Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor (5 page)

Those days seemed a hundred years ago now.

“I really do think Disty and Bli would enjoy fishing,” Tav said to Twitch. “Don’t you think we could skip training just for the night?”

Twitch shrugged and nodded. It was becoming tiring to work all day and then train in the evening too.

Less than an hour after putting away their tools for the day, they were at the lake, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine and laughing at the antics of the paythas, who picked up the concept of fishing even more quickly than they expected. When Tav snatched the first fish out of the water, the two critters jittered about excitedly. They ran up and down the shoreline, searching the waters, then stopped and chatted back to Tav and Twitch. The men cast in their lines.

It was the best two hours of fishing they’d ever had.

Life was good. Life was easy.

MOUNT RESOLUTE

“What is this all about, Tav?” Twitch said, breathing hard.

“Who is this man you’re supposed to meet?”

Tav crested the last rise on Mount Resolute and held his hand down for Twitch to grab hold of. “He’s my uncle.”

“Seriously? The one your father’s not so fond of?”

“That’s the one.”

Twitch clambered up over the rise and let out a low whistle. “Whenever Baylor comes by, things get tense around the house. It’s a good thing it’s only once in a blue moon.”

Tav looked about the small clearing where they stood. From here they had a clear view of the peaceful city of Burkfield. Somewhere in the trees below them were their horses and the paythas, who had reluctantly obeyed orders to stay behind.

“You’re right about that.” Tav took a deep breath. “It’s why my parents were hesitant to let me join the Knights of the Prince. They consider my uncle a little crazy.”

“Why?” Twitch asked.

“Because I believe that following the Prince requires sacrifice,” a deep voice boomed from behind them.

Tav and Twitch jumped and whipped about.

“Uncle Baylor,” Tav said without smiling.

“Hello, Gustav.”

Sir Baylor was a broad-shouldered man with black hair and a short black beard that was just beginning to fade to gray near his chin. Most of his knightly attire was black or dark brown leather. He cast a quick scrutinizing glance over both young knights but then focused on Tav. “I’m glad you decided to come. I thought perhaps your father had persuaded you to the contrary.”

Tav stiffened. “My father doesn’t know I’m here. I’m my own man now.”

Sir Baylor squinted and lifted a gloved hand to his chin. “Yes, I can see that. Sir Edmund tells me you have done very well in your training. You don’t know this, Gustav, but I’ve been checking up on your progress this past year, which is why I wanted to meet with you privately. Hello, Twitch.”

Twitch’s right cheek jerked a couple of times as he nodded a greeting.

“Why did you want to meet with me, Uncle Baylor?”

Baylor’s eyes narrowed as his gaze returned to Tav.

“What are your plans when you are commissioned?”

Tav looked off to the woods. “I hadn’t thought about it much. For now, I guess I’m planning on staying in Burkfield.”

Baylor looked disappointed. “Why?” he asked bluntly.

Tav seemed a little agitated. “Burkfield’s a great city. We have a good business, and I have a lot of friends here.”

“Comfortable, are you?” Baylor asked.

Tav eyed his uncle suspiciously. “Yes …”

Baylor put a hand on Tav’s shoulder. “Do you understand what it takes to truly follow the Prince?”

Tav squirmed and glanced at Twitch, who was closely watching the exchange.

“Of course I do,” Tav replied.

“Tav, there is a war raging all around us.” Baylor’s hand tightened on Tav’s shoulder. “I want you to come with me, to help me fight it. I’m looking for knights who are willing to ride far, fight hard, and sacrifice everything for the cause of the Prince. Such a life is not easy, but it is full
of purpose. Aren’t you looking for more purpose than a comfortable living and a few friends?”

Tav seemed to struggle for the right words. He walked a few paces toward the ridge line, then turned back.

“I hardly even know you, Uncle Baylor, and I’m not sure what you’re asking of me.”

Baylor smiled. “I’m asking you to give up everything you know here, travel from one end of the kingdom to the other, and carry the truth of the Prince to all people.”

“And we would leave right after my commissioning?”

Baylor hesitated. “Unfortunately, I can’t wait that long. It may be months before I return. We would leave the day after tomorrow.”

