Lawrence raced around a bend, past the old shops of Haile, and eventually came upon the exit of the city. He knew that Alacrecia was close, but he had never been there before. He left out the East gate and headed down a winding dirt road toward his destination. Lawrence was filled with so many different emotions he didn’t know which ones to respond to. He ran briskly as the early morning sun glinted over the horizon. He could feel beads of sweat form on his forehead, but wasn’t sure if he was nervous or terribly out of shape. As Lawrence continued walking he passed a covered wagon led by a horse and rider. He could hear the creaky wagon wheel call out to him as the contraption rolled on by. Lawrence was excited at the thoughts of the many things he would get to do and see as a squire, and eventually as a Hailian Knight. He had heard stories of heroic Knights that had saved the princess and battled ferocious dragons, and now he was about to begin his own path to knighthood.
Finally, Lawrence stopped for a moment and looked up at a wooden sign that read in large archaic lettering, Alacrecia. After taking a moment to catch his breath, Lawrence continued onward into the village looking for his destination.
He searched for a long while as he read what was scrawled on the manuscript: The last house on the right.
His pace quickened as he passed many houses with plentiful gardens and rustic décor. Soon Lawrence came upon a two-story log house larger than all the others and noticed a swaying wooden sign fastened loosely to a nearby fence. It only said one word, but this one word was enough to make Lawrence’s heart stutter for a moment.
Grey.
Smoke still lingered from a nearby firepit, denoting a freshly cooked meal. At least someone is home, Lawrence thought. A stone chimney adorned the beautiful dwelling, and Lawrence assumed that whoever lived there was affluent. Lawrence approached a large oak door and began to knock, excited to begin his training as soon as possible.
No answer.
Knock! Knock! Knock! Lawrence tried again.
Lawrence stood alone at the towering door waiting for an answer; it was so quiet today he could hear bugs flying around him. As Lawrence reached up to brush one away, someone opened the door. In front of Lawrence stood a well-built, tall man with broad shoulders and a very proud jaw. His shaggy gray hair went past his ears; it was flowing, long, and soft. Sideburns crawled down his cheekbones, finding their way along the edges of his face. His hands showed signs of age and scarring. They were cut, calloused, and coarse. He wore expensive blue and purple robes lined with silver and gold trim and held a half empty bottle of Veronicia XXIV, one of the land’s finest spirits. His piercing green eyes scanned Lawrence closely.
“What da ye want?” The man’s sharp, crackling voice broke the silence that hung in the air.
“Braaaaap!” His loud belch echoed throughout the streets as a grumpy look crossed his face.
Lawrence tried but couldn’t utter a reply.
“Well boy, speak up!” the man demanded.
Lawrence was petrified. He didn’t know what to say. The man stood over him like a lumbering giant. “M-m-my name is L-L-L-Lawrence Sanctus, sire, I am your squire.” Lawrence barely stuttered out the words before the man’s grumpy look turned to a scowl.
“So, they sent another one, did they?” His scowl turned more serious. “I told them I didn’t want any more squires. I told them that I didn’t want to do this anymore. Do ye have any idea how long I have been a Knight? Can ye possibly comprehend how many lives I have taken? Son, last year at the Advent of Knighthood I told Flint Pyre that I didn’t want to take on a new squire this year. I’m not interested.” He began to close the door.
As the door closed, Lawrence could feel any chance he had of becoming a Knight, and providing for his mother, slipping away. He grabbed the door and shouted, “Wait sire, please!”
The man stopped closing the door and reopened it. “All ye squires are the same, all so eager to join the Knight Guard. Tell me, Lawrence, have ye ever looked into the eyes of a dying man before? Have ye ever held a friend close while he bled to death, watching as his very soul slipped through yer hands? Can ye possibly understand the true sacrifices of being a Knight?”
“No, sire,” Lawrence responded quietly.
“Sabre, come back to bed,” a young woman’s lusty voice echoed from inside the home.
“Hold on, love, ol’ Sabre’s comin’ back to the sack!” Sabre shouted, turning his head to acknowledge the request. He turned back to Lawrence and said irritably, “And just what do ye think makes ye worthy to be a squire under one of the greatest Knights in all of Haile?”
