My body jolts upward as air rushes into my lungs from my parted lips. Goosebumps form along my arms as thunder clashes, and the lightning allows me to remember where I am.

The slight thumping against my wall and mild laughter confirm the memory. I place my hand on my chest and feel it beating rapidly as my gaze turns to the window that's still being abused by the rain.

What did I dream of that has my heart racing like this?

With hooded eyes, I lay back down staring out the window. The moon almost a quarter away from its high point in the sky. The chill of the storm filled night tells me to sleep, but nerves bubble in my stomach.

Can I truly defeat him? Will he even remember what he said come a few hours?

The rain seems to get lighter, and my heart's speed decreases, the leaving rush of adrenaline takes me back to sleep.

••••

My boots softly press into the wood as I walk down the brothel inn's floor. The floorboards slightly protest against my weight, as I move down the silent hall. Stopping two doors after mine my knuckles rap against the door softly.

I clench my fingers around my sword's pommel as my ears catch a snore. Pulling the door open, I walk into the room sporting a glare.

Ser Willis lays sprouted with the two women from last night draped around him a lot better than the bed sheets. My gaze lands on his sword, and I grab hold of it before marching to the side of his bed and tossing it on his stomach.

The man wakes up with a lung-emptying groan starling the women. They rub their eyes before sliding their limbs away from the man.

His gaze turns to me, and yet another groan escapes his lips. "What is the meaning of this Tamen."

I glare, "Our fight; I'm ready."

He sighs rubbing the palms of his hands against his eyes before sliding them down his face and sighing. "I can't even hear the larks."

My gaze to the window where the moon is just slightly disappearing behind the trees. "Dawn is approaching."

"Tamen, I need rest. Go tend to your chores."

I clench my jaw, "The whole point is to prove I'm no longer a squire!"

A hand goes up to his heads as he rubs it, "Keep your damn voice down." He turns his back to me after picking up his sword and tossing it to the end of the bed. His arms wrap around the entertaining as he settles back in, with the other hugging his back. "Be a good boy, and do your chores. If they're done well, it is proof that you've surpassed squire and are worthy of a battle."

"That is n-"

"Go, Tamen, and keep it down."

With clenched teeth, I march out of the room shutting the door a bit harsher than what is polite. Hope that feeds his blue-devils.

••••

"You are an idiot."

I stop brushing Tony's black coat and look over the horse towards Lark. He stands outside the stall, his linen white blouse loose with the yellow string at the collar slightly undone. The undone cloth gives a taste of the red marks that bloom on his dark olive skin.

Feeling my cheeks tinge I look back at Tony's coat, ignoring Lark's half asleep gaze. Even then I don't feel the honey eyes turn away from me, "I do not know what you're talking about."

I hear a stall door open and feet shuffle over hay, before the bucket near me is turned upside down, and Lark sits beside me, a carrot in hand as he munches on what I assume is his breakfast.

"Tamen, we're squires. It is not time for us to become knights. Yet you are barking up Sir Willis' leg."

I roll my eyes, "I am not barking at anyone."

"Tamen, you are up brushing a horse, and the birds haven't even sung yet."

"Dawn is coming."

"Uhuh. I believe it's ill-advised for you to fight him."

"Good thing no one advised me."

"Then take some good advice. Don't."

I stop brushing Sir Willis' horse and turn towards the male beside me once again. My gaze avoids the marks on his chest, and find interest on his mop of brown curls instead. "Why are you up so early chiding me about this? Knowing you, you'd still be asleep."

"My lord convinced me to speak to you," he smiles taking a bite off his carrot, "and what are friends for?"

"Ill advice and drunk nights, I recall you once told me."

"And I recall you moaned the whole time, that night."

I feel heat rise up my cheeks and I turn on my heel, walking towards the saddle hanging from the sides of the stalls and searching for the hoof pick. Going back to Tony I run my hand along his spine and down his leg so that he can feel me moving around. I lift his leg and begin to work.

The more I clean the already perfect shoe, the tighter my jaw clenches. I settle Tony's leg down and put the tools away.

"He's a dishonor to the name of a knight." I step out of the stall and pace the ground. My hand points at the Inn tavern across from us, "He is laying there sleeping and what has he done for himself, nothing. I, on the other hand, have done all of my chores."

The male jumps over the stall wall and sits on the hay leaning against it, "Well you are his squire, Tamen. That is your job, the errand boy, his shadow."

My head snaps towards him, "You are no help." I walk towards him and sit on the hay next to him. "Do you think he'll even remember his word once he wakes up?" I whisper with a defeated sigh.

Lark bumps his shoulder into mine with a smile. "Knowing you, I bet you'll make sure he remembers."

The corner of my lips twitches upward. "You smell like sweat and sex you know? It ruins the fresh morning scent."

Lark laughs, "You mean the scent of wet horse shit? Must be quite a loss for you."

I laugh my shoulders relaxing.

"Why is this so important? Why can't you wait to be of age and then tested? You've got merely a few years before he decides, don't you?"

I lean back on the coarse twigs and look up at the stars chased by the sun rays. "Because I deserve it, and he refuses to acknowledge the fact. I've served him greatly, and yet he slobs around and treats me like a child. I've surpassed him. I am no longer his shadow."

I glance at the back of my friend's head when he says nothing. My brows scrunch at his silence. "What?"

"You believe you've surpassed the title of squire?"

My gaze turns back to the sky, "It's not only something I believe. It's the unspoken truth."

My mind travels to the image of a younger Sir Willis. He was a mountain to me back then. The clang of his sword thunder. His high chin honor.

That is shattered now. Nothing but an illusion everyone else sees, the one that hides a dishonorable knight. I grab my friend's carrot taking a bite, waving off his complaints as I walk towards my own horse on the opposite stall. The mustang trots over and begins to eat as I run my hand over his chestnut mane.

I hear an obnoxious yawn behind me, and my gaze turns back to Lark, "You leave me no choice as your friend. Now I have to train with you."

"Won't your master beat you?"

Lark shrugs, "He's wrapped around my finger."