The White Knight

Chapter Three--The New Trainee

         Maria stared out of the window in her room into the courtyard below, smiling with excitement.  Far below she could see the people going about their business.
         Why was she excited and not freaking out about what was going on?  The truth was she always believed in fantasy worlds.  When she was a child, Maria had told one of the matrons at the orphanage that she believed in things like dragons, leprechauns, magic and anything relating to fantasy.  While all things may not be real, she believed that there was possibly a world that did exist. 
          “Maria,” she was reprimanded, “places like those are only in the mind of imagination.  It is best to keep these ideas to yourself.  People will never believe that you are normal.  That is one of the reasons why you never get adopted.  Prospective parents believe that you are a strange and odd girl.”
         From then on, Maria did not talk to others about fantasy worlds.  However, she still was strong in her belief that they did exist.
         Why was she not afraid of getting trained to be a warrior?  What was the difference between this world and the United States Army?  Maria had already decided to sign up for the R.O.T.C. program at college.  In fact, she was to meet with the staff and start the paperwork.  However, it looks like she was not going to make that meeting.  They would probably assume that she was no longer interested.  She had been excited about the thought of doing anything to protect her country.  Now she had the prospect to save a world.  Even though she had only been in Utofamia for less than twenty-four hours, she felt like this world was her home.
         What about all the things that she was leaving behind; would she miss them?  Maria thought about what would not exist in this world.
         First there were cell phones.  She though about several students in her classes who, even though they sat next to each other, would send text messages back and forth.  “Ridiculous,” Maria had thought to herself more than once.  She never had a need or a use for a cell phone.  She only made a couple phone calls a month.  All she would do is just walk to the corner store near her apartment and use the pay phone.  The only time she thought about getting a cell phone was if she ever found out about her parents and needed to make a long distance phone call.
         Computers were something else that she did not need to have.  If she needed to do research or to find information, she would just go the library and use their computers.  While people talked about using IM and email, as well as going on Facebook and MySpace, Maria was not interested.  She did not care about what was popular on YouTube or what hot products were being sold on EBay.
         Another thing Maria did not miss was television.  She did not even have a TV set in the apartment.  Growing up in the orphanage, the children were restricted to what shows they could watch.  Most shows that were allowed were boring.  Ever since she had started reading, Maria always had a book in her hand.  While she read most genres as she expanded her book collection, fantasy was her favorite.  Maybe that was why she always believed in worlds of centaurs, knights, magic and unicorns.
         Books would be the only thing she would miss.  However, there was an entire library in the castle.  This had more books than she could possibly read in a lifetime.
         The only thing she had wondered about was personal hygiene.  If this was like the middle ages of her world, it was said that people smelled from the day that they were born.  There was no such thing as deodorants, shower gels and Avon.  However, when she went to the private bath house, the rose water made her smell much better than any perfume that she had used.  “Thankfully, I did not have to bathe in the moat,” she thought to herself.  “It might take me a while to get used to bathing with other people.  At least, I am not one of the unlucky ones who have to sleep outdoors.”  She looked around the room.  It was smaller than the apartment that she was living in.  However, it was far more comfortable.  She sat on the bed and noticed how comfortable it was.  “This room suits me just fine.”
         As soon as these thought this, there was a knock on the door.  She opened it and Osondria was standing there.  Two other females were behind her holding a bedroll and a small tent.
         “King Alexander,” Osondria began, “forgot the protocol when it comes to new trainees.  You are on probation for six months while you are training.”
         “I see,” said Maria.
         “After the six months, we decide whether to keep you on as a fighter or relieve you of your duties.  Don’t worry, dear,” Osondria continued, seeing Maria’s puzzled expression, “most trainees make it all the way through.  Once in a while we get somebody who can’t hold a sword if his life depended on it.  I get a feeling that you will make it through training and maybe far exceed other warriors.”
         “Thank you,” said Maria.  “I should be getting some sleep if I am to get up early.”
