The Kind Mare.

BRETVER 22ND YEAR 548 ASMERIAN CALENDAR

The day of the competition arrived and Jackson was as excited as ever. He was going to finally be able to show his parents everything he had learned from his uncle. He woke up as Alice crawled into his bed and shook him rapidly. "I'm up, I'm up!" He barked.

"Morning Mister knight," Alice said as she was right on top of him. She smiled and laid on top of him until he pushed her aside and rubbed his tired eyes. He hadn't slept for more than a couple of hours that night. The excitement for today was hard to set aside for a good night's rest.

"Morning miss demanding, also, that'd be sir knight, not Mister knight." He said as he tried to get up but she just wrapped her arms around him. "I get front row seats to watch you kick butt today," Alice said excitedly looking up at the young man whose body was that of a sculpture, every muscle visible and toned.

"How am I supposed to kick butt with your butt laying on me." Jackson quipped back as he grunted from the weight of his sister.

"Come on Mister I so strong I can kill bears with my bare hands."

"Do you even know what you're saying anymore?" Jackson grunted as he stood up and carried Alice in his arms.

"Do I need to know?" Alice quipped back.

"Do I need to let you fall to the floor?" He laughed.

"Please don't," Alice said as she gripped even tighter to him.

"Then we better get dressed and head downstairs for breakfast."

"Then put me down, I can't get changed with you holding me."

"Okay then, your wish is my command," Alice screamed as Jackson let her drop a few inches before catching her.

"You jerk!" Alice screamed as Jackson sat her down on her bed laughing hysterically. It took him a moment to compose himself before he was able to stop his childish laughter.

"You knew it was coming, don't even lie."

"You're still a jerk."

"So, you admit to knowing what was going to happen?" he said as he started for the door.

"Wait a minute Jack."

"What is it now Alice?" Jackson asked as he was about to exit the room.

"Can you pick my clothes for me?"

"Can't you?"

"Yes, but I want you to pick them."

"Fine, it's going to be a hot one today anyways so I better make sure you don't wear a huge winter coat," Jackson said as he approached Alice's wardrobe. He opened the wardrobe and picked out an ultramarine blue dress for her to wear and tossed it to Alice. "Thank you, Jack," Alice said as he left the room. He just waved as he shut the door behind him.

He waited outside for fifteen minutes as Alice got dressed. "I'm dressed, Jack!" Alice shouted so he could come into their room. He opened the door and saw Alice in the blue dress he picked. "That's a new one I've not seen before." Alice was very beautiful in the dress and would put any other girl to shame.

"Thank you, Jack, but you picked out so you have seen it before."

"Not on you, you idiot." He said as he picked her up. "Time for you to sit out on the floor now."

"Wait! There's a chair just down the hall Jack." Alice exclaimed as he put her down next to the door.

"But that's not as fun Alice." He said as he closed the door and quickly got dressed so as not to leave her there for too long.

"You're a jerk," Alice said once Jackson exited the room.

"Shall I leave you here then?" Jackson asked with a smug smile.

"You wouldn't dare."

"You're right Alice, mother would give me a whooping I'd never forget." He said as he reached down to pick her up.

"Thank you," Alice said softly as Jackson carried her down the stairs.

"For?" Jackson asked carefully to watch his step.

"Everything you do."

They didn't speak until they made it to the living room where Connor and Veronica were enjoying the sunrise out of the window. "Morning children, are you excited for the festival?" Connor asked.

"Yes, father!" They shouted in unison.

"Jackson, did you and Alice do double your studies yesterday?" Veronica asked.

"Yes mother, we did the math and some reading from the book you gave us mother."

"Alright, well I suppose I better make breakfast for my knight, shouldn't I?" Veronica asked as stood up and made her way to the kitchen.

"What are we having?" Connor asked as he stood up and followed Veronica into the kitchen.

"I'm thinking about making some eggs and some sausages. We could use the extra energy for today."

"Sounds good to me, how about you Jack?" Connor asked as he searched for the pans.

"I'd like some eggs and sausages," Jackson said as he sat Alice down at the table.

Veronica entered the pantry and pulled out some flour and ingredients for biscuits. She cleared the counter and started cooking. "Are you making biscuits mother?" Alice asked.

"Yes dear, I got some Jam yesterday so I figured you all would like to try it out," Veronica said with glee. Everyone knew she was making them for herself to gorge on later. Veronica was a glutton for jam and biscuits.

Everyone sat down as the food was finished and sat quietly and ate breakfast. He was the first to finish and he put his dishes on the counter. Alice finished and he put her dishes up for her and sat back down at the table. "May we be excused, mother?" Jackson asked.

"You may but sit in the living room. We have something for you Jackson."

