Ten

The next couple of months is even more training than what I thought it would be. I get up every morning before the sunrise and I only come home after dark. I have to go to work every day and then meet with Lucas after work. For the first couple of months, he only had me slapping water and doing ridiculous things like picking up logs and running in circles.

I did not understand why he would want me to do the things and there were many times that I wanted to quit. The only thing that kept me going was the thought of beating the dragon king and getting my kingdom back. So, I would give my best performance every day.

Things at home are quiet now that Clara is gone. It seems like I miss her every day more and more. I do not see my mother often because by the time I get home and leave the house she is already asleep. Every so often we would get a letter from Clara and my mother will leave it on the kitchen table for me to read. I never read it because inside my heart I feel a little bit angry at her.

The winter games were postponed because of reasons I will never understand. I really wanted to attend those games and infiltrate from the inside but maybe it was for the best because this way I can go in like a knight and not as a boy, having no idea what is going on around me.

I have grown to be more of a man. Not just in my mind but also in my body. Lucas has me on a strict exercise routine as he would say that you can not be a knight without upper body strength.

I have stopped opposing everything that Lucas tells me to do as I soon learned that he has a means to an end. He was not joking when he told me that he would drive me to the point of throwing up. I was there many times in our training and even got myself a few injuries.

Every time when I walk back home I just kept on telling myself that it was worth getting my kingdom back and getting revenge for my parents. Today would be the day that I am going to prove to Lucas that I am worthy to be a knight. My workday is finished and as I start to make my way to our usual spot, my route is interrupted by Isabella.

This time I am not shy to look at her but I make sure that I stare straight at her. She has somewhat left my thoughts as Clara seems to occupy most of my thoughts. But something strange happens and she walks straight up to me.

"It is William, right?"

I almost can not believe that a lady of her stature is actually talking to a man like me. It feels like I need to bow before her but then I say as humble as possible.

"Yes, milady. That is me. How can I help you?"

She gives me a slight smile and usually it would drive me insane but for some reason even being in her presence right now, means nothing to me.

"I have seen you around town. I have noticed that you have changed somehow"

"I have, milady?"

"Yes, you have become the talk among the ladies"

Then it is as if my eyes see it for the first time. The ladies walking around the village all seem to be staring at me. I have no idea why and why I have not seen it before. I feel a blush creeping up on my face and then I say to her.

"I have no idea how to respond to this, milady"

She smiles while she covers her mouth with her fan and then she says, looking at me through her eyelashes.

"I know how you can respond to it"

"Please, enlighten me, milady"

"I would like to invite you for an afternoon tea at my estate"

I almost can not believe my ears. After so many years of looking at her from a distance, she is the one standing before me and asking me to come to her estate. I know that when a lady requests you to come to her estate you are not allowed to say no. It is considered a great honor if they do invite you.

I have no desire to go and have tea with her as I have other things that I need to attend to. But I do not have a choice and so I say to her.

"It would be my honor l, milady"

"Well, that is just great news. I will send my messenger to let you know of the date and time"

"Of course, milady"

She then smiles at me and turns around walking on her way. I am still standing there in disbelief of what just happened but when I turn around I see every lady looking at me. I just shake my head because this is unreal. Then I feel someone throwing their arm around my neck and I am just about to give him a good punch when I see it is Oliver.

"Did you just see what happened do you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, did you see Isabella talking to you? The one that you adore and can not keep your eyes off?! What did she say?!"

"Oh, she invited me to have tea with her"

He stops dead in his tracks and then I turn around to look at why he is stopping. His mouth is hanging open as if I just told him something that shocked him.

"What is wrong?"

He shakes his head and then he helps me walking away from the people. Then he lowers his voice as he says.

"I thought you want this to happen? I thought you could not stop thinking about Isabella but now when I look at you, you do not look excited. Do you not want to go?!"

I do not know how to explain this to Oliver but I really do not have any desire to have tea with her.

"I guess, I just have a lot of things on my mind and she is not exactly one of them"

"Are you sick?"

I laugh as I see the seriousness on his face and then I start to make my way to train with Lucas.

"I am not sick, I can assure you that. But I do have things to do"

"Which do not include me..."

I know that I have not spend a lot of time with anyone else except Lucas. And I know that maybe I have neglected Oliver a bit. So, I stop and turn to him, putting my hand on your shoulder.

"I know that we have not spend a lot of time together and I know that you probably think that I do not want to but you are wrong. I just really need to get this training done. I hope that I can show Lucas today, that I am ready to be a knight and then, I promise we will have some time together"

"Yeah, I understand that you have things to do. As long as you do not forget that we are bros for life"

I smile and then I slap him against the shoulder, saying.

"For life!"

Then I turn around and start running. I am already late and I know how Lucas gets when I am late. Finally, I get to the spot and Lucas is sitting on a rock.

"I am sorry that I am late-"

He lifts up his hand while his back is turned to me and then he slowly stands up turning around.

"A knight is never late. When he is...the battle is already over"

"Yes, sir"

"Now, I guess you want to prove to me that you can be a knight?"

"How did you know?"

He smiles as he walks closer and then he says.

"I do not think that I would be worth the money that you pay me if I did not know"

Then something happens in me. It is almost as if I have a sense. I immediately draw my sword just in time to meet his. He is pressing down on the sword with all his might and I return it. I remember how there was a time that I would stumble back but now I can meet his strength.

I thought that I would see the surprise on his face but instead, I see proudness. Almost as if he has seen his child grow before his eyes. Then he gives me a slight smile and says.

"Well done, young sir. You have proven that you are worthy to be a knight"

I jump back with excitement and want to start to celebrate when he steps closer and says.

"I am glad that you are happy but there is still much work to be done"

Those words are like heavy weights hanging on my arms while I am drowning.

"What do you mean?"

"Now, I can teach you how to sword fight"

I thought that this is what we have been doing all these months and now he tells me that we are only starting.

"What have we been doing then?"

"To be a knight does not just mean that you can pick up a sword and fight but that you have all the skills to survive through a fight, life, and to protect those around you. We have only brought you to a point that you are physically strong enough but now you need to be mentally strong too"

"There is nothing wrong with me mentally"

He smiles and then turns around walking to sit on the rock again. Then he says.

"Okay, then tell me about your parents?"