Power And Ranks

Mireille

Ever heard "Patience is a virtue"? .......because it really is! I have been chatting with Joel and some other Knights of my age, honestly, I'm so furious at how the conversation was carried!

* * * *

«Minutes before»

"Mike, How's your lil' sister?" one of the energetic knight, who goes by the name of Bob asked

"A'ight! Don't need to worry about her" Mike said with energy that he never displayed during our training sessions "She'll be getting married in the coming months"

"Waoohh, Congrats!" all the room occupants whooped in unison, I did too

"She was so small when I visited your home" Peter, Mike's close companion said completely awestruck, his mouth was opened ajar as he imitated a small height.

"It has been well over seven years since then, Peter!" Mike replied, hoping to get some sense in his friend.

"The days passed in a flash..." someone said, and to that everyone was either traveling in their memory lane and some even had tears in their eyes "Only we know how we endured the Captain's trainings" a sniff accompanied the sentence.

"Hey Edgar!" Joel echoed, breaking away the gloomy atmosphere "Don't you have any siblings?"

I wandered my gaze to see everyone's reactions, and no oddity, everyone was looking at me with anticipation filled eyes. Are they expecting I have a sister? Though it would be so satisfying to see their expectations crushed.

"I do" I said, I take over a minute to reply, just to see their anticipation grow. And now that I admitted I do, they are looking at me like I'm a God ready to shower them with my blessings. Not to be narcissistic, but am I really that pretty?

"I have an identical twin sister" I answered and expectedly they received their blessings, the way they were pink from happiness and the way their faces were filled with satisfaction said it.

I wonder if I'm giving them bleak hope, but as a prevention if my identity is in danger. I can always switch with my identical twin, who resides within me. I chuckled at the seriousness of my sentences. I can never let that happen, Can I?

"Is she with Baroness Yorkiel in Asrak!?" Smith excitedly asked the question everyone was dying to know.

No, she's here in this estate, in this room to be precise. How would you people react if you know you are talking to the girl you have such high hopes for? Though I have so many things to ask myself, I just respond with a purposeful smirk. They can take it as a 'yes' or 'no'.

Most of these Knights are similar to my age and that's why I can be informal with them. Any brother would be fuming to see so many admirers for his sister, but not me. Who would be angry at seeing themselves get glorified? Definitely not me. I'm more amused to crush their bleak hopes than get angry over my worshippers.

"I was so wishing you to have a sister" I heard a voice interrupt my thoughts. Boy got his wish answered, perhaps.

"I couldn't believe there was a guy as beautiful as you, either you inherited your looks only from your mother or you are a woman yourself. They were the only conclusions I came down to" the room was now filled with murmurs and talks, it was getting hard to see who said what. But I knew, whoever said this was really intentive.

"Though it's hard to believe that you're beautiful just because you have a twin sister. But it's acceptable. We are happy"

Atleast that had stop you people from probing further into my details. I wonder if my nervous sweat is obvious?

"Truth be told, we were ready to see a girl when you removed your coat"

"We were ready to see a curvy figure"

Stop! Is a curvy figure the only thing that matters on a girl? Why the hell would you want to see curves on a man!? You lecherous percents! My anger was now skyrocketing and I was ready to punch the lights out these perverts.

"When can we meet your sister?!" I heard a voice tearing my thoughts. Oblivious to my growing anger, he dared to ask the only question I would not like right now.

"Bold of you to assume you can meet her!" I shout as strictly as possible before storming off the room in a fit of anger, leaving the room occupants aghast.

* * * *

"Hey Edgar! Where are you storming off to?" Joel exclaims merrily, running behind me and making me stop my hurried walk.

"Just minding my own business" I shrug off his stretching hand before he successfully yanks my shoulder. I give him an offensive look for trying to touch me without my permission.

"Uh... Calm down" Joel backs away from me before I lash out my previously acquired anger on him.

"Hi-ya!" Smith charges towards us, giving a hard slap to Joel's back. His silly expression changes to a wave of uncertainty when he reads the atmosphere between us. "Umm..... Am I interrupting something?" he asks, still dubious at his surroundings.

"What are you fellas' doing here?" an undaunted familiar voice startles us. I turn about to face him and I remember, he is the same one who would often accompany Joel and Smith, though he is older.

