Page's Future

[Sir Karsimir]

(This is an alternate reality storyline between me and Uluki; which may or may not get moved into canon in the future, depending upon how well it fits. Basically it's a scene I really wanted to write and never got chance.)

Like any other evening there was a meal by the fireside. Like any other evening Karsimir's thoughts were divided on that. By taking his meals at House Anstrun he could avoid taking food for himself at the compound, but by taking his meals at the compound he could share something else with the refugees - their company and trust.

This time, he chose the company of Martha, Dai, Sean & Ian. Plenty of time was spent with his pages already as part of their training, but now he wanted to discuss this on a more detailed level. So far, the two boys had taken very well to their new roles, but it seemed best that all understood what was involved for them to continue that.

"Greetings. Thank you for joining me." Karsimir began. "I first became a page at age six. I thought you might be interested in knowing what is ahead. It is the first step on the path to knighthood. We do alot of household and kitchen service to start with, mostly because the time spent in service makes better men of us. In the future, both of you will become squires, which is an apprentice knight. Is that what you want?" Hear he was clearly speaking to both boys, although Martha and Dai were welcome to speak as well.

[Lylessa Uluki]

((NPC Post))

Ian's slightly dirt-smudged face broke into a broad grin. "Yes! I mean, yes sir. I'd like that. I could be real useful. I could do kitchen stuff and all that, used to workin' hard, since me dad died, and... I'd like to be a knight someday."

Sean jumped up from his seat and began an enthusiastic whirling dance, slashing the air with an imaginary sword. "I wanna be a knight too. I wanna kill dragons and rescue princesses!" He gave Karsimir a worshipful glance; clearly Karsimir must do both of those things regularly.

Ian shot his brother the sort of look of superiority typical among older siblings. "Ain't no dragons in Marn, nor no princesses, either. But if we were knights, we could help folk. Couldn't we, then, sir?"

Dai's expression was guarded, and he wasn't yet ready to speak, but Martha twisted handfuls of her skirt with a nervous fidget and said softly, "It sounds like a good future for my boys. But it's dangerous, ain't it? They're just kids. Would they have to fight grown folk? Them squires... are they like to get killed?" She was trying to be brave and keep her voice even, but it didn't work very well. Martha wasn't a woman who easily took fright, but there was no worse thing to contemplate than losing her sons.

[Sir Karsimir]

Once again, he admired the boys and remembered why he was so eager to train them for knighthood. They had the perfect attitude for the vocation. In fact, their time spent working to provide for their families had instilled many of the virtues in them that service as a page was intended to. Courage, humility, compassion, generosity.

On some level, Karsimir mourned that boys as good as this were denied their true potential. However, they found him and he found them in part for their courage and devotion.

First he answered Ian. "You help people already, you help your family, and your efforts have done much to help me. Fortifying this place helped keep Snyde and his gang out. But true, a knight can do much to help folk. You may have noticed a great deal of rescueing going on lately." He smiled at that statement, clearly both boys had seen that much could be and indeed was done to help others.

Another reason for answering Ian first was to stall to recover from the shock of Martha's suggestion. He accepted she knew nothing of knighthood, and would not begrudge her that, but surely she expected better of him than to throw children in harms way? "Before I consider either ready for battle, both will be very near my age, and near my size too." Then he went back to focusing his comments towards the boys. "Knights are the fighters we are because we spend years training for battle. Ian, it will be roughly three years before I willingly take you anywhere near real combat. Sean, closer to six years."

Back to addressing Martha. "Each will be provided with strong armour at my own expense. By the time either enters combat, they will have the fighting ability, arms and protection needed to be far beyond an ordinary soldier." At this point he gazed back to the two boys, addressing them because he wanted them to understand this. "I wont deny there are risks to a military lifestyle, what I will promise is that both of you will be well-prepared for them." And then back to their mother. "Most of the world follows a rule against killing knights, because knights have a high ransom value attatched to returning them safe and alive. I will provide that too. Generally speaking, knights are the safest soldiers on the field."

[Lylessa Uluki]

((NPC Post))

Ian nodded enthusiastically when Karsimir spoke of rescuing. "Lots of it, sir. You and Mister Julen and the warriors done good things for us. For all us folk from the shanty town. I'd like to do the same someday for people." And though he didn't say anything about it, the fact that Karsimir felt they'd already been helpful made him feel good inside.

