“But wouldn’t the Ranger count?” Colin asked again, ignoring Rowan’s remark.
“I mean, with that logic, Tollien would have to count. It kind of walks a fine line,” Will said, trying to push the pillows flat. Giving up, he put Rowan’s pillow in his lap, crossing his arms over it.
Rowan stood and stalked to Will’s bed, pulling the pillow from his grip, then stalked back to his own as Will and Colin fought to keep themselves from laughing too loudly. “Shove off, both of you,” he punched his pillow back into shape before laying down again. “Ross is right, though, we probably do need to rest up a bit.”
Colin’s smile slid from his face. “I keep having nightmares,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Me too,” Will leaned back and slid down his pillows. “I’m not sure they’re going to go away considering the last few days.”
“Was Dannix seriously alive three days ago?” asked Rowan.
Colin sighed and laid down as well. “Yeah. Think Treck will forgive us, ever, for not riding with them?”
“We just saved Shadow Dale and Alamore. He’d be pretty ungrateful and childish not to,” Rowan grumbled.
Will laughed darkly. “I don’t think that is going to stop Giltor.”
“He might be an ally to Alamore,” Colin’s voice was already starting to grow slow as his eyelids lowered, “but I don’t think I will ever like him.”
“Good thing we don’t have to,” Rowan yawned. “The King gets to play diplomat.”
Will barely heard Rowan’s reply. He had already closed his eyes and started to fall asleep.
***
The next few weeks were strained and strange at the castle. The Earl had left, leaving one of his knights to bring back the rest of their injured later. King Giltor had tried to rally his exhausted men to leave Alamore as soon as he felt he’d had enough sleep, only to have Sir Laster in his sneering voice tell him he was a moron who would push his men to death. After a tirade about the knight’s insubordination, Giltor had stalked away. The Shadow Dale men hadn’t left.
Haru had been caught four times trying to sneak to training with the other squires, despite having to navigate the stairs and halls on crutches. Finally, furious at catching Haru trying to sneak from the healing room window, the healer had ordered him back to the squires’ chamber and under the supervision of Sir Richard and Robin. They had decided the best course of action was removing his crutches when they had to leave and leaving him with piles of books and maps from upstairs. More than once Haru had tried to convince Will to bring him his crutches, stored neatly in the Knights Council Chamber.
The knights’ councils had become more common and exclusive, the King pulling aside senior knights for hushed discussions that broke apart whenever squires or Shadow Dale men appeared. Even the training for the squires had become strained, the knights who were strong enough to train working with the squires who had healed enough to learn.
It was in the second week after the attack that Treck tentatively approached Will, Colin, and Rowan who were practicing archery with Rockwood. The afternoon light was slanting over the mud of the jousting arena, most of the snow having melted away. He watched them in silence for some time before asking Rockwood if he could join in. Rockwood had waved him forward to pick a bow without a second thought.
“Do you shoot with your left or right eye, Treck?” the knight asked.
“Right,” Treck muttered, looking between the bows before picking one and stringing it. Will watched him, noticing how cautiously he moved, wincing as he straightened.
“Ribs?” he asked as Treck drew even with him, taking the target to his left.
Treck nodded, grimacing. “The healer said you went through similar not long ago. I only broke two but they hurt.”
Will nodded. “Just take it easy. That’s the worst part; you can’t do anything.”
Treck shrugged. He seemed reluctant to meet Will’s eye. He picked up an arrow, turning it in his fingers and finally looked up. “Look, I’m sorry, all of you. I don’t know, I just thought…I wanted to get even with Thornten for what they did to Dannix. Then we got out there and,” he stopped and Will watched him inhale a deep breath. “I honestly don’t know how I didn’t die.”
“A good horse, that’s how,” Rockwood said, passing by. “Now less chitchat, boys, and more arrows,” he raised his eyebrows as Rowan rolled his eyes. “Another move like that, Rowan, and you can clean stalls instead.”
They practiced until they had each emptied their quivers and had to walk forward to retrieve them from the target. Will turned to Treck as he reached to pull an arrow from one of the rings. “I’ll get yours, Treck. Guarantee that’ll hurt your ribs and then you’ll have the healer on your case.”
“He already will be,” Treck said, grinning slightly. “I snuck out,” he stepped back and Will reached over to pull the arrows free for Treck as well. “But I really am sorry and-”
“That’s enough,” Will shook his head. “You listened to your King and you lost Dannix. I’m sorry, Treck. He was a good knight.”
Treck nodded and Will recognized his expression. He was sure it was the same one he had worn as he spoke with Haru and fought back his tears. “More arrows less chit chat,” Rowan called in his best impersonation of Sir Rockwood.
“Rowan!” Rockwood barked from the shooting line. “I swear, I am about two seconds from trading squires with Ross!”
“I’d like to see you try!” Rowan yelled back.
Will and Treck laughed as Colin raised his eyebrows, turning to Rockwood with an offended expression. “Do you seriously think that Ross would trade me for this disrespectful son of some snobby Lord? That’s rude.”
