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The other
group was much more interesting. They all had real practise swords,
good steel, but nothing fancy. The squires stood in two long rows,
paired off and facing each other. One side would take a defensive
pose, the other attacking, then swap. They attacked and parried in
time to Captain Madder
’
s
bark.

“
Overhead,
Attack! Exchange. Attack! Exchange. Heart, Attack! Exchange.
Attack! Exchange. Hamstring, Attack!
”

As he chanted he walked up and down the
lines. He was tall and thickly muscled, wearing just breeches,
boots and his sword- impervious to the cold. His hair was cut very
short to his head, light brown curls interspersed with grey, a
ragged scar ran from his crown over his forehead and down one
cheek. Where his eye should be was a mass of scars, his one
remaining eye brown. His bare chest revealed more scars. Small
puckered ones, one long and thin curving ragged around his ribs,
another where an arrow had gone in, perilously close to his heart,
and had two more arrow scars on his back. He walked with a rolling,
limping gait. Each time he cried attack, spittle flew from his
mouth. Every now and then he would step close to a squire,
adjusting his grip or swing, kicking their feet into a better
stance.

Llew
couldn
’
t wait to be a knight
but he promised himself he would be a better at avoiding injury
than Captain Madder, or a least invest in some really good armour.
He didn
’
t want to look that
grisly. Though he wouldn
’
t
mind a few scars to demonstrate his valour. The boys crowded on the
squares edge, making sure as to not get in the way. Last week
Captain Madder had decided they were too close and distracting the
squires who he said were
‘
indolent, fatted calves waiting for the
slaughter
’
, and then told
the
‘
feckless
ninny-boys
’
to go to the
weapons stores and start polishing.

The boys had
spent all morning in that room reeking of old sweat and oil and,
although annoying, they did have fun going over the swear words
they
’
d heard Captain Madder
frequently use. Llew and Lantana had even dared to have a mock
fight, with overlarge helmets and swords as big as they. They other
boys had been terrified they would get caught, although they
thought it was hilarious and daring. As far as Llew knew, no one
had found out.

“
Look at him!
Mama says that he must be eating his fellow squires, because every
time he comes home he
’
s
twice the size! He
’
s nearly
as tall as Father now, I think. Did you know that in the spring
some of the older squires are going on a trip, a recon of the
Aumorran border? Holm
’
s
going, his knight was posted there before he came back to court and
chose Holm. Holm
’
s knight
said that Holm is more skilful than any Aumorran warlord, he says
that even a couple of our pages could beat a Aumorran soldier! I
bet you could, couldn
’
t you
Llew?
”

Llew raised
his eyebrow, remembering Captain
Madder
’
s scars.
“
Obviously,
I
’
m not afraid of stinking
Aumorrans. I bet even you could take them on,
Holver.
”

There was
much shoving after that, and all agreed that they could take on the
Aumorrans. Why not
,
thought Llew
,
it
’
s not like they
had crossed the border for about five years now. Or something like
that.

Llew eyed
Holm. Holver was right, he was really big. The younger squires were
gangly and tall, and although Holm was only a second year he looked
like the oldest squires. In fact he already looked like a man fully
grown, apart from the distinct lack of facial hair. Llew glanced at
Holver; they had the same mousy brown hair and arched nose, but
apart from that they didn
’
t
look anything alike. Llew didn
’
t think Holver could ever grow up that much, Holm must have
been big even at their age.

Lantana
pulled Llew
’
s shoulder,
turning him around, and spoke in an awe hushed voice.
“
Look,
it
’
s Lord Knight Caderos of
the House of Twining Ivy! I heard he had come back from
Merida.
”

Gos came
close to Llew
’
s other side,
eyes wide.
“
Who is he then?
I haven
’
t seen him since
I
’
ve been at
court.
”

Llew
couldn
’
t help but gape at
him. How could he not know who Lord Caderos was? The Lord Knight
Caderos.
“
What? Honestly? I
know your parents don
’
t come
to court much, but really, you don
’
t know who he is? You better go make friends with the
scarecrow!
”

“
No I
don
’
t! What have my parents
to do with it? They
’
re
coming more now
…”

Lantana
smiled a knowing smile. Preening, Llew thought. She could be such a
braggart some times.
“
The
fair Prince has a point, dear boy. Lord Knight Caderos is well
known throughout the country. Gifted, they say, gifted in the arts
of battle. He is my cousin you know? His mother is my
mother
’
s aunt. He became a
page much later than you are supposed to start, but they say
because he was so talented, he became a squire the very next year!
He was the best of them all, no one disputes that, it is said in
his final year he even beat the Lord General himself! But of course
the position of Lord General is synonymous with the House of
Twining Ivy, but I
’
m sure
you knew that. So it seems it is his
destiny
to take up that
mantel.
”

Even Llew thought she summed it up well, if
rather pompously, and joined the others in watching the notorious
knight stride down the one of the winding side paths. His black
hair, cut to stay out of his face, had grown out so his frowning
green eyes flashed between wind swept locks. He wore good leather
boots, plain, that covered his legs up to his thigh, a black velvet
coat with out of fashion tight sleeves open to reveal a deep green
silk shirt. His sword was strapped to his side in a worn sheath,
the hilt wrapped in leather strips to improve the grip. He wore a
fierce expression, lost in thought.

