Chapter No. 26 Ordo equester

Wash thy self therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

The instant that a lookout caught sight of them, he started a hubbub. Some men in the towers shouted to those in the outer ward. A few ran down to alert their commanders. The excitement in the entire enclave quickly reached fever pitch.

When they heard the commotion, Paladin and Morton came running out of the keep.

"Your son and the girl have returned," men shouted at them from the wall.

Despite that good news, Paladin knew that something was wrong. The conversations were agitated and in some cases, alarming. The instant he arrived at the main tower, Paladin could see why they were excited.

"The girl is riding a horned beast," a lookout yelled.

Paladin didn't care if she was riding a jackass backwards. All he cared about was that she and his son had returned alive. His joy was so overwhelming tears streamed down his cheeks.

"I've heard about creatures like that," Morton said. "They're mentioned in the ancient books."

"Yes. Yes." Paladin said, wiping his eyes. "You're right. We must look it up."

Both men rushed down to greet the two returning knights. Despite the fact that Mara was on a strange beast, the men cheered when they saw that she had four colors from enemy knights displayed on her helmet. Even Hilton received cheers for his two colors.

"Ah," Morton greeted them. "I see that my instructions have not gone to waste."

"We owe our success to your fine tutelage," Hilton said.

"What manner of beast is this?" Paladin asked Mara.

"I know not, sir. All I know is that it likes me and I like it."

"That's good enough for me," Paladin said. "It appears to have the same needs as a horse."

"I will see to its needs," Mara said.
He gave her a reassuring nod.

###

Paladin looked up at Morton from an old well-worn leather-bound book and smiled. "It's here in the Book of Orin. It tells of a young girl with flaming hair and riding on a horned beast coming out of the east."

"Let me see that," Morton said, taking the thick old book in his hands. "You shall see your salvation coming out of the east on a horned beast. The Maid of Orleans will smite down her enemies with mighty blows. Her hair burns as fire and her eyes pierce the wicked as flaming arrows."

"Maid of Orleans?" Paladin said with amusement tingeing his usually serious voice. "That reference must be ancient. I don't think that such a place exists."

"If my recollections are still good, I believe that the ancient Franks had a city by that name."

"Yes, now I remember. It had a mystical history." Paladin wagged a finger at Morton. "I tell you, this girl is a gift." He sighed, bowing his head. "I just hope we use her wisely."

"She hasn't failed us yet. She saw to it that your son survived his quest."

"Yes, I owe her for that."

Morton placed a hand on his shoulder. "What we owe her and your son is knighthood."

Paladin's eyes brightened. "Yes, you're right. See to it."

Morton bowed. "As you wish, my lord, but a proper celebration requires time."

"Yes, but do not delay too long. The time for action approaches."

###

Mara eyes followed Voltan's movements with an intensity that bordered on obsession. He swirled about like a whirling dervish, slashing his two swords as if sparing with an imaginary opponent, dancing, jumping, and pirouetting. Mara had never seen a swordsman employ such imaginative methods. The idea of deliberately turning your back to an enemy was, before now, risky at best, but this unusual technique definitely had promise.

"I want you to follow my actions," Voltan said. "I will execute a Ki, an ancient learning lesson."

She nodded and then stood to his left with her twin swords pointing up at 45-degree angles from her hips. Voltan swung his right sword up as if blocking a downward thrust. Simultaneously, he slashed his left sword in an arc downward as if setting aside a thrust, all this while taking a step with his left foot. Quickly assuming a fencing stance, he thrust his right sword followed by the left so fast they appeared as one motion.

The routines of the Ki became more elaborate after that, and this was only the first of twenty such lessons.

Hilton and Paladin watched all this from a stand of trees off to one side of the weapons-training field. They remained silent at first.

But it didn't last. "I can't even imagine how she can so easily learn all of those complex routines," Hilton said, his eyes never leaving Mara.

"She has many unique skills," his father said. "It is further proof that she is a goddess."

"If she is a goddess, she does not behave as I would expect. Her manner is not all that uncommon."

"Her divine nature dwells alongside her human nature. Gods--and goddesses--assume human form to interact with and teach us mortals."

Hilton shook his head. "We mortals are having trouble discerning the teachings of these gods--if there is a teaching to discern in this case."

Paladin smiled. "This one has certainly taught you a few things about combat, hasn't she?"

Hilton briefly flicked his eyes away from Mara. "That's a glaring understatement. But what she is doing here is more a dance than combat."

Paladin laughed, earning him a glare from Voltan. He waved to signal his apology before turning back to his son. "This is a dance of death."

Hilton nodded. He considered dancing and combat to be incongruous, but he was convinced that Mara was very capable of employing such unconventional methods in combat.
After another period of silence, Hilton blurted, "I hope I am worthy enough to be the consort of a goddess."

