Lying awake on my bunk later that night, listening to the snores, restlessness, and even quiet murmurs of the other soldiers, I pondered the day’s events. I was surer than ever that my father’s decision to enlist me as the king’s banner bearer was not some random, rash decision. Not that it ever would have been. My father was not that kind of man. But it had made no sense to me why he had done what he had done. Still, there were many questions left unanswered, but one thing had become clearer. It was not by chance or random selection that he had chosen to enlist me for this position. As former captain of the king’s guard, he had both personal insight and personal connection. There was a specific reason why he had chosen to have me enlisted here, as banner bearer. It was not punishment or even the last option. He had chosen this position specifically. The exact reason still remained shrouded in mystery for the moment, but a spotlight had suddenly been cast in the general direction and a bit more was illuminated. I still wrestled to understand the why. I was comfortable, content living the life of a farmer. Father was comfortable and content with it. We had a beautiful ease of collaboration and a wordless ability to work in unison. The farm was flourishing under our dual care. For the first time in years, we were experiencing an abundance that the farm had never known. Why father would want to disrupt that partnership was still beyond me. And while I trusted him, a part of me still struggled not to be hurt and even angry at his decision. A decision he made behind my back. For a moment, the wave of anger and hurt threatened to engulf me again.

However, after a few moments, I gained control once more and consciously decided not to dwell on it and rather directed my attention to the task at hand and determined to learn all I could, trusting that the answer would reveal itself in time. And even if it never did, I steeled myself to be content and to trust knowing that despite the unknowingness of the reason, my father was to be trusted and that was enough.

My heart settled and I experienced a sense of calm and contentment despite the unknown, even as I drifted into a peaceful sleep.

I was up and alert before the sun the next morning. I dressed quietly in the training clothes that had been left for me and headed to the training field. I arrived before the sun had begun to rise. I set myself to running laps around the training field to warm up. The exercise cleared my mind and prepared me for whatever the day may bring.

After only four laps, I spotted Captain Davies approaching the field with the sun just peeking above the horizon to his back. He spotted me but waited at the edge of the field for me to reach him on my final lap around.

He nodded when I reached his side, a silent and clear approval of my promptness. He wasted no time and we set ourselves to training. The morning was a brutal workout of physical training. As he explained, even though my main task was to bear the kings banner, I needed to be fit and trained in the event that combat found me. He also explained that every soldier, including those not regularly facing combat, were trained in the skills, tactics, and methods of combat soldiers. Each solider was trained in each of the various weapons at their disposal. This included me as the king’s banner bearer.

Confusion washed over me. This did not align with all that my brother’s had led me to believe. According to them, the banner bearer was never trained in combat, never given a weapon, and was little more than a glorified token position for the wealthy aristocratic sons vying for the king’s favor and attention. Anger and annoyance at my brother’s overtook my confusion and I silently cursed them for their misinformation and for their response to my enlistment.

The look on my face must have shown some of my confusion and and annoyance for the captain asked, “Is there a problem?”

“No sir. I am just surprised is all. I was led to believe that the banner bearer was not given weapons or trained in the skill of fighting and tactics.”

The captain nodded his head in understanding. “Your brothers.” He stated. “They were not wrong. Banner bearers of old were not required to learn these skills and were not given weapons. By the king’s order, we are approaching things differently now. You are the first to be trained in this way.”

Bewilderment seemed my constant companion these days. My brothers were not wrong. They had been right. The anger and annoyance drained out of me. Uncertainty remained. Questions danced and paraded through my mind with such a clamor I almost blurted them all at at once.

Why now, I wondered. Why was the king suddenly changing his approach? Why was I the first of a new order of banner bearers who were more than wealthy diplomats? Why was I to be the first warrior trained bearer?

