The last few hours of my journey were the longest and hardest of the trip. Soon after Revel left, the loneliness and isolation rushed in with the force of a cattle stampede. Despite his words of encouragement and admonishment to trust our father, my brother’s initial scorn at my enlistment still rang louder in my ears. After all, weren’t the initial reactions and responses more of the truth than ones later composed to placate the earlier and more initial reaction? I loved my brother for trying and for reminding me to trust father, but the initial disdain, scorn, and ridicule they all exhibited was too deeply imbedded in my mind to completely shake off. It left me wondering what on earth I was in for.

This ever present, barely manageable pit in my stomach soon turned into a raging storm. On several occasions, I almost emptied the contents of my stomach onto the ground. Twenty minutes after I left Revel, I was forced to stop. I dismounted, finding a spot under the trees with some shade and privacy. There, I stretched out onto the cool ground. The chill seeped into my torso and limbs. Taking deep breaths, I sought to calm myself. After what seemed like hours, but was really only a dozen minutes or so, I felt calmer, in greater control. The pit was still in my stomach but had been reduced back down to a manageable size. I rose from the ground, remounted, and resumed the final leg of my journey.

It was obvious when I began to near the garrison and the city. The countryside receded. Homes and farms became more frequent. The road became more well-traveled. And I began to encounter more people along the way. After passing several merchants on their way to trade, I rose up over a hill and was greeted with the sight of the capital in the distance. It still remained an hour’s journey, but it was clear even from this distance. The garrison, which was situated just inside the castle walls, would not be visible until I entered the city. However, situated outside the wall on the open land all around the castle, was the outer village. Even from here, the bustle of daily life was obvious.

As I halted at the top of the hill and glanced at my destination, a peace settled over me. I knew not what my future held, but I knew my father. He was a wise, good, and careful man. His decision was not made in haste or anger. It was calculated and well considered before it was made. I prodded my horse to finish the journey, comforted by that truth.

Arriving at the outer village, I journeyed through the streets of the bustling midday activity. The thriving life and activity of this village assaulted my senses and tested my country sensibilities. Even the town that I had ventured to once a week, was nowhere near this size or bustle. As I strode through the village, nearing the main gate of the castle, I took in the sights and activity, but I did not stop, did not engage, did not get distracted from my destination. There was no shortage of merchants promoting their wares, paupers begging for coin, or children cutting through the streets with squeals of laughter and playfulness. It was those children that, on a few occasions, did warm my heart and cause my face to break into smile.

After a tedious task of picking my way through the village, and trying not to freak out with the unfamiliar city life, I finally arrived at the main gate of the castle. The gate stood open and inviting. A steady stream of traffic came and went through the broad gates. Even from here, I could see the inner court. The castle featured two main walls. The outer wall, which would have been the first line of defense against invaders. But it also featured an inner wall. The King’s castle and the garrison, where I was headed, lay beyond the second wall. Between the two walls, an even larger marketplace stood along the main road. Once off the main road in either direction, more homes would be sprawled throughout the winding streets. The wealthier would live within the walls. The outer village, which I just passed through, would consist of the lower-class citizens. Here, inside the walls, the middle to upper class would dwell. They would practice a trade or serve within the king’s court. In the event of an attack, the outer village would flee into the outer wall and the gates sealed, defended, and guarded. If the outer wall was breached, survivors would flee to the inner wall as the last line of defense. If the inner wall fell, well, then there was not much hope even for the king, though the castle itself was a fortress all its own. But if the inner wall fell, it likely spelled doom for the citizens of the city. The castle, as enormous as it is, could not house everyone. And a king without citizens is not much of a king.

I hurried my pace now, anxious to just get this over with. I proceeded through the inner court, wove through the marketplace, and came to the second gate, the inner wall. Here, guards stationed at the door stopped me. The outer gate may have stood wide open and been open for all. The inner gate, however, not so much.

“State your name and business, please.” The guard said. Direct, to the point, but not brisk or harsh.

“Valiant Tollere. Reporting to the garrison for service as the king’s banner bearer.” I stated, as matter of factly as the question.

The soldier’s eyebrow rose and fell quickly, as if the rise was reactive and happened before he could stop it. He looked me over with a passive and blank expression. It was the look of a well-trained soldier who was taught not to reveal anything through his expressions. Which is what made the eyebrow raise most curious.

“Papers, please.”

I handed him the order, my credentials. He browsed them over and handed them back.

“All seems to be in order. You may proceed. Do you know where you are going?” He asked, his tone taking on a softer feel now.

“No sir, I would appreciate directions.”

He nodded and proceeded to point the way. Stepping back, he let me pass beyond the inner wall and into the main keep of the king’s dwelling. I followed the directions given and proceeded to the garrison, taking only a few moments to reach my final destination.

At the garrison, I was once more greeted by a soldier and repeated the process of showing my credentials and the order from the king to report for duty was repeated. This time, the soldier reviewing my papers took a bit longer to examine them. Or maybe, it just felt like longer because my nerves were getting wound up again.

