Oliver sat on top of his horse. This was always his favorite part of the day, the weather was perfect. The cool breeze blowing through his hair, making the grassy field dance all around him, and the leaves rustle like soft music in the distance. The morning dew kicking up whenever his horse took a step, spraying little bits of water heir and there. Any moment now the sun would peak over the horizon, turning this cool blue morning into a warm orange day. And soon enough it began to rise above the horizon. The cold dark night sky gave way to the warmth and light of the sun. Oliver smiled, this had been a perfect morning, but he had to go back now. His father would need help around the farm, and with the animals. He spurred on the horse, Charlie, and she beg an to run across the field. The sun had risen higher now, and began to lighten up the valley below. The river and hills became more visible as it rose higher and higher. He always wondered what it must be like to explore all that, to get a truly close look at all of them, and then there was what laid beyond. What wonder did the world hold. Oliver knew of somethings, thanks to merchants that had traveled across the lands. Kingdoms where towers rose so high they scrapped at the sky, Flying powerful beast called dragons that could shoot flames from their mouths, and heroes would fight those dragons with there legendary swords and courage. He had thought about it daily, almost every morning he looked at that valley. He was on the road now and the trees blocked his view of it. He looked forward as he road further on. Soon Oliver could see his homestead in the distance, his father was already out and about when he had got there.

Frank "Morning, did you enjoy the sun rise?"

Oliver "I always do."

Frank "Well good, now that your back you can go wrestle the cattle, and make sure they are all ready and healthy for the festival tomorrow We need to bring them in for the festival tomorrow. We need to win this year, we should have won last year, but we were robbed by that tool Henry."

Oliver couldn't help but smile, his father was a kind and gentle man. He also however was a very competitive one. He was used to wining the cow festival most years, always adamant on raising the best cow he could, not just for resources, but for pride. Oliver spurred Charlie on once more and they made their way to the back of the house where the open field was. He began to ride out looking for the cattle, which he soon found. It wasn't very hard there must have been around twenty of them. Oliver road up to them, upon seeing him a few began to make there way to him. Some lifted there heads and mooed.

Oliver "I hope you weren't expecting me to have something for you."

He said this to the nearest cow, but it just looked at him expectantly. Oh yeah they definitely wanted something. Sadly for them he had nothing to give. He circled around them and began to shout

Oliver " ALRIGHT MOVE! LET'S GO!"

On queue all the cattle began to move. The stamped and ran there more towards the homestead Once the house was in view Oliver had stopped, and the cattle had stopped with them, He know saw his dad on his horse making his way to them.

Frank "Good work, now we should be able to pick a good cow from one of these. I personally like sally the most, but what do you think?"

Oliver thought for a moment.

Oliver "Yeah I would say sally is our best bet. She clearly is the healthiest and biggest. It must be here."

His father nodded. They went up to the large bovine and inspected it closer. She was one a smart and gentle animal. She didn't pay much attention to Oliver's father out side of a quick sniff when he first approached. He inspected her for what felt like hours, looking her up and down making sure everything was just right. He seemed pleased with everything and got back on his horse, the cow went back to grazing.

Frank "Well I think we have a winner on our hands!"

He seemed to be in a good mood. He spurred his horse on to the barn.

Frank "Alright come on now we need to clean up around the house and make sure we bring enough food for the festival tomorrow."

They both made there way to the barn and put their horses back in the their stables. Oliver knew he had a busy day a head of him. He had to start picking vegetables as well as water others, all while making sure they had enough to last winter that was to come. Then he had to began chopping wood storing it in the shed, that in of itself could take half the day. And finally he needed to make sure that the sheep were well fed and maintained. Oliver didn't mind the busy days, they always went by faster than most others. He also slept the best after days like that, his bed always seeming comfier on those nights than most others. He got to work right away making sure everything was just right, many of the vegetables had been picked and much of the wood chopped and stored in the shed. Finally he made sure the sheep had sufficient food and water. When he had started the sun was high in the sky, but now it was starting set into the horizon it seemed to rise from not so long ago. Oliver yawned, the festival of summer was tomorrow a festival were he and his father as well as the rest of the town folk all got together, celebrating the season. Of the four festivals through out the year, it was Oliver's favorite. Although Oliver's favorite season was summer so it made a lot of sense. The cattle competition was the always the what got people most excited. Farmers couldn't help but compete with each other to sea who could raise the best cattle, on top of that the winner goat to eat the cow they had raised. So it was one of the few teams in the year that Oliver could eat meat. Since most cattle are difficult to raise in the village, they are generally used more for the milk they produced allowing them to make all sorts of dairy products. Which they could sell to merchants and use themselves. So cows were rarely slaughtered for meat. Oliver hoped they would win he hadn't had meat in years, not since they last one the festival competition about 2 years ago in fact. Oliver loved meat especially a nice steak from a cow. Oliver yawned again. The sun had now completely set, and night had fallen over the homestead. Oliver could hear crickets all around him. It was time to go to bed, he made his way back to his small house, into his room and fell on his bed, drifting to sleep almost instantly. When Oliver had woken up the next day he was surprised to see the sun was already high in the sky. Oliver was shocked to see how late he had slept in. Oliver had been waking up before the sun rise all his life, even when it rose early in the summer. He had got out of bed and stretched, putting on some new clothes he made his way outside. Once he stepped outside he saw his father preparing the cart it was already filled with vegetables and sally strapped to it. When his father heard the door open he tuned to Oliver and gave him a big smile.