"Yes mother," Jackson said respectfully and picked up Alice and headed for the living room.

Jackson eagerly waited in the living room to see what he was going to get from his parents. Alice was still tired and rested her head against is shoulder and nodded off. Veronica and Connor entered the room after washing the dishes and sat down across from the children.

"Jackson," Veronica started. "we had hoped this would have arrived sooner so you could have practiced with it more but your uncle sent you a very special gift and this is to be kept in the family as an heirloom."

"This is my fathers, father's longsword that he crafted and used during the war against the Lucc Empire. It has slain more men and Elves than any other longsword that I could think of. You are to take great care of the sword as my brother and I hold this as the most prized of our family's possessions." Connor said as he pulled out the sword from underneath the sofa.

It was in a beautiful scabbard that had Silver and Nickel embroidering and dark stained spruce wood for the body of the scabbard. The crossguard was immaculate and was made of Damascus steel that had a tiger-striped pattern. The black leather that wrapped the grip was tight and secure. The pummel was made from the same steel as the crossguard and had the shape of a large diamond. The name Scottkey was engraved into the blade and looked like there were hundreds of hours put into each letter. The balance was perfect and right at the crossguard.

"Are you sure you want me to use this father?" He asked out of concern as he marveled over the perfection of the sword.

"While it is an heirloom, it'd be wasted if not used. At least that's what my father said when he gave it to James. And according to my brute of a brother, there's no better word for a Scottkey."

"I'll definitely win with this however I feel bad about not using my other sword."

"You'll still use it but, I want you to use this sword to represent the Scottkey family in the event," Connor said as he stood up and gave the sword to Jackson, scabbard, and all.

"I'll take the gold for sure father!" Jackson exclaimed with excitement.

"You better boy, but if you don't. Just enjoy yourself and all will be worthwhile."

"Jackson, you be careful now," Veronica said. "But then again, I fear more for your competition."

"Thank you, mother, and I'll be careful." He said as he bowed his head.

"Alright, now children, I see no reason as to why you're still here. You should be running out that door hooting and hollering like you've gone mad!" Connor said as he pointed to the front door. "Jackson, don't worry about your armor; I'll deliver it myself."

"Thank you, father, I'll take Alice with me," Jackson said as he promptly stood up and picked Alice up from off the couch. She was still half asleep and let out an "Eep!" as he pulled her off of the couch. He carefully set her in her wheelchair.

As Jackson and Alice left the house the cool morning breeze blew into their faces and Asmerian banners flew in the breeze. There were guitars and trumpets playing and there was even a woman with a piano on the street corner.

"This is like back in the capital, isn't it?" Alice asked.

"Very much so Alice," Jackson said as he shut the gate. "Where shall we go first, Alice?" Jackson asked.

"let's go to the fountain!" Alice exclaimed with excitement.

"Sure, we might just run into Mister Miller there," Jackson said as he started to push Alice down the street. It took Jackson a little while to push the wheelchair to the fountain. Sure enough, Mister Miller was sitting on the edge of the fountain. "Hello there children, how are you this fine morning," Miller said as he stood up to greet them.

"We're doing great sir," Jackson said. "Are you ready for the swordsmanship competition?"

"Well aren't you straight to the point lad?" Miller said as he sat back down.

"Sorry, sir." He laughed nervously.

"No harm done lad; I'm just giving you trouble." Miller laughed noticing the pressure getting to Jackson. What the boy needed now was a friend, not a competitor. "But, aye, I'm ready and rearing to go fight. It's been a long time since my sword has been tasted battle."

"I feel the same, I've not dueled anyone since coming here," Jackson said as he put the brakes on Alice's wheelchair and sat down.

"Well lad, I hope you're not too out of practice." He ruffled up Jackson's short blond hair and smiled.

"Shall we see right here?" Jackson said as he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

"You're a cocky one aren't ya lad," Miller said as he stood up. He took a quick look around for any guards and once he made sure that there weren't any, he unsheathed his sword. "You ready kid?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Jackson said as he unsheathed his sword. A few merchants and commoners gathered around to watch. Jackson took up a close right stance as Miller took a short stance. Jackson stepped in to try to bait the first swing from Miller and he took the bait. Jackson immediately defected the strike and lunged forward stopping just short of Miller's chest.

"Oh shit!" Miller exclaimed as he had underestimated Jackson. "Okay, so you know a thing or two."

"I hope so, I've studied for the past four years on how to use the long sword," Jackson said as he took an inside left stance. Miller took a slide stance and thrust forward trying to overpower Jackson. Jackson stepped into the attack and forced Miller's sword upwards and slid his sword almost to Miller's throat.

