Seto and Mahaado had been told when they reached the east wing that Honda refused the assignment. He didn't want to baby-sit Bakura's parents. So he was assigned the only other job few wanted to do. Especially in the snow. Maze duty. They found Honda happily walking back and forth in front of the maze.
Honda couldn't wait to hear back from Bakura. He just knew any minute now he'd return with the news that he'd been reinstated as head knight. He then sensed someone and turned holding his weapon but then lowered it saluting.
Seto though wasn't sure if Honda was saluting him or Mahaado.
"How may I be of service?" Honda asked, surprised that the King would bring Mahaado. 'Oh god! Maybe he wants to praise and reinstate me in front of this other King.'
Mahaado looked him over, "So I understand you admire me."
"Oh yes sir!"
Mahaado smiled, "I see, you know nothing about me. I could be an ogre."
"I don't believe that for an instant sir!"
Mahaado was very impressed with this. He knew for a fact that his own guards and knights do refer to him as an ogre. Though none would ever admit to it of course. "King Kaiba and I have been in discussion and seeing as how you don't seem to like it here, how would you feel about joining my army?"
Honda's eyes went wide, then he turned to Seto and asked, "Is, is this for real sire?"
"As real as you want it to be. If you do wish to join, that is your choice."
Honda smiled and bowed to Mahaado and said, "It will be an honor to serve you, your majesty."
"Well before you go anywhere there are a few conditions that must be met first. First you must find someone to replace you for the rest of your shift. Dog boy will work if you can't find any volunteers. Next make certain Connor is aware of your leaving so he may rearrange the guards shifts to exclude you. The only other condition is you must take everything that belongs to you. There is no returning for it. If something is left behind it will be thrown out. If you have any family you should let them know where you are headed so that they may decide whether to stay here or move closer to you."
Seto knew Honda had a sibling somewhere he didn't know where. It wasn't in any records so he wasn't sure if the sibling still lived. He'd also heard rumors he'd knocked a girl up once but as there hadn't been any word of him having a child or woman coming around complaining he'd knocked her up, he wasn't even sure if it was true or not. The kingdom kept a record of all possible family members and their location when possible in case of an emergency. Which was why learning Bakura had a brother came as a surprise as he'd indicated on his files he was an only child.
Mahaado thought it strange at first when he first heard Seto mention he wanted to add conditions. He was about to complain and protest that they'd never agreed to any conditions. But he was glad he didn't as after hearing Seto's conditions he couldn't argue. He realized that the conditions were very reasonable and didn't affect him. He also wondered why Seto would refer to someone as a dog boy. But pushing that aside he motioned for his assistant Dylan and whispered something to him and he nodded understanding.
"My assistant Dylan shall escort you and when you are ready he shall take you to our kingdom."
"You-you mean now? Today?"
"Is that a problem?"
"No, not at all." Honda said quickly leaving.
Seto had a feeling that since Mahaado came from a kingdom of magic that Honda's fantasy of a dream life will be turned upside-down. He didn't know for sure but he had a strong suspicion that most likely everyone who works for Mahaado has magic. But since Honda wasn't happy here and wanted nothing more than to cause trouble and practically jumped for joy being offered to go to Mahaado's kingdom, Seto saw no reason to voice this concern.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Honda jumped for joy as he raced to tell Connor who was greatly surprised. He knew the person next in line for Honda's shift was playing cards so he agreed to get him to go ahead and start his shift early and just move everyone else's shifts up.
Then he ran to the Knight's barracks where his stuff was as he hadn't been forced out.
"So what's going on? Are you finally moving to the guards barracks?" Eagan asked.
"Nope, I'm going to join King Mahaado's army."
"That's a joke right?"
"Nope." Honda said putting the last of his things in a bag but frowned listening to the other laugh. "What's so funny?" he demanded.
"You really don't get it do you?" Eagan asked. "Idiot, he's from a kingdom of magic users. What the hell makes you think you'll last a day in that kingdom?"
"I know King Kaiba has most likely praised me and told of all my wonderful qualities and my loyalty over the years and that is why he's asking me to join his army. I'm positive he will make me second in command of the knights and someday I will be running the place."
That got even more laughs.