After what seemed like forever, he looked up and said, “Wait here please.” With that, he turned and disappeared through a door standing behind him. Moments later he returned with an elderly, gray haired man. He walked with the assistance of a cane and clearly had a limp. He seemed to wince every time he took a step, clearly favoring his right leg, reserving the bulk of his weight to be born upon it rather this his left. His left hand carried the cane to offer support for his left leg.

The older gentlemen spoke while the soldier who fetched him stood off to the side. Clearly, the older gentlemen, who was not wearing any sort of uniform, was the superior and highly respected from the manner in which the soldier gave deference to him.

When the gentlemen spoke, it was in a raspy but kind voice. “So, you are the new banner bearer, are you?”

I did not reply as it was evident this was more of a statement rather than a question. The gentlemen scanned me with his eyes, falling into silence for several moments. The awkward silence grew until I began to fidget with uncomfortableness. In response to my fidgeting, his eyes narrowed a bit, his lip curved, but he said nothing. I immediately ceased my fidgeting and determined to stand still and endure his scrutiny as long as was necessary. I may not have signed up voluntarily to be the kings banner bearer, but my father taught me to do every task I was given with excellence. I may not know much about a military life, but I knew that discipline and control were necessary attributes for a soldier in the king’s army. So, I straightened up, stood taller, clasped my hands behind my back, and stopped fidgeting. I looked straight ahead and waited.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw his expression turn from one of curious skepticism to that of hesitant admiration at the change.
Grunting, he rasped. “Well, at least there is that.”

This statement elicited a quickly stifled snicker from the soldier standing to the side. The aged man in front of me, still examining me either did not hear his snicker or chose to ignore it.

“My name is Captain Davies. You will be under my charge and will answer to me for your training. Only when I approve, will you enter active service to our king. You will report to me at sunup tomorrow to begin. Aldway will show you to the barracks and the bunk you have been assigned. He will also escort you around. I do not tolerate tardiness. Getting lost is not an option. So, pay attention. He will only show you once.” With that, he turned and hobbled out of the guard room leaving me standing alone with the soldier.

“He likes you. He hasn’t spoken that nicely to anyone in a while.” He said it with amusement on his voice.

I relaxed and looked at him. Captain Davies was not harsh, but neither was he kind. Aldway’s bemusement and statement were very curious.
“As the Captain said, Aldway’s the name.” He extended his hand towards me. “It’s nice to meet you. Welcome to the Kings’ army.”

I extended my hand back and embraced his, giving it a firm pump. “Valiant. Nice to meet you.”

“Let’s get you settled.”

Getting serious now, all hint of mirth gone, he warned, “I hope you are prepared for what’s in store. I will warn you; your predecessors were less than….” He trailed off looking for the right word. In the end he gave up and put it more bluntly than he wanted. “Let’s put it this way. You will not be immediately liked. You will have to prove yourself and earn that. You have a lot of lost ground to make up for.”

With that, he led me out of the guard room and across the open court of the garrison to the barracks. As we walked, he talked. “Your bunk is assigned in the barracks of the king’s personal guard. As his banner bearer, you are afforded the respect and position of the King’s personal guard. You will bunk with the finest and fiercest soldiers in the land. They have earned their position with their hard work and proven service.”

What he left unspoken was clear enough. I had not gained my position through proven ability or character. I was the unknown. I would be viewed as taking possession of a position that another more well-seasoned and deserving soldier should have taken.

Which immediately left me wondering, why was I, a complete novice, given this position? The question hung like a dark cloud even as Aldway continued to talk, pointing out where things were located as we walked. I had to fight hard to concentrate on what he was saying lest I miss something. Getting lost or arriving late was sure to earn myself an unpleasant experience; one I wished to avoid.

The entire tour of the garrison was complete by the time we arrived at the barracks. As we walked into the barracks, I was immediately the center of attention. A dozen soldiers turned to look at the new arrival. A few were perched on their bunks, a few sat at the table in the back of the room, framed by the cold fireplace behind it. A few were bare chested and glistening with sweat from the heat of the day. They all turned in unison to face the door we had just entered through, and silence fell over the room.

“The king’s guard consists of the fifty most elite soldiers, proven warriors, and faithful servants of the king. They serve on a rotating schedule. This is the most recent guard that just rotated out of active duty.” He said this looking at me. Turning, he looked into the room and said, “This is Valiant Tollere. He is the king’s new banner bearer. I will leave him to you to get him settled.”

With that he turned back to me, clapped his hand on my shoulder and said, “Good luck.” He then departed quickly as if he could not wait to leave.

I watched him leave feeling like my only friend and ally had left. While I did not know him, he was kind and gracious in his manner; an attribute that seems the exception for a soldier in his position. Turning back, I looked into the room to find I was still the object of 12 pairs of eyes. I steeled myself for what was to come and with more bravery than I felt, stepped into the room and the future in store for me.