The grass grew taller and the trees were thicker, casting the rising road in deep shade. Gregory eyed the disheveled girl riding next to his father. She had sat up a while ago and was likewise observing the scenes passing by them with interest. She appeared to be slightly older than Gregory but it was hard to tell. She had dark hair that was dull from being unwashed for too long and when she glanced back at him several times her face was slightly gaunt and there was a layer of dirt covering her. Like she hadn’t seen a good meal or a bath in a while.

What stood out to him most though was her eyes.

They were dark, almost as dark as Kearin’s.

When she had glanced back at him it wasn’t with the same youthful nervous energy that Gregory felt at being close to girl around his own age. It seemed more like she didn’t like having him at her back.

It wasn’t hard to imagine that she was likely homeless, which would explain both her grimy appearance and her nervousness at having someone behind her.

But what’s she doing with Kearin? It was a question he was burning to ask but the silence was oppressive and impenetrable.

The air seemed to get heavy and still as the sounds of the training fields faded completely. Gregory’s father appeared unaffected by the thickness in the air and guided the cart with practiced ease, though even he had looked around curiously at compund’s interior. It wasn’t something the average person living in Ironhold saw after all.

Soon enough another wall climbed into view, this one was equal to the wall surrounding the compound although it looked much older. The stones were weathered and worn. Streaks of water lines ran down the stones and lichen grew high up the vertical surface. The gate, unlike the compound’s gate, was closed and Paladins patrolled the tops of the wall among the battlements. The gate itself was nestled deep in the wall and was made of iron banded wood. The patrolling warriors on the wall must have seen Kearin approaching because the gate groaned open as they neared it.

It opened barely wide enough for a large man to step through and then it groaned closed once more. He stood patiently and waited for them to get closer with a thoughtful look on his face, from the back of the cart Gregory craned his neck to see what was happening up ahead.

The man had long black hair and his medium length beard was flecked with gray. He was clad in almost the same armor as Kearin but his looked significantly more worn and well used.

He wore a long dagger on one side and a curiously small ax on the other but was otherwise unarmed. Even more curious was that one of his eyes was covered with a gray eyepatch.

Gregory had never heard of a one eyed Paladin and he was as well versed as you could be on the general description of the more well known ones and even some of the not so well known ones.

It could be a recent injury but the way the patch sat on his face and the ease with which he wore it made that seem unlikely.

The man watched them come closer, eyeing each one of them in turn with his gaze lingering on Kellendry, who paled under the scrutiny.

When his father pulled up on the reins and threw the handbrake the man threw his arms wide in welcome.

“You must be the Masons! The Masons plus one it seems.” He called out cheerfully. His tone clashed with the somber almost monotone that Kearin had been using so far. “I know the work order said as soon as possible but it’s only been what, two and half days?” He said, still smiling. The Contrast between the two Paladins was jarring and Gregory’s father stammered.

“I-well yes. We pride ourselves on our work and on keeping to schedule.” His father coughed and continued. “I am Clay and this is my son Gregory, he’s actually the one that did all the engraving.” He said proudly.

Gregory's chest filled with warmth and his cheeks burned at the praise. Kearin interrupted the large man, just as he was about to talk.

“The plus one is Kellendry. She will be undergoing the trials.” The large man nodded and looked at the grimy girl.

“Is that right? Is this what you want Kellendry? Contrary to what some people think, we don't force people into the trials.” The man said as he flicked his eyes at Kearin. The girl in question nodded minutely in answer and that seemed like it was enough for the man.

“Well!” He said with a clap of his hands, startling everyone but Kearin.

“Gregory is it? Why don’t you show me what you’ve been working on and we can get this wrapped up.” Gregory cleared his throat once, not trusting his voice to keep from cracking.

“Yes sir, it's here in the back.”

The man walked around to the rear of the wagon and Gregory hurriedly untied and unwrapped the plaque.

Up close the man looked even more intimidating. He had scars on nearly every inch of exposed skin, most were faded and didn’t stand out but up close it was obvious the man had seen more battles and conflict than most.

The scarred man stood there mutely for a moment, staring at the alien words with a blank face and Gregory’s heart rate accelerated more and more the longer the silence stretched.

What if he hates it? What if I did the letters wrong? What if I accidentally wrote an insult!? He thought in despair, even though his rational mind knew he’d copied the text they had provided exactly. He had even triple checked it against the paper they had provided, finally the man smiled and the expression lit his face.

“Well done! It’s exactly what I-what we ordered.” Gregory sighed in relief and caught up in the one eyed Paladin’s cheerful mood briefly forgot his place.

“I’m so glad! I tried really hard to keep the letters all straight. Some of them are hard! The curvy snake looking ones gave me the most trouble. That and the circles. What’s it for anyway? Is it a gift? Or a headstone or something?” He said in a rush and then clamped his mouth shut as his eyes went wide.

He looked at his father who was just as shocked as he was.

Gregory’s eyes flitted between the scared man and Kearin.

“I am so sorry!” He nearly wailed. “Please forgive me. I was just curious but please forgive my impertinence, I meant no disrespect to the Order or its secrets.”