         “I know,” said Osondria.  “We just have to show you how to set your tent up and you will be set for the night.”
         “I don’t understand, I thought that I had a room.”
         “The protocol for trainees that are on probation must stay in a tent for the first six months of training.  Don’t fret, dear, the ground is not hard once you get used to it.”
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         "Maria."
         There was a grunt from the person sleeping in the tent.
         "Wake up now, Maria.  It is a fresh new day."
         Maria grunted louder, “Leeme alone.”  Maria had spent a long sleepless night tossing and turning on the hard ground.  Even using her bedroll as a mattress did not help; she just could not get comfortable.  After what seemed like hours, she finally fell asleep to be awakened in too short of a time.
         Osondria shook her harder.  “Maria, you are no different from anybody else here.  You have to get up with the others.”  The fighter, knowing Maria was new, talked to her gently.  She was always like this with the new trainees.  Thankfully, there was somebody next to here when the new people gave her a hard time.  She turned to the man standing next to her.
         Geoffrey grinned, “I love doing the dirty work.”  He reached into the tent and grabbed Maria’s shirt.  “Time to get up,” he said. He roughly pulled her up and threw her out of the tent.”
         Maria fell on the ground scraping here exposed skin on the loose rocks.  “The sun is not even up,” she said to herself as she noticed the darkness around her.
         Geoffrey leaned over Maria until his face was inches from hers.  “WHEN YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SOMETHING, DO IT!” he yelled.
         Using her hands to support her weight, Maria pushed up from the ground and sprung up towards Geoffrey.  Angry, she pushed against his chest.  Surprised, he fell to the ground.
         “THERE, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?” she yelled back into his face.
         Geoffrey threw back his head and laughed. 
         “We will make a fighter out of you that is for sure.”
         Maria glared at Geoffrey.  Here was a man who seemed to show a sensitive side.  But now he was acting like the jerk he was when she first met him.
         “Play time is over,” Osondria said.  “Now it is time for some fun.”  She handed Maria a bundle of tunics, leggings and shoes.  “We always start out day with a little run before we eat breakfast.  These will be better than what you are wearing.” 
         Maria looked at the shoes that she was handed.  They were just pieces of leather that were stitched together.  They looked similar to the ones that people from the Middle Ages wore.  There was a string where she tied the show around her ankles.
         “Now you will look like a native of Utofamia.”
         Maria went back into her tent to change, glaring at Geoffrey.  While she was changing she was trying not to laugh aloud; it was worth that look of surprise on the Kingsbane’s face when she pushed him over.  Within a few minutes she was changed in the new clothes.  Even though, they clothes looked worn, they were comfortable.  Maria was expecting that they would be causing her to itch as soon as she put them on.  She walked out of the tent and looked for Osondria.  She was gone.  She glanced at Geoffrey.  She was dressed in a similar fashion as the Kingsbane.  Their clothes were almost identical except for the fact that he was wearing chain mail.
         “Osondria has gone to get the other females lined up for the run.  She wants me to run with you.  The formation is this way.”
         Maria followed Geoffrey away from the bivouac and walked over the drawbridge.  On the other side of the moat the warriors were lining up in platoons.  Maria walked to the female section.
         One by one, the platoons went off in different directions.
         “We are going to the east,” Osondria yelled.  “You will run to the edge of the hunting grounds, turn around and come back.  Go!”
         Geoffrey held out his hand and held Maria’s arm.  “Not yet,” he said.  He waited until the others were already on their way.  “Now!” The two began running.
         Maria and Geoffrey started out at an easy pace.  “Osondria wants you to take it easy for the first few days.”  As he talked, he breathed in his nose and out his mouth.  Maria also did the same.  “You catch on quickly,” he said.  “Many people do not realize how the way they breathe affects the way they run and fight.”
         Maria did not say anything.  Yet, she was laughing to herself.  She ran cross country track when she was in high school and her first semester at college.  She had even won the Nationals the previous year.
