Sweat ran down Gregory’s back as he stood on the presentation field with his fellow runts. The morning had come early, the same as it had every morning. They had been put through a brutal run, told to bathe and to put on their freshly washed uniforms. Now they stood in a grid formation at ease and listened to some noble ramble at the podium.

The field sat in a big shallow depression and the raised walls had large stone steps that served as seating for the families of those who had passed the trials. Gregory had heard the guardsmen calling the strange formation an amphitheater but it was pretty clever.

At one end, where the politician was still going on, was a booth and when the man his voice carried well and Gregory could hear him clearly, even on the field. The robed man carried on about the greatness of the Queendom and how the Guardsmen were an essential part of it but Gregory tuned him out. He was still searching for his family among the crowd.

Someone waving in the crowd caught his eye and he found them, his younger brother was waving excitedly at him. His father looked proud but his mother looked furiously at Gregory. When it was clear he saw them her expression softened and her hand unconsciously went to her own face.

Right, my face is a bruised and scabbed mess still. He smiled a small smile at them but otherwise remained unmoving.

The politician finally wrapped up and sat as Kearin stood. Her solemn voice carried much more weight than the man before her.

“Thank you families, for coming and for showing your support. As Lord Dawson said, the Guardsmen are an essential part of Ironhold. Every one of the young men and women on the field before you has demonstrated their resolve to serve in the Guardsmen and keep our cities and villages safe.” Kearin paused and surveyed the formation of recruits on the grass.

“First five.” She yelled. They had all been prepared beforehand that when she read the names of the first five, those who were called were to break formation and walk to the front to receive their honors. But it was still unknown who would be getting the commendations.

“Glennshire!” She called.

A young woman broke into a smile not far from Gregory and began walking to the front as the crowd applauded loudly.

“For exceptional scores in language and tactics as well as hand to hand combat.” Gregory smiled inwardly, he had sparred with her a couple times and knew no one would argue the award.

She approached the front and a guardsmen pinned a small round metal to her chest. “Berkenly!” A boy approached next as the family once again clapped.

“For exceptional scores in city warfare and leadership.”

He likewise received a metal and stood next to Glennshire.

Gregory’s heart beat faster, he was desperately hoping to hear his name called but terrified that it would happen.

Another young woman and young man earned the little round metal of first five and Gregory was sweating now. The boys had all endlessly debated the merits of being stationed in the various cities in Steinheim, weighing the pros and cons of each.

Kearin paused and looked straight at Gregory.

“For bravery in the face of insurmountable odds and standing up for what is right as well as exceptional scores in the mace and hammer the final award for first five goes to Quill.” Gregory stood there a moment in shock before he remembered what he was supposed to do.

The crowd cheered as Gregory walked to the front and he could make out his little brother whooping in excitement.

The Captain that was pinning the medals on nodded to Gregory and murmured to him as he pinned the medal on.

“Good work lad, you’ll make guardsmen proud.” The applause had died down but was now murmuring and pointing in his direction. Likely speculating on what had happened and why his face looked such a mess.

Kearin’s strong voice cut through the murmur of the crowd.

“The Order also accepts a new Paladin into its ranks today.”

The gathering of people grew silent.

“Kellendry.” The dark eyed girl looked unsurprised as she walked to the front.

They must have prepared her earlier then. Gregory thought as he watched in awe.

During his week there he had come to accept that the chances of him becoming a paladin were slim to none and that the guard was where he belonged and was also where he wanted to be.

He had made friends here that he’d have for life and the brotherhood and bond was exactly what he had dreamt of. It didn’t matter if it was under the Order’s banner or the Guardsmen's.

Kellendry approached the line of the first five recipients and two paladins stepped away from the line of officers to stand in front of her.

“Do you wish to take on the prerogative of the Order of Paladins? To be bound to Huginn and Muninn and to do their will on this realm?” Kearin said seriously in the dead silence of the amphitheater.

“I do.” Kellendry said simply. “Then you are now a Paladin of the Order.” Kearin declared and the paladins moved to stand beside her, signaling she was an equal to them.

The crowd was silent. A new Paladin hadn’t been named in many many years and it normally was cause for celebration but the air was still. Gregory was happy for Kellendry.

This would be a major turning point in her life. Going from a starving street orphan to a paladin would change everything for her.

Respect, family and purpose were all suddenly in her life again. Gregory started clapping and all eyes went to him, he stood tall under the scrutiny and smiled when Kellendry’s eyes found his.