There was a
sudden cry from the squires, it seemed the boys
hadn
’
t been the only ones
staring. Holms partner knelt in the dust clutching his forearm,
blood seeping through his fingers.

“
What
’
s this? Are you
a bunch o
’
delicate maids,
to swoon at the sight of blood? Get up, squire! Let me
see.
”
Captain Madder pulled
the squire up, twisting his arm to get a better look, muttering to
himself. Holm hovered next to them, his hands throttling the hilt
of his sword.

“
Is it grave,
Captain Madder? I tried to pull the stroke short when I realized he
wasn
’
t
ready.
”

Captain
Madder gave a bursting, coughing laugh, letting go the hapless
squire and giving Holm a slap on the back.
“
Grave? Ha. A scratch, nothing to
die from. You boys need some seasoning, a good battle to teach you
what grave is. No, you showed good control, squire Holm. But
don
’
t forget, always press
an advantage! Oi! Cade! Have you seen the distress
you
’
ve caused me?
Bleedin
’
my
greens.
”

Lord Knight
Caderos, Cade, had looked up at Captain
Madder
’
s shout, raising an
eyebrow at the scene brought to his attention. He changed his
course, heading towards them. The wind now blew his hair back
revealing what Llew had once heard described as a
‘
sensual and
cruel
’
face, whatever that
meant. He supposed he was a good looking man, but Llew was more
interested in his sword. Now he was closer he could see the tip of
the pommel, the metal of which was a bright silver, with blue
undertones. He had never seen steel so bright.
“
Greetings to you, Captain Madder,
it
’
s good to see you still
teaching, and still torturing the squires by the looks of it. Have
not changed then, old coot?
”

A grin split
Captain Madder
’
s face. Cade
smiled a slanted smile, and they set about clapping one another on
the arms and back.

Gos and
Lantana looked as surprised as he. They had never seen Captain
Madder look, well, happy before. He might laugh, but he was usually
laughing at someone, and they had never heard anyone but the Lord
General call him anything than rank and name.
“
I hope
you
’
ve been
showin
’
them Meridans a
thing or two, eh?
‘
Bout how
to be a real warrior!
”

“
My
father
’
s family were very
pleased with my training and position, they thought I must have had
skilful teachers indeed.
”

“
Pah!
Don
’
t give me that old
family trick, this is your home Cade.
We
’
re glad to have you back!
I bet you a virgin you
’
ve
let yourself go, eh? Those skills a bit rusty? Them Meridans just
don
’
t know what stamina
is.
”

“
Well, I may
have let off training for a while, hard paced travel, old friend. I
think maybe too old, shall I practise with one of your squires? The
giant, perhaps.
”

“
Ah, you deal
a fine blow with words, silver tongue, but what of with blades? I
taught you everything you know, boy, and that sounded fair like a
challenge to me! What say ye, squires?
”

The squires heard the challenge and watched
in anticipation. Captain Madder had once been the best swordsman of
all Danua, unbeaten. The only one who came close was a Knight a few
years older than himself, Karse. Now Lord General Karse. It was
said that if Madder had not been so grievously injured he may have
been Lord General.

The squires began to move back, clearing the
training yard. Even the archers had broken up, coming to stand with
the others and watch the spectacle. Cade removed his jacket.

“
You! Boys,
if you
’
re gonna get under my
feet, be useful, never too soon to learn some of your page duties!
Take Lord Knight Caderos’ things!
”

Lantana
sauntered swiftly ahead. First to come to
Cade
’
s side she took his
jacket, looking far too pleased with himself.
“
Cousin, well met. You have grown
since I saw you last.
”

Cade began to
remove his shirt, untucking and unbuttoning. More people had began
to gather, servants flocking to the sidelines, passing soldiers
calling out bets. Cade passed the shirt to Gos.
“
Thank you. Your
name?
”

“
Gos
…
er
…
Gosmore, Lord
Knight Caderos.
”
Gos more
had turned a delicate pink and fought not to smile, he looked a
swooning maid for sure. Llew stepped a little closer.

Cade noticed
him, cocking his head to one side.
“
And you. Prince Llewellyn, I believe. I would be honoured
if you would care for my twin blades, as this is a contest of
swords.
”

“
The honour
would be mine Lord Knight Caderos. You may call me
Llew.
”
Cade smiled as he
removed the daggers at his wrists, placing them in
Llew
’
s hands, his muscles
rippled like deeper shadows beneath his dark skin as he strode into
the training yard as he stretched. The blades were warm in his
palms, very old, fine steel. Each carefully weighted to use for
throwing as well as hand combat. The hilts were moulded in the
semblance of ivy, set with hundreds of tiny emeralds. Llew gasped,
knowing these must be heirlooms of the House of Twined Ivy. He
clutched them tight, to be sure not to drop them.