His Girl Knight novel Chapter 4

"I'm so sorry," I hear the person I just into saying "Are you okay?"

He kneels down next to me and I look up. In front of me is a strong boy who looks about three to four years older than me. He has wavy brown hair with golden highlights. His soft blue eyes are looking into mine with concern.

I get up quickly and realize that I haven't answered his question. "I'm fine," I say quickly. Still holding my head, I take a step. The world spins for a second. I stumble into the wall.

"Whoa easy there," he says as he steadies me with his hands. I jerk away from his touch. Looking slightly hurt he says, "My name is Zander."

Embarrassed I reply, "Iris."

Finally able to get a hold of myself, I look down the hallways I ask, "Do you know which way the dining room is?"

"So you're the new knight, eh?" He replies. "I'm headed there myself so you can just follow me."

I follow Zander in silence. While we walk, I try to memorize the different passageways, but there are so many turns that eventually I give up. When we get closer, I begin to hear jolly voices and a lot of laughter. The second I see everyone inside, my stomach begins to churn again. Holding my head high, Zander and I walk in.

Immediately, everyone is silent. The prince reluctantly stands up.

"Knights and friends, I would like to present to you, Iris, daughter of Henry of Balboa," he says in a bored tone.

A few people clap. Most just cough or don't do anything. My face turns red as I just stand there. Eventually, the talking and laughter starts again. Zander leads me to a mostly empty table. Servants immediately serve us our food. My plate is heaped with food. Lamb, vegetables, chicken, and all sorts of good food. By the time I'm full, not even half of my food is gone.

"Are you going to eat that?" Zander asks.

I push my plate towards him and he gobbles it down. Looking around, I notice that the prince is very close with his knights. I'm not surprised that he doesn't want a girl here.

"So do you think you're good enough?" Zander says breaking into my thoughts.

"Yes I do. I've been holding a sword since I could walk," I say proudly.

"Quite fine, thank you." I reply.

"Are you ready for today?"

"Not really."

We continue on in silence. When we arrive, we appear to be the first ones there besides the prince. Zander and I sit at the same table.

"Did you have a good night?" The prince asks me in a tone that gives me the knowledge that he doesn't really want to talk. I nod my head.

The other men begin to pour in one by one. Joyous sounds begin to fill the room again.

Once breakfast is over, it's time to head to the training grounds. I'm terrified. My fear is that I will be much worse than the men and he'll decide to just send me home right away. No. I will be brave and strong. My father and the king believes in me. I have to prove that I can be just as good as anyone else. Slightly more encouraged by these thoughts, I follow the other men to the training grounds, waiting for what is to come.