Chapter Six
When Rusty followed Gray down to the reception room, they discovered that Redtail's body had already been taken away. Bluestar stood at the bottom of the steps with Spottedleaf at her side. Rusty looked around as a dozen or so knights and squires gathered in a semi-circle on the steps. Standing in a small cluster to one side of the circle were a group of men and women who looked much older than everyone else.
"Are they knights too?" Rusty asked as he and Gray sat down near the top of the stairs.
"They were," he whispered. "But they're all retired now. They live in the palace with Bluestar as her Council." Gray gave one of them a wave, a stout, graying man with a long, wispy beard.
"That's my dad," he explained before adding. "Whoever Bluestar chooses will be in charge of this place from now on. And Castle Sunningrock once we get that back."
Bluestar raised a hand, and the room fell completely silent almost instantly. "A new deputy must be appointed," she declared. "But first, let us give thanks to Silverpelt for the life of Redtail. He was a friend to us all, a husband, a brother and a father. He was truthful, even when the truth was difficult to admit, and always tried his hardest to make Thunderforge better for all of us. He's served his country valiantly for many years and tonight he sits with his fellow warriors among the stars." Everyone offered their murmurs of agreement before falling quietly again to allow Bluestar to continue.
"I say these words before the body of Redtail, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Lionheart, will be the new heir to Thunderforge." There was a collective sound of approval from the knights who had gathered, mixed with few stray mutters. Rusty caught a few murmurings of Sir Tigerclaw's name. Sir Lionheart was several years Tigerclaw's senior, so it made sense he would be picked, but Rusty couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed as well.
"I get to be the heir's squire!" Gray cried in a hushed tone, grinning from ear to ear. Sir Lionheart, who had stood up as Bluestar announced his name, turned to the rest of the knights and the council, bowing and smiling, humbled by Bluestar's announcement.
"To replace Sir Lionheart, Sir Runningwind will be the new holder of Castle Gravelpit," Bluestar added. This time the reception was less positive. Rusty heard several knights muttering in the crowd while a young man with chestnut hair and green eyes stood up and bowed.
"Runningwind..." Gray mumbled, half to himself and half to Rusty. "Has he had a squire yet?"
"As some of you already know," Bluestar continued, signaling for the crowd to fall quiet again. "We have an outsider joining our ranks today..." Rusty suddenly felt all eyes in the room turn towards him. He froze as Bluestar gestured for him to step forwards.
"Go on!" Gray urged, giving Rusty a rough shove. He quickly stumbled down the steps and stood beside Bluestar.
Rusty looked out into the crowd staring back at him. He spotted Sir Lionheart, offering him an encouraging smile and Lady Goldenflower turned away, looking at something at the top of the steps. Sir Tigerclaw was nowhere to be seen though Rusty was sure he'd seen the knight when he first came in.
Dust was standing beside Rosetail and a girl around his age, who's face was still hot with tears. Rusty smiled, feeling the mixture of glares and warm eyes as he looked around the room.
"It has been many years since Thunderforge has had so few knights to defend our borders. Sir Lionheart and Sir Whitestorm, as well as myself have had the opportunity to get to know this outsider, and I have decided to allow him to train as a squire."
"I-I'm honored and grateful to be able to learn from you," Rusty spoke up, trying to sound as confident as possible, though he couldn't help, but feel a little overwhelmed.
"You can't all be serious!" a voice from the crowd shouted. The young man who had announced Tigerclaw's returned earlier, stomped down the steps. His long, pale blond hair, tied in a ponytail, swung from side to swing as he walked. On his face was a scowl, his teeth grinding with anger.
"None of you are going say anything?" he exclaimed. "Fine. I have something to say." He whirled to face Rusty, eyes ablaze. "You think this is some kind of game? That throwing around a sword can be compared to you little brats wrestling in the mud? We put our lives on the line everyday for spoiled softies like you." He turned to the rest of the crowd. "This Kingdom needs strong warriors to defend it! Not bright-eyed brats who'll run off at the first hint of trouble!"
Rusty bit his lip at the man's harshness. Fear gripping his chest as he heard some of the knights murmuring in agreement. He look a step back as the man turned on him again, his time whipping a dagger out from his side.
"Let me show you what it's like here," he growled. "Then we'll see how quickly you run home."
"Is that a challenge?" Rusty blurted out. Despite his fear, he knew he couldn't back down. He knew it was dangerous, but he knew what he wanted. He wanted this life, and if he had to prove that, then so be it.
"Sir Longtail," Bluestar boomed, her voice calm and solemn. "Do you wish to draw blood while Sir Redtail's spirit is still among us?"
"I do it in Sir Redtail's memory," Longtail protested. "Before the next of us to die does so shielding a squire who can't take care of himself."
Rusty glanced at Bluestar, her eyes hardened as their gazes met and she gave him a small nod. This was a real duel. On from which true knights could not back down from, for the sake of their dignity and honor.
Rusty felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to face a young woman, not much taller than he was, with short brown hair and a sword spread out across her hands. She held it up to Rusty who grabbed it by the hilt, turning it around in his palm, as he got used to the weight. He'd never held a real sword before. It was much heavier than his wooden one.
"Good luck," the woman whispered.
Longtail pointed his dagger towards Rusty. "I challenge you to first blood!" he declared. Rusty nodded.
