SUPPER

SUPPER

Nathan and Brett were on time for supper, lining up with all the other boys for the food. Brett stifled a laugh as he heard Nathan's stomach growl, hungry for food.

The two boys sat down in their assigned spots, next to Nathan's cousin, Alan of Trebond (Alanna's dad) and Brad of Haddin Head.

"Fallen down again Brett?" a page, with a well-rounded face, baby blue eyes and scruffy brown hair had come up behind Brett.

"Yep, can't seem to stop it. I have an uncontrollable desire to be horizontal all the time, know the feeling Ricky?" The pages all burst into laughter.

"Maybe one day there'll be a girl between you and the ground, if you know what I mean." Called a page with a tanned face, largish nose and an almost puppy dog-like expression.

"Very funny Michael!" called back Brett.

"All right, let's have some silence in here!" Lord Chappell was back, standing at the dais at the front of the dinning hall. All the boys fell silent.

"May Mithros guide you on the harsh path to Knighthood." a short prayer, compared to the usual drabble.

"So mote it be." the boys sat down and began to eat, Nathan devouring everything in a matter of minutes.

"Finished already?" asked Brad, a softly spoken young man, who was a wizard at jousting.

Nathan nodded, swallowed and said; "looking after his lordship makes you hungry."

Brett growled, and would have flung his mashed potato at his friend's head, if a shadow hadn't fallen across the table, the shadow of a certain Squire Andrew.

"Fell down again Bretty Boy?" he sneered

"I see your ears are big enough to hear everything." Nathan's voice was cool.

"Humph. I see the Page from the Lake of wee has a crony. Honestly Nathan, I expected better of you." Nathan began to rise out of his seat, but Brett grabbed his shoulder. "I can fight my own battles." he hissed in his friend's ear. Nathan fumed silently in his seat, as Andrew wandered off.

"You should have let me pound him. I have my honor too, y'know." Nathan was upset. He wouldn't have minded a month's punishment work for the chance to pound Andrew.

Brett shook his head. "You're to violent for your own good Nathan. C'mon, let's go, we've got all that homework to do." Nathan's face became a mock mask of terror. He hated homework more than chess. Brett laughed, as did Brad. Alan hadn't lifted his head from his book since he'd sat down. Still laughing, Brett and Brad ran out of the dining hall, being chased by Nathan.

*~*~*~*~*

"Right, we've been studying for an hour, let's have some fun." Nathan sprang up from his seat, grabbed a long-staff from the wall, tossed it to Brett, and got one for himself. Brad excused himself, saying he was going to bed.

"Right, Page Brett of Lake Lee, I challenge thee to a duel." Nathan spoke in a mock serious tone.

"I accept, page Nathan of Bracken Point." Brett was equally mock serious.

They crossed staves, and began, Nathan lunging, going for Brett's head, Brett blocked, and was rewarded with a light tap on the foot. He yelped half in jest, half in serious pain and was given a light tap on the head.
"It isn't bloody fair." He muttered

"'course it isn't. It isn't meant to be." Brett sneered and threw himself at Nathan who dodged. Brett would have gone headfirst into the door, if the two pages that had been jesting with Brett at dinner hadn't opened it. Brett careened into Page Rick of Ponting Place. Michael of Cape Kasprowiz merely sighed, and pulled the two boys up.

"And for what reason do you not knock at our door?" asked Brett primly.

"Here, I think you've knocked his brains out!" exclaimed Michael.

"Nah, he doesn't have any left." Taunted Nathan. Brett chose not to rise to the bait.

"We're here because of the beauty whose just arrived, wait 'till you see her! And by the way, you guys are supposed to be serving wine at the ball! We had to cover and say you were at the infirmary!" Ricky threw all this at the boys who then swore, and hurtled out the door, down the hallway, to where the ball was held.