The wind blows through Kain's midnight hair as he stands in the middle of a field wildly swinging his new sword. Its hilt was made of black leather that gripped the hand like no sword he had touched before, the blade so shiny you could see yourself in its reflection and edge so sharp it could be used to shave. Its size which had once been used by the young lord to over compensate now fit kain perfectly.
The village boys watched him train from the sidelines, their wooden swords scattered across the floor as they devoured their lunch.
"Kain are you going to eat or not?" Lennick shouts, eyeing a chunk of lamb left out for Kain with hungry eyes.
"Don't touch my food you git" he swings the sword slicing through the air.
The boys constant chatter grows quiet causing Kain to turn around in confusion only to see his father holding a letter with a poorly hidden smile.
"Lord Braemoor wishes to foster you until you become a man" he holds the letter high for all the boys to see despite their inability to read.
"Me?" Kain sheathes his sword.
"He said he was impressed by your actions during the banquet" a rare proud grin graces his father's face.
Days pass in the quiet little village as Kain swings around his new sword with reckless abandon in preparation for his new wardship under lord Braemoor.
"Kain" Siena peaks out into the empty courtyard, only Kain stands in the light of the rising sun. Her voice quivers and the water in her eyes shimmers slightly in the orange sunlight.
"Siena" he grins, sheathing the glistening sword.
Their arms wrap around each other in a tight hug that lingers for far too long yet neither wishes to let go. The village children gawk at them from the road but are escorted away by Lennick before they can be noticed.
"I'm leaving tomorrow" Kain leans away from her sweet embrace and steels his face in an attempt to hide the sadness aching within him. Siena smiles warmly, melting away the cold that had accumulated in his joints.
She leans in closer to him, both their heart beats quicken as they inch closer and closer until they are about to brush against each other only to be interrupted by a loud cough from the road. Kain's face reddens at the sight of a knight escort with a spare horse looking down at the two of them.
The knights snicker only one remaining silent with a smile on his face. Kain climbs up the bank onto the road, clumsily bowing as he reaches them.
"Sorry girl but he's ours for now" the smallest night leans forward, his beady eyes peaking out of his eye slits.
The knights and Kain trot into town arriving at his home where his father stands in the doorway with a large wooden chest, its lock long rusted leaving only a loose latch. Kain slides down the side of the horse and runs into his father's arms.
"You'll finally be able to become a knight" a tear trickles down his cheek, cascading down into the dirt. His large calloused hands wipe the tears from his eyes and ruffle Kain's sweat drenched hair one last time.
"I'll come back when I can father don't cry" Kain scoffs and rolls his eyes attempting to hide his embarrassment in front of the knights.
He climbs back on his horse haphazardly sliding the chest In front of him, it sits awkwardly on the saddle only held on by his elbows. The heavy plated knights gallop off leaving Kain in the dust, he rides hard digging dirt off the road, sending it into the air.
They travel over the green plains and into the mass of peat bogs surrounding the lord's land. Dark gray walls bigger than any building Kain had seen before loomed over the completely flat bog, the castle and a narrow wooden path barely enough for a wagon leading to its gates are the only structure as far as the eye can see. Soldiers walk across the walls looking more like ants than men.
The gates creak open as they approach, inside is a vast expanse of houses sheltered from the outside, the terrain and atmosphere completely different from the vast expanse of boglands they had crossed. The solid oak gates drag open cutting a path through the mud, lord braemoor stands alone at the entrance. The knights dismount at the throat of the castle and Kain awkwardly slides down the side of his horse sinking his boots into the mud as he lands.
"You'll begin training tomorrow morning, I expect results" the lord turns his cloak bellowing in the wind leaving the young boy alone at the gate only a young maid stood to the side. She leads him to a barracks filled with other boys all older than him.
The sun sets and rises pouring through the windows of the barracks and onto Kain's face waking him from his slumber. The men and boys around him clambering into their ill fitting boots and baggy tunics.
