I quickly put away my clothes behind my tent
I had collected a bucket of water from the tent of Bradford,I quickly bath and get dressed before anyone figure me out
It was fifteen minutes before sir Bradford and his boys start coming out from the bushes,they were all dressed and heading to the carriage,I quickly follow them from behind,I entered the carriage and we started our journey,in the space of an hour we were already arriving at the palace
From afar I spotted a very huge fence,it almost look like it was reaching the heavens,it had no ending and no beginning
A very gigantic gate was planted to the wall,it would take hundreds of soldiers to open it up
As we were arriving the gate I heard the sound of a horn playing very loud and the gate parted into two creating way for us
We moved in and the door closes back as immediately as we were all inside the walls of the palace
I looked around and saw many beautiful and handsome people moving around carrying out the daily activities
The beauty of the palace was a very rare beauty that cannot be found in any other place
The environment was emitting majestic aura making me feel like royalty
We got to a spot where will halted
"This is your stop young Man",sir Bradford said as he came down from the carriage,I could see a very long line of men
It looks like it's a immigration border,I and sir Bradford walked passed them
We were arriving at a special line,they were not more that eight men lined up here
"Why are they few people here?",I asked sir Bradford who was standing by my side
"They are royal knights,some of them ran away when they heard that they have to serve the royal family forever,after the death of their father",sir Bradford whispered into my ears
"Then I guess the competition won't be that much",I said to my self
STEP FORWARD EVERYONE THIS IS THE CIRCUMCISION SECTION--. a very loud voice spoke from the speaker
"What do they mean?",I asked in fear
"Oh!,this is my favorite part,they will ask them to take off their under wear to see if they are circumcised",sir Bradford added with a smile on his face
"What!?",I yelled in confusion
"No need to panic,I know you're shy so I'll ask them to check yours privately",sir Bradford said with a smile
I just stood there looking blank I was speechless
"Don't worry, you will thank me later",sir Bradford said as he moved further
The line was getting shorter and shorter and it was going to be our turn very soon
In a blink of an eye it was already my turn,I was standing right at the front of the man in charge
"Young man make it fast",the man said in a harsh tone
All I could do was look around I was scared,I was like this was the end for me,I had no other option anymore
"Young man I said.....!!!!",the man was Interupted by sir Bradford
"You might want to take him inside,he is a shy person",sir brad ford whispered to the man
"You would have said so,come with me you two",the man ordered and we followed
We arrived at a room that was empty the man asked sir Bradford to wait outside
"Sir,why don't we start with the documentary first?",I asked the man who already looked tired and frustrated by the act have been putting up lately
"Young man,am not the one in charge of the documentary of the royal knights,let's just get this done",the man said with a calm voice this time
"Okay",I said,as I was about taking of my underwear we heard a loud knock on door
"Who's there?!",the man yelled but no one replied,the knocking continued
"Am coming stay right here,I want to attend to the person at the door", immediately after he said that he left the room I felt a feeling of relief inside me
I looked around his office and found a circumcision stamp that is been placed close to a heap of
file,when I looked at some of the files it had names of people and the stamps were imprinted on them
I quickly pull out a empty file and fill it exactly the same with the one I saw except for the name I had to place my name,I quickly stamped it and added the file back to the heaps of file
Just after I done that the man walked in
"So where are we?",the man asked
"You told me to wait",I replied looking down at my feet
"Oh!,yeah I remember I was about to confirm your circumcision",the man said as his face lighten up
"No sir you're done with that already,you even filled my file",I said to the man while trying to defend myself
"That can't be possible,I can't even remember your name",the man said in confusion
"That's the truth, this is the royal home and you guys are well organized,check your documents that goes by the name ALEXANDER HEIST",I said staring at him firmly while still standing on my points
The young man did as I asked he brought out my file
"Oh!,you're right you have been confirmed,sorry for my misbehavior",the man apologize after looking at the file I had made my self
"No problem,can I leave now?",I asked the man immediately after his apology
"No problem,good luck",the man said to me as I walk out of the room
I joined sir Bradford outside
"So what's next?",I asked sir Bradford who was standing outside the room
"We go to the documentary office",sir Bradford said as he dragged my hands along