         They ran in silence for a few minutes and then he spoke.  “I know I was rough on you this morning.  You will never know if there is going to be a fight.  We have to be awake and ready in an instant when the call comes.  At least I know you are a fighter,” he added laughing.
         Maria laughed.  “You should have seen the look on your face when I knocked you over.  At least this run is waking me up.”
         “After breakfast I have to take you to the armorer to get you fitted,” Geoffrey laughed.
         “What’s so funny?” she asked suspiciously.
         “Oh, nothing,” said Geoffrey, mischievously.
         They continued running.  The area around her looked familiar.  “Hey, isn’t this the place where you found me?” she asked.
         “Yes,” said Geoffrey pointing to the left.  “That is where we had the campfire.  Maybe I can talk to Osondria and let you pull guard duty with us.  Then you will have an idea of how little sleep some of us get.”
         “You pulled guard duty last night?”
         “Yes,” answered the Kingsbane.  “I got relieved early so I can help you get situated.”
         “When are you going to get some sleep?  You must be tired?”  Maria felt sorry for the Kingsbane.  Here she was, mad that she had been awakened before dawn even broken.  Yet, here was a man who stayed up during the night and not getting any sleep during the day.
         “I usually rest after lunch.  A few hours of sleep are all I need.”
         They continued running.  Eventually the warriors who had been in the lead had turned around and were running to Maria and Geoffrey.
         “Looking good,” one yelled out as they passed.
         “How much further do we go?” Maria asked.
         “It is about three hundred yards,” Geoffrey replied.
         “Let’s pick up the pace a bit,” Maria said.  “I think we can catch up to the leaders.”
         “Are you sure?” Geoffrey asked.  Maria thought that she heard a bit of concern in his voice.
         “I’m sure,” Maria said and she opened up her stride.
         Stride by stride, they raced to a dirt road that marked the edge of the hunting grounds.  Turning they headed back.  They began to overtake many of the runners and left them behind.  By the time they reached the castle, only Osondria and a few others were waiting for them.
         “Good job,” said Osondria.  “I think she will be ready to do the run wearing armor in a few days.”
         “Wearing armor?” Maria whispered to Geoffrey.  For the first time she noticed that Geoffrey, Osondria and most of the other females were wearing chainmail.  That extra weight would make it difficult to run in.
***********************
         “Can’t we just walk?”  Maria asked desperately, as she stared at the horse.  She never had ridden one and, even though this was one of the smaller ones, it still intimidated her.
         “The village is fifteen miles away.”
         “Don’t you have armor at the castle?”
         “All our armor is special made.  Thomas needs to take your measurements and see which armor suits you.”
         “Why doesn’t he have a shop at the castle?”
         “Thomas cannot stay at the castle.  He also makes armor for the Black Knights.”
         “Is it wise for us to get armor from an individual who also serve the enemy?  What if he does something to the armor so the other side gains an advantage?”
         “Thomas is an honorable man.  He makes the armor equally and fairly.  He refuses to sabotage any of the equipment.  The only thing he asks is not to fight while you are in his shop or on his property.  There is a possibility that we might run into a black night or two while we are in the village.  The only rule is to treat them with respect while we are in the village.”
         “How often do you see a Black Knight?”
         “I only ran into one while in the village.  He was at Thomas’s shop.  I waited until he was done, before I went in.  The Black Knights don’t up here often.  They usually get their armor and weapons and just come up here once or twice a year to get replacements.  No it is no use stalling asking me questions,” Geoffrey said.  “I will help you up.”
         Maria was soon sitting in the saddle, her knees pressed tightly against the sides of the horse, her hands in a death grip around the reins.  “I think I am going to fall!” she yelled as the horse started walking forward.
         “This is going to take us all day,” Geoffrey said to himself.
**********************
         Three hours later, they finally reached the village.  It had been slow going at first, and then Maria had finally eased up and was riding comfortably.  The place was not more than twenty wooden shacks that lined the forest road.  More shacks sat deeper into the forest.  Each place had a small garden growing with different fruits and vegetables.  The sounds of cows, pigs, chickens and ducks filled the air.  A delicious smell of apple pies reached Maria’s nostrils.