The man shook his head slowly as if in disbelief and Kearin remained expressionless. Meanwhile Kellendry looked at Gregory like he was insane.

“Impertinence.” The large Paladin said, almost under his breath.

“See?” He said louder this time and looked at Kearin with a serious expression. Gregory swallowed as the moment seemed to stretch.

“This is why public education is a good thing. Impertinence! My boy, what a good word! Where’d you learn such a word?”

Gregory stammered, trying to catch up to the situation.

“I guess..well I guess I read it in a book in school.” He answered honestly. The man smiled like he had just found a gold penningar on the road.

“Aha! Good show Gregory.” He laughed. “But no. No offense taken. In truth the plaque is to commemorate a date important to the Order and nothing more. In a way it's for the anniversary of when the Order was founded. It’s not exactly a secret so I don’t mind telling you.”

Gregory exhaled and felt the tension leave his body in a great rush. This time when he opened his mouth he kept it to a minimum instead of just letting his mouth run. “Thank you sir. I won’t tell anyone.” He said seriously.

“Good good. Well I’ve kept you long enough. I believe Kearin said she would show you to the trials bunkhouses so I’ll let you get to it.”

With that he lifted the substantial stone plinthe off the wagon and held it at arms length in front of his chest with ease. The cart lifted as the load was taken out of it and Gregory’s eyes bulged at the casual display of strength.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

It had taken him, his father and his brother to load it and even then they had all struggled. This man had just lifted like it was no more than a heavy book and then walked toward the gate. The gate once more groaned open and before the man disappeared inside he regarded the group one more time.

“Thank you Mr. Mason and thank you Gregory for your work, it truly is excellent. Good luck in the trials you two.” He gave a slight head nod to them and then stepped through the gate which started closing before he was even fully beyond the threshold. The gate clunked closed and heavy thumps heralded whatever locking mechanism they had on the other side being employed.

Silence reigned for a heartbeat or two and was broken by Kearin sighing tiredly.

“I apologize. He always acts that way but he means well.” She looked up into the sky, seemingly to search for answers but all that was there was the lone circling bird from before.

“Well let's be moving on then, the trials barracks are back the way we came.” Clay nodded in silence and threw the handbrake off before maneuvering the cart back down the road. Gregory sat in the back in silent shock. His mind darted in too many directions at once as he tried to process everything.

The plaque was commemorating the founding of the Order and I made it! It might be in The Well for hundreds of years and viewed by hundreds of Paladins. Kellendry broke him out of his thoughts, talking for the first time.

“Who was that?” She asked no one in particular. Kearing looked at her sideways as she walked alongside the wagon and Gregory leaned in, curious to hear the answer as well. She cleared her throat and hesitantly said.

“His name is Odin. He is…Well he is a Paladin and that is all you really need to know.” Gregory grumped, it was obvious he was something special. Something was left being unsaid and he wanted to know what it was.

A warning look from his father stopped him dead though and he kept his questions to himself.

Odin had already forgiven his disrespect once and pushing his luck with Kearin seemed like a bad idea.

They trekked back through the training grounds and into the barracks area until they hit an intersection in the road.

Kearin signaled them to stop, saying.

“The barracks are this way. Mr. Mason, this road will lead you to the same gate you entered from.” She said, pointing down the road.

“Customarily, parents say goodbye just past the gate but it will be faster for everyone if you say goodbye here. Kellendry and I will give you some time.” Catching the hint the slightly smelly girl hopped down from the bench, nearly falling to the ground as she landed and her legs crumbled under her.

Kearin hauled her up gently with one hand gripping her upper arm and they walked a short distance down the road to the barracks.

Gregory’s heart suddenly hammered in his chest and dread clenched his stomach. “Come on boy, come sit up here and let’s talk.” His father said gently.

Gregory woodenly sat down next to him and Clay put an arm over his shoulder. Gregory leaned into his father.

“I’m scared. All of a sudden I’m terrified.” He said past a lump in his throat. Clay squeezed his son.

“I know. I know. Your mother gave me strict instructions that I was to tell you that you could come home and that it would be fine if that’s what you chose but I think you need to stay.” Gregory just nodded, not trusting his voice.

“I think it’s important that you try.” He said, squeezing his son’s shoulder. “I don’t think you’ll fail, in fact I think you’ll be one of the top recruits. First Five easy.” He said genuinely.

Gregory pulled away in shock. The First Five were the five top recruits that made it through the trials and were given special recognition as such. They also had their choice of where they wanted to be stationed and barring extreme circumstances got their pick.

“You think so? There’s no way. Clem’s brother, he said-”

“Clem’s brother failed the first day.” His father interrupted with a smirk.

“He’s also a cheesemaker's son and you’re the son of a mason. That boy eats more cheese in a day than our whole family does in a year.”

Gregory barked a laugh and felt his worries ease a little.

“He does, it’s true.” His father said in between laughs.

As the laughter died down Gregory asked his father. “He really failed the first day?” His father nodded, smiling.

“His father told us, he was deep in his cups and got to ranting about it. Failed the first day on a run or something. That part wasn’t clear.”

Kearin cleared her throat loudly, causing a new upwelling of dread in Gregory’s stomach.

