The laughter can be heard from the streets. The fraternity for the anointed knights of the kingdom, Ser Patrick’s known by his knightly name- Maverick’s is flowing with wine and ale. The drunkenness is evident even from outside.
The door swings open, and no one takes note.
Ser Matthew and Ser Ali enter for a drink.
Once inside they see the place full of men that have been anointed for the service of the kingdom, yet most will never venture out into the kingdom. Most are socialites who were anointed for the single purpose of having access to the fraternity. Maverick’s has become the most exclusive bar in the Capital, despite its intended purpose.
Matthew steps up to the bar to order an ale.
“You got a lot of nerve coming in here!” Someone shouts.
Matthew turns around looking for the body attached to the voice. The room grew quiet when the shout came, everyone is looking at Ser Matthew.
“I said, you got a lot of nerve stepping foot in my bar!” It’s Ser Oliver, the Captain of the Guard of the Fraternal Order of Anointed Knights.
“Why is that? I am an anointed knight, same as you. This is the knight I anointed in Meego, Ser Ali. We are here to drink.” Matthew replies.
“You don’t belong. You’re not a true knight and neither is your desert friend, get out now.” Ser Oliver says.
“No.”
Suddenly Oliver stands up from his elevated seat of honor. The rest of the room follows his lead.
The door swings open again, and Ser Stephan walks in.
He simply walks to the bar and orders three ales. He hands one to both Matthew and Ali. Everyone sits down. Stephan’s reputation carries a lot of weight in the Capital, especially among knights.
However, Ser Oliver in his drunken state cannot handle the indignity.
“I know everyone heard what I said!” Oliver screams.
“Maybe you should calm down a little. I’ll buy your next round.” Ser Matthew responds.
Ser Oliver reaches for his sword that is before him on the table, placed as a trophy before him, it’s more decoration than weapon.
The door opens again.
Aero walks in.
It is a shock to everyone in the place. Aero is supposed to be dead. Of course, while Aero was in the throne room everyone at Mavericks was drinking, oblivious to transition of power.
“You survived Meego?” is heard from the middle of the crowd.
“I did.” Aero replies in passing as he approaches Ser Stephan.
Ser Stephan hands Aero a glass and asks for another.
Ser Oliver stands drunkenly with the hilt of his sword in his hand. “That low-born dirt knight will not take one drink in my bar!”
Everyone turns back to Oliver with undivided attention.
“Are you going to stop him?” Aero asks as he steps toward the seats of honor. “Pick that sword up and stop him, I would love to see Matt beat you in front of everyone.”
Oliver’s eyes grow wide in shock as he has been called out in front of the entire fraternity.
“He doesn’t belong! He is not a real knight!”
“What do you mean? He is the hero of the Battle of Inland Docks.” Aero responds.
“And I saw him defeat the Red Horn Knight in single combat.” Stephan adds.
“Impossible.” Oliver says underneath his breath.
“Tell us Ser Oliver, about your accomplishments in battle?” Aero asks.
“Are you questioning my honor? I am the Captain of the Guard…”
“What honor, have you ever stepped foot on a battlefield? Ever cross swords in a single battle? Tell us your deeds great Captain.”
“I don’t care if you are a prince, I will not stand for this.”
“Then raise your sword against me.”
“I will…”
Stephan, Matthew, and Ali all unsheathe their swords at the mention of a threat against Aero.
About half the room stand and react against them.
“It’s a standoff then.” Oliver says in relief.
“No, it’s not. This is treason.” Matthew says.
“It’s not treason to stand against a prince, you idiot.”
“Aero is King!” Matthew shouts back.
The knights erupt into laughter.
Aero draws the Royal Blade that ignites with its yellow glow flowing throughout the room. All laughter dies immediately.
“Had you men been doing what a knight is called to do- protect the kingdom and the King then you would have witnessed my father yield the throne to me tonight! But you are a den of drunks, not worthy for the title of knights.” Aero says.
“My… my… my…” Oliver drunkenly studders.
“You! Are no knight at all! If you want to keep your knighthood then you will put your skills to the test, shut up and face Ser Matthew in single combat.”
“I… uh…” Oliver stumbles over his words then hangs his head in shame. He drops his sword on the table.
Ser Stephan steps forward to address the rest of the men in the room “Drop your weapons! You have them drawn against your King!”
The sound of swords hitting the old cobblestone floor is thunderous.
“Oliver, you have been proven to be a false knight. I hereby strip you all your titles, you will leave the Capital tomorrow and return to your home. Claiming to be a knight from this night will be an automatic death sentence. Leave this place, you are not worthy to stand in this hall!” Aero proclaims.
Oliver never looks up as he exits the building.
Aero turns and looks to the several dozen men looking on in shock, to Aero he knows these men. All highborn men of affluence. Each one of them given a title because of the importance of their family name. Not a single true knight among them. The once sacred hall of Maverick’s has been turned into a bar for entitled men who have never served anyone but themselves.
“As of this moment, I decree from the sanctity of this once great hall that all knighthoods are revoked in the Kingdom…”
A small groaning amongst the men can be head but no one speaks up out of fear.
“The crown recognizes these three men as the only true knights, Ser Stephan, Ser Matthew, and Ser Ali. Anyone who wishes to gain their knighthood back must petition one of these men or myself. Leave this place now! Sober up and rethink your entire lives in the morning.” Aero states.
Over the next several minutes the men leave Mavericks in defeat. Their lofty titles that made them feel so important has just been stripped by the new king. The same king that most of these men looked down upon all his life. Aero remembers their taunts- dolphin rider, fin grabber, fish…
Now he has all the power in the kingdom, when they sober up tomorrow they will most likely regret their taunts from years ago.
Once everyone is out, Aero meets with all the knights in the kingdom to discuss the future of Maverick’s.
“Ser Stephan, you are the obvious choice to take over as Captain of the Guard but your duties to David take precedence since he is still the heir for now. So I give the title to the next in line, Ser Matthew. Matt, to ease you into your roll, I name Ser Ali as your First Knight. It will be your job to send out my decree to every corner of the kingdom. To ensure that no false knights are hurting our citizens any longer.”
“Thank you for this position, I take it at your command to better our lands.”
“As new knights come into the fraternity, you and Ali will need to work to place them where they are needed and to send them out on missions. This makes you an official member of the Court now.”
“I know, I am trying to pretend to be excited for the position, this labor of… love…” Matthew says with a coy smile on his face.
“Cheer up Matt, you now run the most exclusive pub in the Capital.”
“Shall we get a drink?” Matthew asks.
“Absolutely, just don’t turn this place into your own personal bar.”
“Yes my King.”
Relics of the Old Age 