"I will give you one of my best warriors," King Donovan was saying. I had barely paid attention, only coming back to my senses when the the king calls for me.
"Come!" He commands.
I march to King Donovan's side awaiting my instructions.
"Egan, son of Esteban, I grant you the protection of my warrior, who will not fail you. Teknie."
I kneel in front of the boy and offer my sword.
"Egan of Highollow, I do swear to protect you with my life. That while blood still flows through my veins, strength stays with me, and my hands still hold my sword, even after; I will stay by your side.Until my bones break and my soul shall depart from my body, I, Teknie von Constanice, will defend you."
Egan looks behind me and I can picture the look on the kings face as he gives a curt nod. 'Too small a child to rule a kingdom. Why waist a warrior on a pathetic kid.' I could just hear him saying as though he was right next to me.
Egan takes the sword from my hands while I continue to keep my head down. I feel him touch the sword to one shoulder then the other.
"Teknie von Constanice, I place my full faith in you, that you protect me from harm with quick step and easy blade. I have faith that you will fulfill your task until the end of one of us, or until danger passes. Now rise."
I stand up and look down at my new charge. He has lightly styled ,warm brown hair to match his chestnut eyes. He is about two and a half feet shorter than me and a little skinny.
"Teknie, Egan," Donovan addresses us. Egan quickly hands my sword back to me. I turn around to face the king.
"Do you both fully understand the arrangement and the tasks within?"
"Yes sir," I state immediately.
"Yes your highness," Egan assures timidly.
"Good. Leave now and fulfill them," he demands. I nod slightly to him and walk out with Egan of Highollow at my side.
"So, do I actually have a 'task', or is just you?" he asks.
"Your only job is to trust me to battle for you and protect you always," I inform him.
"Oh, well that does not sound too hard. You are from Constanice? I know there have been many good warriors from there. I am sure you are no exception."
His face falls," And I am truly sorry for what happened in the Battle of Wardom."
"That is not your fault,"I tell him, more for my sake though really. Highollow denied our request for help, leaving us to be demolished by the Gnarlobs, which I promise are scarier than they sound.
"Maybe not me specifically, but my kingdom did not help yours in its time of need. That makes all the difference."
And...there it was. The confession of guilt. I couldn't let him feel like that though, after all, it is my job to keep him safe; and I'm going to include mental health.
"Sir Egan, your chambers."
"No need to be so formal, Egan is fine."
I study him for a second before deciding my answer. "All right then, Egan. Goodnight. I will be near if you need me."
"Thank you, Teknie."
I walk silently to my room at the end of the hall but am stopped by a shout from a familiar voice," Teknie!" I turn around to find,"Armani," I say. He wears dark brown cropped hair and black brown eyes that accent his tan skin. Armani was my first and lasting friend here at Vacingham and I will never be able to repay his kindness.
"I just wanted to congratulate you on your new position," he says with a smile.
"Thanks. We'll see how it goes you know?"
He chuckles,"Certainly. I know you will do well. I also know you will not let harm come to young Egan. But...."He gets a serious look in his eyes and his smile disappears,"you must promise me you won't allow any harm to come to yourself either."
"Armani, I am not weak.I-"
"I am not saying you are, but all the same, you must promise, Teknie. Promise me that you will not have to give your life." He looks worried now, and I don't want to upset him, but I still tell him,"You know I can't do that. It is now my one and only duty to protect Egan. I swear I will try to be careful, but if it's me or him, he will have to come first. Please trust me Armani, trust that I know what I'm doing, okay?"
He gives me a small smile. "Okay. I trust you, but I will always be here for you. I'm not about to let you go."
I smile back,"I know. Goodnight, Armani." Then I step into my room, lay down on my bed, and fall asleep.