Lawrence could feel himself get choked up. “I don’t know, sire,” he said softly.
“What did ye say?”
“I said I don’t know, sire. I don’t know what makes me worthy of your tutelage.”
Sabre Grey stood there for a moment looking Lawrence over. “I will not train ye boy. Ye must go and make it for yerself, just as I did. There was no one there to hold me hand and I still managed alright. Granted, me father before me was a great Knight and very accomplished, but he never made me training easy. I pushed meself every day to become as strong as I possibly could and when I looked to him for acknowledgement…” He paused for a moment and then roared, “I got none!”
His words lingered in the air like a cloud of smoke as neither of them said anything for a moment. Lawrence knew that this man was the only way he could ever become a Knight, and at the very least he knew he had to try to appeal to Sabre’s sense of hard work and justice. Lawrence dropped down to one knee and said, “Sire, I am not worthy of your training! While I know not how I will accomplish my task, I will complete my training with or without your help! I will become strong, strong enough to protect this city and its people. Someday, Haile will remember my name, just as they do yours!”
Sabre looked at Lawrence and finally asked, “Did ye say yer name was Sanctus?”
A burst of emotion overtook Lawrence as thoughts of his deserted father rushed into his mind. “Yes, sire,” Lawrence admitted reluctantly, his expression souring.
“Hmmm…” Sabre unplugged the bottle he was holding and took a swig. He swished the liquor around in his mouth and gulped it down. He sighed. “Train hard, Lawrence Sanctus. Train harder than anyone else, become stronger than even meself, and when it comes time, good things will come yer way.”
Sabre stepped back inside the house and closed the door.
Lawrence stood there in disbelief. He didn’t know if he should knock on the door again or just go home. After several long moments, Lawrence dropped his head and started back toward Haile, no closer to becoming a Knight than when he left. His mentor wasn’t going to help him. There would be no one there to hold his hand either.
Chapter 4:
Citizens of Haile, today is a very special day. Today it is my pleasure to unveil one of Haile’s greatest wonders, The Hall of Heroes. Inside this magnificent landmark you will find many a legendary Knight’s story retold with the most brilliant of portraits and greatest of respects.
- Speech of Flint Pyre, Hall of Heroes Dedication Day
Five Weeks Later:
Just inside the outer walls of the great castle Knights Runn, Lawrence stood swinging his sword and practicing techniques that he had learned from Benni and Razzius. He had told Benni that he would start training even earlier than usual today; he needed to keep practicing even without Sabre’s guidance. During their first week as trainees, Lawrence learned that Benni was squired unto Knight Guard Veteran Reinhardt Hilt. Even though Reinhardt was more than willing to offer advice to Benni when he required it, he was unable to train with him regularly because he was constantly out on missions scouting the lands for the Mayor of Haile. Benni had made arrangements to meet with Reinhardt on the fourth day of every month to discuss the next month’s training. Benni’s father, Nicholas, had taken it upon himself to give Benni the necessary training, since Reinhardt was absent so often. Razzius was in a completely different situation. He had been squired to the
prestigious Knight Guard Captain Bryce Maxwell and received constant training and tutelage. As a direct result of the vigorous training that he underwent with Bryce and the other veteran Knights, Razzius was a step ahead of most other recruits, not just in training, but in standing as well.
Swish!
Lawrence swung his sword and chanted, “I am a Knight of Haile. I am strong. I am a force for justice. When evil enters my lands I stand up to it and lay down my life for my people. I serve the light of Sora and seek to spread it throughout the lands. Where evil breeds I seek to vanquish darkness with my longsword that acts as a torch to dispel the shadows. I am Honor. I am Courage. I am Loyalty. I am a Knight of Haile.”
Lawrence was proud of the fact that it had only taken him a week to memorize the Hailian Knight’s Oath. He could see his efforts paying off as his body began to tone and bulk with each passing day. He felt stronger and more able, and could see the results of his training.
