"What?!" Ollie said, turning to stare at Thane in surprise. He tried to pull back, to put a little space between himself and the older man, but the vampire's grip on his shoulder held firm. "I, I'm not a knight," he protested. "I've barely started to learn how to fight and I don't know the first thing about leading a village. Would the people even accept my leadership when I'm not a real knight?"
"You will be soon enough," Thane said, his amber eyes losing a touch of their mirth. "Ollie, you said you wanted to step up and become one of Ashlynn's protectors. That means taking on more than putting on a suit of armor and learning how to fight. If you're going to stand at her side, you have to shoulder some of the responsibilities that come with the position of authority she intends to put you in."