         “This is one of the villages where we buy meat, fruit and vegetables.  There is a small market just around the bend.”
         They continued riding until they rounded the curve.  In a field were tables loaded full of various items.  People stood around them, haggling over the prices.
         “Pretty necklaces, for the ladies!” a voice yelled.
         “Fresh apple pies!”came another voice.
         “Fortunes read!”
         “Do a lot of people come here?” Maria asked.
         “That is how they make their living,” Geoffrey replied.  “Sometimes they barter between themselves.”
         “They trade for something they don’t have?” asked Maria.
         “Yes,” said Geoffrey.  “Most of the business they do is among themselves.  However, people travel this way and stop to buy something.  Thomas’ shop is this way,” he said riding past the field to a large building.  There was a hitching post in front of the armorer and they tethered the horses to it.  A black horse was already there.  It was hooked up to a cart.
         “Stay right there,” he told Maria.  He looked into the shop and came back.
         “There is a Black Knight in there.”  He handed Maria some coins.  “Look around the market place and if you like something, buy it.  Do me a favor and do not tell any one that you are a trainee.”
         “Why is that?”
         “I am responsible for you.  It’s possible that the Black Knight is just here for business and nothing else.  Yet, it wouldn’t surprise me if he set up an ambush as soon as we left the village.”
         Maria went to several stalls and looked through the different varieties of merchandise.  She glanced occasionally at the shop.  Eventually, a knight in black plate armor came out with his arms full of different weapons.  Even though Geoffrey and all the warriors she knew wore armor and she was no longer intimidated, the man in black seemed ominous.  Maybe it was because she always associated the color black with evil. 
         Geoffrey stood by his horse and silently acknowledged the knight.  Maria watched as the knight went into the armor shop several times and returned with more equipment.  He eventually filled up the cart.  Not to draw his attention, she turned her back to him and looked through several necklaces.  “This one is beautiful,” she said to herself as she held up a coral necklace.
         “A pretty lady needs to buy something pretty,” a voice from behind her spoke.
         Startled, Maria jumped and bumped into the person.  She looked at the man in shock.  It was the black knight.  She looked into his blue eyes and thought that he looked familiar.  Yet, this was the first Black Knight that she had seen.
         The knight seemed embarrassed.  “I am sorry; I did not mean to scare you.”
         “No,” Maria said.  “I just did not expect somebody to be behind me.”  She quickly turned her attention to the other necklaces.
         “I believe the necklace you were just holding is the best one of the lot,” the knight spoke.
         “Excuse me?” said Maria, hoping that he would just leave.
         “The coral necklace is the nicest one, in my opinion.  If I was buying something for a lady, this would be my first choice.”
         “Thank you,” she said.  “I think that is the one I will buy.”
         You are not from around here?” the knight asked.
         “No,” said Maria.  “I am just passing through.  I am on the way to the west to visit friends.”  She hoping that he would not ask her which village she was going to.  She did not even know the name of this one.
         “It was my pleasure to meet such a beautiful lady,” the knight said.  He bowed to her and walked back toward his horse.  Even though he was considered to be an enemy by the White Knights, Maria had no contempt for him.  He sounded sincere when he spoke to her and was very polite.  She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he got on his horse.  He rode down the southerly forest rode and was soon out of site.
         Geoffrey came over to her.  “No, I didn’t say anything,” she said before he had a chance to ask.
         The Kingsbane looked down the road the knight had taken.  “I don’t think there would have been a problem with that knight.  He is very honorable and chivalrous towards women.  If he knew, he would not have harmed you in any way.”
         Tom was waiting for them when they entered the shop.  The floor was littered with pieces of equipment and weapons.
         “Let’s see,” said the Armorer, taking a measuring tape out of his pouch.  “We have to measure you,” he said to Maria.  He proceeded to measure he chest, thighs and arms. 