“Day after tomorrow?” Tav’s eyes widened. He stared at his uncle, then at Twitch. Finally he shook his head. “I have to think about this.”

Baylor frowned. “I’ll be here for the next two evenings if you choose to follow.” The veteran knight began walking toward the tree line. “Gustav, you should know that I am not here simply because you are my nephew. I was sent for you.”

The two men locked eyes; then Baylor disappeared into the woods.

Twitch came to stand by Tav, who seemed lost in thought.

“Come on, Twitch,” Tav finally said. “Let’s get out of here.”

That night neither Tav nor Twitch slept well, and their paythas seemed as agitated as they. In the morning the two young men worked in near silence. When they finished early, Disty and Bli scurried over to their fishing rods and chortled excitedly. Much to the creatures’ disappointment, however, Tav and Twitch went to the haven instead.

Late in the afternoon when the training ended, Sir Edmund gathered all of the knights and gave an impassioned speech on the need for each of them to commit fully to the Prince’s call. On the way home, neither Tav nor Twitch broached the subject of Sir Edmund’s speech or the previous day’s encounter with Sir Baylor.

The next day was much the same, but instead of going to the haven, they arrived home for an early supper. Afterward, Tav went to the barn
and began to saddle Valiant. Twitch followed him, his right cheek in near constant spasms.

“What’re you gonna do, Tav?” He rubbed his cheek to soothe the muscles. Disty and Bli chortled back and forth, seeming to console each other for their masters’ apparent distress.

Tav cinched and buckled his saddle, then leaned against his horse and crossed his arms. Disty scurried up to his shoulder.

“I honestly don’t know, Twitch. What do you think about it all?”

Twitch’s eyebrows raised. “I … well … I guess I’m not sure.”

“My folks would have a fit if they knew I was even considering riding off with Uncle Baylor.” Tav shook his head as if he could imagine it, then gave Twitch a crooked smile. “Do you think my uncle is crazy? I mean, do you see any sign of a war raging around us?”

Twitch raised an eyebrow. “Well …”

“Me, neither. Why should I throw everything away to chase some crazy war concocted in the mind of my uncle? I think my father may be more on track about Uncle Baylor than I first—Disty, calm down. It’s all right.”

Tav reached up to pet the paytha, which was running excitedly from shoulder to shoulder. Then he shook his head again and reached for the reins of his horse. “He said we may not be back for months! How would I explain that to Mirya? She’s not going to wait around for me indefinitely.”

“You don’t really think your uncle is crazy, do you?”

Tav looked at Twitch and thought for a moment. “I guess not. I’m just not ready to accept his version of what it means to be a Knight of the Prince.”

Tav prepared to mount Valiant, but Twitch grabbed his arm.

“Do you remember when you asked me if I thought there was something more to being a Knight of the Prince than what we were doing here at Burkfield?”

Tav looked at Twitch and slowly nodded.

“Do you think this could be it? What if your uncle is offering the very thing you were looking for?”

Tav seemed stunned by Twitch’s questions. He looked out the barn
door for a long moment, contemplating the two futures his next action would bring. “If it is,” he finally said, “I guess I’m just not ready to commit to it yet.” He smiled. “Besides, what would I do without you to keep me in line?”

Tav mounted up and settled into the saddle. “I’m meeting up with Mirya for an evening ride,” he said. “You’re welcome to come, Twitch.” Disty chortled excitedly, seeming to anticipate an evening of fun.

Twitch smiled sheepishly and shook his head. “Thanks, but no thanks.” Bli rested his chin on Twitch’s shoulder and chortled in low, somber tones.

Tav nodded. “I’ll see you later, then. By the way,” he said with a wink, “there’s more to you than most people think.”

Twitch patted the horse’s rump as Tav trotted off. He walked out of the barn and looked up to Mount Resolute, where his mind had been all day long.

“Something more …,” he murmured. Bli’s ears perked up as Twitch turned and headed for Kobalt’s stall.

DEFINING MOMENT

Twitch could hardly remember life without Tav. In fact, Twitch had never made any significant decision without first consulting his confident and sturdy friend. He almost felt as though he was betraying Tav when he rode alone to Mount Resolute that evening.