Author Games: A Knight's Valor

Group Four: Killian Henry, Fennett Abernathy, Ren Lancaster

The light of dawn filtered through the curtains in Renauda's room, causing the particles that drifted through the air to be just visible in the beams. The air was crisp and refreshing compared to the previous day, a nice change from the heat. Her room, like many in the castle, was filled with a large bed, overstuffed with pillows and an assortment of quilts. A small bureau sat in the corner, with a small, padded chair next to it.

A knocking at the bedroom door caused Ren to stir, wiping the sleep from her eyes before proceeding to sit up. "Just a minute."

Throwing back the covers, Renauda threw on a robe that was lying haphazardly on the floor. She half expected to see Cynesige calling on her at such an early hour but was surprised when instead she saw a young page stood before her.

"Excuse me, miss, your presence is requested by the Royal Court."

Ren's heart quickened when she realized that the next challenge was about to begin. She smiled at the freckled boy and patted his mop of hair. "Of course, just give me a few minutes." The door closed again, and Renauda set to work, adorning her well-loved knight's armor.

***

Killian Henry was hardly ever awake before noon, yet here he was, barely dawn, kneeling in front of the pretty silver-haired knight, Sir Adeline. She smiled down on him and said, "Rise, Sir Killian. You must be wondering why you're here?"

"Yes," he admitted, rubbing a bleary eye with one hand. "It is a touch earlier than I usually awaken."

She laughed prettily. "Oh, don't worry, in an hour or so you'll be able to do as you wish the rest of the day. This morning, we've got a challenge for you."

"Oh, not another," Killian groaned, his hand finding one of the bruises on his chest from his battle with Edmund. He'd barely recovered from that with dignity.

"Don't worry. This one won't be quite so harmful."

***

Fennet Abernathy had planned to wake up at dawn, get in some training on the castle grounds before the second challenge began. Though the palace staff was helping her with the first goal, the second would not be accomplished-the challenge was happening now, and Fen felt unprepared.

She didn't feel any better with the blindfold tied around her head.

"This is part of the challenge?" she asked the young girl who was adjusting the bandana's position over her eyes. "Good grief, this'll be tricky."

"If it makes you feel any better," the girl replied, "they're not letting you anywhere near a broadsword with this on."

Fen frowned. "Do you know what I'll be using instead?"

The girl didn't reply, and Fen thought in silence as she was led by the hand through a castle doorway. Would she be using anything for this challenge? And if not, what would they want her to be doing without a weapon?

***

From his perch on top of the cylinder of dirt, Killian could see two other knights being led down. He didn't expect the two of them to be girls.

One was blindfolded, a black piece of fabric tied over familiar copper hair - his district partner, Fennet. The other was unfamiliar, but she was wide-eyed already in the dawn sun that peeked through the foggy morning.

Renauda frowned at the figure in the distance. Although an early morning mist made visibility difficult, she could tell that he was one of the knights she had not had the pleasure of speaking with as of yet. The girl she was guiding was blindfolded.