Friday, November 14, 2003

   Mark!
As I said, though, Jack had a roving heart, and presently he began to think about when he would be moving on. One
night, an opportunity came to him in a most unexpected form. It was Jack’s duty to ask travelers if they would be staying the night, so when he saw a young man lingering in his seat past the time when most of the regulars were gone, he approached him.

The young man was tall, and he sat with his long legs stretched comfortably before him under the table. A shaggy head of dark-brown hair was tilted down, contemplating the near-empty mug of ale resting in his hands. His clothing was well made and of high quality, but somewhat lacking in ornamentation—the clothing of a minor noble, Jack thought.

“Will you be staying the night, sir?” Jack asked. Even though the young man was hardly older than Jack and didn’t really look as though he merited a “sir”, it never hurt to be courteous.

The young man glanced up and said, “Yes I will. I could also use another cup of ale, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Jack took the mug and headed back to the kitchen, where he refilled it and informed the innkeeper that he had another overnighter. When he got back to the table, Jack set the mug on it and asked, “My name’s Jack, what’s yours?”

The young man looked up with a hint of surprise; it isn’t often serving boys in inns introduce themselves to one, but then he smiled and said, “My name is Mark d’Martin. Nice to meet you, Jack.”

Jack hadn’t talked to anyone his age in a while, and he was eager for some socialization; especially with someone who wasn’t from Midsummer. With a glance around the room to make sure no one was in need of his attentions, Jack quickly took the seat across from Mark.

“What brings you this way Mark?” Jack asked, leaning his elbows on the table and crossing his arms.

“I’m on my way to Crowncity to attend the school there,” Mark said, sitting up a little straighter. “I am going to become a knight.”

“A knight!” Jack responded, intrigued. “What are you going to do when you become a knight?”

Mark stared at him as though he were out of his mind.

“Don’t you know what knights do?” he asked incredulously. “I thought everyone knew about knights.”

Jack had heard about knights before, of course, but they had little reason to come near Midsummer, (that village being the dull, monotonous, and utterly predictable place it was) and consequently he had never seen one. He and Mark sat at the table while the candles burnt lower and lower and Mark told him tales of the brave and audacious acts of the knights of the kingdom. Only when the innkeeper came with the suggestion they find their beds before the candles burnt out did Jack realize how late it had become. Even though he knew he would regret it in the morning, Jack found himself awake long after the innkeeper had retired, thinking about shining knights on horseback performing marvelous deeds.

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