Donner and Thalia: Satisfaction is Demanded (Episode 3)

Chapter 3

3.

Donner was brought by Chauffeur to the barracks by Woodsford castle. It was the same Chauffeur who took Thalia and himself to the castle for court. "Sir Donner of Hillshade, how's your lady," he asked.

"She's not my lady," Donner said, taking a deep breath.

"Shame for you, quite beautiful she was," he said.

"Yeah, a real shame," Donner said.

"Heading to the barracks outside Woodsford castle, your home for the next three months," the Chauffeur turned to Donner, "I was actually a squire myself in my heyday, served under Sandor of the Quick Dagger," he looked back forward as the barracks came into view over the hill. "I found the life was a little too intense for me. Get ready for a time of hell itself," he said, smiling with a forlorn nostalgia.

Donner put his hand to his sword, the sword he made with his own hands. He reassured himself. He was handpicked by Sir Theodore himself. Theodore must have seen something in him.

He gave the Chauffeur a knightly bow before heading to the barracks, finding not Knights but boys his own age occupying them. All of them turned their heads to him when Donner walked in. "It's Sir Theodore's squire," one said before they all rushed him.

"How did you get him to squire you?"

"What is he like?"

"I heard he went to court," they dove on him.

"I'm honored," Donner said, "I serve at Sir Theodore's pleasure, but I'm a Knight of Kinleath no more or less than the rest of you hope to be," he nervously pushed away from the other squires.

"Sir Theodore's squire, such an honor to train with," the one Squire who didn't crowd over Donner said with confidence as the other boys made a path for him to approach Donner. He held his hand out to give Donner a man's handshake.

"Sir Lance Duphrey of Galiean and you're Donner of Hillshade, I presume," he smiled.

"Galiean, are you even a part of Kinleath, your people are known for rebelling," Donner said as he shook his hand.

"We're currently part of the kingdom, what's it been, five rebellions in the past sixty years, the last one twenty years ago, before the Diritan invasion," he grinned. "Just as you said, Sir Donner, we're all Knights of Kinleath," he said. "I'm squiring under Sir Maelor of the Black Chain," he said with a kind of pride that, in Donner's opinion, that title didn't call for.

"Nice to meet you," Donner said, shaking his hand. Now was not the time to make enemies, no matter how reprehensible they seemed.

"So, you're a big deal here, it seems," Lance said.

"Like you said, just a knight of Kinleath," Donner smiled.

"I hear you're just a blacksmith," Lance said.

Donner did his best to approach this Galiean squire of Sir Black Chain with an open mind, but that line pissed Donner off, "I'm a great blacksmith, what was your life before being a squire?" he asked, his disdain for Lance growing by the second.

"If you must know, my father is the Commander of the of Galiean, do you know what that title means?" he asked.

"Yes, Galiean once ruled over half the island after the Elven war, until Kinleath rebelled and overthrew you, we gave a fair amount of land and let you have a commander, someone to deal with minor problems that didn't require the Highlorn's direct attention," he said, a bite in his voice. Donner was still holding tight to Lance's hand in a shake as they verbally sparred, neither willing to be the first to let go, "Are things good in the south for you?"