Then someone else started clapping, it was Lin, smiling his goofy smile. Next was his family and soon more recruits were clapping until the amphitheater was in an uproar. Kellendry had tears in her eyes and she smiled at Gregory. Once the roar died down Kearin once again spoke.

“You are no longer civilians and are now recruits. See your bunk commander for your assignments. Families please stay in the courtyard outside of the ampitheatre. The recruits will be out momentarily. Recruits, I will see you in two weeks for training. Dismissed!”

The crowd stood and the general roar of conversation and moving bodies filled the air. Gregory went straight for Kellendry. The Paladins still flanked her silently and he was surprised to recognize one of them. It was paladin Kristoff from his first day in the compound. He nodded to Gregory but remained silent.

“Kell! A Paladin! Are you excited? I’m so happy for you!” He said in excitement, very much wanting to hug her but unsure of the rules now that she was a paladin.

Someone clapped him on the back and said

“Good show lad!” But they were gone to the crowd by the time he turned to see who it was. When he turned back to the freshly minted paladin she crushed him in a hug. He hugged her back automatically and he realized her shoulders were shaking as she sobbed. Kristoff and the other male paladin looked on impassively.

“Kell, what’s wrong?” She just squeezed him harder in response. After a moment she straightened and pushed away, wiping tears and smiling.

“I just, I don’t have any family anymore and when no one clapped or anything I just, I just felt real alone. Like no one was proud of me. Then you started clapping and Lin and it just. Thank you is all I guess.”

Gregory smiled widely.

“They’d be so proud of you Kell. I know it.” She smiled sadly at him and he was struck with the sudden urge to kiss her. She had filled out during her stay in the compound and gone was the malnourished girl and in her place was a strong young woman. Her lips suddenly looked full and inviting. Her dark eyes were entrancing as she stared back. Her tongue darted out and wet her lips and her dark eyes flicked down to his own lips.

Gregory leaned forward before he knew what he was doing but Kristoff clearing his rough throat shook them from the moment.

“Paladin Kellendry, Kearin would like to meet with you. Recruit Quill, I believe your Commanding Officer will have orders for you.” His rough voice and the use of their new titles brought them both back to reality. Kellendry was first to speak.

“Of course Paladin Kristoff. I follow your lead.” She said as she turned and placed herself between them again.

“See you in the courtyard?” Gregory asked and Kellendry looked at Kristoff for confirmation. He nodded slightly after a moment.

“See you out there.” She said, dazzling him with a smile.

He found the commanding officer assigned to his bunkhouse surrounded by his friends. They all cheered as he approached, he was the only one from their bunk to receive first five and there was a mild clamoring to see the metal. The officer there interrupted the rowdy group, asking.

Stolen novel; please report.

“What’s it going to be Quill?” Gregory answered almost instantly. “Ironhold sir.” “Aye, we figured as much. Your new commanding officer is a woman named Belek. She’ll be your new sergeant. She’s harsh but fair.” He looked around and smiled at them. “Alright you lot! Go get your things and be back here in a week ready for more.” The group cheered. “And welcome to the Guardsmen recruits!” He yelled as they walked away. The new recruits shoved and laughed, excited to go home and excited to have graduated.

“Lin, where’d you get stationed?” Gregory asked. “Ironhold!” He said excitedly and at Gregory’s surprised look added.

“I couldn’t leave you to it could I? Who’d bail you out next time you go trying to save a damsel in distress?”

Gregory smiled widely. “Pretty sure I’d have won eventually.”

“Ha! Quill, have you seen your face? Pretty sure you’d have left your nose on the floor if I hadn’t pulled that fatty off you.” Lin jeered, the boys all laughed and Gregory conceded.

He was smiling widely, the fact that he was getting stationed in his hometown and the fact that his best friend was also getting stationed there buoyed his spirits considerably and he chose not to consider the long odds of that happening.

They collected their things and did one last double check of the bunkhouse making sure all the beds were made and the floor was clean. They made it to the courtyard and bid goodbye to each other as they split to find their families.

Gregory found Kellendry first, looking a little lost among all the families as they greeted their children. She was still flanked by Kristoff and the silent paladin.

“Kell!” He yelled and she searched the crowd for him. Finally her dark eyes spotted him waving as he approached and she smiled.

