Thy Code De Chivalry (Edit/Update) by Alasdair Mackenzie (speld decodable readers .txt) 📕

PROLOGUE

Welcome to the Medrikarne, a kingdom ruled by a just king and his good nature wife, the queen and three children, two princes and a princess; but we are not here to talk about the royal people in the palace, we are here to talk about a boy, a mere servant boy, a boy with a mystery and his name, is Terence. Terence is Lord Raoul and Lady Catherine's son's servant, Garet, and has been his servant since the day he could walk and talk.

The boy's mother died a few months after giving birth to him and his father once lost at sea now presumed dead by many people of the kingdom. Terence's only friend out of the whole mansion was Christian. He who is orphaned like him, the other boy, Christian, he knew his mother so the grief of losing her weighed on him as a young boy but he never really knew his father only that his father was the king's archer and the best one ever to lived.

Not much is known about the boy Terence only that his name is such. The boy he serves, Garet, as you may already know, is Lord Raoul and Lady Cathrine's son and a spoiled one at that, his friend, Paul Ashcroft, Duke Gerald and Duchess Ainsley Ashcroft's son, is a long family friend of Lord and Lady Evergreen. Paul and Garret have been friends since the beginning of their time, always getting Terence and Christian in trouble but even with various lashes given to those two poor boys they still keep their spirits high and their eyes open for adventure.

*****

CHAPTER 1

"Well, that is the last of it." Terence stated helping his friend load up the last batch of hay. Wiping the sweat from his brows, Christian place his hands on his hips and exhaled a heaving breath before whistling, but before he could say anything else, Garet and Paul bellowed out for Terence and only Terence.

"His highness await for you again Terence." Christian said in a sorrowful tone as he pet one of the beast's mane. The white one was Lord Raoul's but even this beast had his fair share of disliking the Lord which made Christian love him even more, well to be fair, he loves all horses equally, he could never pick his most favorite.

Terence nodded his head in agreement before rushing off towards the mansion before they become too angry with him, as if they were never angry at him. along the way, he nearly made contact with Lady Cathrine, sending them both the ground, luckily he manage to stop.

"What is it boy?" She asked her tone cold as an icy winter's night.

Terence quickly bowed and told her Master Garret and Master Paul summoned him. Lady Catharine nodded and told him to be on his way quickly. Once he got to Master Garet's door, he caught his breathe and dressed his hair a bit. When he was about to knock, the door flew open and the two roughly pulled Terence into the room and locked the door.

***

"Would you say he was slow today my friend?" Paul asked with a smirk, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Paul, slightly taller than Garet was no older than him either. He had dirt blonde hair, very, very light brown to say the least, he is as muscular as his friend but when it comes to brawns and brains, he takes the brawns, letting his friend be the brains.

His friend and Terence's master, Garet, nodded his head in agreement. Garet has black hair much like Terence's but unlike Terence's, his doesn't shine a dark red under the sunlight, Garet's hair is merely black. "He was indeed my dear friend. He was indeed. Oh whatever shall we do to him? Look, he's getting fatter." Garret stated in a mock horror as he hit the back of Terence's back hard with a wooden sword, he uses for practice.

The two laugh as Terence fell onto the ground and groaned in pain, the poor boy did try and gather himself up but the two beat him down. The laughter and abuse continued until Lord Raoul called out for the boys, Terence as well. Everybody stopped what they were doing and all ran out. Paul and Garret roughly pushed Terence to the side so they were the ones to arrive first. Once they were all outside, they stopped to look up in awe, two knights from the castle Medrikarne, right in front of them, real and in plain view.

***

Terence went over and stood by Christian's side who had a nasty bruise from the stable's master who had been a father to him even though he had his temper moments. Terence knew it must be something about the horses or Christian forgot to wake him up, either way, the stable master's handprint is indeed plastered onto his friend's face.

"Who are you people?" Christian asked meekly, hoping he didn't anger the knights and one Scottish man with his tone of voice and filthy apperance.

One of the knights looked at him as did the others. There were three knights total and one Scottish man. While the knights wore their armor, the Scottish man wore nothing but a shirt and a kilt symbolizing his clan name. One of the knights began to step foward with his horse.

"I am Sir Lucas, and these are my companions Sir Kayden and Laird Ewan of Edinburg Scotland." Sir Lucas said gesturing to each of his companions.

Sir Lucas and Sir Kayden are two of the King's most trusted knights while Laird Ewan is the laird of his own land and of course childhood friend of the King but much younger. Christian couldn't help but awe at the Laird as the rest of the people awe at the knights of chivalry.