***
It was another two weeks before Shadow Dale was ordered, again, to saddle up. The announcement was made on the same day that Sir Bane and Sir Henry returned, with a promise of alliance from Kelkor with their seal. The news of the battle had reached them as they had been preparing to ride back with reinforcements and Kelkor had decided it unnecessary to send their men. They had problems of their own, Will heard Sir Bane telling Sir Laster, with their border being pressured by Shadow Dale themselves.
This time Giltor didn’t make a large and grand announcement. Will saw him ask his generals if they thought their men could be moved without too much issue. It was clear that he couldn’t handle being called out by an Alamore knight, again, for his arrogance and ignorance.
Treck wasn’t the only one torn between excitement at going home and misgivings of leaving.
“I’m learning a lot here and I don’t even have a knight in Shadow Dale yet,” he confessed to Will. They were in the squire chamber, Will helping him pack his saddlebags, the only other person in the room, Haru, staring moodily out of a window. He didn’t need his crutches but, on finding him trying to saddle his horse to practice with Robin, Sir Richard had lost his temper and told him he would personally make sure that Haru wasn’t knighted until he was thirty if he didn’t go back to bed.
“I don’t have a knight either,” Will handed Treck a folded cloak. “Surely you can practice with other knights like I’ve been doing.”
“Shadow Dale is fairly different when it comes to that,” Treck grimaced. “I mean, my uncle keeps implying that I’ll be his squire but, I’m not sure,” he hesitated, “I mean, he’s my King, and it is an honor but...”
“But he’s a pigheaded and pompous prat?” Haru asked, looking over at them.
Will gave Haru a disapproving look, though he silently agreed. Treck shrugged, torn between loyalty and honesty. “Well, you can always see how things pan out when you get to Shadow Dale.”
“I guess I’ll have to,” Treck said, fastening the buckles on the saddlebag and throwing it over one shoulder. He smiled sadly. “I guess I better get out there. Rowan and Colin got my horse so I could finish packing. I just put it off too long and,” he stopped shrugging. “Well, Will, I hope I get to see you again sometime,” he pulled Will into a quick side hug and r
ushed from the room.
“Not great at goodbyes, Shadow Dale people, are they?” Haru commented, lazily. “I mean, I’m right here, he could have at least just said see you or something.”
Will picked up the pillow off of Treck’s cot, throwing it at Haru’s face. “Do the world a favor, grouch, and shut up,” he started toward the door himself. He might as well watch the Shadow Dale contingent leave through the gates, this time for home opposed to death.
“Hold up a minute, Will,” he turned. Haru looked nervous and was shifting uncomfortably.
“I swear, if you are trying to get me to make your excuses, I won’t do it,” Will held up his hands. “I heard Sir Richard. I didn’t even know he could yell.”
Haru waved Will’s words away. “Oh, he does it for show, so the healer doesn’t think he’s slacking. If he’s really mad, he gets quiet and it’s ten times scarier. He’s been my knight since I turned twelve, so I know it. No, I actually wanted to ask you something.”
“Yeah?” Will sat on the foot of his bed, waiting.
Haru started playing with the edge of his sheet, not meeting Will’s eyes. “Are you wanting to be Richard’s squire, when I get knighted? Or Sir Miller’s maybe?”
Will shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it much.”
“I mean,” Haru looked up. “They’ve both done a ton. Miller isn’t much older than me, but even this year, he’s learned a ton. And I know he’s been debating taking on a squire and right now, it’s only you and Airagon who don’t have knights,” he grimaced. “I have too much time to sit here and overthink lately.”
Will stood. “I’m going to see if I can talk Richard into letting you at least just walk around or train on foot. If you stay off the horse, I don’t think he’ll mind.”
Haru groaned. “I really miss riding though.”
Will laughed and started toward the door. “You’ll survive.”
“Will,” he turned again, feeling exasperated and raised his eyebrows, waiting. Haru was pale, his sheet balled in his fist. “They’re knighting me and Robin tomorrow. Richard told me…I’m going to be a knight and I can’t even get on my damn horse to get over the nerves.”
“Wow,” Will shook his head. He didn’t even know what to say. Imagining the squire chamber without Haru and Robin, now with so many gone from the castle, felt strange.
“I’m not sure I’m ready,” Haru let go of the sheet, running a hand through his red hair. “Like, I’m not sure I can be a knight yet, that I know enough.”
Will’s mind flashed to Haru, bleeding, his leg useless, fighting Marl in the graveyard and he forced a half-smile. “I think you’re ready. You held off that entire horde alone, with your leg bleeding, for way longer than any other squire could. You and Robin both are ready.”
“But I got hurt,” Haru stared at his leg, covered with the sheet. “I got struck. I couldn’t defend myself.”
“And Dannix died, Haru. He was one of the best knights Shadow Dale had and he died. You saw how he looked, didn’t you?” he rested his hand on the door handle. “You didn’t stop fighting. I’m pretty sure that’s why you’re ready to be a knight.”
Haru forced a weak smile. “Well you better see off Shadow Dale and I better pace aimlessly around this room without witnesses or I am going to lose my mind.”