We arrived at the documentary offices,other people where been attended to by the accountants,I saw an empty spot so I and Bradford approached the accountant
"Welcome,if I am correct you're Alexander heist",the accountant asked
"Yes ma'am,I am Alexander",I replied in return
"Here is a document that you need to fill,you're required to fill all these empty spaces,they are meant for informations about you",the accountant said as she passed the paper work to me
"Okay",I said as I started filling the blank spaces on the documents,in a period of 5-7minutes i was done,so i swiftly return the documentary to her,she signed on it
"Here is your circumcision certificate it arrives few minutes ago before your arrival,I have stapled it to your documents give It to the man at the hall of knights,he will send you to your quarters,he will also tell you when training begins",she said as she smiled at me and handed over the files to me
"Thanks miss",I said as me and Bradford left the documentary office
"Hey son!",brad ford said as he stopped walking
"Yes!",I turned my back and saw Bradford standing there just staring
"I can't go with you any more this is the end for me,do exactly what the accountant asked you to do",sir Bradford ordered
"Okay sir,thanks for your help",I said in appreciation towards his efforts
"No prob,you can always count on me",brad ford said as he turned his back and leave
Now am all alone in this,I need to be smart about it,for the first thirteen minutes it was hard for me to find the hall of knights
I was later directed to the rightful place with the help of a gentleman
I arrived at the hall of knights,I was really late so I rushed to the man in charge
"Am so sorry am late",I said in a apologetic tone
"Lateness is not a good virtue",the old man said after removing his chewing stick from his mouth
"I was asked to come here by the accountant at the documentary office,here are my documents",I said as I stretched out the documents in my arms towards him
He collected the documents and his eyes scrolled through them
"Uhmm....almost all the quarters are filled,but there is an empty quarter close to a barn, nobody wanted it because it was close to a barn",the man said as he gently place the documents under his drawer
"I'll take it,I guess is the price I have to pay for my lateness",I said to the man who had given me a file containing my routines,my outfits and my duty and a mini map to my quarters,I shoved the file into my pocket as I left the hall of knights
EVENING|
I arrived at my quarters a little bit late than I expected,the sky were already turning dark like the moon is impatient
I approached what looks like a house that has been abandoned for years it was dusty and creepy
I dropped my sack and started cleaning, within a period of 2-4hrs I was done with the cleaning
I sat outside my quarter as I watch the night skies, which reminds me of my mom
"I hope mom is fine,I miss her alot",I said as tears roll down my cheek
What's wrong with me have I started talking to my self
I went in and laid on what I assumed to be a bed and slept for the night
NEXT DAY|
I woke up really early to take my bath,I had prepared a warm water by myself this morning
I prepared my self a warm bath tub,I undressed my self and allowed my hair to be free I remove the chest plate from my breast and take of my garment,I miss seeing my feminine figure,I dipped myself into the bath tub and enjoy the relieving sensation it was sending through my body
I had added some olive to the water to give me a lovely scent,I quickly dried my self and left my tub,I went to my room and got dressed according to my outfit for today in the file the man at the hall of knights gave me
I could hear the noise of other knight near by I quickly ran out of my quarter to see what was going on,I saw all the knights recruited been arranged in a straight line,I approached one of them
"Hey am Alexander,what's the parade about?",I asked as I stood behind a knight who was also matching
"Am Daniel, we're heading to the royal home,today is our presentation where we get to see the royal family and honor them",Daniel said as he smiled at me,"you smell pretty good",Daniel complimented
"Thanks",I said in return we both marched in silence,only the stomping of feet on the solid floor could be heard
We arrived at a huge hall filled with different chairs arranged in different orders some where arranged horizontally while some were arranged in a parallel order
We all march to our seat,I was behind Daniel while marching so technically we had a seat close to each other
A booklet was shared amongst us,it had a front page with FIRST IMPRESSION MATTERS imprinted on it
"Listen knights of the royal family a booklet has been handed to you,you're assigned to read it before the king arrive in five minutes time",I heard a loud voice roar from the speaker so as everyone in the hall
Chattering and murmuring were heard in the hall
"Hey Alex,this book says 'when the king arrives in a presentation or any occasion,thou shall rise and bow to show his or her respect,this instruction apply to everyone'",Daniel said showing me the page
