Kate looked forward to the ceremony to be over and he would join the ranks of brother knights. The current Knights made the week almost unbearable for the initiates. Kate knew the times she would see him were few as he was sequestered and his time on duty guard duty long for slightest mistakes. He had to the passages of any book to his vows, heraldry, code of chivalry, all weapons of war, all meaning and proper wear and from his own uniform to his horse.
It was the ceremony and Kate was not allowed to see nor speak to the initiates until after the ceremony. Lord Lyons took a set beside King Atrious on the dais. Jonathan would have sat beside his father, he helped file his father's men. Kate sat to Princess's Amanda's right. The lords flanked the hall. Families sat in seats above the lords. King Atrious began with a speech then stepped down three steps to trove honor.
Kate sat still until the great hall doors opened and each of the lord's men would approach their king in a line. There were five to eight men per lord. The throne room was full. The ceremony ways in her father's shire and his men went first. Lord Lyons initiates looked formidable in their new uniforms, tabards, and pants. They undressed from their metal armor they paraded into. As tradition had they wore cotton tunics that came to their thighs. Followed by chainmail armor that covered their chest, stomach, and waist, underclothes, codpiece, uniform dress shirt, woolen decorated jacket, matching woolen pants with cotton lining, socks, and thick black leather riding boots polished to a shine.
Their uniform jacket/coat was Kelley green, Forty-two decorative gold buttons embossed with laurel leaves between strips of yellow. Each officer had either gold, silver, or gold fringed epilates. Medals of valor were worn on the left side. Collars were three inches high solid green with pins if rank and company. A tab of cloth distinguished blue for infantry, white for cavalry, brown for bowmen, red for mechanized weapons and cannon, and black for battlemages was on the middle right collar. The battlemages wore red capes with their heads uncovered.
Atrius spoke in a commanding voice, "The Ceremony for Knight of the kingdom's thirty lords has commenced. Welcome citizens of Atria, guests, ladies and gentlemen, lords, and ladies. These men we honor are the finest soldiers in the kingdom and protectors of the realm. Their duty is to citizens, visitors from other kingdoms, lords, ladies, and royals. Herald open the door and all who are ready to take the oath of knighthood may enter.
As Lyons elite officers entered the throne room, Kate and Lyons stood down one step below the king. Once all entered the hall Lyons stood in full regalia in his uniform with a gold sash. He had instructed his initiates to step up one stair and kneel. They are to gaze upon their king when addressed and bow their heads.
Lyons spoke to all his men as ten lined first. He was wide-eyed and proud that every boy he brought and had raised were now grown battle experienced. Each man came out of various circumstances and races. He looked each one in the eyes before standing before them. It was a silent moment as he knew everyone. He stood before Cedric and looked him in the eyes. Gave him a reassuring nod. "You are here today to join my elite. Soon some of you will join your King. Others will remain with me. I could not be prouder. I know you are ready or you would not be here. Repeat after me. I, your name, am here of free will and mind...Do so give my life in service to the realm,... King Atrius, and The royal family, ...The house of Lyons, ... citizens of Atria, ...citizens of Wildwood Shire ...and my family. I promise to uphold the laws of the kingdom...., obey my commanders, and protect the defenseless. I will keep true to my oath until death."
King Atria takes the royal sword from his steward. He dubbed each man. He stood before Cedric and held the sword point on the floor, "Are you the one that is responsible for our victory in the last battle?"
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