He nodded again, solemnly, when Karsimir spoke of the three years it would take before he was ready to fight. In the meantime, he vowed to himself, he would work hard and practice and not ever let Karsimir down. At first, six years seemed like a very long time to Sean-- but then he realized that those years would give a dragon lots of time to move in, and he smiled.

More than anything else Karsimir said, the fact it would be years before her boys started real combat eased Martha's mind. Everyone died eventually, and if her sons knew how to protect themselves in battle, surely they were in no more danger than most. Less than they would have been had they grown to adulthood in the shanty town. It wasn't danger in the future she feared for them; it was danger in the present, while they were still young and green, still preparing to be men as well as to be knights.

It was not not, of course, that she thought Karsimir would put her sons in danger unnecessarily-- but she also knew nothing about how knights trained. Knights fought, didn't they? And how would you learn fighting, other than to fight? But that seemed not to be the case. Obviously there were different ways knights were taught.

"And what will they be learning, then? Besides to do work, and to help people? How does a person study to be a knight?" The fear was gone from her voice. These questions were instead motivated by curiosity. She trusted that Karsimir would do all he could to keep Ian and Sean safe-- but Martha naturally took an interest in how her sons would be schooled. She wasn't sure she'd be able to understand it, not being educated herself, but she still cared. If it was important to her sons, then in mattered to her, and she wanted to know as much about it as possible.

[Sir Karsimir]

Again, Ian showed the marks of a good knight. For such merit to go wasted would be nothing short of foolishness. As for Martha's question, the answer was fairly extensive.

"All squires learn to handle sword and spear, lance and polearm, to ride a horse and wrestle well. You have seen my men-at-arms training, much like that. We learn to care for weapons and armour and horses." The word 'we' was chosen as a deliberate reminder that this was once his rank too. "We learn charm and courtesy, because many of our duties involve dealing with others. We learn business and economics, to assist in managing estates. Nearly every skill you see me use began with my apprenticeship."

From his travels Karsimir had learned that not everyone knew of the noble lifestyle, that there were those people who believed the nobility idled their days away lounging in luxurious houses for no apparent purpose. Two questions had been asked. "A page learns from a more experienced knight or master-of-arms, in this case either myself or Rollick. We provide training, and the tasks assigned gain us insight to how an estate or manor is organised. I know how to organise tasks here because I spent years as a boy doing those same tasks, so I know what works, I know what can be done."

Then, a lesson from war college. This one made him smile. "One of the best things we learn is to follow orders. We spend years doing as we are told, and that serves us well when we the time comes for battle. Warriors are far more successful when we support each other rather than try to do our own thing." With that done, he waited for what else would need to be explained.

[Lylessa Uluki]

((NPC Post))

Martha listened carefully, storing away every word. She would need to remember all of this, so she could ask her sons about the things they were learning. "It all sounds like good things to know. I always hoped... but most kids in the shanty town never get that, never learn nothing. I'm grateful to you for this, sir, real grateful."

She turned to her sons. "And you two will learn well, won't you? You'll do as Mister Karsimir says, and show him you can be obedient?" Her voice was slightly stern, but also loving and proud.

"Yes, Ma!"

"Yes, Ma! Thank you, sir," Ian added.

Dai, who had been silent up till this point, finally asked, "I was wondering... what made you decide to become a knight? Was it because you were raised to it, starting so young? Or did you decide on your own? And what if my grandsons decide they want to do something different after all, when they get older?"

"We won't, Grandpa!" Ian added hastily, afraid his opportunity was slipping away. "We won't, Sir Karsimir!"

Dai looked unconvinced. "A lot can change over the years. What happens then?"

[Sir Karsimir]

Karsimir felt his own pride for the two boys; they had earned it. By working so young to support their families they had earned it. He touched his fist to his breastplate in salute.

First of all, he directed his answer to Ian's protests. "Becoming a knight requires dedication which you both clearly have." Providing for their family at ages fourteen and ten proved as much of both boys. "But I won't demand you one day enter battle because of a decision made now."

