Griffin Yardley's Arc

Chapter 1 of 5

Griffin raised his practice sword and stepped into the training yard beside Florian, watching the crown prince's best friend move toward them across the dirt. They'd trained hard for this — months of drills and sparring, all building toward one goal: becoming knights together. Daveth came at Griffin first, testing his guard with a quick feint and then a brutal overhead strike. Griffin blocked it, felt the shock run up his arm, and countered with a thrust that made Daveth step back and nod. Across the yard, Florian danced around the crown prince himself, his blade moving so fast it blurred. BelloSaros laughed and pressed harder, but Florian turned every strike aside. Griffin's chest swelled watching him — this was what they'd worked for. When the sparring ended, Daveth clapped Griffin's shoulder hard enough to bruise. BelloSaros crossed to Florian and spoke quietly, his face bright with approval. Then the prince gestured to a waiting servant, who brought forward two blue tunics with flowing capes pinned at the shoulder. The fabric caught the light as BelloSaros handed one to Florian and Daveth presented the other to Griffin. Behind them stood a cement statue of a knight in full armor, silent witness to the oath they were about to take. Griffin pulled on the tunic and fastened the cape, then looked at Florian doing the same. They were squires now. One step closer to the knighthood they'd promised each other, one step closer to fighting side by side. Whatever came next, they'd face it together.