His father's eyebrow rose.

###

Morton greeted his commander with a grin. "Everything is ready for the ceremony, my lord."

Paladin tried to relax, but before he could, Sir Volta crashed through the door snorting and hissing.

"What's this I hear about you knighting the witch?"

"I told you that she's not a witch," Paladin said as calmly as he could. "She acquired the necessary number of colors in her quest and she has passed all of the combat tests. I have no choice but to knight her."

"You are an old fool," Volta said, sputtering with frustration.

"Perhaps," Paladin said. "But, such a woman is chronicled in the Book of Orin as a great warrior. We can use all of the warriors we can find."

"The Book of Orin? Surely you don't believe in that ridiculous spiritualism."

"All men have spirits," Paladin said. "We could all use some spiritualism."

"When I slay a man, all I see is the blood that runs out of him. This spirit you talk of is simply the tales of old women and the so-called savior in your stupid book. Who can have faith in a savior who is put to death."

"And rises from the dead."

Volta waved his hand dismissively. "Ridiculous!"

After Volta stormed out, Morton smiled at his leader. "You keep it up and you'll be replaced for being senile."

Paladin smiled back. "Senile perhaps, but still quick enough with a sword . . . and wit."

Morton rewarded him with a toothy grin.

###

Hilton relaxed against the back of his tub but he was not relaxed. He wasn't used to having someone bathe him, and here he was with two squires helping him. He resented being treated like some royal wag. But this ritualistic bathing was part of the knighthood dubbing process, and he had no choice but to endure it.

His thoughts wandered to Mara and it warmed him more than the hot water did. He could only imagine how she was enjoying her bath by two maids, how she was being treated to luxury that she deserved. He owed his life to her and he was not afraid to pledge it to her, if only he could find the right time to tell her.

When Hilton emerged from his bath, the squires dressed him in a white tunic over a silk shirt and white stockings. They left him so that he could spend quiet time alone with his thoughts. He could not purge his thoughts of Mara. She had become an obsession to him and he so wanted to please her. She occupied his every thought and dream.

Pure of thought and body, he was led to the great hall where he joined Mara, who was wearing a similar all-white garb.

It seemed as if everyone was there, men and woman, maids and squires, all with joyful faces. Word had gotten around that Mara fulfills the prophesy of the Book of Orin. These people saw in her their salvation from the evil Empire of Darkness and they were ready to be saved.

The two candidates knelt before Paladin. As ranking Knight and Lord he held the power to dub. He presented the Sword of Orin to his son, who reverently kissed its hilt. It was believed that a relic of Orin was encased in a hollow part of its pommel.
Mara did as Hilton, kissing the sword. After Paladin handed the sword to Morton, he returned to his son and whacked him across the face with his open hand, nearly knocking him over. He repeated the colée with Mara but he paid the price with a stinging hand.
He then used the Sword of Orin to dub them knights, touching it against their right shoulders with the words: "I dub thee a full knight of the realm. Go and be courageous in the face of your enemies."

When they arose, Hilton and Mara were greeted with shouts of encouragement and boisterous clapping.

Now the real celebration could begin. Paladin led Mara and Hilton to the main hall where a feast had been prepared. They took their place at the great table next to him with Morton and Sir Hillan at their side.

Women and pages brought out roast pig and lamb along with greens and berries. Red wine flowed freely as did joyous conversation.

Mara took a healthy swig of wine. "I have never tasted such a strange liquor before."

"If I were you," Hilton warned her. "I would refrain from imbibing too much of that strange liquor. You may find that your wit will stray beyond propriety."

She looked around the table. "I don't see others with your concern."

He laughed. "They need no excuse to get drunk. It is the nature of men to relieve their woes in fruit of the grape."

"I do not need fermented grapes to help me relieve my woes, young Hilton. I find that you are more satisfying for that purpose."

"You should be more discrete in your conversation," Hilton whispered.

"For what purpose?" she asked, her face twisted with confusion.

"There are some here who believe that you have bewitched me with your charms. I befriend you because I like you, not because you have bewitched me."

"Are you saying that my charms are not adequate?"

Hilton blushed. "Your charms are . . . I intended no disparagement of your . . . you are beautiful."

She gave him a teasing grin. "You are beautiful too, young Hilton."

He rolled his eyes. "I think you've already had too much to drink. Your judgment is suspect."

She converted her grin to a sly smile. "You are like most men who believe that women take no pleasure in a man's body. There is much you don't know about amorous practices, young Hilton."

"And I suppose you intend to educate me in such matters?"

"I would most certainly enjoy the task," she said, laughing at him with her bright eyes.

He rolled his eyes again and she laughed the more.