Will nodded, turned, and followed Treck’s path to the courtyard in time to see the last of the Shadow Dale knights crossing the bridge. The squire in the back of their delegation raised a hand and waved to Will, Rowan, and Colin, his grey horse prancing before cantering to catch up with the others.
CHAPTER FORTY
Will followed Rowan and Colin through the center set of double doors in the back of the dining hall and up the broad staircase beyond. He had never seen them unlocked, let alone open, and felt giddy anticipation. The squires around them were talking animatedly, the knights that brought of the rear had to keep pushing them forward.
The energy was contagious. Will took the last two stairs in one bound and started along the hall they had come into. It was massive, the walls draped in old banners of deepest sapphire, silver threads shining in the emblem of the stag’s head over the three slanted gold bars. More banners, familiar and unfamiliar, hung between each blue Alamore banner. The crimson banner with the phoenix of Phersal, the yellow tower on its purple backdrop for Bronswick, the diving falcon surrounded by a ring of twisted thorn branches of Thornten. At the end of the hall, two doors were thrown wide, bright sunlight and torches giving the room a warm and welcoming feel.
Benches lined both sides of the room, forcibly reminding Will of the Final Farewell below. Like the hall below, a dais was raised at the far end. Unlike the Final Farewell, large windows opened along the back wall, letting fresh air and bright sunlight pour through and, where the table was in the hall below, a richly carved throne stood. The gentle breeze made more sapphire banners wave gently. Still, he shivered at the thought of the Final Farewell and hurried to catch up with Rowan and Colin, who were sliding into seats in the middle of the line. He slid in, Novin and Vancely following him.
“Haru looked awful this morning when Richard came for them, did you notice that?” Novin hissed, leaning forward to talk to Will, Rowan, and Colin.
Colin nodded. “Can’t blame him. I think I’ll be nervous too when I get knighted.”
“I’m not going to be. Honestly, I’ll think it’s way overdue,” said Rowan, raising an eyebrow and giving them a supercilious look. “I mean, I should already be a knight, I am amazing.”
“Excuse me a moment, Will,” Novin said, politely, before leaning over and cuffing Rowan in the back of the head. “Arrogant little.”
“Watch it,” Rowan flattened his hair, glowering at Novin.
“Rowan, stop causing chaos for once in your life, please,” Rockwood said, sliding into the row in front of them.
“Oh, and Novin is fine with it?” he demanded, crossing his arms. Will had to stifle his laughter at Rowan’s look of indignation.
Rockwood shrugged, facing forward again. “Novin is Sir Don’s issue, I have my hands full with you.”
“Both of you shut up,” Ross growled, sitting down next to Rockwood. Will snorted and had to cover his mouth with his elbow as Rockwood and Rowan both stuck their tongues out at the older knight. Sir Ross growled, swearing under his breath.
Will watched Sir Bane and Sir Henry trying to herd the rest of the squires into more seats, as well as a group of pages. He saw the bright wide eyes of the King’s page, Mark. He noticed a few others who looked nearly old enough to be squires. Sir Laster and Sir Richard were among the last to enter, Laster casting a disapproving look at the pages, who were talking in low excited mutters. Will noticed that Sir Richard seemed almost as nervous and excited as Haru and Robin had that morning as he took a seat in the front row.
The whole hall fell silent as King Revlan entered, striding toward the front of the room in a sapphire tunic that made the blue stand out in his dark eyes. His black hair had been combed backwards and he wore a simple crown, made from twisted gold and silver. When he reached the podium, he mounted the steps and turned to face the onlookers, a thin smile playing at the corners of his lips. The power that always emanated from him was stronger than Will had ever felt it and he found himself staring in awe of the King.
The King’s hand moved to his side and he drew his sword, the sunlight glancing off of the blade. He lowered the blade until the point of the sword rested between his feet and he looked over the faces once more. “We gather for the knighting of two of our squires. They have more than earned this title with all they have done for the castle, with their actions to defend the castle alongside Sir Miller and the Ranger.”
“Where is the Ranger?” Rowan hissed, glancing around.
“Shut up,” Colin said back in a low whisper.
Will turned cautiously in his seat. There was no hooded form lurking at the edge of the room or seated in any of the rows. Where was he?
“Wi
th the approval of all senior knights on the council,” Will turned back to the King, fighting his curiosity, “I call forward squire Robin of Alamore.”
Robin entered through the double doors at the end of the room, head high and shoulders back. His eyes flitted toward the group of squires who broke into clapping. Rowan wolf-whistled which made Robin grin and Rockwood throw him a warning look. Unperturbed, Rowan shrugged and blew his knight a kiss, which made Will have to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Rockwood, too, was fighting his smile as he faced forward once more.
Robin had reached the dais and stood one step down from the King. “Are you ready to swear your loyalty to Alamore, as a knight of the lands and the throne?” the King asked, his face serious.
“I am,” Robin’s voice sounded strong but Will saw his hands shaking slightly at his sides.
Ranger of Kings (William of Alamore Series Book 1) Page 37