A Knight's Rest

Chapter 1

A/N

Hey, guys. This is my first story on Wattpad and I hope you enjoy it. I would appreciate any comments, I'll gladly respond.

Zach

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I felt the cold touch of wind brush against my forearm as the door to my tent flapped open, instantly waking me up. Soft footsteps padded towards my cot, which were accompanied by a soft, quiet voice, which soon revealed the person to be my squire.

        "Sir Flint, the rest of the soldiers are up and getting ready for the battle. I'm here to help you suit up," my squire said quietly.

        I sat up in my cot, holding back a curse, and responded, "Blair, run and fetch us breakfast. Everyone is suiting today."

        She instantly let out a bright smile and with a bob of her head, left the tent. Female soldiers are becoming more common as the war goes on, but not because too many men are dying. I belong to a small country that did not have enough men to sustain a war as long as this one.

        My squire returned shortly after with the slop our "cooks" called food and set a plate down on my lap. "Here you go, Flint, it's a nice, tender steak," she said with smirk.

        I stared up at her, noticing that she cut her brown hair shorter than it was several minutes earlier and responded, "I wish it was, Blair, but only the 'real' knights get that food. I don't have the money or power to even afford a steak."

        "Oh don't be such a downer, sir, this war'll be over soon," she said while trying to enjoy her food.

        I grumbled around a mouth stuffed full of food and got up to get armored up. "Help me out here, Blair, I may not have the amount of armor those royal pigs have, but I can't reach behind my back to tie my chestplate closed.

        She stifled a laugh and helped me place my armor on and then handed me my sword, which is the only thing of real value that I have. It's a broadsword, inlaid with diamonds and soft leather around the hilt, which I recently replaced; flowing down into a wolf-head shaped pommel.

        "Go get your armor on and meet me outside my tent," I ordered Blair. "Since it's your first battle, I want you to be near me when we get in formation."

        She saluted and left to get geared up. I wish I could afford better armor for her, but she's stuck with a leather jerkin and knee high boots. I knelt down by a cross in my tent, after she left, and muttered a quick prayer. By the time I finished and left my tent, Blair was already making her way towards me.

        "Ready," I asked.

        "Yes, sir."

        "Have your weapon?"

        "I have my axe," she responded, slightly annoyed.

        "Shield?"

        "Yes, dad," she sighed.

        "Good," I smirked, glad of the easy relationship we had.

        We walked across the field, away from the menagerie of tents and camp followers. A lot of the other soldiers were leaving at the same time to get into their formation, waiting for the order to charge. Our king was expecting to end this war today, just like every other battle.

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        "Fellow knights, soldiers, and other nonimportant personnel, today is the day," shouted our king, Merrick. "We are going to send these Acklean dregs right into the sea!"

        The archers proceed to curse at him after being called "nonimportant."

        "Hoozah," responded the rest of the army, banging weapons against shields or armor.

        "Men! Women! Follow me into combat today! I don't expect an easy fight, all I expect is for you all to fight bravely."

        "Vulnero," shouted the man next to me, my brother-in-arms, Seth. "I bet I'll kill more than you today!"

        I drew my sword and hefted up my heater shield, painted with a lone, white wolf, up into the sky and responded, "I'd accept your bet Seth, but I'm afraid that my squire here would show us both up."

        Everyone who heard roared into laughter, erasing the tension from some of the troops, also causing Blair to blush.

        "Blair! Stick with me and you'll make it through this," I yelled.

        "Sir Flint, just try to keep up with me," she chuckled.

        "My friends and brothers, charge with me now," shouted King Merrick over our jesting.

        The army surged forward with a multitude of shouts, while under the cover of a hail of arrows. The two armies smashed together shortly thereafter, causing a jolt to run down the ranks. My line soon entered the fray, which is when the fun really began.

        One of the Acklean soldiers started to run towards me, sword raised high and ready for a kill, probably looking forward to the feeling of blood running down his blade or the warmth of his bed later on tonight. Unfortunately for him, Blair blocked his attack, giving me the opportunity to run him through. Blair had to immediately duck underneath someone else's slash and hack his leg off, bashing his head in with her shield after he fell to the ground.

        The battle commenced like this for several hours, Blair and I receiving minor wounds along the way. We eventually broke the Acklean ranks and slowly made our way towards their king, who was prancying around on top of his horse.

        Blair and I finished off our nearby foes within the same amount of time and had a brief respite. I looked up at her to issue an order when an arrow found it's way into her shoulder, causing her to fall over.       

        I shouted in alarm at the sight of her being hit and rushed over to check on her, when a heavily armored knight stepped into my way. "Get out of my way," I shouted at him. "I'll kill you, pig."

        "The girl's going to be mine once you die, dog," he sneered.

        I saw Blair quietly snap part of the arrow shaft off and slowly stand up. I grinned slightly upon seeing this and lunged towards the knight, ringing him in the helmet as a distraction. He let out an angry roar and slashed at me with a warhammer.

        I jumped backwards and watched as Blair brought her axe down into the back of the knight's neck, with a whoop. She grinned up at me, which soon turned into a gasp of terror, "Vuln, behind you!"

        Horse hooves echoed out behind me. I turned around to see the Acklean king lower his sword towards my head while yelling, "You killed my brother, cur!"

~~~~~~~~~~~

        I jumped up from a deep sleep and let out a yelp. "Sis," I whined and crawled out of my bed.

        My sister's bedroom was next to mine, so I walked quietly towards it and knocked on her door. She opened it, revealing a tired face and a bedroom decorated with posters of knights along with adornments of a few swords and books.

        "You okay, bud," she looked down at me with soft, green eyes and asked.

        "Blair, you wouldn't believe the dream I just had."

        "Well, why don't you come on in and tell me about it, Vuln," she said while sitting down onto her bed and patting a spot next to her.