Lawrence wasn’t the only one who was taking note of his hard work. High in the castle he had caught the fancy of the mayor’s daughter, a young Elsie Pyre. She had first noticed Lawrence the day he signed up for the Knight Guard, and she felt a spark when their eyes had met for that one instant. There was just something about the way he had looked at her that she couldn’t get out of her head. Now, she sat at her balcony overlooking the courtyard watching Lawrence’s every move. She enjoyed watching him practice his swordplay and go about his training. Once her blue eyes became locked on him, she was unable to look away. It was as if a spell had overtaken her, and now he was all she thought about.
A voice called to her from the other side of her elegant room that was adorned with expensive drapes, a beautiful oak table, and a massive bed fit for a member of royalty. The bed was flowing with fresh white linens whose smell permeated the room, creating a sense of comfort and ease. The voice was familiar and soothed her soul upon hearing it. Elsie turned around to see her mother standing in the doorway.
Maggie Pyre was an older woman with shoulder length red hair and chestnut eyes. She was average height and very beautiful and graceful. She had a feeling that Elsie wasn’t just sitting on the balcony for the spring breeze. She spoke with a voice that was very calming, motherly, and serene. “Elsie my dear, why don’t you just go and talk to him?” It was a mother’s intuition, and it was right on the mark.
“Mother, I couldn’t! I wouldn’t want to distract him from his training,” Elsie said, her face reddening slightly.
“Listen to me sweetheart, if you like him, you can’t just sit up here watching him all day…you have to be down there, where you can show him that you have an interest in him,” Maggie said, nudging her daughter playfully.
“So what am I to do then, Mother? Just go down there and say, ‘Hello, you there, boy! I would have a word with you!’ Something like that?”
“Well, you won’t know unless you get out of this room and go find out now, will you?” Maggie questioned, prodding Elsie further.
“I suppose not. I will go and watch…and that is all! I don’t much feel like attracting his attention while I’m down there.”
“Oh now dear, is Phillip really that bad?”
“Yes, Mother! For goodness sakes, yes! Please don’t even speak his wretched, polluted name around me. I cannot stand him. He acts as though because he is from a wealthy family that the people should set their eyes on him all the time. I feel like he never even listens to what I want.”
“Well, my dear, I can’t make your decisions for you, but I do want to see you happy.”
“I know you do, Mother. Well then, I suppose I should head down there for a while. I’m bored up here anyway.”
“Good luck Elsie. I know he won’t be able to resist the lovely Elsie Pyre, daughter of the Mayor of Haile,” Maggie said softly. She smiled warmly. They always got along so well. Ever since Elsie was a young girl her mother supported just about anything she wanted to do, ranging from horseback riding to some light swordsmanship on the side. Her mother was caring and nurturing even though there were times when she was stern. For the most part, though, Elsie lived a pretty sheltered and pampered life, but at times it got quite monotonous. Already at seventeen years old, Elsie could feel herself wanting more out of life than living in a giant, lonely castle constantly surrounded by the watchful eyes of her family’s guards. She hoped that maybe this boy, or someone like him, could be her ticket to the adventurous life she deeply craved.
Elsie walked into the expansive open courtyard that was surrounded by large stone walls save for a few exits that led out of the castle. Iron portcullises defended the entrances; they were guarded at all times. Elsie looked into the sky as she approached the Knights’ barracks which connected to a portion of Knights Runn Castle. “What are you going to say, Elsie?” she muttered out loud to herself. “What are you going to say?”
Her concentration was interrupted by a timid voice she had never heard before coming from behind her, “Um, excuse me, miss?”
“What? What do you want?!” Elsie exclaimed, whirling around. She saw him standing before her. It was the boy she had been watching from her room. His chainmail sleeves glistened slightly in the morning sunlight. The piercing, yet gentle gaze of his blue eyes was fixed on hers, almost as though he was attempting to ascertain her motives.
“Are you lost, miss?” the boy asked. He gave her a puzzled look.
“What?” Elsie stammered, stumbling for some coherent excuse as to why she was meandering aimlessly through the Knights’ training grounds, “No! No, I’m not lost. I am simply taking a walk through the courtyard of the castle.”
