***
After two weeks of travel, the Divine Knights reached the end of the hill country and the land flattened out, showing signs of civilization. They rode past sprawling farms and found small towns with stores where they stocked up on provisions. They were able to sleep in a comfortable inn for a change.
Yet as they drew closer to the Soddurn Mountains, the weather took a turn for the worse--the sky clouding over and a wretched fog rolling in. Foggy, rainy weather was a sign of the Deep Shadow's influence on the land--emanating from the cursed mountains that blocked their path somewhere ahead beyond forest and farmland. They knew the bad weather would become a constant companion until they crossed through the ancient peaks and escaped the reach of Tharnin.
Soon it began to rain, a steady drizzle that came down for hours. The road grew muddy, and moods grew sullen. At last the rain ceased, but the mud continued to splash about as the horses made their way through the slop, and the dense fog continued to hover around them, potentially concealing enemies.
At one point they met a hefty, bearded man on horseback and his twelve-year-old son. The man was distraught, waving his arms at the Knights and begging them to stop. Aldreya and Lannon rode forth to meet him.
"My name is Blix Scrogglin," said the man. "I'm a farmer who lives nearby. I have a favor to ask of you. My boy here is named Taith..." He cleared his throat. "Um, Taith Fang...blade. Yes, Fangblade. A Knightly last name. Would you be willing to take him with you and train him as a Squire?"
A sullen-looking lad with brown hair and pimples peered around the big man, arrogance in his gaze. He sneered at Aldreya.
"We're on an important mission," said Aldreya. She hesitated, then added, "However, I am willing to test the boy, and if he passes the test, you can take him to Dremlock where he will be trained as a Squire."
Blix bowed several times. "Oh thank you, great Knight! That would make my greatest wish come true. My son is such a fine and excellent boy. Really he is. You have no idea!"
"I'm sure he is," Aldreya said. "But he still needs to be tested." She fixed her gaze on Taith. "Come to me, young man."
Taith didn't move.
"Do it, son," Blix urged. Then he whispered something in Taith's ear.
"I hate Divine Knights," said Taith. "They're stupid."
Blix groaned, glancing helplessly at Aldreya. "Sorry, he needs to learn some manners." With that, he practically shoved the lad off the horse.
Still bearing a sneer, Taith strode over to Aldreya. He gazed up at her. "You're beautiful. I'll bet my father wishes you were his wife. Yet as poor and fat as he is, no woman will look twice at him."
Aldreya seized his head, and Taith seemed paralyzed. She focused for a moment, her eyes closed. Then she removed her hand.
"He can go with you, right?" Blix pleaded.
"No," said Aldreya. "I sense a very weak Knightly essence within him, and his character is lacking. He is not worthy of being a Squire."
"Snobby Birlote!" Taith hissed at her.
Blix clutched his head in horror. "But you have to take him! I can't stand being around him anymore. He is destroying my life. He won't listen to me. He is horribly lazy, disrespectful, breaks things, makes threats, tries to harm animals, and steals anything that isn't nailed down."
Aldreya shrugged. "Perhaps you need to increase your discipline. It's your duty as a parent to find ways to punish him for such behavior and not the job of Divine Knights. I have no urge to look after a spoiled, arrogant child. My duties demand my full attention."
Lannon felt sorry for Blix, but he too had no urge to look after Taith. "If he had Knightly essence, he could possibly be made a Squire. But lacking that, there is no way Dremlock will take him."
"Ollanhar will not accept him either," said Aldreya. "Agreed, Lannon?"
He nodded. "We cannot accept him. Sorry."
Blix hung his head. "Then I will never have peace. I thought the Divine Knights would help me. Seems I was terribly mistaken."
"This is not our fault," said Aldreya. "It is yours. You were the one who raised this child, and you seem to have failed in asserting control."
"I drank too much," Blix admitted. "After my wife left me for another man, I...I let things go even more. It has turned my son into a monster."
"We must move on now," said Aldreya. "Farewell."
"Actually," said Lannon, "I'm hungry, and this is a good place to camp. Why don't we stop for lunch?"
And so they did--but the farmer and his boy rode off swiftly in the direction the Knights were traveling without looking back.
The Knights hoped that was the last they would see of them.