Chapter 1 - The Journey to the Capital

The cold wind of the morning comforts the citizen of Tarwood as they are slowly waking from their beds. But for William, it is the most exciting day of his life as he and Sir Eldric will begin their two-day travel to the capital to participate in the Grand Tourney that occurs every five years. The knights of the realm can compete for a chance to win money and grant their deepest wish with the grace of King Edward.

William heads to the stables and prepares their horses and luggage for the road when greeted by his friend, John Leads.

"Look at you up and about this early. You just began being a squire last year. Now you turned 16, you surpass the rest of us, and you are now the formal squire of Sir Eldric!" John says as he hands William a pouch of medicinal herbs.

"John, we all turned squires at the age of 15," William replied, "I am just a year older than you. There is no special training here. I just did what Sir Eldric instructed me, and I did it by heart. I've been a squire for a year, and it will take more than cleaning the stables and swords before I can be knighted, so why the long face?"

It's written on John's face. William can see his friend's sadness stems from John's inability to attend the Grand Tourney with William and Sir Eldric as the barracks only allow squires and knights.

"You will get your chance to be a squire next year, but I do wish Sir Eldric reconsider bringing you to the Grand Tourney," William replied as he placed the items neatly on the back of the horses.

Like a thief, Sir Eldric sneaks towards the two and gives them a good fright. The two boys leapt in fear while their mentor laughed as he saw the two boys' faces turned white as a sheet.

"And the answer is no. Just look at you two. I managed to sneak behind and give you the scare of your life. What if I was a bandit and mugged the two of you?" He laughed and helped the two back to their feet. "Since William will assist me on the tourney, I will need you, John, to keep the other page in check while we are away. We won't be gone for long. We will be back once the tourney ends, within two weeks or so."

John grabbed Eldric's tunic and gave him a big hug. "Don't worry! We will be here protecting Tarwood till you return, and I will make sure the kids are properly trained."

"Ata boy!" Eldric hugs John and treats him as if his child. Eldric doesn't have any legitimate children. Instead, he adopts orphan children. His heart can't bear seeing a kid without a future. This was his motivation that led him to his knighthood. With the riches he gained over the years, he turned an old settlement within the forest into a walled village that accepts anyone that needs help.

Eldric and William ride their horses and begin their long trek toward the capital. John waves goodbye to his friend and their mentor.

As the morning turned to a harsh afternoon, the two decided to rest their horses by the river. William prepares their lunch while Eldric grabs his sword and practices his swings and form.

As William was cooking their gruel, he noticed a pair of eyes by the bushes near them. Alarmed, he quickly notified his mentor about the unwanted visitor.

Eldric dropped his sword and turned his head towards the bush. "A guest! Please join us for our lunch. My name is Eldric Tarwood, and this is William Forrester. We mean no harm, and we are just passing thru your territory. We will leave after we have our lunch."

William stands up and yells in protest, "Those are the folk of the trees! Pagan worshippers and turn to savages!"

Eldric turned around and gave William a stern look. "Who do we serve?" Eldric asked William.

"The crown", William replied with clench closed.

"What does crown represent?"

"The king that protects his people from harm. Especially from the -"

"Does the crown represent the monarch?! Or does it serve the higher purpose?" Eldric cuts him off.

William holds his breath and remembers his lesson when he was raised in the orphanage. "God. The crown serves as a link between God and the kingship of the realm."

"Exactly. And does killing the innocent give us the security we need?" Eldric asks his squire once more.

William was at a loss for words. He was blinded by the stories of the knights defending this realm from the bandits and other atrocities made by their enemies. The gossip from the kingdom led him to believe that these people were heathens are quick to violence. Taking whatever they wanted from their realm and killing anyone that they got in their way.

Eldric was angry with his squire's judgment but, likewise, was quick to let his anger go and understand where the boy is coming from. William was found as a baby in the middle of the forest. He was taken care of by the nuns of an orphanage. Four years ago, the village that William was raised in was beset by bandits, taking away their food and burning everything on their path. It was by chance that Eldric was passing by and immediately jumped into action. He drove all of the bandits away, but the fight severely wounded him. The villagers took him in and nursed him back to health. He thought that it was some doctor that healed him, but it was this kid. He saw the good in him and his capability as a healer and was convinced this kid could be a good knight. This was the reason he took William under his wing.