Answering Dai's questions in order, partly because he felt this made a good introduction and partly because the second subject dealt with more complicated matters. "Why I became a knight is because I love the Empire of the Sacred Cross. Because I wish to defend my country and to uphold the ideals it stands for. Because I spent my childhood fighting against bullies and all that changed over time is that the bullies are more heavily armed." Giving a pause, he gave his more personal, self-interested reasons. "And because I felt good at it. I always fought well, and I have an uncommon ability to add sums and get the same result every time."

There was a question left unanswered, mostly because it was unasked, but he felt this might be relevent. "What I enjoy about knighthood is the decisions in my hands, not for power sake, more the ability to effect change. I know not many boys in the shantytown have this opportunity, and I enjoy being able to provide this." His aim was a candid explanation of his reasons for seeking knighthood, be they noble or selfish.

"The general answer to your more pressing question is whatever you all wish. With one exception. Equipment. Military equipment is very expensive." Then he went back from addressing the whole group to speaking primarily to the brothers. "Before either of you ever enter battle, expect weaponry of total worth near two hundred and fifty bishan, armour worth fifteen hundred, a warhorse worth eight hundred who will be garbed in armour worth between four hundred and one thousand bishan. That is for one knight." At which point he addressed the parents again, to show both of his pages he was not expecting them to give up. "So where that event to happen I would be taking most of that back."

[Lylessa Uluki]

((NPC Post))

Both boys listened with rapt attention as Karsimir discussed his journey to knighthood. When he specifically mentioned being skilled, though, a cloud of worry crossed Ian's face. "But what if we ain't skilled like you, sir? I'd get into fights sometimes in the shanty town, I think all the kids did, and some I won, but some I lost. Can you teach us stuff like that, or do we gotta be talented by nature like you was when you decided to be a knight? 'Cause I ain't sure I am." Once again Ian dug his toe into the ground, but then realized it wasn't a very knight-like gesture, and he tried to appear more dignified.

Sean looked astonished at the price Karsimir quoted for the equipment necessary for knighthood. "Is there even that much money in the whole world?" he asked, his eyes wide.

Martha gently shushed him. "Yes, there is, all that money and more. You just never seen it in the shanty town, but it's real." Then, to Karsimir, "That's more than fair, sir. I thank you for your generosity. My boys wouldn't be keeping that expensive stuff if they weren't using it."

Dai too nodded approval. "That's good. It's good you're thinking of those things." There was no sir from Dai. No one else would have received one from him either. Dai had lived too long to be bothered about ranking people, and would deal with everyone on equal terms. "Sometimes boys from poor homes get talked into fighting when they're too young to know no better, and then they can't get out. But I'm sure you know that. It's good it ain't gonna be like that. We thank you for what you're doin' for Ian and Sean. It'll be good for 'em."

[Sir Karsimir]

"I can teach you that." Karsimir promised with conviction, although he was taken aback by what Ian had said. He had always took for granted that one could learn to fight, although perhaps that was because of how early in life his lessons had begun. "Most of what I know comes from years of learning, and I still learn. Being an effective warrior is about when to step forward or back, how to keep your balance strong, to know what strikes can be made from what position. We had fencing manuals back home. I can teach you enough to spend years learning and never stop improving."

In fact, there was something he could teach now. "On the simplest level, consider why there are so many different weapons. Axe, sword, mace, spear, bow. Why do I keep a sword, a lance, a dagger and a pollax instead of just four swords for battle? Why is one sword curved and another one straight?"

Since they were discussing finances, he had more to add which may have been helpful, and another glimpse of different lives for the boys. "Not everywhere uses money either. Many small realms live off what the land produces, and what craftsmen can make. If we gather the right supplies Darir can make the armour without need to buy it." From what Karsimir understood, money was a social construct which existed for society to grow past a certain point. He also preferred things before that certain point.

If Karsimir even noticed that Dai had omitted his title, he gave no sign of it; he had no reason to care. "Thank you. With the amount of training I plan to give your grandsons, I have no idea how anyone could force them to do anything." The mental image of someone trying amused him; knights, even apprentice knights, were very very dangerous people, and Karsimir enjoyed the security of that knowledge.

"I would not wish anyone fighting for me without the best aid I can provide, and being there of his own free will." Morality aside, doing anything else made no sense; a highly skilled warrior with no armour was vulnerable, and if he falls in battle those skills would be wasted, while an unskilled man in heavy armour would do little to win a battle even if he was difficult to kill. A third essential component for an effective warrior was morale, even the most skilled fighter in the best armour was not much use if fleeing over the horizon.