         “Why do you need to measure me?”
         “I custom-make the armor to fit you.  You do not want to go into battle with something that is going to slide to the side.  That will leave you vulnerable.  That way I can tell what type of armor will suit you the best.”  The man laughed at his pun.
         Soon he put his tape away, “I can have the armor ready within a week or two.  Do you still use the practice armor?”
         “Yes,” said Geoffrey.  “I would like to see her in plate armor.”
         “But, that would be too hea…” Thomas began.  Then he saw Geoffrey’s wink.  “Oh yes, plate armor would be excellent.”
         “Put this on over your clothes.” he said, handing her a padded leather vest.  “This is a gambeson.  It will prevent the different pieces of armor from rubbing against your skin.”
         Thomas picked through the pieces of armor that were scattered on the floor and showed Maria how to put each on.
         “The Sabatons,” he said referring to a set of riveted iron plates, “are the first to go on.”  He attached them to her boots.
         “The Greaves protect your calf and ankles.  The Poleyns protect your knee caps.  The Cuisses protect your thighs.”  When he was done fitting Maria’s legs, each metal piece was connected to the other.  “You do have strong leg muscles,” Thomas said, admiring his work.  “How do they feel?”
         “Good,” Maria said lifting her leg.  It actually felt that she did not have anything on her leg.
         “Good,” he said.  “Now we are going to protect your hands and arms.”
         “The Rerebrace protects your upper arm and the Vambrace, your lower.  Now you can’t forget your lovely hands.  These are gauntlets,” he said, sliding gloves of ringed metal plates over her hands.  The underside was made of leather.  “That is so you can hold a weapon.  Let’s see how you hold a sword.”  He went to the wall and chose a long sword and handed it to Maria.  Maria held it unsteadily, the extra weight on her arms making it hard for her to hold it steady.
         “I see you have to work on your upper body strength,” Thomas said, chuckling.  Geoffrey, turning his head, hid his grin.  “Well, we have to protect your upper body.  We have to protect both your chest and back.”  He attached two large pieces of plate armor to her chest and back.  On the lower end of both pieces were rings of armor.
         “I hope there is nothing else,” Maria thought to herself.  “This is way too heavy.”  Her knees were starting to buckle          from the extra weight.  “It feels like a thousand pounds!”
         Thomas continues unaware of Maria’s discomfort.  “The Breast Plate protects wore chest.            The Back Plate protects your back.  Those rings are called Faulds.  They protect your hips, abdomen and lower back.”  He reached down and picked up two small round shields.  “These are Besagues.  They protect your armpits and shoulders.”  He attached them to the Breast and Back Plates.”
         He stood back and looked at Maria.  “I think we have covered everything.”
         “We still have to protect her head and neck,” Geoffrey said.
         “Oh no!” said Maria to herself.          
         “You are so right, Geoffrey.  We can’t forget about her pretty face and eyes.”  He picked up a helmet and put it over her head.  “Where is that visor?” Thomas asked looking around the floor.  “Oh there it is,” he exclaimed.  He bent down and picked up a separate piece of armor and attached it to the helmet.
         Now Maria was becoming claustrophobic.  She could only see in front of her; she had no peripheral vision.
         “One more thing,” Thomas said, and we are done.  He attached a skirt of chain mail to the helmet.  “This is a Bascinet.  The aventail protects your neck.”
         Geoffrey stood in front of Maria.  She could barely see him.
         “How does it feel?” he asked.
         “Fine,” she muttered through clenched teeth.  She was not about to tell him how uncomfortable she felt at the moment.
         “We have to test your reaction time,” he said.  The Kingsbane stepped backward to the far corner of the room.  “Pretend that you are mad at me and want to kill me.  Run towards me.”
         Maria went to go towards Geoffrey, but she could only shuffle forward.
         “I can’t move!” she exclaimed.
         Geoffrey and Thomas burst out laughing.  “I think plate armor is too heavy for her.  Maybe we should fit her with chain mail.”