He is wearing a two-piece knight's formal uniform, having a Ferdinand insignia badge enamelled on a ribbon. He has the insignia worn on his left chest, signifying he's a normal knight. But, why is he wearing it in such a heated temperature?

"Damn! I totally forgot it's today!" Smith burst out, lamenting on his lax memory.

"Let's go and organize ourselves" Joel remarks with utter urgency. He's about to turn while his other daunting friend yanks his shoulder, making Joel stop on his spot.

"He'll kill you!" the earlier daunting Knight shouts, making the walking by servants flinch as they run away fastly.

"That's right Steve. You are right, he'll kill us either way" Smith answers, his eyes are ready to shed tears "Even if we are late and even if we go like this and even if we don't go" he points to his casual training fit, playing out a melodrama.

"I should have gotten married, I don't think I'm ready for death yet..." Joel joins the melodrama together with Smith.

"Come on now!" Steve yells, rolling his eye "It's already time!"

All the while, I stand confused at this event. My previous anger turned into complete puzzlement as I say "Umm... Mind letting me into the conversation?"

They jolt towards me in unison, looking at me as if I'm a ray of light in their chaos.

We go to something called an "awarding ceremony". We arrive at a vast hall, where different people are gathered, all of them are in their two-piece Knight uniform. Some had the Ferdinand insignia on a ribbon embellished to a sash, worn around their neck. It significantly meant, they were the middle rank holders. While the others were no different from Steve. I'm surprised to see beanpole is a middle rank holder, since I believed him to be a sulky, pretend knight.

Most knights who forgot their uniform and is in their training or casual fit, encircles around me. Using me, "a young recruit" to excuse their blunder. Frankly, I don't know what they are planning, hoping the Captain will excuse them for me. The Captain, another culprit to wrongly hate on me.

The wide hall falls silent as I ramble on in my thoughts. Noticing the hard silence, I look at the culpable people. The Captain, the vice-captain and other two Knights are walking into the hall with an air of authority. "The March of authority". I chuckle at my thoughts yet soon turn my attention to the mastery.

The two Knights accompanying the captain, are wearing the two-piece knight uniform with some more stars and badges than the rest of the hall occupants. They are wearing the insignia on a sash around the neck. The insignia has crossed swords added onto it, as a sign of military awards. Their uniforms has awarded stars pinned to their chest. Overall, they are the senior rankers.

The Captain and the Vice-Captain are different. Their uniforms are not just a two-piece one, but an added mantle covered their back. They are wearing the same uniform they worn the first-time I saw them. As expected, the insignia has crossed swords added onto it. The insignia badge was enamelled on a sash. They wore it on the collar with an elaborate chain around the neck. The many badges and stars embellished their uniforms. They are the highest authority in knighthood.

After an icy swift scan around the hall to check the occupants, the Captain proceeded for the awarding ceremony.

Awarding ceremony, as the name suggests- a gathering for Knights where the lord they serve, the Duke in our case, will usually distribute the awards to those Knights who contributed the most to the military or in a war. However, over the years, the relationships with our neighboring nations improved a lot and there came no need for wars. The last war took place fifty years ago. And now, instead of the lord, the Captain is willing to award those who enhanced their skills as a polished knight.

After calling out different names and awarding them, it was finally the turn of Steve.

"Steve Williams!" the resolute voice of the vice-captain echoed the hall. Steve steps forward and gets awarded with a shiny badge.

"He's now a 1st Class knight" Joel chimes, smiling with satisfaction like a proud friend while glancing at Steve.

"1st Class...." I speak out loud "you are a 2nd Class knight?" I ask

"Yes, Smith and I, both of us used to be squires until recently" Joel answers

"Squire?" I ask, wanting to probe further

"We used to live-in with a knight as pupils." Smith says, joining into the conversation.

"I didn't ask for a definition. I want to know which knight you both accompanied" I say, pissed off at Smith's response.

"He was a 2nd Class Commander" Joel responds, deep in his thoughts, as if reminiscing of his past.

"Wow! A Commander! You guys should have great experience as his pupils" I remark, impressed by their past.

"Well, even beanpole is a temporary 2nd Class Commander" Smith answers.