“You can do this boy, I know you can and know if you fail there’s no shame in it. You’ve got us and there’s always a spot for you at the house.” His son just nodded, tears in his eyes. Clay smiled sadly, tears brimming in his own eyes.

“Alright son, grab your bag and get to going. I’ll see you in a couple days.”

Gregory numbly grabbed his bag from the back and unhooked it from the peg. He hugged his father one more time and then climbed down to the cobbled road. With a wave his father started the wagon away, leaving Gregory standing there alone with teary eyes.

He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes, embarrassed that he was crying and not wanting his companions to see. He sniffed once and turned to walk over to where they waited.

Kellendry was sneering at him with contempt and Gregory stopped in shock. Kearin, apparently seeing the look she was giving him, snapped.

“Kellendry! That is unacceptable. You think him soft for having a caring family and having a home that he loves?”

The sneer that had twisted her face dropped at the Paladins tone.

“I-I-no Paladin Kearin.” She said as she looked down at her feet.

Kearin grunted in response.

“Fine. Come you two, the barracks are this way.” Letting the matter drop she walked off. Kellendry glanced up at Gregory.

“Sorry, I was just…Sorry.” She said lamely.

“S’okay. It’s my first time away from home.” He said and immediately regretted how infantile it made him sound. He could feel his face heating as he blushed. She graciously chose to ignore his embarrassment and instead looked at Kearin as she marched away.

“We’d better hurry. I know from experience she doesn’t slow for anything.”

He nodded and hitched his pack higher on his shoulder. They both jogged to catch up with their guide. Kearin glanced at them both as they caught up but said nothing.

The pathway was wide and busy. Guardsmen recruits marched in formations, calling out in cadence with each other and kicking up dust. Carts occasionally rattled past carrying supplies, food and even a wounded recruit once. They only came across one other paladin, a grizzle man with a vicious scar across his throat. He looked young, only appearing a couple years older than Gregory but his bearing spoke of a maturity and confidence Gregory had yet to find. His sandy blond hair clashed with his dark eyes as he nodded and in a gravelly voice that sounded like dry marble being rubbed together greeted the other paladin.

“Kearin.” He said as he dipped his head.

“Kristoff, with me.” The young paladin fell in step with Kearin immediately and they began to converse in the language of the gods.

Gregory was fascinated. The words they spoke sounded like nothing he had ever heard, with odd infections and strange notes. His focus on their words was interrupted by Kellendry.

“So your family are all masons and sculptures huh?”

Gregory looked over at her and she was watching him with interest.

“Yeah, mostly my mom. She does all the big sculpting jobs. My dad, brother and I all do the small stuff or haul rock.”

He smiled as he thought about it. Even though he had only been away from his father for maybe twenty minutes it felt like days.

“Anything I would’ve seen?” She asked and Gregory shrugged.

“Probably. My mom did most the big ones in all the market squares.”

“Did she do the miner’s tribute in Iron square?” She asked curiously.

“Uh yeah, she did. I did the plaque for it too. It was my first big project.” He said happily.

“I always loved that one, my father was an iron miner. He died in the Prinpig collapse.” She said sadly. The Prinpig mine had collapsed five or six years ago and it had killed quite a few miners. They’d never gotten them out and it was quite a disaster. “I’m sorry. That’s gotta be tough.” He said sincerely, her situation suddenly beconig much clearer.

She shrugged trying to look like it didn’t bother her anymore but it looked forced.

“It was a long time ago.” She said and faced forward.

Gregory turned to face forward as well. Kristoff and Kearin were still walking ahead of them but they had turned off the main path a little while ago.

Kearin stopped them in front of a large stone building, it looked like all the others, stout and sturdy. The front facing the path had three doors that were all currently open and inside Gregory could see boys his own age.

Some were sitting on bunks looking slightly lost and others were wrestling and laughing. A group was out in the front playing some sort of stick and stone game but their game had stopped at the appearance of the paladins. Kearin turned to regard Gregory.

“This is where I leave you, Kristoff will show you to a bunk, explain the rules and show you where the facilities are. I will take Kellendry to the woman’s bunkhouse and do the same.” Kristoff nodded to Gregory but said nothing. Once again cold dread started crawling up in his stomach. Gregory managed a weak nod back.

“Thank you Gregory for your work for the Order.” She said in a slightly louder and more formal tone. The boys outside had gone still and were watching the scene with great interest.

Gregory was at a loss. Kearin looked at him expectantly and Kristoff’s face was impassive. Kellendry gently elbowed him and muttered under her breath.

“Say ‘you’re welcome’ you dolt.”

“I-that is, Quill’s masonry is happy to serve the Order.” He managed in a panic.

“Very good. Come Kellendry. The women’s bunk is this way.” She said, gesturing to the bedraggled girl.

She joined the tall woman and they started to walk away, Kellendry glanced back at him and Gregory mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ to her. She smiled without showing her teeth and the sight of her small smile made his heart beat a little harder. Kristoff’s rough voice almost made him jump.

“Come Gregory, the bunks are this way.” He gestured to the closest open door.

“There are some rules we should go over while we get you settled.” He rasped.