I had little time to consider these questions though. The captain picked up right where he had left off. He was explaining that if soldiers showed a certain aptitude toward a particular weapon, more time would be spent on that one to hone and strengthen it. In this way, special elite groups were trained and utilized at the king’s command. That morning, my hands were set to the bow, an axe, a spear, a sword, and even a sling equipped with exploding “rocks.” What appeared to be a rock was really a tightly packed explosive that would blow on impact. It contained enough power to take a man’s head off or leave a gaping hole in his armor if properly placed. Clearly, I did not practice with the exploding ordinance. And a good thing to. It was my least successful weapon. In no way did I excel at any of them that morning, but the bow showed the most promise. As part of my responsibility on the farm, hunting for wild game to feed ourselves had become part of my regular task. I had grown to be very proficient at it. The early morning hours and the quiet of the morning as I would await whatever wild game dared to enter my view, afforded me time to think and reflect. My years of hurting game had afforded me a level of skill on the bow that, while not expert or military level ready, gave me an edge over the other weapons. I noticed, or thought I noticed, a look of surprise or admiration on the captain’s face as my arrows consistently hit their mark with accuracy and efficiency.

The captain went on to explain that each soldier, no matter their position, was required to remain physically fit and to show discipline in all of their daily habits. Each soldier was taught the finer points of war tactics and was trained on each of the weapons in the arsenal, focusing their strengths on the one that their showed particularly strength in. Banner bearers, formerly exempt from this requirement, were now also included. Not only was training with weapons a part of the routine, but exercise and training to remain fit and increase strength and agility were necessary parts of each soldier’s training. Food intake was regulated and monitored in order to avoid excessive weight gain. Any soldier who was seen to be lacking discipline in their eating habits would fall under disciplinary action.

As the morning grew on, the field and training area became busier. Soldiers now packed the field. The sounds of metal on metal, the snap of bows and thud of arrows striking, the grunts of men as they strained and pressed themselves to the limit all reverberated in my ears. Yet, I had little time to look around and take it in. The captain kept me busy with my own training.

When we broke around midday, I was already exhausted and weary. My work with each of the weapons, save the bow, seemed a dismal failure and I felt discouraged after only my first half a day of work. I collapsed on the ground and lay panting. I was not sure what the plan was for the rest of the day, but I felt sure I would not survive it.

The captain approached and without much sympathy or compassion nudged my side with the toe of his boot and said, “Get up.”

I obeyed without hesitation, though it took every ounce of strength I had left to do so. I knew he was not a man to be trifled with and I did not wish to annoy him on my first day.

I stood. The captain turned away and walked back toward the field. “After each workout and practice, walk it off with a lap or two around the field to cool down. Helps your muscles to not tighten up or cramp. When you are done, clean up at the bathhouse.” With that he left the field and left me standing to follow his instructions.

After a couple laps, I proceeded to the bath house. Stripping, I washed up and redressed. Returning to the barracks, I wondered what was next. I had anticipated spending the remainder of the day in much of the same way as the morning, grueling workouts and training. Entering the barracks, the captain waited at my bunk. As I approached, I saw a uniform hanging on the foot of my bunk.

“Get dressed and meet me outside.” Then he turned and walked out.
My gaze followed him out. My mind raged with questions that I knew better to ask. What was going on? Why was I being told to dress in formal uniform on midday of my first day of training? Despite the questions, I knew that procrastination would not be accepted, so I quickly stripped again and donned the new crisp uniform that had been left for me. Proceeding outside, the captain saw me, turned, and began walking. I followed. He led me to the soldier’s dining area. We were given food. We sat and ate, all in silence. When finished, he leaned back in his chair and eyed me with an intensity that I found disconcerting. However, I refused to allow his stare to shake me, and I merely returned his gaze and waited.

“You intrigue me, banner bearer. You seem very frightened and out of place some moments and yet you show a strength and fortitude of character at other times. Most in your position would be peppering me with questions, would be putting on a show of bravado to impress me, and would most certainly have not taken the confrontation Damian in the way you did. Your skill and expertise as a solider are certainly wanting but the strength of your character will serve you well. It won’t be long before the rest of your compatriots see it too.”

I didn’t know what to say or how to respond. I merely acknowledged his comments with a “Thank you, sir. I am committed to learning and fulfilling my role as banner bearer to the best of my ability.”
The captain regarded me for a moment.

“Good.” He praised. “Now, follow me. We go to the kings court this afternoon to observe. You will do well to remember that you are in the kings’ court. Treat it with the respect and honor fitting for a king.”
Without further explanation he stood and by implication beckoned me too as well. I stood and followed as he led me back out of the dining area and into the unknown of the king’s court.