A lord’s rise

Fi the Small, the third son of Lord Peter of the lands of the moon, faced a harsh reality on his fifteenth birthday. Deemed too small and weak to be taken as a squire, his father decided to send him away to the smallest holdfast in his lands with an ultimatum: succeed or be disowned. The holdfast perched atop a small hill overlooking a village of 250 people. It had been originally built to fend off bandit raids, and those raids had orphaned around 25 teenagers who roamed the streets, surviving on their own.

Recognizing their plight, Finn empathized with these orphans and decided to take them in as his new guards. His father had only sent five knights with him, who were to return to the capital after six months. This made the orphaned teens invaluable. Finn instructed the knights to begin training the teens immediately. Realizing that these boys would not become proficient swordsmen in the limited time available, he decided to have them trained in the use of spears and small hunting bows instead.

In the courtyard of the holdfast, Finn stood watching the orphaned teens train with spears under the guidance of the knights. The clatter of wooden practice spears filled the air, accompanied by the grunts of effort and the occasional thud of a practice shield. Sir Lancelot, the captain of the knights, approached Finn. "My lord, these boys show promise. They are eager and quick to learn."

Finn nodded. "They've had a hard life, Sir Lancelot. They know what it means to fight for survival."

Sir Gawain, overseeing a group practicing with small hunting bows, joined the conversation. "Aye, their aim improves daily. Though we have little time, they will make formidable defenders of this holdfast."

Sir Percival walked over, wiping sweat from his brow. "The spear drills are coming along well. Their coordination is improving. We might just have a fighting chance if it comes to it."

Finn turned to the knights, his expression serious. "We need more than just skills. These boys need to believe in themselves, and in this place. We must give them hope and purpose."

Sir Tristan, who had been observing from the side, stepped forward. "Then we must lead by example. Show them what it means to be a knight, even if they never wear the title."

Sir Galahad, ever the quiet observer, finally spoke up. "Unity will be our strength. If we stand together, nothing can break us."

Finn smiled at his knights, appreciating their unwavering support. "Thank you, all of you. Let's keep pushing them. We have a lot to do before my father’s knights leave."

Later that evening, around the fire, the knights shared stories of their battles and adventures, hoping to inspire the young trainees. 

"Sir Gawain," one of the boys piped up, "what was your scariest battle?"

Gawain chuckled. "That would be the time we were outnumbered ten to one by bandits in the Western Woods. But we had the element of surprise and the high ground. It was a tough fight, but we prevailed."

Finn listened intently, knowing that these tales were more than just entertainment. They were lessons in bravery, strategy, and resilience. He knew that if these boys could learn to stand together, just as his knights did, they could defend the holdfast against any threat.

Within the second month of his command, Finn noticed that one of the boys, Aaron, showed exceptional skill with the spear. Finn appointed him as the guard captain and instructed him to choose four more boys to serve as his personal guard. Aaron selected Blake, Christian, Dominic, and Leon. Finn then directed Aaron to divide the remaining 20 boys into two groups of 10, appointing Edward and Oscar as their captains. These squads alternated between patrolling the village and manning the holdfast’s walls. Grateful for their newfound protection, the villagers began to thank Finn for his efforts.

One evening, as the sun set and the boys finished their drills, Finn called Aaron aside. “You’ve done well, Aaron. The villagers feel safer, and the boys are becoming a formidable force.”

Aaron, still holding his spear, nodded. “Thank you, my lord. The boys are dedicated. They want to prove themselves.”

Sir Percival, passing by, overheard and joined them. “Aaron, your leadership has been impressive. Keep it up, and you’ll be a great asset to this holdfast.”

A few months later, Finn grew concerned by the lack of bandit activity. He feared they were preparing for a massive attack, especially as the knights were due to return to his father in one month. One evening, Finn gathered the knights in the main hall.

“Gentlemen,” Finn began, “the absence of bandits worries me. We need to know what they’re planning. I want you to scout a 25-mile radius in different directions for two weeks.”

Sir Lancelot, the captain, stepped forward. “We’ll leave at first light, my lord. Each of us will take a direction. Sir Gawain to the north, Sir Percival to the east, Sir Tristan to the south, and Sir Galahad to the west. I will stay here to oversee the holdfast’s defense in your absence.”

“Be careful,” Finn urged. “We can’t afford to lose any of you. If you find anything suspicious, return immediately.”

Sir Tristan, adjusting his armor, nodded. “We’ll be back before you know it, my lord. With any luck, we’ll have information that will help us prepare.”

The next morning, as the knights prepared to depart, Finn addressed the boys. “While the knights are away, we must remain vigilant. Aaron, keep the training intense and the patrols thorough.”

Aaron saluted. “We will, my lord. We’ll be ready for anything.”

As the knights rode out, Finn watched them go, his mind filled with plans and contingencies. He knew the coming month would test them all, but with determination and unity, he believed they could defend their home.