Frank "Good morning. Sleep well?

Oliver "Maybe a little too well."

Frank laughed

Frank "Its good to get sleep like that before days like this. Sleeping long and hard empties the stomach. Plenty of room to fit the steak in once we win."

He rubbed his belly and smiled. Oliver chuckled to himself. Although he still felt a little guilty sleeping in so late, making his father do all this work himself. Frank seemed to pick up on this.

Frank "Tell you what. You can go get the horses from the stables and strap them to the cart."

Oliver smiled in thanks and made his way to the horse barn. He grabbed both Charlie and Charles taking them and strapping them to the cart. After words he felt a bit better about waking up so late. Frank had just finished counting the vegetables in the cart and was getting ready to ride it. Although Oliver had a sneaking suspicion that he counted them three too many times. Oliver pulled himself up and sat next to his father. Frank spurred on the animals and they were off.

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Frank "With these three we'll make it into town in no time, should take little under an hour"

Sure enough his father was right, as before Oliver realized it they were at the town gates. There was a festive nature all through out town, decorations were being put up and everyone seemed to be wearing there best close. It made Oliver feel a little self conscious, since he just through on whatever he could find as quickly as possible. He didn't even know if the clothes he had on smelled particularly well, it was completely possible he smelled like shit. Well he had no choice now. It would take too long from him to get back and change, his absence would be noted. They made there way to the cattle barns in the middle of town. Once there they made sure Sally was all set up and ready had plenty of food and water. Oliver and his father made there way into the town looking to help with any decorations.

??? "Oh Frank could you help with these decorations?"

It was Amanda. An older women who always played a large part in the festivities. Usually planning and doing most of the decorations. She had four sons and a daughter. So everyone said she was best at creeping a rowdy crowd in line. You also never said no to her. Frank walked to Amanda and she dumped a hole lot of supplies in his arms.

Amanda "Oh and Oliver. Elijah is helping build the large Table in the middle of town for the feast tonight. Go help him and the other men, would you dear?"

Oliver "Of course Mrs. Amanda I'll head right over."

Amanda smiled in approval, and Oliver made his to the middle of town. He found Elijah and the others working on the massive table that all the fruits and vegetables would sit on. He waved to the others, and they all waved back, Oliver grabbed some tools that had been put aside and began to help with the work next to Elijah, as soon as he did Elijah began to talk to him in hushed whispers.

Elijah "You smell like shit."

Oliver only smiled and rolled his eyes and Elijah smiled back. Elijah had long amber colored hair that was in curls. He wore brown shirts and pants, he was never one to dress for formalities. He always had a glint in his eyes and a grin on his face like he was up to no good. like he was up to no good. Elijah had been Oliver's best friend for as long as he could remember. Although not always the best influence, there was one time when he and Elijah had been playing in the mud in the outskirts of town after a rainy day, they had tracked so much mud in his house. It made his mother furious. Then another time when he challenged Oliver to a horse race. Both boys so occupied with going as fast as possible that they didn't realize just how far they were going from town, and before they knew it they were lost. For about three days. Both his parents were both enraged and relived when they had found the two boys. For Elijah's part he was very loyal to, and clearly cared for Oliver. He has, several times now, helped out with the farm work at home since the passing of Oliver's mother. He's also always giving Oliver the confidence to talk to girls, although Oliver has had yet to have any success.

Elijah "Well any ways, have you heard the big news?"

Oliver raised an eyebrow.

Oliver "What? Did Henry raise a another festival winner?"

Elijah shook his head and smiled at him.

Elijah "There are knights in town, from the capital."

Oliver was shocked. The only people that traveled this far west was merchants, and even than, they were rare to see. So knights traveling this far... What could that mean?

Oliver "Do you know why they are hear? Or how many of them? Do they have swords and armor?"

Elijah "Woah woah woah. Calm down. There are a handful of them, about twelve in all. From what I've been told they're here to recruit new people. They're looking for soldiers."

Oliver was confused

Oliver "Why? Is some war happing?"

Elijah shrugged

Elijah "No idea all I know is that they came here looking for men or women who to join them."

