Chapter 2: Ashton
"No," I say firmly.
"Son, you must," my father, the king, replies. "You know the law. If a girl wishes to become a knight, she may do so."
My father had just received word that the first girl in the history of the kingdom had requested to become a knight. Just this past year, a new law had been passed that any lady wishing to become a soldier for the king, was allowed to do so. I myself had gone through the training and had eventually become in charge of the training myself. However, I believe that the men were to do the fighting.
"But girls are too weak and emotional," I argue stubbornly. But my father will not listen.
"You will write to her family immediately, accepting her request," he said.
"But-," I start.
He cuts me off, "I do not see why you are so against it, my son. What if we compromise. Lady Iris shall stay for a year. If she appears incapable of becoming a knight, then she may return home. But if she proved herself worthy, she shall stay."
"Fine," I mutter angrily as I stalk out of the room.
When I have made it to my room, I pace back and forth until I can handle it no more. I walk outside to the training area where there are a few soldiers loitering around. As soon as they see my angry expression, they quietly walk away. I grab the nearest sword and began swinging and slicing it in a rhythmic motion that I have been used to since I could carry a sword. It felt good to release some of my anger this way as I continued to step and swing. Once I am calm enough to function again, I enter the castle once again to reply to the letter that I had received.
On the way to my office, I run into my mother. She's a very beautiful woman whom everyone says I look like. I have the same emerald green eyes with light freckles and jet black hair. My mother looks young despite her age. With one look at my face, she can immediately sense something is wrong.
"What's troubling you my son?" She asks.
I explain to her the letter and the conversations with my father. She places a hand on my shoulder. "You mustn't be afraid to try something new," she says. "Perhaps she will surprise you." She sees the doubt in my face and chuckles. "Us woman are stronger then we look you know."
Feeling slightly better, I enter my office and sit down at my desk. I look in the envelope that I had received from her family and look at the portrait of the girl. She looks strong enough, I think doubtfully. Throwing the picture down, I lean back and rub my hands across my face, trying to think of some reason as to why I cannot train this girl.
Finally, I give in to the thought that there is nothing that I can do and begin writing. Once I've finished, I wander around the castle grounds thinking. I see my little brother, Samuel, sitting by himself, bouncing a ball.
"Bored are you?" I call out to him.His face lights up at the sound of my voice. He drops his ball and runs towards me. Samuel is ten and looks like my father. He has brown hair and eyes and is a bit chubby.
"Will you show me a new sword trick?" He asks eagerly. "I've been bored just sitting here."
I laugh and we walk together to the training grounds. I grab a good sword and shows him how to stand correctly and place his hands in the correct spots. For an hour, I forget all of my problems. When it's time for dinner, my brother and I stop. We return to the castle and my problems return to me.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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stone