[Lylessa Uluki]

((NPC Post))

Martha perked up visibly when Karsimir mentioned fencing manuals. At last, some way she herself might be able to contribute to the process of educating her sons! "Do you think a person could get such a thing in Marn, sir? Them books? Missus Uluki said she was gonna teach our boys to read, and maybe some other people here would want to read about fencin' too. If they have them manuals in the city, could be me an' Pa..." Realizing Karsimir might not know who she meant, she added, "Meanin' Dai here, maybe we could get such books. For everyone to use."

While buying things like armour and a horse would probably always be beyond them, they could certainly earn the coin for a few books. Martha could sew, and Dai could carve; it had been hard to provide everything their family needed with the meager income from their skills, but now that they lived at the compound, they might be able to sell some of their crafts to buy the manuals, luxury though they were. Martha's eyes were bright with her hope of doing something for her boys, something toward educating them-- what she had always wished for them.

Ian wasn't sure if the knight actually wanted answers for his questions about weapons and swords, or if it was just an example, but he tried to answer anyway. "Well, sir, like as you need them for different things. It would be hard to knock someone off a horse with a sword because you'd have to be right close to 'im, whereas with a lance you could keep more distance 'tween you. A dagger you'd have to be real close indeed to do anything, but you couldn't get in that close with a big long sword, so could be you'd need something smaller in such a case. Or you could throw it, might be. Ain't sure what a pollax be, sir. Is it like a regular ax at all?"

Ian continued speculating about swords. "A straight one would be good for stabbing forward, but might be you couldn't do as much with the sides? Whereas a curved one your sides would be for cuttin', but not so good for straight ahead since... it ain't straight?" He abruptly looked down at his feet, embarrassed by his silly speculation. "Sure, and I don't know, sir. I look forward to you teaching us them things."

Sean looked as interested in the process of creating armour as anything else. "Can we watch Mister Darir make it, sir? Or maybe we could... could even help, should he need extra hands? So then, it wouldn't be all other people just doin' for us, and us doin' nothing ourselves." Besides, privately he couldn't help imagining that making armour would be incredible fun.

Dai was pleased to hear his grandsons' training would involve sticking up for themselves, and for others. Those things were woefully lacking in the shanty town. Hopefully the boys would be able to escape the pattern of despair that had consumed so many of their relatives. If they gained nothing else from this, free will was quite a thing indeed.

[Sir Karsimir]

He liked these ideas. Very much. And that showed on his face in the form of the thoughtful smile spreading on his face as Martha made her suggestion. "They would be different manuals, but yes, the idea would work. The most easily available would be Tomes of the First Settlers, I believe the fifth teaches warfare." As much as he disagreed with many of the views of the First Settlers, he was not above making use of their teachings to share knowledge where it is needed.

Nodding with Ian's answers, he waited until the chosen page finished his conclusion. "Perfect, Ian." Karsimir answered sincerely. While much of the purpose behind different weapons could be figured out by giving the matter some thought, Ian was showing a greater understanding than most. "Most professional warriors choose some version of a spear or a bow for their main weapon. They are safer. An attacker will be less able to reach us at the distance, so they are less of a threat. Swords are good because they are versitile, they handle more easily than a weapon with the weight at the head, so you can do more with them. Daggers are essential because if we lose our sword or axe or mace, there is probably not enough room to draw another."

Not that this needed to be explained, but he liked giving those little secrets as a subtle beginning of their education. "Exactly right on sword blades as well. A straight sword serves a stronger thrust, but a curved blade makes an effective cut more easily. You appear to have a talent for this." Combined with his demeanor and resolve, that talent would serve him well. "A pollax resembles a stave with an axehead or hammerhead. Mine has an axe head on the front, a mallet to the back, and a spike from the top. They are polearms, the reach makes them good against cavalry, and they strike hard enough to hurt a man in armour."

Sean's enthusiasm seemed a good thing as well. That enthusiasm was to be encouraged, because it was a trait which could be utilised. "I am sure Darir would welcome the chance to teach you, and any knight should know how to care for his armour. Caring for weapons and armour will be one of your main tasks as pages and squires." At best, this would add to Sean's enjoyment of the path ahead, at less, this would mean an eager student of armour. "While we are gone you might wish to speak with Orin and get him to show you the basics."