Will of the Battlefield

The hall remained in uproar. Principals argued. Nobles shouted.

Some glared at Hayden or cursed him; others just shouted like madmen at Thomas.

The only difference was Hayden, who stood in place with an unreadable expression on his face. Some thought he was just finishing his tough performance, while others thought he was just stunned enough that he lost his ability to react.

Instructors whispered or outright shouted furiously amongst themselves.

Yet the cause of the chaos seemed entirely unconcerned, strolling with his arm around his prized son’s shoulder.

"Come on, Thanny," Count Thomas Ironforge, who just announced quitting being a Count, said while turning toward the great gates of the hall. "Your mother packed enough food to feed a 100-man unit."

Thane’s eyes lit up. "Really?" He started forgetting about the mess behind him as well.

Thomas responded with three fingers and a smile. "Three baskets." He spoke with evident pride.

Thane’s eyes opened wide. "With meat?" he said, drool leaking from the corners of his mouth.

Thomas looked offended. "Your mother would probably forget me entirely rather than forget adding more meat." He patted Thane’s shoulders twice again. "Let’s find a good spot to eat."

The giant eagerly moved side by side with his father before suddenly stopping midway. "Oh."

Thomas raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"My friends." Without waiting for permission, Thane turned toward the crowded hall.

"CONOR!" He shouted his lungs out amidst the ongoing chaos.

Every head turned. Conor winced. Thane waved his enormous arm. "COME!"

Conor hesitated only briefly before hurrying after him; it was a heavy situation for the kingdom. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen now.

Thane didn’t care for his concerns in the slightest. He waved his arm like a war banner and shouted again.

"RIMON! SKY!"

The two nearly jumped from their seats.

Neither had quite recovered from learning that their friend was the young master of Borderstone County.

They also held the same concerns Conor held, but they all ended up submitting themselves to fate against their will.

While still in a daze, they followed.

Thomas’s eyes fell on them. He studied the three approaching youths.

Not giving him a moment, his son began darting his entire head back and forth, searching the gigantic hall. "Where’s Max?"

Everyone exchanged glances; they looked around trying to catch a glimpse of Max’s shadow. The hall held thousands. Luck didn’t help them find the missing guy.

Finding one person amongst such a crowd was impossible.

For everyone except Thane. The giant inhaled deeply. "MAX!"

The shout, akin to a war cry, echoed through the entire building. Several candidates covered their ears, and all principals glared at Thane, dropping their heated discussions.

Thane ignored them. "MAX! COME OUT! WE’RE EATING!" He shouted again.

A soft groan escaped Conor. He felt his life slipping away.

Sky buried her face in her hands.

Rimon looked ready to die.

Several moments later, a familiar handsome youth slowly emerged from the crowd.

Max looked mortified. "I was standing right there." He pointed at the place he walked from.

Thane grinned. "I know."

"Then why shout?"

"You didn’t come."

Max decided not to ask further questions; things fell apart dramatically, and he didn’t have the energy to debate things with him.

He sighed deeply and followed him beyond the gate, leaving behind the plans he originally started.

Before long, they reached a place.

Outside the hall, beneath the shade of several ancient elm trees, Thomas led the group toward a waiting carriage.

Unlike the ornate carriages favored by southern nobles, this carriage was practical and simple. Heavy and sturdy.

Built more for the mountains’ rocky roads than the city’s paved streets.

There were no gilded ornaments. No expensive embellishments.

Only the crest of the Ironforge clan carved upon the side. A hammer falling on a mountain, splitting it apart.

Conor quietly observed everything. The stories about Borderstone suddenly made sense.

The northerners truly were different.

Thomas turned. "Well?"

Thane scratched his head. "Oh."

He pointed. "Dad, these are my friends."

The Count folded his massive arms.

Conor immediately bowed. "It is an honor to meet you, my lord."

Rimon nearly bent in half. "My lord."

Sky curtsied. "Count Ironforge."

Max gave a graceful bow.

Thomas stared at all of them. Then he snorted.

"Gods." The youths looked confused. He turned his gaze back to Thane. "Where did you find these idiots?"

Confused, Thane looked back at his friends, but before his words formed...

"Call me Uncle Thomas," his father said, waving his hand dismissively at the group.

Rimon blinked, his back still arched. "My lord?" Not daring to bring his head up.

"It’s uncle."

"My lord, I couldn’t possibly..."

"You fought beside my son."

Thomas shrugged. "That makes you family enough."

The four exchanged uncertain glances. Rimon swallowed hard.

Finally, Sky spoke. "Uncle Thomas?"

Thomas grinned. "There. Much better."

Thomas removed his heavy outer coat and sat beneath the tree.

