**RUTH** halted in the main gateway of the training yard as she saw Father Owen and Archgeneral Gothnaar enter from a side gate. The salpion and archgeneral called to Commander Hanye and the other squires as a company of Faithguard knights began to file in. The archgeneral began speaking to Hanye, and Owen, catching Ruth’s attention, beckoned her to approach the gathering. After a few minutes of discussion with Hanye, the archgeneral began an announcement.

“Dear squires,” he called out, “we have just received word from Castle Genverdell that a south ward town named Bravagoth has fallen under siege by necromantic powers. Reports imply that the powers of Raakhaal have reanimated the entire cemetery. The castle received this news from a message initially meant for the king and queen, but both of them, along with many from the castle, have been away the past month to discuss matters with the south wardeness. The message has been redirected to Oakhall, but the castle’s steward thankfully informed us of the matter as well. Given the nature of this threat and with our duty being to protect Fidonity, I am sending out a company of Faithguard to ride for the town as fast as they can. There will be knights from several of the various orders in this mission; not all will be Konothian.”

Gothnaar glanced across the yard, briefly looking at every trainee before continuing.

“But those in the company who are of your order have now come here to ask for any and all willing squires to come forth to accompany them. Please, now, think and decide for yourself what to do. None of you shall be forced to partake in this mission, as it will be a hard, long, and rushed ride for Bravagoth. And once you get there, as I’m sure you can imagine, the situation will be dangerous, much more so than we would ideally have for a squire’s first outing into the field. There is no shame if you decide you aren’t yet ready. However, this will give those who go an excellent source of experience and will be remembered by your fellows and superiors.”

The archgeneral beckoned Hanye to his side, and he stepped back and gestured to the commander as he concluded his announcement.

“Commander Hanye shall be in charge of this mission and all involved, Konothian and otherwise. All knights of the Konothian order that seek squires for this mission will now come forth and speak with those who wish to go. If you are accepted, you are to immediately follow them to the armory to be properly kitted out and given rations. You will then join them in the stables, mount up, and ride out to Bravagoth. Time is of the essence, but please, do take a moment to think this over. Onu bless and keep you all, whatever you choose.”

The archgeneral nodded to Hanye and Owen, and then turned and left as the Konothian Knights in the cavalcade stepped forward, earnestly looking over the pondering young trainees. A couple of the squires soon stepped forward, and the knights began to quietly ask them questions.

Ruth stood stock-still, her mind racing as she thought of what to do, when she suddenly noticed that Commander Hanye and Father Owen were looking directly at her. Her eyes locked onto theirs, and she viewed their gaze as being not of expectation, one way or the other, but of a curiosity that simultaneously spoke of hope and anxiety. Ruth thought of her mother, and how the Temple had cared for her and herself despite Arza’s missteps in her past. She thought of her dear friend Verdok, who had also grown under the Temple’s care, and of his own dedication to pursue the betterment of Fidonhaal. She thought of all the fellowship and support she had experienced since she began training with the Faithguard, and her friendship with Commander Hanye, which had grown beyond the mere respect of a pupil to her mentor. Looking at the small handful of squires who had now stepped forward, along with those who began to leave the yard and those still pondering their decision, Ruth at last stepped forward.

But she made her way over to Hanye and Owen rather than the other knights.

She drew a deep breath before speaking. “Do you need a squire, Commander Heartkeeper?” she asked with dutiful formality.

Both the commander and the salpion’s eyes shone with loving worry and pride, their smiles telling which feeling was the stronger.

“I will,” Hanye said solemnly. “Ruth, I am very confident in you, given where you are now as a squire, and I will be only too happy to take you as my squire on this mission. But remember what Archgeneral Vyth said: This is not being forced on you. The norm is for a squire to join a knight on a mission or patrol when they’re fifteen at the youngest, and even then, a mission such as this is obviously not the sort of thing we’d usually assign to them. This emergency will no doubt provide a great opportunity for experience, but it’s not something to jump into lightly.”

“I know,” said Ruth, “but with all that you’ve done, all of the Temple, that is ... I want to. I feel that I must, not from you, but in another way, you know?”

Hanye nodded understandingly. “I certainly do,” she said with a hand on Ruth’s shoulder. “Let’s go to the armory, then, if you’re ready.”

Father Owen hugged Ruth and turned to the cleric’s study quarters. “I’ll let your mother know,” he said. “She’ll let you go, Ruth, I’m sure of it. I’ll let Verdok know, too.”

As Owen left the yard, Ruth, with a deep breath, followed Hanye and the other knights alongside their chosen squires to the armory.

<div class="align-center">***</div>

Within the hour, Ruth was mounted on her horse and kitted out with real arms and armor, though still not to the extent of a fully fledged knight. She positioned herself alongside Hanye, who was just about to leave the archtemple grounds and ride south for Bravagoth. Sister Arza, tearfully worried as she was for her daughter, did not once voice any protest, and embraced Ruth as she leaned in her saddle.

“I’m so proud of you,” she wept, “but you’ll always be my baby girl, so please, please do everything you can to be careful.”

“I will, Mother,” said Ruth, her voice straining on the edge of tears. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

As Ruth leaned in her saddle, she noticed Father Owen speaking to Verdok in earnest whispers. Verdok turned toward her, swallowing hard as he looked at her with shining eyes. The acolyte then strode purposefully toward her as Owen looked on, a very peculiar look playing across the salpion’s features. Having reached her, Verdok stood briefly transfixed in silence, then spoke in a curious tone.

“Thank you, Ruth,” he said, “for your courage in protecting the good of Fidonity. I wish I was brave enough to join the Faithguard so that I might’ve gone with you.”

“Verdok...” Ruth said, finding herself oddly at a loss for words as she found herself becoming completely engrossed in Verdok’s deep blue eyes, “you ... you’re protecting the good of Fidonhaal, too, just in a different way. If the priests and priestesses and their lessons could just get through to everyone, then maybe the Faithguard wouldn’t even be needed. Well, apart from the monsters, I guess, but–”

A grand blow from a horn sounded, signaling the Faithguard to begin their ride and jolting Ruth from her odd state. She then looked intently at Verdok.

“And you’re my friend,” she said earnestly. “You’ll be with me, in a way, as will Mother and Father Owen, and everyone else here.”

Verdok breathed deeply, and in one swift motion, he took his mother’s pendant off his neck and held it out to Ruth.

“Here,” he said, “take this.”

Ruth was speechless. Verdok held it out further, his eyes showing that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Ruth silently took it and put it on.

“By itself,” Verdok said, “it might be a way of showing our faith, and of Onu’s power and love. But there are other things it means to me as well, and I hope it will for you, too. It won’t magically stop the undead itself, or anything like that, but–”

“Thank you,” Ruth managed to say in an awestruck whisper. “I ... I appreciate it, and I will wear it with honor.”

“And I’m honored that you wear it,” said Allor, now shifting uncomfortably on his feet, his eyes dropping to the ground. “Go bravely, and Onu keep you.”

“Onu keep you, too,” Ruth said softly, catching her mother’s smile along with that of Owen. She looked back to Hanye, who was grinning warmly, and then, feeling the heat spreading in her face, turned her sight straight ahead, only to see two Faithguards, a married couple riding the same horse, giving her the same look.

The blush burned red-hot in her as she and her commander rode out along with the rest of the troop. It wasn’t until they were out of the city and riding swiftly in the autumn air that her face finally began to cool down.