[center][h2][b]Cedric[/b][/h2][/center]

He toyed with his food, hungry, but pre-occupied. He was confused, but did not know what it was about. He wanted to tell the family about something, but he was confused and didn’t know what to say. Lord Cedric listened to the conversations around the table. He understood the animosity these two [i]children[/i] had for their step mother. But Cedric noticed that she was nothing more than a loving woman to their father. She was a strong woman. She took their passive aggressive behavior in stride; not letting it phase her at all.

The conversation at the great table was disturbed by a peasant with news for the head of house. The creature’s teeth were gnarled; the front two missing, giving the man a slight whistle to his speech. 

[i]“Sorry m’lord they surprised us.”[/i] A soldier standing watch at the doors to the great hall rushed in behind, issuing an apology for the intrusion. Lord Rennault waved the man off, as if telling him to resume his post. Obviously Lord Rennault’s curiosity outweighed the necessity for protocol.

[i]“What happened? Who’s banner?”[/i] Cedric’s mentor stood, demanding an answer from the peasant. He looked the man in his eyes.

[i]“Mi’lord he didn’t have none. But did bid you have these.”[/i] Cedric hadn’t noticed it before. The man held a small dark brown burlap sack. The kind one would use to feed corn to chickens. An obvious dark liquid stained the bottom of the sack. A sense of foreboding fell over the great hall with the presence of this item. [i]What was in the sack?[/i] Cedric watched Lord Rennault open and peer inside. [i]It must be something heinous based on his appearance.[/i]

[i]“This ends now!”[/i] Lord Rennault exploded. [i]“Kayne summon the men now, we're going hunting and it's not ending until I have Lord Ryger’s head on a damn spike! Corlys, armor and horse now!”[/i] Rennault’s anger was quite obvious now. He issued orders in a fury, telling something to Radford. The heir to Acorn Hall did not hear what he said to his son. All he heard was an order to put his armor on.

Cedric looked at Stelsa, “It appears you are the head of Ash Falls now. Take counsel with the Maester. You will do well, my sister.” Cedric rushed from the table as soon as he uttered the words of encouragement to Stelsa. He returned to his room quickly to put on his armor. He did not have a squire like the other Knights. He had been a squire for Rennault for several years, but was knighted just prior to his last name day.

Cedric was already wearing the leather jerkin. He pulled a heavy mail surcoat over the leather armor and then the yellow and brown tabard of House Smallwood over the mail surcoat. He strapped a thick leather belt around his waist to cinch up the armor and tabard. On his left side, he wore a standard long sword given to him by his father as a gift on his last name day. His father maintained contact with him on a regular basis by raven or courier. He pulled the mail coif hanging behind his back over his head. There were a few small leather pouches containing items he may need while on campaign; a flint and steel, utensils, coins and chance cubes for leisure. He also attached a small 8” dagger to his belt before heading to the stables.

[i]Oakrunner[/i], his chestnut destrier was already saddled with appropriate mail barding and matching yellow and brown caparison displaying the acorns of House Smallwood. Cedric lead his horse outside and mounted. He rode up to the head of the column, standing near Lord Kayne. An armorer handed him a small yellow shield and a 14’ lance with yellow and brown ribbons hanging above the heft of the lance.

Within several minutes, Lord Radford rode his black steed out of the livery. The horse was trimmed in mail barding with the brown and green caparison hiding everything beneath. Lord Radford wore his tournament armor, minus the steel helm. He managed to take the great sword, [i]talon[/i] from the Great Hall before he dressed. It slung across his back. He obviously had a squire to assist him. A second sword slung from his left side along with a 9” dagger tucked into his belt line. He too was handed a shield, this one was larger, made of steel. It was colored in Green and brown. His 14’ lance had green and brown ribbons fastened near the tip. Lord Radford took a position next to Lord Cedric.

Over the next half hour, roughly sixty riders carrying lances arrived who would ride with Lords Radford and Cedric during whatever campaign the Lashtons engaged in. These were peasant riders with some training in horsemanship and the use of the lance. They wore mail armor, a steel conical helm, small wooden shield and the same lance, the lords carried. They all wore the green and brown tabard of House Lashton. They also carried a long sword at their hip to use when needed. The detachment of Lancers would be used as outriders to reconnoiter the path in front of Lord Kayce’s vanguard and provide flank security during movement.

Cedric was excited about this adventure. He was good about hiding it, and secretly hoped he would not have to fight against someone who was a friend of his father’s. He did not want to be perceived, a traitor. He still had his honor to look out for.

Cedric looked at his adopted brother, “may good fortune bless you, Lord Radford.” Cedric smiled when he spoke to his friend.

“And to you as well, my brother.” Radford was confident only good things would come from this campaign. He knew he would be heralded as a hero and a champion. His father would be very proud of him. Radford had no clue what he was getting in for.