The fight was amusing for the ever-growing crowd. It was very entertaining to watch a young boy fighting against a full-grown man and win easily. Miller had a smile on his face. He entered into a stance that Jackson had yet to see. Jackson backed off and took a low stance wherein he held out his sword out and pointed it to the ground so he could confuse Miller's perception of Jackson's reach.

Miller had his sword level with his brow and laid across his left forearm. Jackson assumed it was a lunging stance so he baited an attack. Miller, however, held his stance stepping left and right. Jackson kept the low stance and stayed his ground.

"You're damned good kid," Miller said impressed with Jackson's discipline.

"Thank you, sir, you've yet to see much though." Jackson quipped back with banter.

Miller finally thrust forwards and defected Jackson's defense with a smooth slash from the right. He then slashed back to the right and barely missed Jackson who stepped back from the strike. Jackson regained his balance and sent a jab into Miller's exposed flank stopping just short of his rib cage.

"Good job lad," Miller said reaching out his hand to shake Jackson's.

"You almost had me with that weird stance. I've yet to see such a stance." Jackson said as he put his sword back into the scabbard. Jackson then grabbed hold of Miller's hand and gave a firm handshake.

Jackson sat back down next to Alice and Miller walked back to the fountain. Jackson put the sword back into his scabbard and set it aside. "Well, kid, what are you going to do now?" Miller asked as he sat back down on the fountain.

"It's down to Alice," Jackson said as he sat down on the street next to the fountain.

"Well, they're showing off some racehorses on 4th street so that might be worth your while."

"I'd like to go see the horses, Jack." Said Alice.

"Then we're going to go there. Would you like to join us, Mister Miller?"

"Sure, but I need to go set up a stall for one of my friends from Gregoria in a little but I have plenty of time to look at horses with you two," Miller said as he got back to his feet. "Besides, I'd feel a lot better walking with you. There are a few men that would see a beautiful cripple such as yourself as a good target." He said as patted Alice's head.

"I appreciate that," Jackson said as he took the brakes off of Alice's wheelchair. Jackson, Alice, and Miller went to look at the racehorses. The cobblestone street made it difficult for Jackson to push Alice towards the stables which were a few blocks away.

The racehorses were in the town stables which were huge buildings. They were closest to the largest in Greendale standing at only two stories tall but they were a hundred meters long and forty meters wide. There were up to sixty horses inside either building. Only the Former Lord's home and the Great Hall were larger in size.

Jackson was used to horses but even this impressed him. Alice was a little frightened by the horses. It wasn't that long ago that a horse had broken her back and left her paralyzed. She reached up to touch a mare and it gently lowered its head so she could pet her.

Alice teared up from how gentle the mare was. All of the horses in the capital were rough and used for war of policing people and were trained to be rough and unkind.

"Are you alright?" Jackson asked.

"It's so pretty Jack," Alice said as she pets the cheek of the mare as gently as she could.

"let me know if you want to leave," Jackson said.

"I'll be fine Jack."

"Everything alright?" Miller asked as he was confused about how Alice was acting.

"Yeah, it's way better than I could've hoped for," Jackson replied. "Alice, as kicked by a horse ad, ended up like this. I'm surprised at how well she is handling this." He whispered to Miller.

"Okay, if that's the case I am very surprised as well."

They spent a few more minutes looking at the horses and racing equipment. Miller had to go help a friend set up a stall and Jackson needed to get ready for the competition. And Jackson pushed Alice back to the fountain where Connor and Veronica were enjoying some sandwiches and an ale.

"Hello, children," Veronica said as she stood up and handed a sandwich to both Alice and Jackson. "Where did you go?"

"We went to the stables and I made a friend with a really kind mare mother," Alice said with joy.

"Is that so?" Connor asked.

"Yes sir, Mister Miller even came with us," Jackson said.

"Ah, I see now, poor Mister Miller had to deal with you two for almost an hour," Veronica said as she gave her children a hug.

"We were on our best behavior mother."

"I'm glad you were but I think it might be about time for the swordsmanship competition," Connor said.

"You delivered my armor to the arena, right?"

"Yes, I even threw in a black cloak for you to wear." He said pointing out the cloak on top of the armor.

"Thank you, father," Jackson said as he rushed down to the arena. The arena was an old plaza that was built up by the Head Judge, Alexander Daniels, for the festival. It was for that reason, nearly everyone in Greendale loved him.

Jackson donned his new armor and cloak, which was just outside the arena in the back of his father's cart. He wore a gambeson is the stead of a breastplate. Which had some advantages over the heavier breastplate. Such as, he was now lighter and faster than before and more flexible as there were no steel plates restricting his movement.

He went to bed that night more excited than ever. He only ever wore plate armor once before in the capital and he was still too young to remember the event. His uncle was adamant that he wore the armor like a true knight.