The Call

Lady of Iconia

Three years later...

Serene stood before the crowd on the biggest day of her life, nervous but elated. As she stepped up onto the raised platform in the city square to stand beside her father, the crowds erupted with applause.

"Maiden Serene," her father's rich voice echoed across the crowded square. His tone, though careful to maintain the ceremonial speech, flowed with fatherly pride for the daughter that had fulfilled his dreams. "As you have proven yourself worthy and skilled in battle, you have earned the respect of every man and woman of the Council of Lords." He paused and looked across the crowd. Heads nodded in agreement. "You have expressed your zeal to follow the traditions of our fathers and have completed your training fully. Serene, daughter of Imrah, High Lord of Iconia, do you now, in the presence of your kinsmen and worthy citizens of Iconia, vow to forever be loyal to the country whom you have been raised to serve? Are you prepared to honor her with your life and to honor her ancient laws and the traditions of our fathers with your utmost?"

He met her eyes, encouraging. Serene took a deep breath with a smile, still struggling to believe that this-her greatest desire-was finally unfolding before her.

She drew herself to her full height and answered resolutely, "I will serve my land with everything within me and will fight to uphold her laws and the customs of her lords. I am determined to live and die for Iconia."

Her father beamed, and he gestured for her to kneel. She knelt and bowed her head, catching the gleam of her father's mighty sword as he withdrew it from its sheath. Her breath barely came as her father uttered the words she had longed for years to hear. The flat of the sword gently touched her right shoulder.

"Therefore, on this sacred day, in the tradition of our fathers, I proclaim you a Knight of Iconia and a member of the High Council of Lords." The flat of the blade left her right shoulder and rested on her left. "You knelt this day as Maiden Serene, and now you will rise as Lady Serene, Knight and heiress of Iconia."

The sound of the steel sword sliding back into its scabbard brought Serene's head up, and she glanced at her father.

"Come and receive the welcome of your fellow nobles," he said, offering his hand to help her to her feet. In a grand, sweeping motion, he gestured to the royally clad knights before them, and shouts of rejoicing over the new addition to their noble company rose from them. The townspeople joined in the applause but soon began to disperse to prepare for the tournaments the Lords were hosting that afternoon in honor of Serene's knighting. Serene stepped down from the platform and was quickly swept away by the crowd of esteemed nobles.

Two hours later, Serene ascended the Tournament platform to stand before her father and the Council of Lords. She had defeated six other knights, three of whom she had trained under at some point before. Her natural recklessness had faded during the past three years of training and had given way to seasoned strength and skill, which allowed her to deftly outmaneuver and defeat her competitors. Her last duel with Sir Galen, whom she had trained under during her primary stages of training, had been the most difficult. It was this last duel that had made her the victor of the tournament.

Smiling in triumph, she accepted the sheathed victory sword her father offered to her. Turning to the crowds, she lifted the sword with both hands and held it before her. The people erupted in applause, and Serene reveled in the praise for a moment. Then, she brought the sword down. Grasping the jeweled hilt, she withdrew the blade from its sheath and held it high. The blue-silver blade sparkled in the bright light, blinding Serene with its brilliance, and the amethysts and sapphires glowed in reflection of the blade's light. A hush settled over the crowd as the magnificent sword flashed over them.