"You're delusional! There's no way in hell they are going to bring in a newbie no matter their rank from another kingdom and instantly get that high a rank."
"Just watch me!"
Dylan who was waiting outside overheard everything and he too shook his head thinking what an idiot Honda was. He walked in without a word and asked, "Are you ready to leave now?"
Honda gathered his things and said, "Yes, sir. Ready when you are!" Though he wondered how they were going to get there with a snow storm coming. His question was answered when a portal appeared.
Mahaado had several countries to visit, some that didn't take kindly to his showing up unannounced. Which was why he came by carriage.
Honda stepped though and found the place was slightly warm which he found odd. Then looking around he saw nothing but white surrounding him.
Dylan appeared behind him and said, "There has been a lot of snow for quite some time. Master keeps a special shield around the castle year round. It regulates the temperature so it is never too hot or too cold. Follow me please."
Honda was amazed. The place was HUGE!
"Everyone, attention this is Honda, he was a knight of the Kingdom of Draglor, a kingdom of non-magic users. Which is why the King has requested that you all keep your magic to yourself. Anyone caught disobeying and using their magic on our new recruit will have a face to face talk with the king."
Honda was surprised to see them all kinda look away in what seemed to be fear! And did he say use their magic on him? He didn't want to believe what the others told him might be true.
"Trip here is the leader of the knights. Chovance is the leader of the guards. Unlike your kingdom we do not have a ton of knights. We have 10, the knights of the round."
'Wow, I am going to be a knight of the round! I've read about them and they are said to be the best of the best from around the world!'
"Chovance will show you to your quarters and tomorrow will give you your first assignment."
Honda blinked, "Excuse me? Didn't you say he was a guard? I was the head of the Knights of Draglor! I demand to be a member of the knights of 10!"
"Then you should have stayed in Draglor and listened to your friends. You, unlike what you had in your head are now the lowest of the low. Besides that the knights of 10 are not just the bravest and strongest, they are also the strongest of all the magic users in the country. Being that you have no magic you will be lucky to get above the ranking of dog walker. You are the first and only person to ever be allowed into this army with no magic within you. I believe your special training that King Kaiba talked about was the reason he allowed you here. To help train our guards and knights in combat in case they are unable to use magic. But don't misunderstand the Master's goodwill. You will never be allowed into the knights of 10. You will be lucky if you advance in rank at all. We rarely use conventional weapons such as guns here. Mostly we rely on magic. Now go, I must return to my Master's side." Then he placed what looked to Honda like a coin on the back of his neck. "Now this will instantly tell the King if anyone disobeys his orders."
Everyone just grumbled, not happy.
"Chovance, show our new guest where he's to bunk."
Chovance nodded and Honda saw all these lavish quarters and that was just the outside; he couldn't wait to see what his room looked like. They passed one that the door was open and it was huge. When they came to his room though he was stunned, it wasn't much bigger than a broom closet.
"Are you sure this is it? What about all those big rooms?"
"Taken, we weren't expecting any new recruits, all the other rooms are filled." Chovance lied. There were plenty of larger rooms available. But Honda was a low man on the totem pole and generally disliked since the King was allowing him to join the army and him having no magic whatsoever.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Dylan meanwhile again gave them a stern warning. "The King has specifically said that anything you wish to do to our new recruit must be non-magical. That is why the shield was placed on him. The King is not forbidding any pranks or anything you wish to do to make his new life here hell it just can't be done with magic. The shield is to protect him from magic attacks, intentional or accidental. Any attacks intentional or accidental will result in extreme punishment."
"So as long as we don't use magic and don't kill him or beat him within an inch of his life we pretty much have free rein?" A guard asked.
"This is why I have been repeating my orders to you over and over as you all are thick headed! No magic and no beatings! Non-life threatening pranks and harassment are acceptable. Trip I leave you in charge. You and Chovance will take the most severe punishment if something happens."
Trip wasn't happy but said, "Yes, sir I understand. We won't kill him."
Dylan sighed and only hoped they listened, he hated having to repeat himself but they all seemed to just ignore everything he'd said. He'd left the portal he'd used to bring Honda here opened and turned and left through it. The only thing he thought was Honda should have stayed and tried to regain favor in his own kingdom instead of hoping for a better life in another.