tailed by a pair of Knights a moment later. Alden immediately disliked the man. He had reddish brown hair that a heavy gold crown sat on and a full beard, both neatly trimmed. He was a thin man who looked like he had once been active but his callouses had long since faded. He wore a pair of black pants and a deep purple silk shirt. A heavy, white-gold necklace with black jewels in it hung around his neck and his collar was lined with gold studs. The young man had to force himself not to grimace as he bowed.

  Edward sat in his chair, a heavy thing with purple velvet cushions, and lounged back. Queen Mariana appeared a moment later and made her way across the hall. She was dressed much more simply. A purple gown and a silver necklace and a silver tiara. She had high cheek bones and dark eyes and black hair.

  Princess Victoria was announced after her mother and wore a similar dress but in a deep navy blue and had silver earrings. She had inherited her mother’s sharp features and hair but seemed to have received her father’s hazel eyes. She looked to be around 18. The princess took a seat at one of the lower round tables.

  The final member of the Royal Family was announced. The Crown Prince Dorian. He couldn’t have been older then 15 and looked like his father with black hair. He had the same ruddy complexion and soft look. The only part of him that seemed hard were the ebony eyes he inherited from his mother.

  The Prince took a seat beside his sister. Seemed that the kids weren’t welcome amongst the Lords. As that thought rifted through Alden’s head the first of the Lords were announced. The young man didn’t pay much attention other then to absorb names. Washington, Lin
coln, Conner, Wright, Sycamore, Jackson, Drake and du Lac.

  The Lords themselves sat at the High Table alongside the King and Queen while their families went to either join the Prince’s group or the table opposite it. Edward rose to his feet and cleared his throat, “If you would all take your places, the banquet shall begin.”

  Officers, Knights and others who had arrived later rushed to find tables. A few minutes later Warren appeared and scanned them, “Do you mind if I join you?”

  The group of friends motioned for the large teen to sit and Warren took teh seat opposite Alden. Two seats were left empty at the table but no one filled them and everyone seemed to be seated. Servants began to carry out bowls of soup and sat them down quickly.

  Alden had already been informed that he could not eat anythinguntil the High Table had started eating. It was going to be a long evening and the thought of the King deciding when he could eat or dance irritated him and a grimace appeared on his face. A sharp elbow to his ribs from his Elise made him cast a dark look at her but she raised an eyebrow and he quickly swallowed his anger and replaced his scowl with a sheepish smile.

  The meal was four courses, a soup, appetizer, entrée and dessert. By the end of it all Alden and his friends were stuffed but knew the night was just beginning. Drinks were being served by waiters and Skorri and Anne were getting their fill. It wasn’t long before Anne had collapsed against Skorri’s side and the giant had a half smile on his face as he began to mumble to himself.

  Alden shook his head and watched as the musicians began to warm up and eventually, finally play. Once the musicians had the attention of the room the King stood and led the Queen out onto the dance floor. They pair began to dance together slowly and one by one the Lords found their Ladies and followed the King. Before long almost everyone was on the dance floor except the King and Queen who had returned to the High Table to watch the crowd.

  Alden cleared his throat and stood, “Elise, would you like to dance?”

  The blonde rose and shed the white dinner jacket at the table before letting Alden lead her out onto the dance floor and around the room. Warren and Enzo had disappeared from the table but Skorri and Anne stayed where they were. Elise put her arms around Alden’s shoulders and they began to drift with the crowd.

  Elise smiled up at him, “You still never told me how you think I look.”

  The young man cleared his throat again, it seemed warm to him, “I think you look wonderful, Elise.”

  The blonde replied smoothly, “Thank you. You’re not half bad yourself, Flint.”

  Alden swallowed, “Thanks. Uh, is it warm in here?”

  The blonde raised an eyebrow, “Seriously? I thought it was freezing.”

  The young man pulled her closer to him and felt someone staring at him. He looked up and noticed Enzo glaring at him from across the room. Alden smiled nervously and then scanned the rest of the crowd. He spotted Warren on the dance floor but couldn’t see the large boy’s partner, just his broad back.

  Alden snapped his attention back to Elise as the song changed and became more lively. The green eyed teen remembered quickly and spun Elise and pulled her against him. He let the music carry hm away and all he knew was the song and the blonde woman’s beautiful smile.

  The evening wore on and whenever the song would slow they would relax against each other and talk. Not about anything important, just the things they had never bothered bringing up in that library. He talked about his family and what it was like growing up with little to no luxuries. They never really had to worry about food since they grew or raised whatever they needed. Alden told her about how long the days were in the spring and summer when the crop was planted and harvested. And how long the winters were when there was nothing to do but cut firewood and fight with his brothers. He had learned how to hit fast and hard since he was the smallest of the three.

