A young mans laying on a queen sized bed the rays of the sun beginning to shine upon his face. He's roughly fifteen to sixteen years of age with a square face and jawline, he has dark brown hair and a simple nose with not a blemish on his youthful face.
Once the sun starts to hit his eyes he finally begins to get up, trying to wipe the sleep from his eyes he turns to hang his legs over the side of the bed. Once he's finally able to see he gets up and walks on the cold stone floor over to the washbasin and splashes some water on his face. Looking down he sees his reflection upon the rough surface of the water and sees his dark green eyes with a spark of intelligence brewing within. Once he dries off his face he puts on a pair of leather trousers, a plain white shirt, and a dark green jacket with a symbol, of a shield with a spear and lance crossed behind it, over his right breast pocket.
He glances at the copper mirror hanging on the wall once before heading downstairs for breakfast with Uncle Robert and Aunt Jane. When he comes downstairs he sees the head butler, Simon, walking over towards him.
"Lucas breakfast is just about ready, this is an exciting day for you. The day you finally become a man. Have you thought about what you will do after the ceremony?", Simon asks.
"I've thought over it for the last five years Simon, but you'll have to wait till after the ceremony to find out.", replies Lucas as he laughs and rushes off to breakfast.
'Today is finally the day that I become a grown up and get to make some choices of my own. Mom/Dad I'll make you proud, but don't worry for me. I've got Uncle Robert and Aunt Jane to watch over me for you.', he thought.
Once he finally gets to the hall he slows down and walks in, as he walks in he notices that Uncle Robert isn't here so he looks around to ask Aunt Jane where he might be.
"He went out just a little while ago, something to do with one of the border villages he said.", she tells him, "You know how your Uncle is, always a man of few words and has to see everything for himself. Worry not though, he'll be back for your coming of age ceremony."
Content with the explanation he sits at the table and looks at the usual breakfast of a glass of milk, eggs, and bacon with a side of grain biscuits and honey. He picks up his utensils and starts digging in. After he gets done eating breakfast he heads out of the hall towards Brian and his hiding place back behind the stables.
Brian son of Vincent Hadrick, Uncle Robert's right hand man, is the same age as him and they've been fast friends ever since they met ten years ago. When Brian and Lucas get together there's almost nothing they won't do as long as it's not over the line.
When Lucas turns around the corner towards their spot he notice Brian already their and using his sword, a wide tree branch, to hit a wooden bucket they've hung from a tree. Seeing how focused Brian is, Lucas decides to give him a good scare. Lucas crouches low along the side of the stable and walks slow to avoid making any noise, once he gets to the area behind Brian he starts to sneak up on him.
As Brian uses the stick in his hands to hit the knight in front of him, the bucket, he feels something solid hit him from behind as soon as his hit lands. Thrown off balance from the hit he ends up sprawled on the ground with a laughing Lucas laying next to him. Seeing his friend laughing at his side he starts to feel the contagious laughter and starts laughing as well.
Both boys get up from the ground clasping hands to support each other up and then playfully punch each other in the chest. Lucas looks at Brian an almost spitting image of his father; six feet tall, brown hair, and blue eyes to go with it. Leaning more towards the wiry type he has a lanky build but packed with more muscle than anything else.
"I see you've been practicing Brian.", says Lucas, "Do you think you'll be able to get anything out of it though?", he snickers at his friend.
" Good enough to give you a good wallup Lucas.", replied Brian, "If it wasn't for that sneak attack you would never get me off my feet."
"Maybe so Brian but a war isn't fought just by head on battles or didn't you pay attention to your father's lessons.", says Lucas.
"Aye, aye I did but they're just so long and boring. It's like the old man can go on forever.", sighs Brian, "Anyways, are you ready for us to become real men Lucas? I can't wait till I get to have some real steel in my hands rather than this knotted old stick."
"Sure I am but I'm ready for more than steel, I'm ready to finally make some of my own decisions and try to follow in my father's footsteps.", replied Lucas.
"Ha, if anyone who knew you heard that they'd tell you that you'll be able to do much more than that.", Brian says while grinning at his friend. "Alright now that that's out of the way, let's get some real training in before the ceremony.", he says while picking up his stick.
"Don't regret it later.", says Lucas as he goes behind the tree to grab his own stick.
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Meanwhile near the border, Count Robert and Vincent are overseeing the tally of goods stolen from one of the local trade caravans outside Murg. Murg, the closest town to the border pass and the town that supplies the county with stone. Not the most profitable or the highest priority but essential nonetheless. As the last stop before the long road to Mizova in Mantua it is an essential supply point and rest stop for any merchants along the way.
Merchant Kaden Dragal is the best known trader of the county and has been trading for the better part of twenty years, continuing where his family left off since they settled here from the Republic. Having just returned from his trip to Mizova he was ambushed at the pass, with his guards being able to barely fend off the brigands. The brigands did however manage to destroy one wagon of goods that had to be left behind.
After the caravan returned they told one of Count Robert's men who sent word to Vincent about the attack. So being the man he is, once Count Robert found out he rode over in the morning with a group of men to assess the situation. When he got to Murg he noticed the caravan assessing the goods left and so he waited at the side for a report.
Kaden got the report from his men and walked up to Count Robert and greeted him. "How are you my Lord?"
Count Robert replies, "Better than you appear to be Kaden, might you explain what happened?".
"Well my Lord we were ambushed at the pass on our way back with the goods for the trip and we ended up with five wounded and a missing wagon.", replied Kaden.
"I'm sorry to hear that Kaden, can you tell anything about the bandits?", Robert asks.
" The only thing I could say my Lord was that they didn't seem like mere bandits, they were well organized and had standard army equipment. I mean they looked like your regular bandits with rags and dirt smeared all over but they acted like much more and they had good quality steel in their hands.", Kaden replied.
"Thanks for the information Kaden and sorry again about your losses.", says Robert. As Kaden goes back to his caravan Robert and Vincent share a glance and turn around towards the city.
"Vincent I'm sure it's those damn Mantuans again, they've grown bolder over the years.", says Robert, "His Majesty hasn't been taking any of this as serious as he should and I've half a mind to ride to the capital to tell him in person."
"My Lord I know you are upset about his Majesty but don't get too hot blooded that you do something so reckless.", replies Vincent, "I'm sure his Majesty's inaction has more to do with his failing health and preparations for Prince Henry to take the thrown. We both know that he has always done what's best for the Kingdom and Prince Henry is going to be more of a king than his father. Anyways we need to hurry back so that we don't miss the boys coming of age my Lord."