"I accept your challenge!"
Longtail gave a flick of his wrist, and the blade of his dagger fell to the floor, revealing a length of chain which had been hidden inside. Rusty stared at the chain, his eyes widening as Longtail gave the hilt another twist, letting out more and more chain. How was Rusty suppose to even touch him when he was so far away? If he even took a step forward, he would be lashed with the whip-like sword.
Before he had the chance to think of a plan, Longtail raised his hand, pulling the length of chain with him, and flinging the mass of steel towards Rusty. Rusty leapt out of the way, but wasn't quick enough. He fell to the floor as the chains struck his leg.
As Longtail lifted the chains, pulling his arm back for another attack, Rusty quickly got to his feet, a slight limp in his step after the first blow. He scrapped out of the way, avoiding the lash of the blade, but tripping over air as his injured leg gave way.
Longtail prepared to swing the chains towards him for the final attack when suddenly an idea came into Rusty's head. He raised his blade and stabbed the tip down through one of the links, trapping the chain in place temporarily. Ignoring the pain in his leg he ran up to Longtail, drawing his fist back and punching him hard in the nose.
There was a loud crack, as blood began dripping out. Longtail cried out as he held his nose in pain. Rusty felt his heart pounding in his chest, his whole body shaking with a mixture of fear and acceleration.
"Enough," Bluestar declared. "I pronounce the victor, Rusty. Or, as he should be known from now until he has been knighted, Fire!"
"Alright, Fire!" Gray hollered, breaking the moment of dead silence that followed. Several of he other knights began clapping, including Lionheart and Rosetail. Rusty spotted Sir Tigerclaw at the top of the stairs watching with an unreadable expression.
Just then, Gray gave him a rough, but affectionate tackle. He laughed, and returned it with a playful shove. Turning the to woman who had offered him the sword, he raised the blade back towards her with extended palms.
"Thank you, miss-"
"Lady Mousefur."
"Lady Mousefur," he repeated. As she took the sword back, Fire noticed one of her hands were wrapped in bandages.
"That was absolutely brilliant!" Gray exclaimed, trying his attention away from the woman's injury. "I thought you were done for! Not everyone can hold their own against the 7-Yard Adder!"
"The 7-Yard Adder?!" Fire cried, eyes big. "You mean the blade forged by Sir Adderfang, that he used the attack on Windrowe?"
"You are well versed in history," Lionheart commented, as he beamed at the Kingdom's newest squire.
"Just from the stories I hear," Fire replied modestly. "So is Sir Longtail-"
"Adderfang's lamest grandson? Pretty much," Gray grinned. "He was knighted less than a month ago, but still..." Rusty scanned the room for the knight, but he had vanished.
"Probably off to see Spottedleaf," Gray suggested, before adding in a whisper. "He hear his mum isn't a member of the knighthood at all. Hypocritical, much?"
Lionheart coughed, glaring at his squire. Gray flashed a sheepish grin.
"Sorry."
"I'm surprised you were able to come," Bluestar said, as she approached them.
"Truthfully, as was I," Lionheart admitted with a laugh.
"Sir Lionheart thought you might now be able to understand my test," Bluestar explained, a warm smile across her features. "You have sharp eyes, and a sharp mind."
"Indeed, skill with a blade is only half of being a warrior," Lionheart added. Fire nodded.
"I must return to the palace now, it is long past moonhigh," Bluestar announced, giving a curt dip of the head. "Sir Lionheart."
"Your Majesty," they all replied.
"Let me know how Raven's recovery comes along," she added before departing, the Council members accompanying her as she left. Gray ran up to his father to give him a hug before he left. Rusty watched with a pang of envy, thinking of his own mother,
"I'll order a room to be prepared for you," Lionheart said. "It'll be next door to Raven's. You can come up in half an hour. Will you be able to walk?"
"I think so, it's just a bit sore," Fire said.
"Go see Spottedleaf right away if you think it's getting worse," he instructed before marching up the steps. Once he had disappeared, a pale man with long black hair and shadows under his eyes walked up to Fire, his arms folded.
"I never thought Longtail would be beaten by some peasant kid," he sniffed, he looked annoyed as he started to immediately walk away, muttering out loud to no one in particular. "He's young, but-"
The man trailed off into a series of inaudible mutterings. As Gray came back, he watched the dark haired man and shivered.
"I guess you've met ol' Darkstripe."
"Sort of." Fire shrugged. Although he knight didn't look especially young, he'd never heard of him.
"Quite a piece of work, huh?" Gray inquired. "Want to know a secret?" He put his hand to his mouth and whispered. "He's my brother." Fire blinked in surprise.
"Well, half brother, but he still creeps me out. Personally, I think he might be half-Shadowforge," Gray joked. "I guess you've met all of Team Tigerclaw."
"Team Tigerclaw?"
"Tigerclaw, Darkstripe and Longtail," Gray said, counting him out on his fingers. "Mentor, apprentice and apprentice."
"Darkstripe's mentor is Sir Tigerclaw?"
"Weird, huh?" Fire nodded. "Come on, Lionheart told me to give you the grand tour."
A/n: I repeated a line because I deleted it from the previous chapter. Sorry, but I will go back sometimes and make little edits. Nothing too major though