The clothing beneath was surprisingly plain. Good wool. Strong stitching. But little decoration.

The sort of attire worn by lesser landed nobles or wealthy merchants; just practicality over luxury.

Certainly not one of the kingdom’s most powerful counts.

Max quietly noted it. The Ironforges truly cared little for appearances.

Thomas looked toward the carriage. "Sendor."

The carriage door opened. A giant of a man stepped out.

Old and broad.

Six feet and five inches tall, and despite his age, he looked powerful and his back straight. Three black lines adorned his weathered face.

His grey beard reached the middle of his chest, neatly braided.

Unlike Thomas, he wore simple black clothing not much different from Thomas’s.

Seemingly a servant, though calling such a man a servant felt absurd.

He looked capable of slapping bears.

Thane’s face immediately brightened. "Gramps Sendor!"

The old giant smiled warmly. "Hello, Thanny."

The boy immediately embraced him.

The old man laughed. "You’ve grown."

"I won."

"So I heard."

"And I beat Donovan Old."

"Oh, you mean Donovan Young. I heard that too."

"And Etno Ramzi."

"Yeah, yeah." The old man stroked Thane’s head. "I heard everything, and it’s Etno Kamsi."

Thane grinned proudly.

Thomas rolled his eyes. "He’s repeated it twelve times since I arrived."

"Thirteen," Sendor corrected.

Thomas sighed. "Gods, have mercy on me."

The old man was Sendor Ironforge. Thomas’s distant cousin.

The Ironforge Clan’s butler.

Though among the northern clans, ’butler’ meant something rather different.

Sendor managed the household. The treasury. The lands.

And, according to rumor, had personally killed thirty-seven cursed beasts.

Conor suddenly understood why nobody dared attack Borderstone. Even their butler looked terrifying.

Sendor spread a large woolen sheet upon the grass.

From the carriage, he produced baskets. Many baskets.

Sky’s eyes widened.

Rimon forgot his fear.

Conor openly stared.

Meat, bread, cheese, stews, roasted birds, smoked sausages, honey cakes, and pies.

Max looked impressed.

Thomas noticed. "My wife believes people think better on full stomachs."

With a nod, Max admitted, "She may be right."

Thane had already begun eating. Nobody had actually invited him. He didn’t need an invitation to begin with.

"Father." The voice arrived before its owner.

Everyone looked up and found Eudora approaching.

Tall, intimidating, and beautiful in a severe way.

The single black line upon her face only heightened her presence.

She stopped before the gathering.

Her eyes immediately landed on Thomas, then narrowed. "Have you lost your mind?" she scolded.

Thomas sighed. "Hello, daughter."

"You threatened secession."

"I suggested it."

"You threatened to found a kingdom."

"Technically restore one."

Eudora crossed her arms. "Do you know what happens if Mother hears this?"

Thomas suddenly looked uncomfortable.

Conor noted that with fascination.

Apparently, even Count Thomas Ironforge feared someone.

"You put the entire clan in danger."

Thomas snorted. "Nonsense."

"Nonsense?"

"The King and my father fought together for twenty years."

"That was before you publicly threatened to tear his kingdom apart over academy admissions."

Thomas considered this. "Fair point."

Eudora looked ready to strangle him. Then she turned toward Thane. "And you."

Thane froze, mouth full of food. "What did I do?"

"You encouraged him."

"I didn’t."

"You exist. That’s enough."

Thane looked helplessly toward Sendor. The old giant wisely pretended not to notice.

A shadow fell across the gathering. "May we join you?"

Everyone turned. Two men approached.

One wore robes embroidered with silver leaves.

The other favored rich golden garment prints.

Athenok, Principal of Blue Leaf Academy.

Zoases, Principal of Golden Crown Academy.

Two of the kingdom’s most influential educators.

Thomas welcomingly stood. A broad smile spread across his face.

"Geezers!"

Zoases laughed.

"You northern blacksmiths truly know how to create trouble."

Thomas grinned. "We prefer excitement."

Zoases shook his head. "I noticed."

Thomas gestured toward the feast. "Sit, principals. There is enough food."

Athenok smiled. "I had hoped you would say that."

Soon the two principals joined the gathering. Around them, people followed; hundreds gathered and watched.

Students, instructors, nobles. All stared.

Because beneath an ordinary tree, upon a simple blanket, sat a count, two academy principals, the kingdom’s greatest young talent, and several bewildered teenagers.

Eating lunch.

As though none of them had just nearly caused a constitutional crisis.

Max slowly looked around, then at Thane.

The giant was happily devouring his fourth meat pie, completely oblivious to anything but food.

Max laughed. Some things, it seemed, would never change.