"That's right maybe they want to teach us how to behave when the king arrive,look here too it also says that a trumpet is used to represent the arrival of the king or any royal blood",I said to Daniel also showing him the page in the booklet that contains the article
"That's true,let's read before the king.....",Daniel was Interupted by the sound of a very loud trumpet,the huge doors opened and six beautiful maid walked in with a bowl filled with petals from different flowers,they assembled in a vertical order sequentially
Then guards marched in followed by the king, immediately the king the women with petals made a move,any spot the king steps on they place petals on it as a symbol of pure heart
Immediately he got to his throne,the whole congregation rose up and bowed and a great uproar of 'long live the king filled the air'
"Sit",the king ordered in a firm voice emitting a royal aura
The whole congregation did as the the king ordered they all sat down In honor of the king command
"My loyal subjects,I believe you all know why you're here,you have been chosen after your late father to act as a knight for the royal family,I will hold my voice and allow the teacher explain it all", immediately the king finished his statement a round of applause filled the air
We watched the king sit majestically on his throne
A young man walked out from behind arose the stage, everyone gave him another rounds of applause
"Thank you,thank you,thank you",the young man said waving his hands trying to seek audience
The clap slowly fades away till the whole hall were silent
"Am Mr Alpheratz,am your knight co ordinator,I am here to teach you about knights and how they are trained,do any of you here have an idea the categories of knights in our kingdom?",the man asked
The whole hall was silent,it was time to make my move and make my first impression
"In absence of that.....",I interupted Mr Alpheratz
"Am sorry sir but you asked a question",I said as I rose up from my seat,"In our kingdom a royal knight is categorized into three major types which is the eye of the crown prince which is the highest of all royal knights and they are highly respected, second is the personal ordeal,which is the second greatest of the royal knights and the last of them which are the webs,they are the lowest rank of a royal knight, thanks for your audience",I said as I bowed to show respect {still standing}
A round of applause filled the air
"Wow!,wow!,wow! Very impressive,please what's your name?",Mr Alpheratz asked with much concern and interest
"Am Alexander heist sir",I said with my head bowed and still standing on my feet
"Alexander heist,you have really impressed me today,tell me what more do you know?",Mr Alpheratz asked this time around with his hands folded
"I also know the various functions of the royal knights,the personal ordeal is knight assigned to protect the king till he dies,he cannot be seen with anyone else except the king,the eye of the crown prince is a royal knight assigned to the heir of the throne which is the crown prince he is assigned to serve the crown prince with all his heart,webs are royal knights that can be easily assigned to any duty except the protection of the crown prince and the king,a web knight can be sent on errands or back up during battles because of their techniques in fighting,once again thanks for your audience", immediately I finished a round of applause arose from the congregation
"Wow!,you know what Alex I would personally be your coach and I will ensure you a good position as a royal knight", Mr Alpheratz said in delight,"Alex tell us,what else do you know?",Mr Alpheratz asked
At this moment I had wished Mr Bradford had tell me more about the royal knights
"Sir,it would be unfaithful For me to take away your spotlight,this is your day sir,so I would like to give the honor to you to educate us, for as student we learn from our mentor",I said as I bow to show respect
"Bravo Alexander,you may have your seat you're indeed going to set a record", Mr Alpheratz said and the whole congregation gave another round of applause
I was happy with what I did,I was happy with the way I made my first expression,but little did I know that I had just open up the gate for new enemies,new rivals,new haters and more competition
Not everyone would be happy that am taking the spotlight at the first day of my appearance
"Our beloved Alexander has already help break down the complexity of today's lecture,she has told us the types of knight and their functions......
....
I got lost in my thoughts and everything he says seems to fade away quickly
"It was nice lecturing you guys today,I appreciate your dedication",the whole congregation gave another round of applause,"I would like to personally invite you to assist me in my lecturing in our next class Alexander",Mr Alpheratz said with a warm smile on his face
I was brought back to reality when I heard my name
"It will be an honor sir",I said as I rose up and bowed
"Okay then see you all in our next lecture",Mr Alpheratz said and he exited the stage with a round of applause from the Audience
Mr Alpheratz was seen seated in his seat,it is tradition that In any occasion the king has to leave first before others make a move