Naigat

Prologue

I wonder… why’s the sky blue? Could it really be because there’s water above us? Or could it be because we’re stuck in the eyes of a giant with beautiful blue eyes? I guess I wouldn’t know, after all I’m just a poor servant who likes to hear stories from fellow servants who heard these strange stories from heavens know where.

My names Artus, I was born on a stormy night by a servant. People always tell me she was too beautiful to be a slave, she stood out from the rest, wavy golden hair, if her hair had been clean that is. Bright blue eyes and a wonderful figure. She fell sick and died when I was 2 and I can’t remember how she looked so I wouldn’t know if they speak truthfully. But I’m rather inclined to believe them if their stories of the prince of another nation loving my mother are to be believed.

As you can guess, that story didn’t end well. The prince truly did love my mother and he would have loved to marry her but of course there’s no way his father would allow that. So, my mother was flogged and the prince eventually left, but he didn’t know that she was pregnant before he left, and I, Artus (servants and peasants don’t have family names) was the result of that pregnancy.

My father had the same features as my mother, golden hair but a darker shade of blue for his eyes. I inherited neither features, I have a nice pale shade of blond hair and icy blue eyes, I’m quite handsome if I do say so myself. Of course, this is all covered by mud and dirt, a diamond in the rough.

“Artus, you daydreaming again?”. I must have gotten lost in thought; I didn’t even notice old man Sam walk up to me.

“old man, I’m in deep thought, not daydreaming. This is like the thousandth time I’ve said this”. I turned to face him, old man really doesn’t do him justice, he’s practically an antique by now. Bent at the waist, wrinkles all over his body and a head of grey hair with numerous bald spots, none would ever say he’s pleasant to look at. But still, everyone loves him, a true veteran in surviving, Hardly any slave lives past 50.

Old man Sam just laughed. “whatever you say kid, It’s good to be ambitious but don’t forget, you’re just a servant, albeit one with royal blood, of which has no benefit other than good looks.”

“I’ve heard old man”. Sounds really harsh but I know he means well, and honestly, he speaks the truth. No matter how ambitious a servant may be there’s really nothing they can do.

“Kid you’re twelve years old yet you still hide away in the stables to read and think. Anyway, it’s not my problem, as long as you perform your duties you’re free to do whatever you want.”

“sir old man Sam, I swear on my honor to fulfill all my duties.” I solemnly swore. He burst into laughter, “boy you’re going to be the death of me, you’re a servant, what honor do you have to speak of”. He really doesn’t pull his punches. You would think a slave wouldn’t call someone else a slave, maybe he thinks being the head of all servants makes him better.

“By the way kid, I saw sir lance and some other knights going to practice at the court”.

That’s why I like him so much, he speaks harsh but all he’s really trying to do is help.

“Thanks old man, I’ll be off then”

I ran off immediately.

“I pray this kid achieves his dreams one day, he works so hard” old man Sam sighed.

What the old man said really got to me, should I really give up? No, I refuse to. I’m quite smart, since a young age I realized that I was just a servant and had a bleak future. With everyone telling me the truth of how life is I just might have given up, but then someone told me the story of my parents and for some unexplainable reason I just felt like I can’t accept my lot in life, I have this feeling that I’m meant to be great. And so, I started learning how to read and write from those who could, I would copy the routines the soldiers go through every morning, I would pick up any discarded arrows and practice archery. And most importantly, I watch the knights practice every single chance I get. And that’s where I’m headed right now, to the court to watch them train.