The Squire and the Knight - Book Sample

The scene when Kayla and Aiden meet, and the development of their friendship.

         One day Kayla went for a walk in the woods with her sword to practice her technique in fighting.  She went to the stream that was far from the castle, and began her practice.  With the first swing of her sword she felt she had not much strength and was already tired after her third swing.  Her technique was unstable and unbalanced, and she had no control of her own weapon.  Tired and winded Kayla stood catching her breath, and was about to continue her practice when she was stopped.

         “That last swing almost hit a tree.” a young man’s voice sounded from behind her.  Kayla whipped around to find a man ten years older than her approaching her with such a peaceful look to his whole person.  The moment she looked in his eyes, Kayla felt such profound wisdom and peace that she never felt from any other being she knew.  She was filled with curiosity in wanting to know this young man, but somehow she had difficulty finding any words to speak to him.  His presence stunned her frozen, and she felt weak yet saved; it was such a strange feeling.

         “Try keeping your balance.” the young man spoke to her.  “Like this.”  He showed her the perfect fighting stance that made him look impossible to knock down.  Without thinking Kayla mimicked him.  She was eager to learn more from him, but her curiosity overcame her.  She tried to find words to speak to him.

         “Who are you?”  The man looked at her and smiled.

         “I am Aiden.” he said to her.  “Tell me, what is your name?”

         “Kayla.  I am the squire of Sir Simon.”

         He respectfully bowed to her, and then grinned. 

         “Now then, make sure you focus on your center of balance.  It should come right down the middle of your body.”  Kayla continued to focus on her fighting stance.  She focused ahead of her, visualizing her opponent, and swung her sword in a neat fashion, and for once she did not lose control of her stance or her sword.  Kayla looked back at Aiden with a hopeful smile.

         “That was indeed much better.”

         Then without another word, Aiden departed from her and returned back into the forest.  Kayla was shocked.  There was no way he could leave her now!  In her heart she could not allow Aiden to leave her, so Kayla ran after him.

         “Wait!  Don’t leave!  We just met!”

         “And now we must depart.” Aiden replied.

         “But why?  I don’t understand.  I �" I was hoping I could learn from you.”  Aiden stopped and turned to her.

         “Learn from me?  But I am merely a peasant.”

         “It doesn’t matter who you are.” Kayla said.  “What matters is your great knowledge, and I see you have it, and can use it to teach others, like me.”  Aiden smiled at her.

         “You want me to teach you the ways of a knight?”

         “Well, yes.”  She bowed her head to him.  “I would be honored to have you as my teacher.”

         “Mentor.” Aiden corrected.  Kayla looked up at him in wonder.  “If I am to teach you the ways of a knight, I shall be your Mentor.  There is a lot that I must teach you, things that are deep in life, and ways of how to call for the Great Wisdom.”

         “That is the only thing I do not know.” Kayla said shocked.  “I was hoping Sir Simon could teach me, but he doesn’t know exactly how to.  He only told me when I become a knight the Great Wisdom will come upon me.”

         “It’s not that simple.” Aiden said with a laugh.  Kayla looked at him eager to hear what he had to say.  “That is something I will teach you later, but for now, I will teach you how to fight and wield a sword.”  He looked down at the young squire and smiled, and in return Kayla beamed knowing the coming days would be full of wonder.

         The squire and her mentor spent many hours of the days working together, training, fighting and even meditating.  Kayla would make numerous mistakes, but Aiden showed great patience with her and had her rehearse every fighting move until it met his satisfaction.  The more Kayla spent time with Aiden the more she became loyal to him and him to her.  She was so loyal to his teachings that if other knights gave her advice, she would politely not take it.  Kayla felt and knew that no other wisdom and knowledge could beat Aiden’s.  They were creating a bond of friendship so profound and true that had never been seen in Trinity in all its years of existence.  It was a friendship that no other could replace or match.

         Two days before the squire’s tournament, Kayla and Aiden returned back to the forest for another lesson.  The two friends dueled each other with their swords, and even though it was for training it was entertaining as well.  Aiden told Kayla that as she fought she must not only notice her surroundings but feel them.  All around them was life, things that were breathing, moving, starting a new life or ending.  As a child of Trinity, and especially a protector of the kingdom, Kayla had to respect all living things.  Then Aiden told Kayla to meditate as she fought.  He told her that all around her was something so great that helps all living things, and could help her focus.

         “But what is it?” Kayla asked her mentor.

         “It is the Great Wisdom.  In every tree, every blade of grass, a rabbit or squirrel, the gentle gust of wind, even you and me, is the Great Wisdom.  It gives one true peace, even if they are not a knight.  All peoples of this kingdom and the world can feel this awesome force.”

         “My dear friend, Aiden, how can I call to the Great Wisdom to be with me?”

         “It is already with you.” Aiden replied with a smile.  “You just have to fully focus on it, and truly know that it is within you.  It is how Trinity thrives, because the Great Wisdom is within everyone, and if you know that it is within you then you must share it with others.  That is what the people of Trinity do each day of their lives.  That is what makes Trinity a prosperous kingdom.”  Kayla began to fully focus on nothing else but the Great Wisdom, and soon nothing else mattered to her in her life.  And suddenly she felt peace that she had never felt before, and she knew what peace was like, for that was what her heart was made of the most; but nothing like this peace she was feeling.  It calmed every inch of her body, her mind cleared of all thoughts, good and bad.  She felt her sword clutched in her hand not in a tight grasp but relaxed.   

         “Now with this great force as your guide, use it to not look at your opponent as your enemy, but as another living being.” he told her in a calm voice.  “Killing is wrong, but ridding of pure evil is different.  The opponent you will face in two days will not be made of pure evil.  You cannot kill him, but how will you defeat him?  That is when you use the Great Wisdom as your guide, Kayla.”  Kayla looked at Aiden after meditating on the Great Wisdom fulfilling her.

         “I have great confidence now.” she said.  “But I will not let it overcome me.  I shall fight with humble pride, and in honor for you.”

         “What about your own honor?” Aiden asked curiously.

         “That is not how I fight.  I fight in honor for my loved ones.  As your student, as your dearest friend, I shall fight in honor for you.”