Donner and Thalia: Satisfaction is Demanded (Episode 3)

Chapter 9

9.

It was about an hour before the usual clanging of Sir Jacques' sword against his shield to wake the boys when Sir Theodore gently stepped to Donner's bunk just under Lance and shook his squire awake, "Sir Donner, Sir Donner," he said.

Donner groaned, rubbing his eyes, "Sir Theodore?" he asked, voice low as he sat himself up in bed.

"Take your sword and your cloak, and that neat little shield of yours," Sir Theodore smiled, "Adventure awaits, my squire," Donner reached under his bed for his Sword and Sir Theodore's cloak before getting up and following him out of the bunks as he fought to get the cloak over his chest. Sir Hughe was also there, pulling Myles from his bed. Donner watched as Myles rubbed his eyes before getting up with his flail and cloak in hand.

Outside, Donner squinted at the golden light of sunrise as he finished straightening his cloak and adjusted his sword on his belt. He tried to straighten his sloppy bed head to a somewhat presentable part. Miles tussled his own hair as Theodore and Hughe stood before them.

"Questing is an important job for any Knight," Theodore said, standing proud with his hands on his hips, he turned to Hughe at his left as they stood in front of the boys. Sir Hughe has come to me asking for aid stopping a dread terror that threatens our lands,"

"We're going on a quest!" Donner said, beaming with wide-awake excitement.

"We're going on a quest?" Myles said confused, and still pretty tired.

"That's right, it seems that a pack of wartbears has been hunting from a cave just outside castle property. They usually stay in the underground, but every once in awhile, they can pose a risk to travelers. So, we've taken it upon ourselves to satisfy a contract, and of course, we'll need the aid of our trusty squires," Theodore said, patting Hughe's shoulder.

"What's a wartbear?" Myles asked, his hands wringing the grip of his flail.

"I know this one!" Donner raised his hand, "They're creatures that live underground, they walk hunched over on two stubby legs, they look like bears with small tusks like a warthog, they're clumsy and violent creatures," he turned to Myles, "I've faced worse on my own, we can take them, no worries," Donner said.

"That's right, the contract sits at fifteen hundred gold, three hundred before taxes for each of us," Theodore said, "We'll all get paid, but the drinks in celebration of our victory will be on us of course," Theodore said.

Two servants came, each towing two horses. Theodore mounted his along with Hugh, and Donner and Myles took the smaller colts.

Myles's hands ringed his horse's reigns as he followed Theodore and Hughe with Donner next to him. "I'm not sure about this, I thought the tournament would be the most dangerous thing I would have to get involved in as a Squire. I'm not equipped to fight monsters. I'm not a Knight, not like you, Donner," Myles said."

"Relax, I've fought a few monsters. They're not that bad, and wartbears especially are nothing more than a nuisance. Just think of it as chasing a stray cat away, just a cat that's much bigger than usual," Donner said. "And of course you're equipped to fight monsters, you have your flail. A flail is a pretty advanced weapon. You must be talented if that's your arm of choice," Donner said.

"Do you know why I use a flail? Because it's the best weapon to disarm someone, that's the only fighting I thought I would have to deal with here. I even read a book about it."

"Weapon mastery for beginners?" Donner asked, smiling.

"Yeah, the Flail volume, actually the mace volume, but it had a few chapters in it on the flail. My father helped me practice by holding a stick as a weapon for me to disarm," Myles held his weapon up, "It's a little clumsy, but I think I have an okay handle on it, maybe you're right Donner, you said that these Wartbears really aren't something to be worried about?"