Wolf finished up supper with the Raven and Red and helped with the almost ritual cleaning. The Raven while not the most organized of knights did insist on cleanliness. He expected Wolf to wear a clean uniform for supper and keep his fingernails clean.

With the day's work done Wolf left the Raven to go back to his tent when it happened. Wayne stepped out from behind a tree and blocked his way. Two of his buddies appeared on each side of Wolf; they had apparently followed him. Wolf had nowhere to go so he looked up at the page and snapped, "What do you want?"

"I want you gone." To emphasize his point he gave Wolf a quick shove, knocking him off balance and over the outstretched leg of one of Wayne's friends.

Wolf went down in an awkward heap. Wayne instantly fell on top of him, hitting him in the face twice before a blur knocked Wayne off of him. Wart had come to his rescue.

Wayne's friends instantly went to work, one on Wart and one on Wolf. One of the pages hit Wart in the small of his side and he curled over in excruciating pain. They both received more blows to the face.

Wolf and Wart were saved by the rude intervention of two Squires. They pulled the boys apart. "Who started this?" demanded Squire David. He got no answer, so taking charge of Wart and Wolf; he started forcibly marching them to the main tent. Squire Bill forcibly led the two friends of Wayne. Wayne had disappeared.

When David, Wart and Wolf reached the main tent, the Eagle, the only knight present, made them sit in chairs in the corner. When Bill arrived with the two other boys, the Eagle immediately took them to the Lion's tent. Wart and Wolf were left to sweat it out under the watchful eye of the squire, who warned them to silence.

Eventually they were called to the Lion's tent by the Eagle. Wolf entered weak in the knees; for once terrified of being sent away. He believed that if he was sent away for fighting, he could easily go to Juvenile Hall, despite what the Lion had promised. He knew fighting had been forbidden, and even if he didn't throw a punch, there would be no excuse. His experience with grownups had taught him that they didn't like excuses.

They were placed in front of the Lion's table, where the knight was writing in a journal. He made the pages wait until he finished writing and closed the book.

The Lion looked up at them as if considering what he should say. Finally he asked, "You do know fighting isn't permitted at this school; or any school for that matter?" Wolf started to answer when Wart nudged him with an elbow. The Lion seeing the motion turned to Wart, "What happened?"

"I tripped, Sir."

"And I suppose you fell down on each side of your face?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Yes, Sir."

The Lion stood up and slowly walked around from behind his small table to stand in front of Wart, "You shouldn't be so clumsy. Report to the main tent immediately after breakfast for extra assignments. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Sir." Wart looked at Wolf and slightly shook his head, then turned and left the tent.

The Lion turned to Wolf, "I don't suppose you could give me a better explanation about what happened?" He gently put a hand under the boy's chin and turned his head back and forth; examining the damage that Wolf could feel becoming visible.

"I tripped, Sir."

"You can tell me who did this. It will be between me and you."

"I really tripped, Sir."

The Lion sighed, "I suppose I'll never find out what happened." He pointed back at the book on his table. "I still have to make a journal entry. I have to account for every bruise and cut you receive. It is the most difficult thing I have to do as a headmaster. You will also report to the main tent in the morning. Later you will be assigned to a self defense class conducted by the Wolverine. Do you know who she is?"

"Yes, Sir."

The Lion stroked his short beard a moment. "Somehow I don't think you really do. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Sir." Wolf turned and quickly left the tent, relieved that he hadn't been kicked out.

The next morning after breakfast, Wolf reported to the Raven. He couldn't hide the two bruises he had on his cheeks. The Raven didn't say anything about them, but he obviously knew what had happened. The Raven dismissed him from all responsibilities for the day. He now knew he would be busy with whatever punishment he received. The knight immediately sent the boy to the main tent.

Wolf arrived at the main tent to be greeted by Squire David. "You took your time getting here. That will get you an extra hour of work."

Wolf opened his mouth to object, but thought better of it. "What do I have to do?"

"Report to the stables and muck until one o'clock."

"Muck?"

The Squire's eyes opened wide, but returned to normal. "Shovel horse manure."

"But, that means I'll miss lunch." Wolf thought about what he had just said and the stare he received from the squire, "Sorry, I'm leaving right now." Wolf ran out of the tent and down to the stables.

When Wolf arrived he found Wart already shoveling. He quickly donned rubber boots, grabbed a shovel, and started to work. They started down one row while the other two boys they had fought worked the other row.

As pages passed by them with their horses, they made jokes at their expense. It made for a long morning and he missed lunch. To make matters worse Wayne came by with his horse and whispered to him, "Leave." To make his point he had his horse bump into the wheelbarrow knocking it over. Wolf had to re-shovel the manure.

With his punishment over, he reported to the Raven who gave him a packet of dried apples and informed him that he had to attend self defense class every morning.

"Sir, why was I warned against reporting what happened?"

"Who told you that?"

There was a long pause when Wolf didn't answer.

The Raven started to say something, but stopped. He furrowed his eyebrows and opened his mouth, but still couldn't talk. Finally he quietly said, "Wolf, the other boys and girls don't like tattletales. You're chances of finding friends would disappear if you did. By not talking you gain a certain measure of power over the perpetrators. They can't claim to be better than you. You took the punishment we dished out and didn't complain. That makes you just as tough as them. You need to be tougher. Pay attention to the Wolverine, they don't come any tougher." The Raven considered it a moment then added, "Make no mistake, if I hear of you bullying anybody, you will have to answer to me and then the Wolverine."