“Kell, come on. I want you to meet my family.” She looked apprehensive but nodded anyway.

“Is that ok Paladin Kristoff?” She asked and looked at the young man.

He smiled. “Of course Paladin Kellendry. Our only requirement is that we are with you.” He said with his rough voice.

“Why’s that?” Gregory asked, genuinely curious and finding the young man not nearly as intimidating as he once had.

There were hundreds of people in the courtyard, all talking, laughing and even some crying.

“Leader Kearin thought it was a wise course of action considering the families involved in the debacle. Some nobles also tend to get…excited when there is a new Paladin brought into the fold.” The young paladin rasped out.

Gregory’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“What he means, recruit Quill, is that nobles try to gain leverage or influence on young Paladins before they are fully brought in and things are especially messy with the accusations involving Paladin Kellendry.” He said with a nod to the young woman.

“We are here to simply discourage such notions.” Said the previously silent man. His voice was smooth, almost too smooth, it sounded like honey to his ears.

Gregory nodded as he resumed his search in the sea of faces. It seemed like a smart idea and even he knew that nobles could be slippery and powerful.

He spotted his brother, riding on his father’s shoulders and looking around in the crowd, presumably for him.

He waved excitedly and his brother’s eyes found him, he said something to his father while pointing in Gregory’s direction and soon they were headed toward each other.

The paladins walked along with them as they entered the crowd and the people parted easily for them. More than a few people watched them walk by and Gregory imagined they were an interesting sight. His bruised up face and the newest paladin garnered a lot of attention.

His fellow recruits mostly kept to themselves though, they had all heard the rumors and seen his purpled face.

Finally they made it to a gap in the crowd and found Gregory’s family there.

His mother rushed forward and crushed him in a hug, making him wheeze.

“Lettgo Mom! You’re crushing me!” He wheezed out.

Years of swinging a hammer made his mother a lot stronger than she looked.

“Sorry! I just, what happened? Your face Greggy, what happened?” She said with no small amount of concern.

“It’s nothing mom, some boys wanted to tussle, you should see the other guy.” He said, trying to downplay the episode and slightly embarrassed at her use of his childhood nickname.

“Your son did a noble thing Ma’am.” Kristoff rasped.

“When a group of boys were planning on assaulting a fellow hopeful he stepped in and fought off three others.” He said to the family.

“Assault?” His mother asked at the same time his father said. “Three others?”

They exchanged a worried look and her mother frowned deeply.

“Yes. Recruit Gregory delayed them long enough for a Guardsman to intervene.” He said.

“It’s not that bad mom, it barely even hurts anymore and anyway, this is my friend Kellendry. She doesn’t have any family in town so can she stay with us until we're called back?” He asked.

Kellendry’s eyes widened at his invitation, he was planning on asking her first but had decided to just spring it on her.

“Oh well I…Of course!” His mother stuttered out. “Very nice to meet you Kellendry. You are of course welcome to stay with us.” She finished with a smile to the young woman.

“I…Well. I’m not sure I can?” Kellendry said, looking at Kristoff.

“We will have to ask Leader Kearin.” He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Gregroy’s heart fell.

Of course she can’t just stay with us, she’s a Paladin now. Stupid. He thought, glad his face was purpled and his reddened face couldn’t be seen.

“Paladin Kellendry, we should go find Kearin. She will want to talk with you and we can ask then.” Said the honey-voiced man.

“But we’ll come right back right? To let them know the answer?” Kellendry asked, just a hint of a pleading tone creeping into her voice.

“Yes, I suppose that is fine. Quill family, will you be staying here for a while?” He asked, addressing Gregory’s family as a whole.

“Yes! I mean, yes. We’ll be right here for a bit.” Gregory said, trying to curb his excitement.

“Good, we will return soon.” The smooth voiced paladin said with a smile.

Kellendry was smiling widely at Gregory and he felt his face flush even more but he smiled right back as they walked away.

“Gods Greg, your face is gonna pop if you blush anymore.” His younger brother teased.

“I think it’s sweet but you know-actually you know what, nevermind.” His mother said.

She had been using her ‘life advice’ tone and Gregory was infinitely glad she had kept it to herself.

“So! Son. Tell us all about what happened!” His father chimed in cheerfully. “Start with what happened to your face.” He said with a chuckle that earned him a smack from his mother.

“What? It’s the most pressing, I want to hear his side of it!” He complained, rubbing his arm where she had backhanded it.

