A Knight's Tale

Chapter 1

I took my sword and swung it down hard. My foe saw this coming and stepped aside, avoiding my attack. But he didn’t saw my foot, hitting him right on the side. I watch him stagger backward and took this chance to deliver my final blow. Unable to block my last strike, my enemy fell to the ground and the referee announced the winner.

“And the champion, Richter Thales!” The small crowd outside the wooden ring cheered my name while I gave them a big grin.  It felt great being the center of attention once in a while especially to that of a farmer’s son.

“Great job out there Richter,” Lawrence, my best friend shouted. He was still wearing the dirt-covered clothes he uses in their family’s piggery.

“Thanks Lawrence,” I replied, giving him the bronze plank I won in the fight. “But won’t your father get mad at you for skipping work again?”

“Don’t worry about that, Richter. My father has known you since we were kids. I doubt he’ll get mad at my absence after hearing your victory. But either way, I won’t get scolded. I’m on an errand, for my sister. She’s asking if you’re free for dinner.”

“Selena? What for? Is there an occasion that I might be forgetting?”

“You ask too many questions. She’s just asking if you’re free for dinner. She’s cooking tonight, you see and that’s about it. No complex reason, just a feast between family and friends, and you’re as close as family anyone could get.”

I could only chuckle to his reply. Swinging my arm around his neck, the two of us continued walking back to my home. It was a small hut near the outskirt of town. And the only people living there were my father, William Thales and I.

The old hut was relatively small. Inside, there was only one room. A two-person bed was on the top right of the room; beside it was a small cabinet where we kept most of the seeds. Opposite of the bed was the kitchen counter. It was made up of a small pit where we cooked the meat we bought or occasionally given to us by Lawrence’s father. There was then a small table on the middle. This is where we ate. And lastly a small table with a stool on the lower right. It had books of different sizes sitting on top of it, with some already forming dusts. My father could occasionally be seen sitting there reading some of the books when he didn’t have anything else to do and this was one of those occasions.

“Father, I’m home.”

“Richter,” he greeted, standing up from the stool. “I see you’ve brought Lawrence with you. How is your father, my boy?”

“He’s doing quite well, Mr. Thales.”

“That’s good to hear,” father nodded. “So what brought you here? Your family’s usually busy during this time of year.”

“I came to ask you if you don’t mind eating at our place, my sister’s cooking and she would love it if you’ll be there to eat her cooking.”

“What a generous offer from your sister but sadly I won’t be able to go. There’s something important that requires my attention in the neighboring city so I’ll have to leave early tonight.”

“That’s a shame, Mr. Thales.”

“Don’t worry about it, my boy. I doubt my son here has denied the offer so he’ll just have to eat both of our share of the wonderful meal your sister will prepare.”

“That is true sir. Anyway, I better be off. I still have to help out in some of the remaining work in the piggery. Have a safe trip Mr. Thales.” Lawrence ran outside, waving at us as the door closed behind him.