(A/n: Wow, not the ten reviews I wanted….but thanks Snow_angel_9875!!)

Dodson bowed deeply. "Yes, my Lord?" He tilted his head up to look at the king, then stood.

Jonathan beckoned them to his side and produced two tunics. They were the silver and blue of a palace squire, but had a gold badge of the Royal insignia and beautiful gold-linked belts.

"I'd like both of you to be something new that we're trying this year. Royal Squires. It would mean both of you staying around here, helping myself and my council, and doing knight's work. Of course, if you two wanted to travel more, with an active knight, I would understand. But considering both of your talents and skills, I had wanted to keep you around here." Jon smiled at them.

Dodson and Cedric both knelt. This was a great honor that neither of them wanted to pass up.

"We'd be honored, my Lord," Cedric replied. They both stood as Jon handed them the uniforms.

"Good. Now, lets talk about that Spidren," Jon said.

Dodson gawked at him. "How do you--?"

Raoul let out a hearty laugh. "Jon's had his eye on you two for days now, scrying. I'd like to say, I'm impressed with the way you handled that monster."

Dodson grinned boldly and Cedric turned his head away, embarrassed by the compliment.

"Sadly," Jon went on, "there will be more Immortals, no doubt. They're springing up everywhere. Surely you've heard about the attack on Pirates Swoop. I fear that this will erupt into a much greater conflict. And we have to keep our eye on the late Emperor Ozorne. Gareth has just returned from Carthak, and we believe the newest Stormwing member will prove very troublesome."

Dodson and Cedric, of course, had no idea what he was talking about, but kept their faces carefully blank. They would surely find out about the news soon.

"Well, that's all for now," Jon told them. "You boys will have more liberties than other squires, and are not required to wait on me. Tomorrow, though, I think you should come on the Spidren hunt through the forest. Tonight you may either dine with me or your friends, but I expect you to be at the stables by the morning bell tomorrow!"

Dodson and Cedric bowed again and left the room, speechless and awed. Finally, as they neared their rooms, Dodson was able to say something.

"This is going to be great! Royal Squires…I like it. And we'll have more privileges than other Squires! I can't wait to see the look on Foster's face! So at Midwinter, we won't have to wait on people! We can dance and meet girls!" He slapped his leg in excitement.

"Yeah, Midwinter is coming up pretty soon. I had forgotten how close it was. And--" Cedric was cut off by someone stepping in front of them. It was a red-haired boy, just a little bit shorter than Dodson.

"Hello, Foster," Cedric said with mock politeness. He struggled to keep his face straight. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

"What are you two so happy about?" Growled Foster. "Let me guess…You're still relieved that no one has picked you as Squires and you don't have to go into the scary world?" he taunted.

"Not exactly," Cedric murmured, and nudged Dodson.

Foster clenched his fists. "You think something's funny, Cedric?"

"Well," Dodson said loudly, "we just forgot who your knight master is, Fos, if you're so cocky about having one the second day of being a squire. You barely passed the big examinations just three days ago, remember."

His face red with fury, Foster threw a punch at Dodson. The taller boy dodged it nimbly, and swung his foot out, catching Foster's ankle. With a jerk Foster was falling. Dodson jumped on top of him and hauled him up by the collar of his tunic. He smashed the boy against the wall.

"I wouldn't do that," Dodson said merrily. "The King would think it amiss if me or Ced showed up at the hunt tomorrow with a black eye, or some such thing."

"The hunt is only for the King, his Council, and several noble soldiers," spat Foster. "You two can't go!"

"Oh! We forgot to tell you?!" Cedric leaned lazily against the wall where Dodson held Foster. "We're the Royal Squires. You know, squires to the King and his council. More privileges, you know."

Laughing, Dodson shoved Foster to the floor and the two Royal Squires made their way to the mess hall.