The clanging of metal echoed in the tiny room as I dressed. The time it takes to get everything on is nothing compared to how long it feels when taking it off. I grab my sword and sheath almost clumsily dropping them but managing not to. After fastening them to my waist I notice the dim light of day and rush out the door. I quickly scurry down the hall and stairways to relieve the knight in my place.
"Hey Sayer, sorry I overslept from a rough night." My words were clumsy and rushed. He nodded and slumped out of his spot.
"We all have our days," he sounded so much more confident than I ever felt I could. I quickly stood in place and watched as he left. Not a moment later the door we stood guarding opened with a loud creak, and a whoosh of air smelling of musk and lilac engulfed my nose. The King, followed by his wife, the Queen, walked past, and Sir Oweyn and I followed as we made our way to the Great Hall.
The King and Queen took their seats as Sir Oweyn and I took our places, mine at the King's side and him at the Queens. The day passed slowly but honestly; I had been looking forward to today for weeks. This was the first day on duty with their Highnesses and I was excited. Villager after villager came through asking and dealing with the King. It was a wild feeling just being in their presence and I relished the whole day. As the day grew into darkness they retired to their room and both Sir Oweyn and I stood watching and waiting.
I never expected to be in this position at such a young age and I couldn't be prouder of where I was. I worked hard and trained day after day trying to be better than everyone else. After a few weeks, I felt more at ease with my duty and started to get a hang of it rather quickly. There were many times I found myself fumbling or stuttering and yet both the King and Queen were so patient and kind. They weren't what I had expected, and I found comfort in that. I had been told my whole childhood how they truly didn't care for their subjects or how they stuck their noses up to us. My mother was the only one who ever said not to listen to the rumors that she had met them when she was a young woman. As I grew up the King and Queen I had known passed and their son took the throne and married a woman from a neighboring country. I chose to believe that their son had inherited their kindness, and I had not been disappointed when I met him for the first time.
It was a dark cloudy kind of day, and I was out training in the yard with Sir Oweyn and Sir Sayer. A man with short black hair and a scruffy face appeared along the wall watching us closely. I noticed his eyes the moment they met mine. The cool blue color was so striking it caught me off guard causing me to miss Sir Sayer's sword strike.
"Ouch what the," I was cut off by Sir Oweyn as he grabbed my arm pulling me to the ground. I looked at him with confusion and saw he was kneeling looking towards where I had just been staring.
"That's the King," his words were sharp whispers. I glanced up, locking eyes with the King, a grin pasted across his face.