(A/n: ooooook well I literally JUST finished the last chapter of my other story Life Behind Enemy Lines, plus it's 10:00 at night, so I don't know how well I can wrote this first chapter. I'm gonna try tho cuz I'm really excited about this story! Oh yea and most of belongs to Tammy, except Ced and Dod, yada yada)

"And I'd like to conclude with the happy note that all of you have passed the big examinations. Now you may move on, and possibly be chosen as a personal squire to a knight. Mynos save their souls." Turomot of Wellam glanced furtively at Dodson of Akins and Cedric of Tessol. The two new squires smiled wryly at him. The old magistrate sighed and left the room. Wyldon of Cavall stepped up to the dais.

"Congratulations to all of you. Now, the newest squires may move to the squire's tables, so we can start the celebration." He signaled the five new squires to stand and move their trays.

Dodson stood and ran his fingers through his short, unruly brown hair. Cedric stood behind him. All the pages and squires cheered as they moved tables.

Everyone liked the tall, outgoing Dodson and the smart, quiet Cedric. So it was no surprise when Yule of Leland, a fourth year squire, made his way to the first year squire's table and sat down across from Dodson and Cedric.

"Hello, boys. Congratulations," he lightly punched each of them in the shoulder from across the table. "Did you hear about the tournament next week? I'm entering for sure. I suggest you two do, as well. Everyone knows of Dod's skills with a sword , and Ced's with a bow and lance." Yule looked into Cedric's thoughtful brown eyes, then into Dodson's mischievous blue ones. "I pity your opponents."

Laughing, the three boys put their trays away and headed back to their rooms in the pages and squires wing. Yule headed upstairs. Dodson and Cedric's rooms were side by side. The two boys were inseparable friends. Occasionally they spent their time with the tall, black-haired Yule, but mostly they were just the two of them, honing their fighting skills. Dodson was the best fencer of all the pages and squires, and Cedric had never lost a jousting match. It would be no surprise to anyone if a knight picked them to be his squire the very next day.

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Cedric was stretching before dawn the next morning when he heard a knock on his door.

"Come on, Ced, let's go!" he heard Dodson say impatiently. Groaning, Cedric patted his blond hair flat and opened the door. Dodson was poised to knock again.

"'Bout time you got here," the taller boy mumbled. "We have to get to the courts before everyone else, if we want to really work."

"Calm down, Dod," laughed Cedric. He was built in a more compact way, and was shorter than his eager friend. "It's before dawn. There's no way anyone will be practicing yet."

Dodson tossed Cedric an apple, and kept one for himself. They both finished them by the time they reached the practice courts.

"Fencing first," said Dodson. Reluctantly Cedric agreed. They both unsheathed their swords and donned practice armor.

"Guard," whispered Dodson.

Cedric knew right away that he would have to be on the defense. Dodson forced him to jump back using a butterfly arc that Cedric countered. Considering Dodson's skill, Cedric lasted for quite a while before Dodson disarmed him. Panting, the two boys took off their sweat soaked armor and rested against the fence.

"Now we tilt," Cedric demanded. Dodson raised his hands in surrender.

"What good will it do you to tilt with me? Use one of the quintains. (a/n: sp?) I need to exercise." He heaved himself to his feet and started the shang workout that consisted of a kick-punch-roll-push up pattern. Cedric jogged to the stable to fetch his roan gelding, Rafe. Quickly he tacked up and grabbed his lance. When he got to the tilting lane, the dummy was ready for a go. Lord Wyldon had been forced to paint a small black dot on the dummy's shield and make the sandbag heavier. Only Wyldon and Cedric himself could master that dummy.

After ten successful rounds with the dummy, Cedric dismounted and led Rafe to where Dodson was finishing his exercises.

"Ready to head in?" Cedric called. Dodson nodded. The boys quickly bathed and dressed for breakfast. They got to the dining hall just in time. Wyldon was about to start the prayer.

"Dodson, Cedric," the training master acknowledged. "Please sit."

"Of course, my Lord," Cedric said with a bow. Several pages sniggered. Dodson, however, was busy waving to someone over Wyldon's shoulder. The raining master looked to see who Dodson was greeting, and nearly fell off his stool. Dodson, of course, had planned this. There was no one behind Wyldon.

"Do be careful, my Lord," the boy said with a mocking bow and a grin. "We don't want you getting hurt."

(A/n: I'm so excited about this story! I already have most of it panned out. Lol. So what do you think about Dodson and Cedric? I hate explaining too much in the stories, so I'm gonna tell you what every looks like in the a/n. I know its cheating. Anyway, Dod is tall, with sorta shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. Cedric is stockier with blond hair and brown eyes. Yule is about Dod's height with black hair and brown eyes. No, he isn't Bazhir. Please review!)