"Don't you call him Commander?" I ask, regretting disrespecting a middle ranker.

"The Captain's rank is usually referred to as "Grand Cross". He holds the highest rank. The second is the Vice-Captain, he too is of 1st rank "Grand Cross". Since there can't be two Grand Cross, we named them as Captain and Vice-Captain" Joel smiles proudly, as if he was the one behind the naming.

I didn't really ask about it, but it'll prove to be a good lecture in this ceremony.

"The two other Knights who entered along the Captain are 1st Class Commanders, they hold the 2nd rank"

"Commander Davidson, with whom you fought last time, is a 3rd rank holder-a 2nd Class Commander. He was temporarily promoted to the 2nd rank- a 1st Class Commander. So he is on the same rank as beanpole, since beanpole was temporarily promoted to Commander David's position. Well, everything comes down to respect and favor I guess" Joel shrugs after completing his sentence.

Disappointment. Just a look at Davi- Commander and you know just how much strength those buffed up muscles hold. You can't sense the same aura from beanpole, though I shouldn't be judging him without having seen him in actually combat. But I still feel Davidson- the Commander should be of greater rank!

"You, me, him and many other Knights are 2nd Class Knights, the lowest rank. Steve was too, until today. From now on, he is a 4th ranker- a 1st Class Knight"

The ceremony is over while I ponder on the new information and I quickly leave with Joel and others after giving a last glance at the hall.

I could see the Captain boring his angry glare at me. What did I do now? I skim over my interactions with him till now, and I find nothing I'm at fault with. Not finding an appropriate answer, I hastily exit the hall, ignoring the continuous glares from Captain.

"He didn't do anything" Smith remarks while his smile vanishes and a tensed expression greets his face.

"Do you know what it means?" Joel questions with the same amount of anxiety as his friend.

"Yeah, it's the calm before a storm" Smith confirms

"What are you guys mumbling about?" I elbow Smith to quench my question

"Whenever Captain gets in a really bad mood, he remains calm, and that's just what happened today" Joel replies, stressing on his words.

"I was ready for an extra round of morning run, crunches and even cleaning of stables! But, the Captain ignored our slowness" Smith seemed ready to cry like a dejected maiden in love.

"He must be tired or something" I reply, tossing away their worried gaze.

"No, it's not the first time. My advice, let's be prepared" Joel joins the other Knights, busy in their deduction of the Captain's behavior.

I can't understand what part of the death glare that I received from Captain Raizel, was supposed to be calm? I abandon my worried thoughts and make my way to my room. It's time for sweets.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It's been two days since the ceremony ended and I did my best at avoiding Captain who wrongly dislikes me just like Sebastian.

I dawdle in the quarters, trying to kill my ample time before my knight training begins. I learned the ranking of Knights here and the power each of them hold. Now, I need to do the same with the ton. That's when I'm reminded of the refined library. I need to study about the aristocratic society and their distribution of power and most importantly, I need to meet the 5'4 midget and demand for acceptance of my rightful win.

Minutes turn into an hour before I realize 'I'm lost'. Before power and authority, I'll first need to memorize the labyrinth of this mansion! I huff out here and there while my annoyance on this maze-like mansion doubles. Without hesitation and delay, I briskly start walking to my right, from where I think I came to this isolated hall.

"Pardon me Sir" I jolt my head around when I hear a calm and steady male voice interrupting my walk. The person saying this is the same footmen who accompanied me to the Duke's study when I met with the Duke for the first time and hopefully, the last.

"Do you need my help?" his humbled words make me flinch. 'Are you lost?' this is what he would have said if I wore my casual attire and didn't have my sword with me. Swinging between a 'yes' or 'no', I just glare at him, hoping to convey my thoughts through telepathy.

"That is the way to the female servants quarters" he politely answers an unasked question, his face only read 'Please stop glaring at me'.

"Please let me guide you" he tries changing the subject while indicating me to come forward.

I did what any other person would do, I take his offer and ask him to go to the library.

^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^

A/n

This book is based on 16th century Europe, and all the details for the knight ranks and uniform was taken from the one and only “Google”.

This is a piece of fiction yet some events may correspond with the actual events.

And lastly, please vote, comment and share “His Masked Knight”.