"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. "

My father's voice echoes in my mind.

"Be brave and upright that God may love thee"

My voice, strong where his was a whisper but with the same ringing note.

"Speak the truth always"

It had taken him great courage to speak the truth and name me his heir in this snake-pit of a court.

"Safeguard the helpless."

As he protected me with his own life.

"That is your oath."

A difficult one to keep but one that can and should be kept as he kept his.

"Rise a knight!"

A slap on the face, transforming the boy in front of me into a soldier as my father's slap transformed me from a bastard blacksmith into a knight.

"Rise a knight!"

"…you will never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see your life through my eyes as your life in turn will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father, and the father becomes the son."