The sun rises behind me as I trot the Clydesdale back into Lishengure the horse huffing a bit tired of pulling the cart though he was determined to make it back to the stables, the stable boy running to catch the horse losing him from the cart and taking him to the stables to be tended to while I walked into my room Katiline having a bath ready for me in a short period of time so I could wash the muck from the road.
When I got out I sighed and dressed walking back to the main chamber and laying on my bed my eyes closed resting before servants would come to wake me though I did not rest that night having run an errand for my father but no rest would come for I had duties to attend to a royal joust coming to Lishengure just one of our many festivals I was to ride in the joust which I didn't mind.
A knock at my door signaled to me that my few minute nap was done with and it was time to rise though I could not find enough willfulness to open my eyes until I was jumped on by none other than Matilida as always Joseline and Darius were not far behind "morning sleepy prince" Jupiter joked as I sat up with a little urge from Matilida.
"I never slept father had me take that mans cart to the enchanted forest" I said after hiding a yawn from them.
"why did he have you do that?" Darius asked sitting down.
"the cart was full of eggs and he feared that they were bound to hatch" I said getting up and moving about the room.
"I might as well get ready for the joust I need to find my squire he is probably still asleep in his chambers that seems all he does" I said as I walked out the others following behind me like little dogs.
"Trystan I am to be your squire" Darius said from behind me which made me stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him.
"Dylis are you daft being a squire takes time and training I have a Joust in a few days time and you are not trained one bit" I said looking at him more worried than upset.
"do you even know the proper way to announce a knight or a Prince for that matter I can't have you being my squire Darius it's to risky" I said but he continued on.
"I have been watching you joust since before I can remember Trystan I think I can manage and plus I have learned the trade from the best of the squires" he pleaded trying to win my acceptance.
"alright fine but if you get put in the stocks because my father disliked something you did I cannot save your hide Darius" I said as I walked to the stables to pick out my jousting horse in which I always took the destrier this horse was built for the joust.
Being both swift and strong the destrier was the best horse a knight would want for the joust "I would like the black destrier" I told the stable boy and he nodded taking the mare and leading her off to ready her for the joust another stable boy getting my second horse of choice ready should I lose the other but I have never been unhorse before nor will.
"My lord" said a voice from behind me one I knew well.
"Cydian!" I said turning on my heel and smiling at the boy.
"I am ready to assist you in the joust my lord it took me a few days to get here our horse had died during the winter I had no choice but to walk" Cydian explained to me and I nodded.
"it's quite alright Cydian though Daurius has taken your place already I will make amends to this at once" I said smiling and racing to my father.
"Father I wish to take Cydian as my squire not Daurius the boy is as daft as a woman when it comes to a joust" I said and he chuckled.
"I thought so you can have Cydian as your main squire and Daruius can server to bring you things" my father said and I nodded and left the room going to tell Cydian the news in which he was pleased with the comprimise taking place as soon as I told Darius.
"My lord we must get to the black smiths before the days end to get your armor fitted just right" Cydian said and I agreed taking a trip to the blacksmiths and getting my armor made so it was just right the man having found a way to make the armor lighter so I had less weight holding me down but yet I had the protection I needed to fight a proper joust most other knights did not have the gear I did.
When we got back to the castle with my armor I set it on the stand then got to work putting together lances for the joust and getting my jousting sword dulled more by working it on a target to dull the metal more that it was before so as to not harm my foe for the whole festival was not to kill or injure anyone it was to entertain the people and take their minds off of the hardships of life.
"Sir should I get your colors ready for the walk in through the streets?" Darius asked Cydian behind him.
"yes we should get everything ready for the beginning of the festival get the colors for the horse and the banner" I said before dismissing them and turning to my window looking out of it and down at the people going about setting up for the festivities to come the lists being set up the sand being smoothed and the sword arena being put up.
The next day everything was set up and the knights took their place in the long procession to come there were all kinds of horses and the wooden shields and colored flags of each knight stood tall the squires of each knight standing to either side of the horse one held the shield and the other held the colored flag I was the only one on a black destrier Cydian and Darius taking their place beside my horse standing just in front of her.
My colors flew high many people lining the streets in large crowds the ride in of the knights as if a blur of color mixed into a large river of color each knight waiting for the knight before him to start walking once we were all in place a sort of signal running through the line a sign of readiness being sent back through the line the last knight blowing a horn the knights before us tapping or clicking their steeds into a trot.
When we started to move my steed lurched into a gentle smooth trot showing off a bit lifting her legs high in a perfectly formed trot the crowds cheering as they saw their prince in the line up for the festivities our castles colors flying high Cydian and Darius holding them high in the slow lazy breeze that flowed through the city.
After a long trot weaving through the streets we made it to the jousting lists standing in a line before the royals in the box and the people standing in the arena behind the fences.
"Welcome brave knights of the rhelm today we start off the tournament may you ride in honor, dignity, and above all for your own back home" started my father.
"let the joust commence!" he exclaimed the knights bowing each of us leading our horses back to the lists stables where they were held the squires setting up things back at the tents.
"Cydian tie the mare down would you I don't need her running off on me" I said as I dismounted Cydian nodding and setting the flag against a pole grabbing the mare and tying her down to the post and untacking her while I walked to my tent Dylis already having everything set up for me including the colored flags that stood outside of the large tent the horse set to be moved into a tent nearby later on when it was set up.
"My lord everything is set up to your liking" Darius said after giving a low bow.
"yes it is thank you Darius" I said as I let him tend to my armor Cydian coming into the tent soon after to help the two of them setting things out my armor being put onto the stand after which I stepped out and walked around seeing Monroe and Jupiter walking around.
"Well you two look lost do you not?" I asked stepping behind them and laughing as they jumped and turned around.
"there you are we could not find your tent in all of this mess" Matilida said as she walked over Joseline following.
"are you to stay here with the other knights then Trystan?" Joseline asked as we walked back to my tent.
"yes I am but don't worry there are guards around the tents at night to keep the peace just in case for the joust is no friendly affair" I said as I stepped into the tent where Darius and Cydian were.
"Look who the prince dragged in" Darius said as he chuckled and greeted the girls giving them room to sit down.
"when do you joust Trystan?" Matilida asked me sitting down.
"In about an hour and Cydian we need to get the horse stall tent up before night fall perhaps we shall do it after out meeting at the lists?" I asked and got a nod from Cydian as he messed with a lance making it perfect for the joust Darius going to look over my other gear.
YOU ARE READING
Druids Rise
Short StoryFour teenagers are starting their freshman year of highschool they think they are going to have a normal year but what they find is a bit more than they expected, when they find a hidden space to call their own their world gets a little strange. Wil...