"And pray tell, what brings you here into our humble abode and may we invite you in for some wine?" Lady Catharine asked with a small curtsey that went towards the ground below her. Her family bow down as did Terence and Christian.

Laird Ewan got off his horse and stare right at the Lady whose head is bow down to the ground, looking at their feet. The man indeed had a hard glance, his muscles showing through his shirt and his kilt went to his knee cap, even his smile could bring even the toughest man to his knees but his smile as of now, was a kind, sencere smile.

"Nay my lady. We are here to invite these young lads to the castle. The King demands every young lads to join him within the castle to be trained as knights, archers, and other things." Laird Ewan said with a strong Scottish accent.

***

Everyone looked up at the Laid in both terror and awe. Terence became the first person to notice Ewan saying "all lads" which means he and Christian can go as well. Anxiety and excitment fill the boy's spirits, both he and his friends were able to go by order of the king and his master and mistress are not allow to defy any of the king's orders.

"You say "all lads". So does that means Terence and I may go along with ye?" Christian asked, wanting to make certain of the Laird's statement. Everybody took notice of his Scottish accent, all were taken aback.

Ewan nodded with a broad smile and spoke with his accent, stronger than before, "aye lad.’Tis seems to me ye has that bit of Scots in ye".

Christian bowed his head slightly low with a small smile, "aye, me father was a Scots and me mum was French as was told by my father and the King".

Sir Lucas, too, got off of his beast and strolled towards the stable boy, "indeed, I do remember you now. You have the same eyes as your father. Quite the archer I dare say, miss him terribly."

Soon, Sir Kayden got off his horse and turn to Garret and Paul acknowledging them, "and you two must be Paul Ashcroft and Garet Evergreen. Heard much about you, Paul, you’re the Duke and Duchess's son and Garet, you are the master of this wonderful abode but, pray tell, who is the boy? I have ever heard nor seen of his blood line.

All eyes turned to Terence who had no words to say for what can he say? He doesn't even know it himself.

***

Most for words, an eyebrow raised from the Laird and finally, Terence found his voice, "sir, my name is Terence; my last name is very much unknown. Never knew my mum or dad. My mum died few months after birth and my dad, once lost at sea now presumed dead."

He began to feel nervous under the presence of being the center of attention, he did not like it and neither did Garet, in Garet's eyes, he should be the center of attention not the boy. Terence who could feel himself shaking.

Sir Lucas nodded his head, his impression grim with sorrow and pity, "well, I am very sorry to hear that my boy. Now, Lord Raoul, like we all said before, we would like to take these boys up to the castle and learn their place in the future," He then looked at the two serving boys. "And we mean all, male servants of the household included."

This greatly surprised the Lord and Lady Evergreen as well as their son and his friend. Lord Raoul tried his best to protest but Sir Kayden raised his right hand immediately stopping the Lord's protest, "it was in fact, by order of the King himself, would you dare defy his majesty?"

Lady Catharine did a quick curtsey, stating they dare not to defy his great lordship. She turned and commanded the four boys to grab whatever things they need necessary for the trip toward the castle. Terence couldn't believe his ears, finally, he and Christian were off on an adventure.

***

"Ah cannot believe we're getting out of this hell hole!" Christian exclaimed, no longer afraid of expressing his Scottish accent ever since he had met the Laird who told him not to be afraid of who his bloodline kin is.

Terence couldn't help but chuckle, Christian even washed his muddy hair, which he hardly ever did and why should he if he was going to get filthy again. After the wash, his hair revealed to be red hair which shined under the sunlgiht rays, it was indeed a darker shade than the Laird's but still red enough to tell he's indeed a Scotsman.

The two friends came rushing down with bags over their shoulders which contained their clothing, books, food, and water for the journey to the kingdom. Paul was there with his mum and da with his belongings as are Garet and his family, no families nor friends are there to greet Terence and Christian farewell.

"I trust you have everything you need?" Sir Lucas asked as all four boys nod thier heads in reassurment. "Good, Christian, you and the Laird will ride together, Paul with me, Garet with Kayden. Terence, you'll be riding with a very special person," Suspense fill the air as everybody practically, literally, lean over to know who Terence will be riding. A grin appeared on the knigh's face, "Prince Thomas of the Kingdom, Medrikarne."

***

As if on cue, Prince Thomas, eldest son of the King and Queen strolled up amongst the group on his beast towards Terence but not too close so the beast wouldn't harm the boy. The prince mounted his horse then jumped down with grace and poise. He walk toward the load and kissed Lady Catharine and Duchess Ashcroft's hands and bow at their husbands who all bow back.

"You must be Terence, the mysterious boy," Prince Thomas said, turning his attention towards Terence, as he took the boy's hand and lift him up on his