The Apprentice

At Trenton's words, Henry instantly remembered him talking about the Knights of Chemois during the final match of the knight's bracket.

The knights of the northern country, Chemois, had a strained relationship with the Knights of Hydrogia. Sending one of their knights over the border to compete in the sword-fighting competition was a political move.

Henry had no idea what it meant for him or why the man would bring him a sword from that country.

Stalking up to the younger man, Trenton pulls the blade out of the sheath on Henry's hip.

"You shouldn't let someone take hold of your blade," Trenton said.

Despite his words, the older man reveals a decorated sword made from the lightest silver metal Henry had ever seen. The blade was in perfect shape and likely very sharp. The same words on the sheath were also on the flat side of the blade and Henry wondered what they meant.

"If they don't mind themselves, I'm going to march up north myself and show them what happens when they try to take my apprentice," Trenton said through clenched teeth.

"Give him back his sword," Maximus said in his calming voice. "It would have offended somebody if he didn't accept it."

Trenton couldn't help himself and sheathed the sword at Henry's waist once again.

"Have I done something wrong, sir?" Henry wondered with wide eyes.

Maximus shook his head on behalf of Trenton.

"Quite the opposite, actually," Maximus explained. "There was a wealthy lord at the training grounds this morning saying he wanted to meet you in the coming days. He's sponsored the apprenticeship of a few knights, having been a knight himself."

Trenton was still irritated at the thought of a northern knight trying to take his future apprentice and he crossed his arms.

"We'll call for him the moment you agree," Trenton said. "Once you speak to him, you're working for me." Then he added, "if you don't get taken by another knight first."

"You sound like a jealous husband," Maximus said. "Give him a break and allow him to enjoy the victory." He then shifted the focus of the conversation. "How are your stitches? Did you mind them today?"

Henry hadn't been minding them well and he knew that the topmost stitch had already come undone. The twisting of his body to do the physical tasks required of him in the stable was the culprit. He felt the moment the stitch tore and had to continue on with his day when he didn't see any blood.

Sheepishly he pulled up his shirt and gave a view of his side.

"I have to make money in some way, sir," Henry admitted.

Maximus nodded at the stitchwork and his mouth turned down into a frown.

"Soon you'll no longer have to choose between money and health," Maximus said.

The green-eyed man stood up straight and glanced at his fellow knight. Talk of money brought up something else they wanted to discuss with the younger man.

"Henry, we've discussed it with the commander and have requested the funds for your apprenticeship go towards your mother," Trenton explained. "This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for you winning the competition. The lord who wishes to meet with you is willing to give our commander far more than you'll require to be housed and fed as an apprentice."

Henry's eyes widened at this and he couldn't help the emotions that came up to the surface. He had to quickly look away from the two men and drop his gaze to the ground.

The thing he had been worrying the most about was his mother being alone in the shabby house. He felt guilty leaving her behind when she had been so supportive of him after his father's death, allowing him to pursue anything he wanted and understanding when he didn't want to pursue anything at all.

Their thoughtfulness had taken a load off of his shoulders and he instantly felt lighter. At that moment he realized he was shouldering the responsibility of the man of the house since the tender age of 17.

"Thank you," was all Henry could mumble as he continued to avoid their eyes.

The knights weren't expecting the emotional reaction from Henry and averted their gazes as well. They gained somewhat of an understanding of the young man after witnessing the squalor Henry and his mother lived in, but it seemed that it went much further than they could ever know.

Soon the two knights and soon-to-be apprentice parted ways after discussing what the next few days would look like. Henry would have to do half days at the stable so that he could meet with the lord who was willing to shell over money for the apprenticeship.

He wondered what the catch was - if he would eventually owe someone for this generosity.

The next day, Henry had to tell Leo that he was leaving early and the old man dismissed him with an irritated tone. At that point, Henry didn't expect anything less from him. His temper got worse as time went on.

Henry had to wash his shirts so that he could try and give the lord a good impression of him. When he was done working he even made sure to wash his face and his hands so it wouldn't look like he had been in a stable all day.

As he made it to the edge of town to wait for Sir Trenton, who showed up with the horse Henry had ridden for the competition.

"Axe," Henry said to the horse after greeting Trenton.

"We have no time to waste," Trenton said to the younger man. "The lord has been summoned and we don't want to be late."

With a quick nod, Henry mounted the horse effortlessly. Trenton was in a hurry and didn't wait for Henry as he started his horse in a trot. As soon as Henry was on top, he commanded the horse to move quickly and he soon caught up to Trenton who had gone another direction and through the gate to the inner part of the city walls.

Unlike when they went west for the sword-fighting competition, the east was more natural and the road eventually became dirt.

After having spent many days on the hill outside of the city walls, Henry knew exactly where they were headed.

There was a giant building in the east corner that gave the impression it was a fortress with its thick brick walls and lack of windows. He had witnessed what seemed to be knights going in and out of it and he always wondered what was inside.

It seemed he would get his chance to see for himself what the place contained.

As they rode over fields and further from the bustle of the city, the fortress became more intimidating up close. He could tell it had been there for hundreds of years already and the closer they got, the more he realized it was more of a passageway than a building.

A few knights who were standing outside waved at the red-haired knight as he rode by.

"Trenton," was all they said as he passed through.

The dirt road continued through the building until they got to the other side. It opened up to practice grounds and barracks for the knights who lived there.

There were knights practicing in the distance and it caused Henry to try and sit up straighter and try to look more dignified than he felt. The knights in full armor were intimidating to him without knowing who they were underneath their helmets.

Their weapons and armor clanged together loudly as they relentlessly attacked the other person as if the other person was their mortal enemy. The weapons they held were unlike any Henry had ever seen before. One looked like a metal ball with spikes on it and the other seemed to be a hammer.

The pair slowed their horses down and came to a stop next to the entrance of one of the stables.

Henry had to resist the urge to put the horses away himself seeing that there was a stable hand there and already doing his job.

"Leave the horses to them," Trenton instructed. "The commander wanted to see me before we meet with the Lord."

"C-commander?" Henry asked, starstruck without having even seen the man.

His mind went into overdrive imagining a man with such great skill he could manage all of the Knights of Hydrogia effortlessly. He must be large like a beast and had the ability to take down a dragon in one slice. Something about him would demand the respect of others.

All his thoughts caused him to be equally as nervous as he was excited to meet the commander.

Henry heard crunching on the ground behind him and his brown eyes widened. Trenton gave the younger man a smirk.

"So this is the winner of the apprentice's bracket," a deep voice said behind him. "You would think a peasant this skinny wouldn't be able to wield a sword heavy enough to win a fight."