  One of the few luxuries in the house was his sister’s music box. And she had put it out in the barn and that was where he had learned to dance. He also knew how to sew and had learned a little about cooking thanks to Jess. Alden’s brothers had given him a hard time about letting their sister lead him around but Alden had just shrugged and their father had laughed. It was better to know something and never use it then not know something and need to. His brothers never let up but their father told him to just keep doing what he was doing. It would make things easier for his sister later.

  Elise told him about her parents. How they had always seemed to be at odds with each other and constantly bickering over something. Elise’s father was a smith and her mother a seamstress. Elise had always preferred her father’s company to her mother’s but was forced to work with her mother since she wasn’t strong enough to shape steel. That was Enzo’s job. Their mother always spouted off about how Elise’s father was just making it harder for the King to handle the dwarven raiders and keep the elven rabble in line.

  Enzo had seemed to absorb everything their mother said though while Elise thought it was biased and uncalled for. Her father was a simple man who would shrug and say that they were thinking beings just like humans were and should be given the same chance as anyone else. It was that philosophy which had landed him in prison.

  Another lively tune came on and Elise led Alden into it, seeming to shake off the thoughts of her father as fast as they had appeared. Her smile was infectious and Alden found himself happy and relaxed. He smiled as he wondered if this was what his father had felt when he had met Alden’s mother. The young man shook the thoughts away as the song slowed down and Elise relaxed back into his arms again.

  Alden wasn’t sure what made him do it but he gently tipped Elise’s chin up with one hand as he leaned forward and kissed her gently. She kissed him back and after a long moment he drew back and licked his lip, “Uh.”

  She kissed him again quickly and Alden looked around as his face reddened and he tried to think of something to say. Words tumbled out of his mouth as Warren appeared again, this time with his partner in view, “Elise, is Warren dancing with the Princess?”

  Chapter 35 A Night To Remember

  Warren left his room early and made his way through High Town, looking at the towering structures and elegant gardens of the people there. It was beautiful and all of it had been built after the Cataclysm. From what the young man could remember there had once been another city on this side of the river but it had been leveled. Now the Castle and High Town sat on the southern bank while the Market and Low Town sat on the north shore. A section of the Wall actually straddled the river.

  People drifted from their homes and toward the Castle. Everyone important was going to be there and nobody wanted to be left out. Warren let out a heavy breath and looked around, not sure what he was looking for. Elise was on his mind. He had only known her for a few months but he wanted to be with her. The large boy shook the thoughts away. She was with Alden and he would treat her properly. What Warren felt for her would fade over the next few weeks. He hoped.

  The large teen glanced up at the sky and noticed the stars were out and that the streets were empty. He was late. The boy turned and doubled his pace toward the Castle. When Warren got there the King and Queen and all the Lords but two were seated. The large boy waited just outside the doors and when the people moved to find their seats after the final Lord was placed he slid inside with a quick nod to the Knight on duty and made his way towards the back where he spotted the massive figure of Skorri.

  Warren made his way over and glanced over the figures arrayed before him and asked, “Do you mind if I join you?”

  His friends motioned and grunted their assent and Warren sat across from his partner. The smaller giant wondered who the redhead fawning over Skorri was but didn’t bother asking questions. Skorri looked like he had started his drinking early.

  Warren spent most of his time focused on the excellent meal in front of him while watchin
g Elise out of the corner of his eye before catching himself and looking away. He kicked himself for it each time and tried to focus on something else.

  The large boy looked up and studied the King for the first time that evening. He looked regal and commanding with his full beard and the heavy crown on his head. King Edward looked the way a king should look.

  It wasn’t long before the meal was finished and the dancing started. Alden seemed relaxed and Warren could tell something was on his mind but didn’t ask any questions. He got to his feet and made his way through the mingling crowd of people. There was a chance his father might be there.

  Wayne Faulkner stood tall and straight dressed in royal blue and gold as he spoke with two other men. One was dressed in dark red while the other wore black. Two more Merchant families that Warren didn’t know very well but was familiar with. The one in red was a friend, a man named Timothy Stone who bought iron ore from his family and refined it. The other wasn’t as friendly. He was Radcliff Blackfeather, Reginald’s father.

  Warren strode up the group and inclined his head toward his father who smiled down at him as the other men stepped back, “Warren, you look fit. Your mother is around somewhere and I am sure she will be happy to see you.”

  The large teen bowed, “I’ll see if I can find her, father. I just thought I would stop and say something.”

  Wayne Faulkner frowned at the accent Warren had suddenly developed but let it slide as he said, “It is good to see you, son. What you are doing here makes the family proud. Maybe you could introduce this partner of yours to your mother and I later?”

  Warren bowed towards his father, “Of course. I’ll see if I can pull him away from his date later.”

  The large teen wasn’t sure why he had fallen into Alden’s accent. Certain words had changed when he spoke, being exposed to Alden every day for so many weeks had seen to that. But it was never that pronounced.