I knelt
before one of the greatest knights in the land.
“You’re
no wizard, are you?” He said to me, his chain-linked vest glistening in the
morning sun. I’d heard about what they did for me. This man, this paragon of
justice threw a man, and not just any man, but the Archbishop from the greatest
building in the city. I felt honoured; I’d never had so much as an early second
egg from my own chickens before, but as I shook my head my stomach dropped out.
Sir
Archibald looked at me. Right in the soul. A shiver ran down my arms, and but
fled all too quickly. What would he have said if he knew? “How far is home for
you?” His voice was like melted iron, soft but somehow harsh.
I
pointed toward the sun, hovering above the horizon, down the dirty cobbles
toward my chickens and cows and bone-crushing boredom. Who wouldn’t get curious
if they had all the time I do? The large man extended his hand, raising me up
onto the roan-horse. His bruised face was smiling. He seemed friendly enough.
“Grateful’s
not even close.” I said, and I meant it.
It only
took a short while before we were outside the grimy paddock and crumbling
hay-and-mud nest in which I lived. People still believed I was just a lonely
farmer, so I had to keep up the mask. “This is your home?” he said. I could hear
a note of aversion as he asked. I nodded and eased myself down from the
overly-tall horse. My knees creaked as I landed.
“Thanks
for… well... my life.” I never knew what to say around these knights. They
perform such a duty for their folk. I wished I could do something for them all.
And maybe one day I will.
With a
nod, he inclined his head in his saddle and set off to his tasks. I was alone
again, and I could finally get back to work. Entering my hut, I saw the place
was wrecked in my absence. I had nothing worth stealing at the time, but the
hay-bales I slept in were scattered, and my father’s worn table was cracked in
two. But it didn’t matter.
I
crossed through and stamped a foot around, thumping my calloused foot into the
mud until I found the handle. It was brass, and cold to the touch. Pulling it
out, I wrenched the trap-door wide and disappeared into the underworld.
I wish I
could do something for those knights. And maybe one day I will.
