2. Preparation-2
1352 Words
“No, it’s all right. I left home over a disagreement with my father. It concerned a woman.”
“As it so often does,” said Brother Vernan. “Might I enquire if she is still with you?”
“She is not,” said Ludwig, his cheeks blushing. “She joined the Church. The last I heard, she had left for Eidenburg.”
“So she is to be a Temple Knight?”
“A Temple Knight?”
“Yes, that’s where they train them, you know.”
Ludwig grinned. “That makes perfect sense, now that I think of it. I remember asking her once what she would do if she hadn’t been a smith.”
“Your lady friend was a smith?”
“Yes,” said Ludwig. “Why? Does that surprise you?”
“Women smiths are few amongst the Petty Kingdoms. From whence did she hail?”
“She’s a Calabrian.”
“Ah, well, that explains a lot.”
“What does that mean?”
“Merely that they have different traditions. Will you see her again, do you think?”
“No,” said Ludwig, “my father saw to that.” He suddenly looked at the Holy Brother with fear in his eyes. “You won’t repeat any of this to anyone, will you? I don’t want word getting back to him.”
“Of course not,” said Brother Vernan. “You have my word on it. Speak freely, Sir Knight, and lessen the burden on your soul.” He lifted the breastplate, placing the shoulder straps to either side of Ludwig’s head, then began buckling it to the backplate.
“I presume your father had some influence,” the man continued.
“He’s a baron,” confessed Ludwig, “and I, his only son.”
“I imagine he feels your loss keenly.”
“Which is why no word of this should reach other ears. I’m sure he’d send people after me if he knew I was here.”
“I gather you are still in love with this woman you mentioned.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“No, but then again, I have a keen insight into such matters. You’d be surprised how devastating lost love can be. What makes you think you’ll never see her again?”
“One of the conditions of her joining the Church was she be sent far from home. She’s probably hundreds of miles away by now.”
“Perhaps fate may one day bring her back to you.”
“I must say you surprise me,” said Ludwig. “I thought Holy Men such as yourself believed such relationships to be beneath them.”
“We take an oath of celibacy,” said Brother Vernan, “but that does not mean we insist others do the same.”
“And the Temple of Saint Agnes?”
The Holy Man chuckled. “Unlike the other orders of Temple Knights, the sisters of the order are free to leave at any time.” He reached down, picking up some leg armour. “The greaves next, I should think.”
Ludwig waited as the armour was strapped on, his mind racing with the implications. “You say they can leave?”
“Yes, though it"s not a common occurrence. When are you competing?”
“My match is the second of the day.”
“Then we’d best hurry. Let’s get the rest of this armour on, shall we? We still have to prepare your horse.”
Ludwig took a moment to place his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Thank you, Brother Vernan.”
“For what?”
“For offering me solace in my time of need. I’m afraid I have been a bit ungracious of late.”
Brother Vernan smiled. “I do the Saint"s work. It is he to whom you must give thanks.”
A little while later, Ludwig sat atop his horse, his plate armour dull in the overcast sun. He glanced down to where several wooden lances lay.
“How am I to carry all of those?”
“Fear not,” said Brother Vernan. “I should be honoured to act as your squire this day.”
“Are you sure?” said Ludwig. “Isn’t that breaking an oath or something?”
“Not at all. I am f*******n to compete in the tournament, but nothing says I cannot assist a competitor. Now come, I shall gather up your spare lances, and we"ll proceed to the field of honour.”
They began making their way through the lines of pavilions to the tournament field.
“Is this your first competition?” asked Brother Vernan.
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“It was merely an observation. I sense you are unfamiliar with such things.”
“Verfeld was far too small to host such an event, and my father refused to let me travel. I have, however, read extensively on the subject.”
“You read?” said Brother Vernan.
“Yes, why? Does that surprise you?”
“I suppose it shouldn’t, but I know of many knights who eschew the written word, refusing to learn even the basics of literacy.”
“But don"t they wish to advance amongst the ranks of nobility?” asked Ludwig.
“Not all do. Many knights are perfectly comfortable with their role in society.”
“But didn’t all the knights register for this event?”
“They did,” replied the Holy Brother, “but unless I miss my guess, it was the registrar who filled in their names.”
Ludwig looked around. From his position atop his horse, he had a clear view of the neat rows of tents. At least a dozen knights were in easy sight, each preparing for the coming tournament in their own way. “So you’re saying that most of these men are illiterate?”
“I’m afraid so," said Brother Vernan, "though, I would, of course, refuse to name names.”
“You mentioned you had two brothers who were knights. Are they here today?”
“No, although both are in service to the Duke of Erlingen. The eldest dislikes these spectacles, whilst I fear my other brother prefers pursuits of a different kind.”
“Women?” suggested Ludwig.
“Precisely. A vice, I am told, that is fairly common amongst the lesser nobility.”
“Lesser?”
“Yes, knights, barons, and baronets. It is not a term often used in speech, but in written form, it"s pretty common.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“There are certain social differences. The higher ranks of nobility typically have marriages that have been arranged many years before a child matures. The lesser ranks, on the other hand, struggle to find suitable matches. Knights, of course, aren’t hereditary, nor are baronets.”
“Barons are, though,” said Ludwig.
“That’s true, yet on average, few rise to higher positions within society. Here in Erlingen, for example, they often spend more time at each other"s throats than seeking advancement.”
“Why?”
“A baron is trapped between his obligations to those above him and the management of those beneath.”
“Surely that’s true of all nobles.”
“To a certain extent, yes,” said Brother Vernan, “but those of higher status often have more people to rely on for the day-to-day operations. How was it for your father?”
Ludwig grunted. “Much as you’ve described, if I’m being honest. That’s one of the reasons I left home.”
“I thought it was because of a woman?”
“Looking back, she was the issue that pushed me over the edge. In any event, it’s all over now.”
“Yes,” agreed the Holy Brother. “And it appears we are now at the lists. Are you ready to gain fame and glory?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
- Writer