"Where did you get a sword like that?" a man who looks to be in his twenties stares in awe at the sword Kain fastens to his hip.
"Oh I beat the young lord and he handed it to me" Kain stutters as he shoves his foot into a tight black leather boot.
The men around him laugh as they begin to file out of the barracks and into the training yard. Ser Garran, a knight that had once served in the king's guard but had long retired stood in the mud awaiting the men.
"I heard we have a new recruit" the old man's brown eyes gaze right through the boy as if he were not worth the eye contact.
"I heard the story... Prove it's not just noise and you can stay" his eyes drag up the boy's body like cold iron. His lip hand draped over the pommel of his sword as he turned to the crowd. "Laps. Now."
The men jog around the muddy field kicking up water and mud as they go, some have their boots sucked into the mud and fall but quickly spring to their feet once more and continue. Kain manages to keep up with the pack, staying consistently at the end of the group.
"Stop." Ser Garrans voice booms across the yard bouncing off the walls. He slowly paces back and forth holding his hands behind his slightly arched back.
"What separates a knight of the boglands from any other knight?" His low, gravely voice sends shivers down the spines of his men.
"Our master at arms" one chimes in with a smile, the knight raises his hand and points to the other end of the field of mud sending the cadet running.
"The use and knowledge of terrain" a young man around Kain's age stood at the front and raised a finger as he answered. His long ash gray hair stands out in the sea of brown.
"And that is why we train in this" he gestures at the floor. "No fancy stone or wood but exactly what you would fight on in a battle" he grins almost proud.
Kain shifts his weight from foot to foot as the sun baked mud hardens around his boots. "I miss my father" he thinks, the thought weighing him down more than the mud caked around his feet.
"Twenty more laps then spar. " His words cut like a knife. "Thalen you take over" he points to the gray haired boy before walking off into the keep.
"You heard him" Thalen's calm voice cuts through the silence, he cranes his neck to glance at the others, half already groaning whilst the others are still catching their breath.
Kain runs through the mud, his breath ragged and throat burning, each stride heavier than the last. The laps blur together, his legs scream out in pain as he stumbles through the final lap, before he can catch his breath a sword is thrown into his chest.
A muscle bound cadet towers over Kain, his sweat drenched arms bulging out of the gray tunic.
The first strike lands against his sword lord a falling tree, only barely managing to raise his own sword in time, the clash sends a jolt of pain through his hands almost throwing the sword out of his grasp.
Another swing smashes against his blade breaking the grip on his right hand and sending his remaining sword arm flying away leaving his body exposed.
Before the giant of a man can take the opening Kain's free hand smashes into his nose spurting blood all over his tunic. The cadets eyes water as he clutches his nose.
"Maybe your lordling story was true after all" thalen's voice silencing the brute before he can't utter a word. "Though you are a dirty fighter" his bright smile almost blinded Kain.
The bloodied cadet stands up straight and bows in an attempt to save face, his rage filled eyes betraying him.
"You've already made an enemy it seems" Thalen's light chuckle filled the air like a sweet smell.
"I didn't mean to, I'm sorry" the words stammer out of Kain's mouth and fall at the noble's feet.
"No matter it'll just make this harder for you" he turns his head to look at the other, a light smile gracing his face. "Everyone go rest and prepare for the competition" his ever present smile filling the cadets with warmth.
"Competition?" Kain's heart sinks in his chest dread slowly bubbling up within.
"Indeed. Weylin Alderwell's men."
The name looms in the air like storm clouds. He wipes his blade clean, fighting against the stubborn mud.
Dread clouds around Kain's mind like a thick fog drowning all other thoughts with the fear of failure.
"Will I have to fight" his voice cracking at the idea of returning home without a knighthood. The thought swirled around his mind like a typhoon before Thalen's glowing smile broke through.
"Yes, so meet me here after dinner and I'll make sure you aren't sent home." His words wash over Kain like warm soothing water melting away the sweat and grime from his body.