The whistle blew on the practice field. All riders pulled their mounts to a hold position. DD pulled his to a hold position just as his net wrapped around a practice dummy. The horses were so well trained that the sound of the dummy crashing to the ground echoed throw the valley without any of them stirring. The sergeant glared at DD.
All the squires’ eyes watched as a courier stumbled across the field to the master at arms. He spit the whistle from his mouth as he took four letters. Shuffling through them he pulled out one and opened it. His faced changed from stern to even more stern as he read it. This was a hard man that always wore a dragon on his face. Reading the letter drove him to an even more grim place. His lips moved as his mouthed some words to himself, “well dragons’ breath.”
As he shifted to the mounted trainees, he stood taller and became his normal self again. He stuffed one letter into a vest pocket as he barked out orders, “Tails, Spins, and DD Up in center.” As always no one moved quick enough, and his voice went up into a shout, “NOW!” All three trotted over.
DD jumped from his saddle in a practiced move and landed on the field in front of Master of Arms Chaser. Spins and Tails landed to his right and left. The horses being trained for this maneuver each moved off to form a triangle behind the men in a guard position. Master Chaser’s voice dropped to a level only they could hear, “I have a letter for each of you. … You three will be allowed to take the rest of the days training off.” Spins, Tails and DD grabbed their letter and moved off to read it. Master Chaser called over a messenger.
Everything around DD left him as he read the letter. Each word came into his mind as he processed it. Ispin had been a friend, guide, and confident. Now he was dead. He had met the traveler years ago. He did not seem to be a knight but often taught DD the things you needed to know that were not kinight related. Becklin was some unknown Knight of the Forgotten man. As a squire they should be companions but, on some level, DD hated her. She was the voice that came with the news and for that this messenger was evil. On so many levels he knew he should not hate her but deep down he did. Grief filled him.
Master Chaser’s voice smashed into DD and his two cohorts, “attention!”. Instinctively all three, center stepped and turned to face their commander. Using his command voice, “you three take the rest of the day off. I expect to find you in the dragon’s roust when I am done here.” DD did not wait for a change in his order and marched off the field. A shield maiden came to gather his mount. It was time to drink and reflect.
DD headed out of town. His companions headed straight to a tavern. Once out of ear shot, they started to joke and laugh. DD needed a little time to his thoughts before a drink. He was drawn to the swampy any on the north end of the fort. The ground became spongy as he approached the Forgotten Tree. Those seeking to become a Knight of the Forgotten Man often go to the tree for meditation and guidance.
It was an old, gnarled tree that somehow grew from the wet swampy soil. It was a forgotten tree for the forgotten man. DD kneeled on the ground with his hand outstretched on the tree. “What is my path. How do I move forward?” A twig snapped behind him. DD spun, The net from his belt was in one hand and a dagger in the other. His arm stopped swinging as he saw Master Chaser in front of him. He heals could not click in the thick mud as he came to attention.
Master Chaser started to laugh, “There is no attention at the Forgotten Tree.” He scanned DD from head to toe, “I did not know you were a follower. It is good to see a few of us,” His entire body jerked as his vigorously tapped his foot. He looked from tree to man, “do you have an answer. Do you know what you are doing. .. I am here for answers myself.”
DD peered down his arm as it was touching the tree again. Just above his fingers someone had carved Vogler in the tree. It was common for the followers to carve their home into to tree to have a connection to it. DD had not done that yet, but someone had carved Vogler, and his hand was resting upon it. He looked at his Sargent, “I have no leave. I am going to do nothing.”
Chaser smiled, “well I need to send a messenger to Vogler with a small box for Becklin. Could you do that for me. I can make it an order if that helps. Then I cannot order you to take the next step.” DD stared in understanding. He was too take a package to Becklin and then he was to figure out the next step and that might mean not coming back, but it could not be an order. This may be his last days as a squire and doing this task may stop him from becoming a knight. One of the Oaths went through his head, “Risk before Safety”. This was the first time he understood.
After a short time, both walked back to the barracks without saying a word.
DD stood in front of the door to Chaser’s room while he gathered up the box, a small pouch of coins and a shield. Chaser handed the box to DD, “I take your honor to deliver this to Becklin without molestation.” He excepted DD’s nod as an oath, and handed him the shield, “I know you have not earned your shield, so here is my mine, for your honor.” DD grabbed it just as Chaser handed him the pouch, “here is enough coin for the boat ride… Now let’s get a drink with Spins and Tails, as you must leave in the morning.”
DD found it hard to move in the morning as his entire body hurt from the nights drinking. He gathered his supplies, box, gear, and shield. Heading down to the small barge dock the shield felt light in his hands. Sleep came quickly as the rocking of the barge took him north towards Auchram.