'1356'
Chapter 13: 'The First Test'
The next morning, Croix-De-Guerre woke up and is now on a mission. As she donned her armor, she remembered what the Mountain Hippogriff said. She put on her sword and her black leather sword belt with a brass buckle and a matching dagger for her sword. She confidently grinned and nodded to herself in readiness for this moment "Let's do this"
The floorboards and stairs creaked and the thump of her hooves unintentionally announced her presence. She grinned and waved to the innkeeper as she left for the day. Croix-De-Guerre starts her day with a patrol, but today is a little different. The 'Big Mare' knight smell the aroma of fresh-baked bread and saw loaves of the famous 'Laugenbrötchen'
"Excuse me" she said to get the old mother-griffon's attention
"Oh! My Lady! I did not see you there, how are you?" she asked
Croix-De-Guerre chuckled "I am very well, I want to speak to your son"
"Is he in trouble?" the mother-griffon questioned to the mare-knight
"Oh no, not at all, I have a special opportunity just for him" she replied
The Von Stahl family is the most well-to-do family in Avian. That is not saying much considering how small Avian is. Even with their status, the Von Stahl's did not have enough bits to send their son to be trained as a knight when he was a hatchling. Gunner's father was a knight, but he was killed in an early battle in the war. This took a toll on his pride
Lady Croix-De-Guerre could see a son that was trying to do all that he could to help the family. Gunner came down the stairs to see his pony friend. Croix-De-Guerre waved to him. He waved back as a greeting "Come with me" she asked of him, and led the griffon out to the cobblestone street "I know what you want, but you must pass a simple test"
"Tell me, what is your name?" asked Lady Croix-De-Guerre, facing him
Gunner lightly tilted his head, not fully understanding her "Ich heiße..."
Croix-De-Guerre shook her head lightly "Nein, you must say it to me in English"
"You can do this, now tell me what is your name?" asked the 'Big Mare'
Gunner paused and clenched a taloned fist "My...name...is" he stammered
Lady Croix-De-Guerre's gray eyes brightened and a proud smile graced her muzzle "Gunner...my name is...Gunner Von Stahl" he said to her, unclenching the fist at his side. The knight rubbed a gentle hoof on his wing to calm him down. Gunner had passed his first test "I did it? I did good?" he asked of the mare-knight that will soon become his teacher.
Croix-De-Guerre smiled to her student "Yes, you did good, you passed the test, you have a good name, you have a strong name, now your journey can begin, now we can begin your training to become a knight" she turned to face the old mother-griffon "I'd like for your son to be under my care for six months, and he will return to his village as a knight"
"Komm mit mir, mein Sohn" said his mother, and led him back to his home
She led him upstairs to a big chest in her bedroom "Das gehörte deinem Vater"
She presented her son with a knightly sword "Er hätte gewollt, dass du das hast"
Gunner held the sword by the grip and the scabbard "Geh jetzt, mein Sohn"
They shared a final hug between a mother and son "Mach deinen Vater stolz"
Gunner came out of the bakery with his things packed and ready to start his journey to knighthood. His sack of clothes was on his back as was his sword, and his axe was in a leather loop at his side upon his mother's recommendation. His mother waved him off with a handkerchief in talon as Gunner is leaving his hometown for the first time in his life.
The griffon stopped for a moment. Croix-De-Guerre took a few steps, and stopped for a moment to look back at her student "Gunner, what's wrong?" she asked out of concern. A light sigh came from his beak "I know what it's like, having to leave one's home, and I was once in your hooves when I left my village as a filly, this is your time to rise up"
"Under my guidance, you will become a knight, you can do this" she vowed
Besides his mother, he had never met anyone with so much faith in him "Danke"
"I would not have chosen you if I didn't have faith in you" said the 'Big Mare'
"Darf ich dein schwert sehen?" she asked of him, Gunner grinned with a nod
"Ja, du kannst" said Gunner and he handed it to Croix-De-Guerre pommel first
Using her magic, she unsheathed the sword from the scabbard. It was a 3lbs hoof-and-a-half sword with an overall length of 44.5in with a 34.75in blade that is 2in wide at the 7in wide guard with a 6.5in cord-wrapped wood and leather grip and a large round pommel. She spun the sword with a downward cut and then backward with an upward cut
She started with slow 'figure eight' in front of her which gradually sped up. The steel of the blade whistling in the cool mountain air. Gunner could see much of his father in the mare-knight. He could tell that she has seen many battles. She stopped and turned to face him "This is a very good sword" she concluded and put the sword back in it's scabbard
(Author's Note: Gunner's sword is modeled after the Hanwei 'Albrecht II' sword)