He'd only been defending himself, and it angered him beyond words that his peers would lie, just to get him in trouble.
"You consistently violate expectations," Sir Dushire was lecturing, "and cannot seem to keep up for two days in a row with the etiquette expected of a knight-in-training." One of the others had attacked him, knowing he would fight back, then ran to the teachers to show off his bruises. The boy had several "witnesses" who backed him up, as well, so there was nothing Loren could do. "Talent alone does not make a knight, Loren," Dushire continued, shaking his head. "I have to demand you apologize, both to me and to Rheuben, and serve a month of kitchen duty."
"I could only apologize for defending myself, sir," he answered, looking Sir Dushire in the eye, though a pained expression was fixed on his face, "and I was taught that defense alone did not call for an apology." He winced.
Dushire rose to his feet, and turned his back upon Loren. Loren felt rooted to the floor; the gesture meant he was in far deeper trouble that he had imagined. "Lying about your involvement is another matter entirely," Dushire said quietly. "If you will not acknowledge your wrong, I will be forced to ask you to leave the Hall. I did not want it to come to this, but I cannot see how you can claim to serve the god of truth, yet be willing to lie over triviality."
Loren felt tears start behind his eyes, and he looked at the ground. "I couldn't live with myself if I gave you a false apology," he said, bowing his head. He left to get his things.
He ran into Rheuben on his way out. "Where are you going?" the boy demanded, taking in Loren's bags.
"Home. Dushire expelled me because I wouldn't lie and say I hit you first." He pushed angrily past Rheuben, who seemed dumbstruck.
"You would do that?" asked Rheuben of Loren's retreating back. "Wait!" he called, clutching Loren's arm.
"What?" Loren demanded, trying not to cry in front of the other boy.
"I'll tell him," said Rheuben, looking at the ground. "Even you don't deserve this. We just wanted you to have kitchen duty or something, that's all. I'm sorry."
Loren paused, pursing his lips. "Yeah," he said at last, not quite ready to forgive. "Thank you," he added. They left immediately for Dushire's office.