Chapter 13
962 Words
Ronald Harrison sat on the edge of the bed in his barrack room, fiddling idly with his claws as he awaited his fate. In his mind he went over what he intended to say when Captain Winstone arrived. He figured he’d say he was sorry, then promise not to do it again, after which Rob might go easy on him and let him have his sword back. After all, what he’d done wasn’t really that bad, was it? He realized he was probably fooling himself, of course. He had never seen the Captain of the Guard so angry before, and knew he would probably be thoroughly chewed out and banished from the Guard for good. His family would be so ashamed!
Suddenly he heard talking outside his door. His heart rate immediately picked up. He listened intently for a second to try and discern his captain’s voice among the speakers. After a minute the voices dispersed, and he determined that Rob was not among them. A false alarm. He took a deep breath and calmed down slightly. He hadn’t realized just how nervous he was. So, in spite of himself, he nearly jumped out of his hide when, not half a minute later, there came a rap on the door.
“Harrison? Are you in there, lad?”
It was Captain Winstone! No question about it.
“Here, sir,” he answered timidly.
Slowly the door creaked open and the Guard Captain stepped in. Ron stood up and saluted.
“No need for that, young un,” said Rob as he closed the door behind him. He went over and took a seat beside the youth. “Well now. That’s no less than four offences this month, I believe.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And what have you got to say for yourself this time, hmm?”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Sorry, eh?” Rob waited for more, but the flustered Ronald could think of nothing more to say. “I hardly think that’s sufficient, do you?”
“But I mean it sir, I really do!” Ron let slip in a sudden torrent. “I know I acted silly. Just please don’t throw me out of the Guard, Captain. I swear I won’t do it again if you’ll just give me another…”
Rob silenced him by holding up his claw.
“You needn’t worry, Ronald. I won’t be ejecting you from the Guard.” He paused thoughtfully. “Not this time, anyway.”
“You’re not?” asked an amazed Ron.
Rob shook his head. “No.”
Ron sighed with evident relief.
“Come with me, lad. There’s something I’d like to show you.”
They left Ron’s chamber behind and made to leave the barracks at a brisk walk. When they were out of the Guard quarters, they settled down to a more leisurely pace as they navigated the corridors of the Palace to the second storey.
“You know, I was once a bit like you, lad,” Rob began anew as they walked. “Well, a lot like you, actually.”
“Really, sir?”
“Indeed. Do you know, more than once I got a good talking to by the king himself?”
“King Henrik?”
“None other.”
“Gee, you must have been pretty awful then, sir.”
“On occasion. It didn’t seem so at the time, of course. But then it never does at that age. Took a good while for me to shape up actually, but somehow I did. Had to, really. And look at me now. Captain of the Royal Guard of Saurahall. A bit hard to imagine, I suppose.”
“It is a bit, sir.”
“Well, I assure you it wasn’t all my doing. It had a lot to do with my training, and a lot more to do with what old Captain Torilis called ‘the great burden of responsibility.’ Look around you, lad. What do you see?”
“Er…” Ron tried to think hard about what he guessed was some sort of test. “Walls? Torches? Dinosaurs?”
“Exactly! Everything around us. The Palace, the dinosaurs…” He led Ron over to a window from which the whole of Saurahall was visible. “All of this is our responsibility.”
“But doesn’t the Defence Force look after it too?” Ron could not help but ask.
“Of course they do. But you must realize, the Defence Force is essentially a lot of helpful civilians with a dash of training who occasionally perform soldiers’ duties. We are the Guard. We are soldiers doing soldiers’ duties. When it comes down to it, it’s up to us to keep them all safe and sound from the evildoers in the world. They’re counting on us, and we can’t let them down. Not even for a second. It only takes one slip-up on our part to lose everything. Hence, we have a heavy burden of responsibility on our shoulders.” He paused and regarded his young student closely. “Now do you understand, lad?”
“I think so, sir,” said Ron, pretty sure that he did.
“Good. Now, I know one little practice session doesn’t seem like much to fuss over. But someday it could be much more serious. And when that day comes you’ve got to take up your responsibility and do as you’re told. All of Saurahall might depend on it.”
Thus, their little chat ended on an understanding note. Rob was pleased that the youngster had evidently learned his lesson, but nevertheless put him on a month of kitchen detail so he would not forget it.
And he never did.
- Writer
