A Game of Chi Book I: A Crown of Blood

Chapter 11: Laval II

LAVAL

Laval couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I'll really get to train?" he asked incredulously.

"That's what the king said," replied Rukus. The Master of Steel had been sent by King Crominus to inform Laval that his heart's desire was going to come true; he would get to train as a Kingsguard. His wish wasn't inspired by Furtivo; the seemingly humourless and intimidating fox was far from the kind of Kingsguard Laval wanted to be. He idolized the almost-mythical Kingsguards throughout history who had defended the phoenixes, some of which had been lions.

"Who'll be my teacher?" Laval asked eagerly. "When will I start? Where will I train?" Rukus stepped back. "Too many questions, my lord," he said. "I'm just the messenger. I don't know any of the details."

Laval was practically glowing with excitement. Take that, Father, he thought.

"All I know," Rukus continued, "is that you are to go to the Crocodile Courtyard tomorrow at sunrise, and you are to bring your sword."

Laval nodded enthusiastically. "Sure thing. I'll be there!"

"I won't know either way. I won't be."

"Right. Sorry. Thank you!"

Rukus left and Laval shut the door to his room. Yes! Finally! He leapt onto his bed, bouncing slightly as he hit the soft mattress. Laval could have run laps around his room if it hadn't been so messy; his bed was unmade and his clothes were scattered all over the floor. Needing to release his energy, he decided to find Cragger.

Laval looked for the crocodile prince everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. He had searched the Crocodile Courtyard, the catacombs, the throne room and had even asked to be permitted into the royal family's common room. The guards had denied him, but had confirmed that Cragger was not there. Crooler was, but Laval was not interested in the least. Finally, it was Cragger who came to him.

Laval was sitting alone in the Crocodile Courtyard, the open-top square space near his room, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Looking for me?" the voice behind him asked.

Laval jumped to his feet. "Hell yeah, Cragger! Did you hear the news?"

Cragger shook his head. "No, what news?"

"I'm going to train as a Kingsguard!" Laval beamed.

Cragger grinned a toothy grin. "That's great, Laval! You've dreamed of becoming a Kingsguard since you were a kid!"

"I know! I start tomorrow! I'm so excited!" Laval and Cragger hugged each other tightly. This is my dream, Laval thought. Me, a Kingsguard, and Cragger, the king.

"So what should we do now, Laval?" asked Cragger, retreating from the embrace.

"I have an idea," the lion replied. "Let's race!"

Cragger blinked. "What?"

"We should race, like we used to! Don't you remember how we'd drive circles around the Lion Temple?"

Cragger grinned, looking down at the ground. "We haven't done that in a while, have we?" he mused.

"No," confirmed Laval, "we haven't. My father's been bothering me about reading all these old books so that I can become an advisor. He'd only let me use my Speedor after I could summarize whatever the hell I just read."

"You think that's bad?" Cragger asked, chuckling. "My father comes back after every council meeting and gets drunk before telling me all about it. He thinks everyone is stupid and the decisions they make are stupid." Laval laughed, imagining the drunken king rambling to his children.