Cendric

CENDRIC

King Basilius rose from his throne as one of his guards presented to him his sword. He was a big man, with shrubs of grey covering his entire jaw. Cendric knelt before the king. It was a day of reward – his reward, for an act some would consider reckless. The king stopped an arm length from him and raised his sword. Cendric closed his eyes, he was ready.

The day before had been ‘the day’ for young Cendric. A day he took his destiny in his own hands and entrusted it to the point of a spear. He was an orphan from age twelve. His father Godric was murdered during a hunt. His mother Agnes who could not bear the loss of her husband passed on few days later. He turned to begging in the streets of Camlodion to survive till a day the Prince took him up to be the amour bearer of the Knights.
It was the early hours on a late winter morning in the kingdom of Camlodion. The day was yet to be given life by the golden rays of the still slumbering sun. The peace of the morning was shattered by the resonating sound of the warning bell, filling the air with fear and panic. From the armoury where he slept, Cendric could see with the aid of the faint night torches of the town's square Prince Cleitus scrambling with a handful of knights into formation. They formed a half circle around the giant grey wolf with claws of black steel & fangs of blood stained ivory - the Amarok, the beast that had clawed the life out of his father's chest. Cendric dashed up to the roof of the armoury.

Down below was a fierce battle. Claws ripped apart shields as fangs dug into flesh, bodies lay sprawled to the ground, covered in their own blood. Yet the beast stood. Prince Cleitus struggled up to his feet; such was his nature - relentless, brave, and arrogant.

The Amarok made a leap at the half lifeless prince. A jump from the roof, a scream, a roar, and crash! The beast and Cendric crashed to the ground. In a flash Cendric made for an alley picking up a spear as he did. It was a dead-end alley. Cendric turned to face the furry evil of the night, sniffing, savouring the taste of its prey. And then it made a strong dive. It was also a narrow alley, Cendric would not miss.

Then the king spoke, sword still raised. "A single act can take a life, destroy a city. So also a single act can save an entire kingdom and even save the life of my son, heir to the great throne of Camlodion. Well done son, we owe you our lives"
He tapped both Cendric's shoulders with the sword and proclaimed,
"Today, the armour you carried, you shall now wear. You shall now be called Sir Cendric."

Amidst the drowning cheers and applause, Cendric could hear his father saying "you did it son, you made us proud"...in his heart he did hear him.