Oliver "Women too?"

Elijah "Oh yeah, as a matter of fact, they seem to be lead by a girl, a cute one in fact."

Oliver "You've seen them already?!"

Elijah "Just a glimpse. I couldn't see much because everyone was crowded around. But well she was a looker."

Oliver didn't much care whether one of the knights was an attractive women or not. He wanted to see what they were like, what they did. Were they like all the stories he's been told. He wanted to meet them, to see for himself, and even if they didn't meet his expectations he wanted to join them.

Oliver "So where are they now? Are they helping with the festival?"

Elijah scoffed.

Elijah "No, they're at the tavern getting drunk. Its not even mid day. Although I guess I can't be too surprised. They have been traveling for days. And its not its their festival, so why should they help?"

Oliver agreed, but getting drunk being the first thing a knight does when entering a new town was still a little disappointing. Still, an excitement was course through Oliver, that maybe just maybe he'd be able to leave. Oliver didn't hate the village far from it, but a part of him yearend to see what else was out there. Simple stories from merchants was not nearly enough to satisfy him. He wanted to see it with his own eyes. To experience it for himself. When they had finally finished setting up the table and the decorations. The festival had soon begun. It was a delight. The dancing and the music was so nice to be around, laughter and talking could be heard all around Oliver as he walked through the streets of the town. Being able to eat the food that every one else had helped to prepare was one of Oliver's favorite things about the festival, along with the cattle competition. He had lost track of Elijah however who was probably flittering with some girl. A part of Oliver wanted to head over to the tavern, and see the knights and what were they up to. Were they also enjoying the festivities? Or were they just hanging around trying not to bother anyone. Before all that however, he wanted to find his father. He wanted to be with him for the cattle competition. Soon enough after looking for a short while he found his father, with probably his least favorite person in the world Henry

Henry "So Frank did you raise any decant cattle this year? Maybe you'll come in second place."

Henry was a tall skinny who despite his size always seemed to be in loose fit clothing. He had mostly brown hair with streaks of grey strewed about. He had sunken tired grey eyes, that at the moment looked triumphant. He turned and saw Oliver walking towards them.

Henry "Ah Oliver how have you been? I was just telling your father about the incredible cow I've raised, and how I'm sure to win the festival competition."

Henry looked extremely please with himself while Frank looked miserable and grumpy.

Frank "Yes well you haven't won yet Henry. You never know what might happen."

Henry laughed

Henry "I'm quite confident that I'll win this year. This cow I've got is like none other. I can't see myself losing!"

Frank "Well then I guess we'll just have to see in later tonight won't we?"

Henry "Oh we will, you can count on it."

Frank looked even grumpier then before. With out Henry realizing he began to walk away from him while he was still talking about his cow.

Henry "And you should see the milk she can produce. The best I've ever had. Yes I most say, I'll definitely be the winner when its all said and done."

Oliver followed his father to where ever it was that he was going.

Frank "I really hate that man. He wins one year and believes he's the greatest cattle raiser the world had ever seen. Didn't even ask me once about my cow or how the festival was. He was talking about that stupid cow of his for 10 minutes before you showed up. I really hope we win this year so that smug look can get wiped from his face, oh I would love that."

Oliver chuckled to himself. His father and Henry were far too competitive for there own good. They weren't that different from each other, and they would realize that had they just sat down and talked to one another. But it was pointless the two men just couldn't see past the competition. Oliver was looking for his father for another reason however.

Oliver "Father, have you heard about the knights in town?"

Frank looked a bit taken aback

Frank "Hmm? you mean the men and women that came in this morning? I heard they got into town just before we did, and that they're held up in the tavern for the time being. They were causing a little ruckus in there, but nothing Amanda couldn't sort out. Their leader was quite apologetic about it all. I also heard they were looking for possible recruits. Although good lucking finding any soldiers here."

Oliver "Have you talked to any of them directly? Are they really looking for new recruits?"

His father looked at him.

Frank "No I haven't Amanda and a few others have. Would you like to see one. I heard one was quite a pretty lady."

Oliver "I'm not too interested in that. Rather its just... I was curios is all."

Frank looked at him and sighed

Frank "Well I suppose it was only natural. I figured something like this might happen."

Oliver was confused

Oliver "What do you mean?"

Frank "You want to join them don't you?"

Oliver was a little surprised, but he supposed he couldn't hide much from his own father.

Oliver "I... if you don't want me to then-

Frank "Well of course I don't want you to, but its not about what I want. You're a man fully grown now, You have been one for quite some time now."

Oliver couldn't answer. A part of him was elated to hear this. Another part felt guilty for leaving his father. He didn't know what.

Frank "Tonight however we are still father and son."

He wrapped his arm around Oliver.

Frank "So let's win this cattle competition, and have a incredible final meal."