The Stonehearted Knight

Grindeston was in uproar. 

The baron had taken a Squire under his tutelage.

This news spread out like a fire. It was being discussed in every nook and cranny. 

Some even went to the temple in the hope to witness the baron and his Squire. But they were long gone.

…

Hex stared blankly as the coach he sat in rolled over the path around the hill. Now and then, his gaze landed on the emotionless face opposite him. 

'I have spent six years planning and struggling. I dreamt of the day I could prove to him that I am not a trash he can throw away whenever he wants.'

'I even considered leaving the town to join a merchant or adventurer group. I would return upon reaching Knighthood. I would challenge this man.'

'It was so nice to imagine trampling him underneath my feet.'

Hex achieved his most cherished dream of threading the path of the Blessed. He even got the Baron to take notice of him. But the ending was beyond his wildest imagination.

Everytime he imagined becoming a Blessed he also considered the potential masters. But the thought that the baron could become his master hadn't crossed his mind. Not even once.

'Why did he take me as Squire? He never trained anyone!'

Hex tried to decipher the set made by the baron, but there was only one thing he could think of as reason.

'He wants to show me that I will never escape his grasp.'

'The relation between a Knight and his Squire is sacred. But to have his way this man can go so low?'

The more Hex thought about it, the more certain he became of his conjuncture. And the more he understood the terror of the baron. It was not an adversary that could be defeated without craziness. 

Hex underwent a rollercoaster of emotions whilst the baron didn't show any emotion.

…

"Master, we have arrived."

The coachman announced politely from the outside, pulling Hex out his worries. 

He had been so focussed on the mess inside his head, he didn't pay attention to the road. 

The door opened and the baron alighted. Hex sighed, accepting his fate.

'No matter what, I am alive and a Blessed. I survived so far, I will survive this too.'

The sight that met him when he got out made his jaw drop. 

There were many green fields, tended by young and old folk. Flocks of mountain sheep grazed around the ridges. 

Up closer to him was a nicely maintained garden with a gray granite fountain. 

"This way." 

Hex followed on command. But once again he felt his mind being blown. The most magnificent building he had ever seen stood in front of him.

'This should be the baron's castle.' 

Hex had heard many stories about it, but it was beyond anything he expected. He always assumed it to be dark and gloomy. 

But it was white and gray, with black plates as roofing. The entrance was an exquisitely decorated archway. Giant doors of polished wood were opened for them to enter. 

"Welcome home sir." 

A man appeared once they entered. He was dressed well and had a clean shaven face. He was bald and had stern eyes. 

Seeing his stiff posture made Hex think about the puppet figurines he had seen in one of the tents of the traveling caravan.

"Tell Hestia to prepare food for two. My Squire and I will discuss things whilst eating."

The man's eyes opened wide in shock, but regained his bearing quickly. He gave the burnt and smelling boy another look and went away. 

"He is Wallen, the butler. If you need anything, ask him."

The baron instructed without stopping or turning. His pace was steady. Hex tried to follow him but he kept getting distracted.

Hex didn't know where to look. The hall was so big they easily could have fitted everyone in the temple here and there would still be space over. The columns were granite stones.

"Are those moonstones?"

Hex blurted out when he noticed blue stones adorning the pillars and the walls. They were constructed with some kind of lid that could be closed. 

He closed his mouth quickly, but it didn't matter. The baron had most likely ignored him.

They reached another door. The door opened and Hex saw Wallen again. But this time the man was not alone. Beside him stood a beautiful lady. 

Contrarily to the Wallen, the lady seemed warm and…humane. She smiled and greeted the baron and him. 

"So you are the Squire. I am Hestia," she said, coming near Hex. "It's nice to have you here. We need to first clean you up."

"Not now Hestia. We will eat," the baron said, taking his seat. 

Hestia pouted but clapped her hands. She took Hex's arm and led him to a seat right close to the baron. A door at the other end opened. A few servants entered with trays, which they placed on the table. 

"Leave."

The servants, Hestia and Wallen left the room. Hestia winked at Hex and mouthed to come to her after his talk. Hex just nodded. 

Once Wallen closed the door, Hex realized that he was now alone with the baron. He still didn't know how to act in front of the man he hated so much, but was now his teacher. 

Gurgle!

The silence was broken. Hex's stomach growled loudly. The aroma of the dishes overwhelmed him. He hadn't eaten much since last night and his body let him know that.

"Eat first."

The baron took a few pieces of bread, slices of meat and some vegetables. Hex took a lot of meat and one piece of bread. No vegetables. 

They ate in silence. The food was so delicious Hex even forgot his worries. At first he was careful and ate slowly, but he was so famished that he just started to eat with his hands. The baron didn't bat even an eye to his improper mannerism.

Only when they were done eating, did the baron look at Hex. Hex wiped his mouth and waited. 

'I hope he at least teaches me the basics.'

"Let's start with what happened at the ritual."

Hex frowned. He didn't want to start off by making it worse, but he truly didn't know what happened during the ritual.

"I did nothing. I really don't know what happened during the ritual."

Hex's gaze never left the baron's face. He tried to discern whether the baron was upset or making things hard for him. The baron met his gaze.

"I know."

"What do you mean?" Hex failed to comprehend what the baron knew. 

"I know you don't know."

"Huh?" Hex looked confused, but then got irritated. "Why ask then?"

"I was not asking." The baron replied calmly. Before Hex could jump in frustration, the baron put his hand up. "I meant I will start with what happened during the ritual."

Hex felt his cheeks get red. He realized that due to his anger towards the baron, he hadn't even tried to understand. 

"Sorry, please continue." Hex bowed.

'Whether I like him or not, I need to keep in mind he is now my teacher. I should keep my emotions in check.'

"The ritual uses the monoliths to transform an external source of energy to energy a human can absorb and use."

"Not everyone can absorb this energy. And not everyone absorbs the same amount. The mark appears thicker or bigger depending on your affinity."

Hex eyes went to the back of his right hand. 'Thicker or bigger? But mine has a fucking bear?' 

The baron seemed to have understood what Hex was looking at.

"Yours is a bit different." 

Hex looked up. After all, understanding his Blessing was the only way to use it properly.

"Yours is a special mark. It's called a glyph."