Chapter 2 Knighthood

The ceremony was massive, their were people I have never seen before. Some people from houses I never even heard of and here they were for my brothers Knight Celebration. Lance looked nervous as he fixed his nice expensive vest, it was blue along with his dress pants and crafted boots. His vest button were solid gold and was covered in the House of Silver Feather designs, they twisted and turned and headed down his leg pants on the sides to his boots the House crest clearly visible. His hair was just as perfect as ever red like a blazing flame, his green eyes looking around for something then we locked eyes and he seemed to relax a bit. I was just as nervous as he was and slightly confused as to why the House decided to give us this special treatment. Of all the other Houses apprentices before Lance we were the first to get expensive garments for this occasion. I wonder if it was because of Lance gifted with the sword, I wondered if they expected the same for me. I began to panic as the thought of me trying to be like my brother and failing completely, the harsh training I would have to go through and the harsh punishment that would follow if I failed which would have been often. The panic the rose to fear as I began to sweat thinking of the punishments playing in my head my heart racing with every horrible though and then a hand rested on my shoulder I almost screamed. I held myself as I looked at Frederick, I couldn’t recognize him. His icy blue eyes looked down on me with an irritated expression as he said

“ Calm down that’s not why my family gave you the luxury gifts, try not to have a Panic attack in public boy.”

I relaxed a bit and felt extremely embarrassed. As took a closer look at Frederick's new look and the rumors of him looking like a prince when he wasn’t covered in dirt, sweat and the look of disappointment always on his face when he trains me. He clearly had the look of one, his hair was perfectly combed and fell to his shoulders, his face neatly shaven and clear. He looked like a girl a bit but I couldn’t tell him that, I rather not get punched or worse. He had on a vest but his was black along with his pants. It had his family crest on his and the buttons were silver. A necklace dangled from his neck it was gold and looked to be a locket. He noticed me starring and looked down, a look of annoyance on his face and I stopped gaping at him decided to keep my gaze away from him and around the massive room.

The red drapes hanged around the room like confetti as the massive diamond chandlers dangled above about five feet apart from one another. The red carpet rand down the room to the massive gold colored doors where two guards stood in their best armor they could afford. Wealthy Men and Women in noble house chatted away some talking about politics while other gossiped about who's who and what's what. A few children about ten to five ran around playing tag before a large man in an expensive garb holding a glass of wine shouted at them to be more respectful before they get a clap to the butt. What really caught my eye was a group of people dressed in green cloaks, they seemed to shimmer in the celebration room almost like they weren’t really their. Most were tall about six' three but one of them caught my attention a man who wore a brooch on his cloak he was the smallest and the only one that held a long bow that was pure white. His face was hidden except for his striking wolf like gray eyes. His broach was brown a Large Falcon neatly designed holding a few arrows in its talons, I could barely make out the rest from the distance that separated us. A massive looking Wolf sat next to him, one side of him white and the other side clearly gray, what was more beautiful was its eyes one eyes was yellow and the other was light blue. The wolf was sat straight not even noticing the children that petted it and a toddler pulling on his tail. He beast didn't even so much a growl.

“ Its called a Dire Wolf Very Very rare” said a female voice that caught me by surprised. I looked up to see my mother. Her red hair in this curls, she was the most beautiful woman their. Her brown eyes looked at me as she embraced me, I looked to see if Frederick was still by me but he was gone. My mother smelled like cinnamon as she let go of me but still wrapped an arm around me as if I would run from her. She didn’t even look fifty more like in her early thirty’s, she had on a dress that showed of her figure that most woman would hide at her age, but she didn’t she held her self like a noble woman her dress looked expensive. It was peach out lined in gold feathers, her red hair was decorated in pearls and gold ribbons. Around her neck was also purls, her hands were covered in silk gloved trimmed with gold.

“ The House of Silver Feather had this sent to me,” she said to me as I took my eyes off her and looked back at the wolf.

“ How come I never seen a Dire Wolf” I asked my mother and she answered

“ They live far south, hidden from humans or anything that involves pollution to the air and other things, but these wolves are specially bred so their not as dumb as their wild ancestors. These were trained well and must have took the Marksmen Centuries to perfect. What a quit people they are..”

I looked over at the people covered in cloaks they didn’t even move and looked straight ahead, not even a sneeze escaped them, I was soon distracted by a warm fuzzy thing brushing against my leg and looked down to see a tiny ball of fur trying to claw at my leg. I bent town and picked it up, amazed at how small it was no bigger than a squirrel. I finally spotted its eyes light blue, hit small nuzzle barely visible in the cotton ball of fur. The baby Dire Wolf started to tug on my vest and let out tinny growling sound that sounded more like a hum.

