I Will Be the Greatest Knight

Irene gasped for air as she fell to the ground, the wind being knocked out of her when her stomach met the hard dirt. 

Not every day could be a winner, that much she had learned in the three days since she had been living near the Duke's Tower. Things were mostly mundane after the dire wolf attacks, but there were still ups and downs.

When she looked up at her opponent with a furious expression on her face, she saw Felix offering a gloved hand to her. Even though he was being helpful, he still looked smug.

She refused his hand.

"I don't need your help," she insisted.

"Suit yourself," the older apprentice relented, but he couldn't help himself. "I eagerly await you serving me for breakfast."

He let out a hearty laugh and Irene was fast to her feet. 

The desire to smack him in the back of the head with her wooden practice sword was at an all-time high, but she had to remember chivalry and appropriateness. Even though she wasn't facing the world as a girl anymore, within a knighthood there were firmly established rules that had to be followed. The surest way to become a knight was to show that she could control herself. 

"See you at breakfast," she responded as politely as she could manage despite the fact that her head felt hot.

Hotheadedness was a feeling seemingly reserved for men. She felt lucky that she no longer had to hide her feelings as a girl and could put them into sword matches whenever they presented themselves. That was the key. As knights, they were able to feel things deeply but they had to have an outlet that fit within chivalry. At least this was how she justified her feelings and actions. She was then able to move on.

Since Irene was part of the group having to help with breakfast, she followed the other apprentices inside, where they were to get the bowls and porridge from the kitchen and bring them to the dining hall. They were also to put baskets of fruits and fresh rolls in the center of the three long tables inside the dining hall.

Since the days were still mostly full of sun, there was no need to light up the chandelier that hung from the ceiling. It was a bronze work of art that was certainly as old as the building they were in. The Arlin's had been at the edge of the valley for generations. 

Since the worries of old men tended to trickle down to the younger ones, she silently pondered who the next in line would be since Duke and Duchess Arlin were too old for children. Would a knight take over for him? 

Would it be her father?

She shook herself out of her thoughts, realizing that she was slowing down while the others pressed on. 

After ensuring her hands and face were clean in the kitchen after a rough practice outside, she was ready to serve the squires, apprentices, and knights as they came through with their wooden bowls and spoons. 

Felix looked too smug as he passed her, waiting for a ladle of the spiced porridge that would be topped with dried berries. He was the first person to send her, the newbie, to the kitchen. 

"Don't get used to it," she insisted as he passed her.

"I didn't say anything," he responded.

She was kinder to Leif as he passed by her which elicited a quiet 'thank you' from the better-behaved apprentice than Felix.

By the time everyone in the line was seated, the maids took over the pouring so the apprentices could also sit down to eat. 

Irene's stomach was growling when she finally had her porridge and she took a seat next to Leif who had saved her a spot. Unfortunately, it also meant she had to sit next to Felix as well, but she would rather be close to the ones she was more familiar with. 

They were all too hungry to tease each other any longer.

A short while later, they were surprised to see Sir Gunnar stand up and approach them from where he had eaten with the other knights. At that moment, he was the most senior knight in the room.

"Apprentices who were on outdoor duties for the last week, listen up," he announced.

All the apprentices lifted their heads out of respect even though the message was only for five of them. 

"It's time for this group to transfer out of outdoor duties," he explained. "Today, we'll head for the next township west of here along with Sir Phillip who has been a knight for only a couple of months." He then turned to Irene. "Iro, the blacksmith won't be able to size a sword for you without you there. There are also a few swords that need repairs amongst some of the others so we will have a large order to place. We will have the weapons delivered back to the Duke's Tower when they're finished. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," the apprentices all answered.

Irene's green eyes lit up.

Since she had gotten there, the furthest away she had gone was riding some of the knights' well-trained horses around the property to make sure they were exercised. 

"Sir Gunnar," she called for him eagerly. "How long will we be away for?"

"No more than two days," he said. "Pack saddlebags lightly with camping supplies. I will bring anything else we may need. We will all meet at the stables in one hour."

The apprentices began to eat much more quickly. 

It was the regular schedule that, after a group was done with their outdoor duties they would then be able to do something more exciting to their designated knight or in a group with one of the knights as Irene's group was going to. 

An apprentice's best hope to get knighted was finding one who trusted them. That way, when they were knighted they would get a title as well as a passing of trust. The strongest knighthoods were born that way.

After finishing her breakfast, Irene was thrilled to be able to finally put on the shoulder and chest armor that had been fitted for her. Since apprentices weren't likely to be at the front lines of battle, their leather and metal armor was more for overhead attacks and mostly only protected vital organs and gave them the ability to tackle with the shoulder plates.

When all five apprentices were ready with their packs and horses all stocked up, they were handed jerky and Gunnar made sure their waterskins were full of water. There were bundles of bread given to them as well. 

Irene liked the feeling of warm bread close by so she placed it in a saddlebag that would rest against her leg. She felt like she was always a little bit colder than the apprentices around her. Even though she wasn't someone who got cold particularly easily, she realized she needed to get more weathered as everyone else had been.

As they took off from the Duke's Tower, Irene's posture was straight and she tilted her face towards the sun as he eyes shut for a moment. 

These were the types of trips she had always wanted to go on. 

The thought of facing monsters was less vexing as she traveled in a group with people she had already begun to trust. 

With that, they were on to the next adventure.