Eldric ordered William to place a bowl of gruel near the bush. William reluctantly followed Eldric; he approached the bush with his right hand carrying the bowl and his left hand behind his back with a dagger at the ready. Eldric sees William shaking with fear and reminds the boy not to be afraid as the visitor wants a meal.

As William placed the food by the bush, small hands appeared and took the bowl inside the bush. The two can hear the slurps of their guest as it sates their hunger. Soon enough, the guest placed the bowl outside of the bushes with a loud burp.

Eldric asked once more to join them for lunch. Their guest cannot say no after that delicious serving. William puts up a brave face and steadies his hand on his dagger if this guest tries anything funny.

A girl emerged from the bushes with her arrow pointed at the two of them. Still cautious yet slowly trusting Eldric and William. Unkept hair, bearing no shoes, covered in mud. Eldric was right. This girl was not from their realm. Eldric surmises that this girl must have been hunting since the dawn of the day and yet haven't captured any food for breakfast.

Eldric approached the girl with another bowl of gruel and asked her to sit with them by the camp. She lowers her weapon and proceeds to grab the bowl from Eldric's hand.

William was ashamed of his mistake. He lowered his arm from his dagger and sat beside his master to apologize. Still, Eldric grabbed his shoulder and complimented him, "This gruel is delicious, William! Are you sure you don't want to be a cook? You might even bring peace to all with your cooking!" Then, with the mood set back to a happier one, the three enjoy their meal together.

After they had their fill, the girl stood up and bowed before them and began to speak. "I thought your people were just savages, but I was mistaken. Some of you still have a good heart. May mother earth guide you two on your path. But I would like to repay you two for the food you shared with me."

She brings forth a pouch full of smooth white stones with runes etched on it. She instructs Eldric to grab a handful of the stones in his palm. As he does it, the girl closes her eyes and prays over the earth. "Throw it!

As the runes fell to the ground, three of the runes came up "ᚦ ᚾ ᛠ". The girl looked up and grabbed the hands Eldric. "The earth tells us your destination will be a difficult one. Plight awaits you with thorns, and failure means death."

Eldric was surprised as the girl guessed their destination. "I am impressed. We're heading to the Grand Tourney, where knights of our realm will compete. But, unfortunately, death is a possibility as we are required to duel with each other."

"But no need to worry!" William says with enthusiasm, "Sir Eldric already won the Grand Tourney 20 years ago. And he is, if not one, of the best knights in the realm. And I will be here to assist him." 

The girl looked at Eldric's eyes and reminded him to be careful. He won in his younger years, but it doesn't excuse him from being reckless, especially now he is older. Eldric thanked her for her warning and assured her he would take her words to heart.

The girl grabbed William's hand and asked to do what Eldric did earlier. As William cast the stones to the ground, three runes also turn up "ᛗ ᛟ ᛏ".

The girl laughs for a moment, "Yours says you, a man will inherit the land of the brave. But, I say this one is unlikely as you were shaking awhile ago with my bowl." William closes his fist and bit his lip. He wanted to tell his adventures with Sir Eldric to prove that he was brave as the rune says but, he figured it wasn't worth the effort and instead shook her hand in thanks.

The girl was about to leave, but Eldric stopped her to ask her name. "Ingrid is my name. Safe travels to you both, and I hope other people of your realm be as kind as you." As soon as she said her name, she ran toward the thick forest and was never seen again.

Eldric and William continued with their journey. Eldric remains steadfast in the duration of the trip while William is hung on the readings by Ingrid toward Eldric. Finally, when the sunsets, they made camp by the road. William prays that God favours Eldric on this tourney and helps him win every match he enters. Not because he wants Eldric to win the gold but to see him return safely to Tarwood and help him develop his training to be a knight.

As William dreamed, he sees himself as bowing before Sir Eldric, knighting him with John and the rest of Tarwood as a witness. He dreamt of going on an adventure to defeat all the bandits of the realm, get paid, return to the orphanage that raised him and give them the money for raising him.

As the new dawn breaks, they are awakened by the loud trampling of horses travelling by the road. Eldric wakes up to see knights carrying their banners and some touring a caravan with them. William wakes up and sees the same thing and asks Eldric why they don't have any banner or coat of arms of Tarwood.

"I never thought of it. But, you know what, when we return to Tarwood. I will let you design it. What do you say?" Eldric says as he points to the colourful parade of banners in front of them.

It was a beautiful sight to see a sea of colours. So moved by colors, it instilled pride within William, and he promised to do good by creating a banner that they would be proud of.