“ That's strange,” my mother said looking at the Marksman.

“ Whats wrong mother?” I asked taking my attention off the pup and to my mothers curious gaze.

“ None of them making a move for the pup,” Curious I looked over two and she was write the Dire wolf and the men or women er or both didn’t even move or seemed to notice. I was soon held to attention as a horn began to blow and everyone turned forward. Lance looked at me and mother for a few more moments and kneel in front of a throne. It was starting.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The King was a fat man who looked like he drank to much brandy, he didn’t even talk right as he pulled out his sword and started swinging it like a maniac shouting

“ I her buh,” followed by a hiccup he would start over.

“ Boy, I her buh,” another hiccup and he would start over again.

“I-” this time he didn’t even finish the sentence as he slumped on the chair and passed out, my mother looked furious at the king but hide it quickly enough as the Kings son stood forward nothing like the king at all. He wasn’t much of a looker but he held himself as a king as he started the return in his father place.

“ I, Prince Richard the fifth with great honor and respect dub thee” he paused and moved the sword to my brothers left shoulder and continued

“ Sir. Lance Knight Of The House of Sliver Feather and Honorable Right Hand man to the King” the ceremony got head quite, I was dumb founded at the unexpected news. Lance was appointed the Kings right hand man the youngest ever he was the king favorite and appointed such honor at a young age. Lance looked just looked pale as Prince Richard he put his sword in his scabbard and said

“ Rise Sir. Lance” and Lance did as he was told and turned so everyone can witness this day, everyone clapped and my mother ran to him and embraced him, tears falling down her face ruining her make up and his vest. I stood their not sure what to say or even do. I felt someone had punched me in the gut at the face that Lance knew he was going to be the King Right Hand man. He would lead future wars and Lead battled for the king himself. Lance gave everyone a face smile as he shook everyone’s hand he avoided my gaze for the rest of the day. Not even a word as mother kissed us both as she was hosted up Fredericks carriage and escorted home. I looked down to notice I was still holding the Dire Wolf Pup in my hands and looked around for the Mysterious group of Marksman but they were gone. I looked down at the pup wondering what do to next as it rested in my arms.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I sat in my room on the floor, the flames danced as I watched the wolf run around with a toy ball I had bought him. The word of Sir Frederick rang in my ears as I showed him the dog when he got home

“ I don’t want to see chew holes in my boots....or I'll skin the mutt myself into baby socks...”

My mind now wondered to Lance, and his him ignoring me for the rest of the ceremony. I wondered if it was because of the sudden promotion and how I would feel. I lied back on the floor now and stretched and let out a tired yawn. I looked over at my new pet and grinned as he tried to pounce on the rubber ball but fail horribly.

“Ratis” I mumbled as the rubber ball hovered, the pup looked at it for a moment then began to bark and move from side to side. Then it leaped for the ball.

“ movere ius “ The ball moved right and the pup landed on its stomach and locked eyes on me and cocked his eyes tot he side. I couldn’t help but laugh as the door to my room opened. I quickly cut off the concentration and the ball tumbled to the ground and bounced away, the pup scrambled after it but stopped hesitant to see if it would float again. Lance entered my room, he closed the door behind him and sat next to me and noticed the dog as he sat beside me on the floor.

“ Where you get it?” he asked

“ I think the Marksman gave him to me” I said flatly. Lance looked extremely surprised as he picked up the pup and examined the belly and to see if it was a boy.

“ Its not a he, its a she” he said to me as he placed her down and she ran after the ball again tripping over herself in her haste.

“ What should I name her?” I asked Lance and he shrugged

“ What ever you want, She's yours” he answered flatly and I shook my head

“ No shes ours we name her together,” I corrected him, He looked surprised then nodded as we both though of a name the said together

“Arya” the both shared a smile as the pup looked up ear perked.

“ She seems to like the name” Noah said excitedly.

“ Noah, I'm sorry about the way I treated you” Lance said suddenly with a hug. Noah nodded they both looked at the fire for a few minutes. Arya runs over to Lance and struggles to climb over his legs, her tail wagging furiously as her left back paw scrap his pants at an attempt to hoist herself up.

“ Tomorrows the Kings Hunt, Noah” he said Noah looked up curious and asked

“ What's the Kings Hunt?” Lance rubbed his head and pointed at Arya

“You'll find out tomorrow, just-” he paused and took off a necklace. It was a mini sword and he put it around Noah neck and said

“ If anything happens I want you to run away with Arya. Forget Frederick order understood?”

Noah didn’t know what was going on but he nodded as Lance got up clearly satisfied. He opened the door and closed it behind him leaving Noah to his thoughts Arya resting beside him the only thing on his mind was now the Kings Hunt tomorrow.