“Well miss, only Knights are supposed to be here…this is where we train. It is a little dangerous for civilians after all. Shall I escort you back to the marketplace or maybe to your home or-”
“A civilian?” Elsie interrupted, her voice fuming with irritation and a hint of embarrassment. “Don’t confuse me for a civilian! I am Elsie Pyre, daughter of Mayor Flint Pyre! I can go where I want, when I want, and no one can stop me!”
“My apologies miss; I did not know that you were a member of Mr. Pyre’s family. I am sorry,” he said cautiously, knowing full well that upsetting a member of the mayor’s family could have serious consequences.
Neither one spoke for a few moments, moments that felt like an eternity to Elsie. She stood there, unsure of what to say next. Elsie looked at the boy questioningly, and thought to herself how dumb she was for talking down to him so suddenly. She hoped he wouldn’t simply walk away from her, but before she knew it he was turning around to leave.
“Miss Elsie, I bid you farewell, and again I am-”
“Wait!” she interrupted again before he could finish his sentence.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Young Knight, what is your name?”
“Knight…I am not a Knight yet,” the boy said. A sad look pervaded his face and told the story of his hopes for the future. “I am simply a Knight in training, a squire if you will. Hopefully, someday I will get to call myself a true Knight of Haile.” The boy’s eyes brightened up as the thought of his goal coming to fruition made him smile. He extended a hand to hers. “My name is Lawrence and I am at your service, miss.”
“Well, Lawrence,” Elsie probed, “don’t you have a last name?”
Lawrence looked at the ground for a moment then muttered quietly, “Sanctus.” He really hoped that she wouldn’t ask about his father.
Luckily for him, she didn’t seem too interested in his family history. Elsie removed a white lace glove and took his hand as the two exchanged formalities. The heavy burden of the former conversation was lifted from her shoulders. She immediately felt a sense of ease and reassurance. “Well Lawrence Sanctus, I…I demand to see the barracks! That’s right; I want a tour of our facilities!” Elsie exclaimed, trying to make up an excuse to spend more time with the squire. She hoped that he hadn’t yet caught on to her ploy.
“Right away, miss, this way,” Lawrence sai
d. He directed her to the opposite side of the courtyard past where many Knights were training with each other. The two walked together with their arms at their sides.
Finally, Elsie spoke up with a trembling voice, “Well, aren’t you going to escort a lady properly?”
“Properly? How do you mean, miss?”
Elsie held out her dainty, smooth hand and motioned for Lawrence to take it. He offered no resistance and delicately took her hand, proceeding to lead her to the barracks. Her hand felt warm in his, and as his hands closed around hers he could feel the sweat on her palms. This was bold new ground for Lawrence to tread on, and he was unsure if his newest ventures would yield a considerable profit, or a costly loss. But guiding Elsie to the Knight’s barracks was his job for the moment. As far as Lawrence was concerned, nothing was more important than this, not even his training.
Elsie was overcome with emotions that flooded her mind as she walked with Lawrence. Feelings of nervousness and embarrassment breached her mental defenses as his strong grip held her hand firmly. He didn’t simply grab her hand and drag her along like an animal as he walked; it was more caring and cautious than she was used to with Phillip. As they walked he didn’t act as though he deserved her simply due to who he was, he walked side by side with her as an equal. She wasn’t used to being treated like this. She had always felt like nothing more than a prize, a trophy to be paraded around by Phillip, the man who her father had arranged for her to marry.
The two walked up to a large wooden door that separated the barracks from the castle’s courtyard. Lawrence turned to Elsie and said, “Here we are Miss Elsie, shall we go inside?”
“Yes, please.”
Lawrence pulled the door open for her and ushered her inside, not knowing exactly what he was supposed to do. Upon entering, the two looked around and Elsie was in awe of the spacious wooden structure that housed numerous wooden racks all filled with different types of weapons and armor. The two continued on, stopping before a set of hulking doors that led to the Hall of Heroes. Lawrence and Elsie stepped inside Haile’s hallowed ground. Hanging on the crimson walls were massive oak framed paintings of famous Knights that had served Haile valiantly in the past. Portraits of Sabre Grey and Flint Pyre and others adorned the walls. There weren’t many people in this area, and Lawrence proceeded to guide her further inside of the Hall of Heroes.
The Trinity of Heroes (I Will Protect You Book 1) Page 3