“Well I was laying in my bunk, sore and tired from the day and I heard this group of boys whispering-”

He told the story, glossing over the parts with Odin and by the end his father was smiling proudly at him and his mother looked furious. His brother was just excited and had listened with wide eyes and unusual focus.

“Gregory, what you did was the right thing, I’m proud of you. Good job boy.” His father said with a thick voice.

“I can’t believe those boys would be so terrible! And poor Kellendry!” His mother fumed.

“Well she told me after the fact that the women’s bunks lock from the inside and that the doors were closed, I also think the other women in there would’ve stepped up and beat the tar outta them. It wasn’t a very thought out plan to be honest.” Gregory admitted.

“But I couldn’t just let them leave and let there be a chance they’d get to her.” He said with angry conviction.

“And that’s why I’m proud, son.” His father said warmly.

“I am too, I’m just. Shocked is all I guess.” His mother said.

The crowd had dissipated while he had retold the story and only a few families were left. Gregory searched for the Tomlinsons but couldn’t find them.

Lin must have already left then. Oh well, I’ll go visit him in town later.

“Oh look, here they come.” His father said, looking over Gregory’s shoulder.

Kellendry was walking out of the tunnel that led into the amphitheater, on each side of her was her escort of paladins and leading them was Kearin.

They walked straight to the family and Kearin nodded to them.

“Hello Quill family, I am told you wish to host Paladin Kellendry for the two week break?” Her dark eyes scanned over the family and Gregory could almost feel his brother’s fear and excitement at seeing the leader of the order so close.

“Yes, if that’s ok?” His mother said.

“I’m afraid she cannot stay the duration but a visit of a couple days will be fine. A suitable escort will also need to stay with her at all times. The Order will provide recompense for the Paladins staying in your home.” She said, all business.

Gregory’s heart fell yet again at her words but he tried to focus on the positives.

At least she can stay for a while, even if it’s with another Paladin.

He stopped his line of thought there, just a few weeks ago he would’ve been tripping over himself in excitement at having a member of the order stay at his home but now he was almost disheartened that it wasn’t just going to be Kellendry.

“Oh nonsense, we don’t mind feeding them and we’ve got extra room.” His mother said with a wave of her hand.

Kearin smiled and the act stretched her scars.

“While I appreciate your hospitality the Order will still be paying you to house the Paladin’s during their respite.” She said, somehow making her words a polite but firm order.

“Of course of course. Thank you for your generosity.” Gregory’s father chimed in.

“Don’t thank me yet, paladins can eat twice their weight twice a day.” Kearin said with a wider smile.

“I certainly won’t be sending either of these two.” She gestured to Kellendry’s escorts.

“Kristoff! Who’s our smallest Paladin these days.” She nearly barked.

“That would be Sam leader Kearin.” He said without pause.

“Hmm, she’s the one who delivered the work order is it not?” She rubbed her chin.

“I believe so.” He rasped back.

“Good! It’s settled then. Paladin Kellendry, please say your goodbyes. We have training to do.” She said firmly to the young woman.

“And Quill family, thank you for your hospitality. Expect them in three days.”

She nodded and then turned without another word.

Gregory smiled at his friend.

“S’not so bad! I’ll see you in a couple days then?” He said with a smile.

She crushed him in a hug, surprising him and his family.

He hesitantly put his arms around her and squeezed.

“Thank you Greggy.” She said with an obvious smile in her voice.

“You bet Kell, see you in a couple days.” He said, smiling back.

They parted and she went back into the compound while Gregory and his family rode in the wagon. Gregory told stories of how the training went and some of the things he learned.

The cart bounced and rolled down the road and since they were so late to leave they had the road all to themselves. Trees rolled past and cast mottled shade across the road.

He found he couldn’t stop smiling and his mind often went back to Kellendry and his fellow recruits.

This is it. It’s what I’m supposed to do. He thought with a smile as he leaned back in his family's wagon and listened to his father plan out meals for the extra guests they’d be hosting.

A good break with family, Kell coming to visit, then more training and then finally. The Guard, keeping the city safe with my fellow Guardsmen.

Intense satisfaction rolled through him and he sighed happily. Off in the woods he heard a soft twang that was immediately followed by another. His father grunted and hunched forward, there was a thunk next to him, as if something had struck the wood of the cart. His mother screamed then an arrow pierced his skull and he knew no more.