Knights of Sylvainia(going through editing)

Chapter Two

Leaving the great tree, the castle, the dead Ghyist behind, I walk out into the main yard. Standing there, blood drying on my face, my now healed hand tingling, I hear feet pounding against the loose dirt.
"Lord Barton!" A girl in a dirty dress, brown hair swirling around her panicked face yells to me. She's kind of pretty, if she wasn't a maid, maybe I would ask my father to marry her. "You must come with me! You need to find a mentor!" she grabs my arm, dragging me toward a dark, old-stone building. The large, single door with the Blood Rose emblem on the front was open, laughter and voices drifting out toward me. The maid, Yumia, left me alone just outside the door with instructions to go and introduce myself.
I walk through the door and freeze as 9 pairs of eyes lock on me, "Uh.. He-hello, I'm Astilstar Barton, newest member of the Knights of Sylvainia. I am in need of a mentor." I manage to say, even if they can tell my voice is shaking.
"You're the new recruit, lad? Didn't give you time to clean up? I'm Sorba, by the way." a woman with a very strong build, raven hair and steel grey eyes laughs, all hearty and full sounding.
"I uh.. uhm... no, miss." I stutter and she laughs again.
"A mentor needed, no? I will take the task." a tiny girl with Snow White hair steps toward me. Her sea green eyes look me up and down, a smile drifting over her face and she laughs, an angel-like sound, "Just kidding, kid." she says.
"I will become his mentor. I believe my skills will well suit his training." a man this time, with raven hair, brown wells for eyes, a perfect nose and a well-built body says, stepping beyond the others.
"And, who are you? I think I should know my mentors name." I say, a hint of annoyance in my voice. Why would I want a mentor who doesn't even tell me his name?
"My name, young knight, is Heath Rustin. And respect is a well known quality as a knight." his eyes become darker and I suddenly think of my father. Respect. The only thing I didn't have for my father, other than love. Never loved him, couldn't see how my mother loved him. "So find your cell and get some sleep. You'll need it, lad." he says, turning and following the others to their own cells.
"Okay...." I say, oddly uneasy. I walk up the dusty, stone stairs to find a door open, no one inside except for a simple bed, wool sheet, hardwood writing desk and candle. Taking the candle from my desk, I light it using the hallway torch. Closing the door, I see the letter B-a-r-t-o-n engraved into the dark wood. A large, white oak dresser stands behind the door that I couldn't see before. Upon opening it, I see the only a simple night shirt. Suddenly very tired, I crawl into my nightshirt and two steps away from the unpromising comforts of a bed, a knock sounds on my door. I groan, frustration and tiredness building and yank open the door to see Yumia, tub of hot water in her brown hands.
"Lord Barton, I figured you would want to clean off..." she says quietly and hands me the pale colored tub.
"Thank you. You can come get it in the morning, okay Yumia?" Figuring she could use a break, she looks very tired; dark circles already rim her icy- grey eyes. She shakes her head, sending soft, brown strands into her face. Maybe I actually will ask father to marry her. No, that would be very wrong. She is a maid and I am the son of a well-known Nobel family, practically royalty in my hometown. She skitters away as I close the door and dip a white cloth into the steaming water, enjoying the burn on my healed hand. Father Nathaniel must have sent this. I lightly touch it to the claw marks on my neck and hiss as it stings. Scrubbing my face is worse, tiny cuts from the glass cover it, making me cry out every time I wipe dried blood away. Unwanted tears stream down my stinging face and into the now redish-brown, murky water and completely red cloth. I am grateful I am alone, where no one can see me be this weak. Collapsing onto my pelt, I cry harder, the wool blanket scratching my already swollen face. Finally, sleep reaches its long hand toward me and draws me into a realm where dreams can't find me.

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