A Peasant's Choice
By: K.S. Night
Chapter 1
The Blacksmith's Sister

It was a lovely spring day in the town of Bellmoth. The birds were singing and the townsfolk were going about their normal business. For seventeen-year-old Geoff it was one of the best days in the year. He had a lot of spare time on his hands at the moment.
Geoff was an orphan. He had been taken in by the monks of the town's monastery. He was tall, gangly, and his hair was curly, brown, and unruly. He was the local stable-boy for half the town. His life was supposedly quiet, when he wasn't with his friends. When he was with them, there wasn't a quiet place in the town that wasn't penetrated by the shouts of them all.
His best friend, Vera, (although she only let her older brother and Geoff call her that) had said she had a special surprise for him for his birthday, which had been the night before. She went by Twinsword among her friends. She was called that because she was an excellent swords-woman, and even better with two swords than one. She was the Blacksmith, Adam's, younger sister. Because she was the blacksmith's sister, she was rather strong for a girl of sixteen. She had been taught weaponry of all sorts by her brother's friends and other people who were willing to teach her. She, in turn, taught Geoff and some of their other friends.
Geoff and Twinsword were best friends. They were always doing things together, and were hardly seen with anyone else, except for a few of their other friends. Even those other friends weren't seen with Geoff or Twinsword very often.
Geoff was waiting for Twinsword when he heard the trumpets ring out. There were nobles coming into the town. Geoff wanted so badly (as did Twinsword) to be a knight of the realm. That is why they trained every day to be ready if the chance came. Geoff ran to see who was coming this time, and to see if any of them were really as magnificent as they claimed.
Geoff was already lacing up his Wheel-shoes. (Shoes with wheels attached. A bit like roller-blades in your world.) He was at the window and looking out for any sign of the nobles or of Twinsword. They were supposed to practice at the river today, so he was on his guard.
The nobles passed through the town, flanked by soldiers. There was a knight, a squire, a noble's son and daughter, and a wizened old man. The squire and noble's son both looked at him. The noble's daughter gave him look for look with her pale blue eyes.
"Geoff!" Twinsword's voice called. "Come on! Let's go!"
Geoff leaped out the window, which was just large enough to admit his passing. He raced in front of the line of nobles before they reached him. They missed him, but not by much. The knight swore at him and the squire looked annoyed. Geoff smiled at them and gave them a teasing shout. Twinsword waited for Geoff at the end of the street, wearing her wheel- shoes. Together, they hurried towards the river.

Once at the river, Twinsword produced a bundle from behind a tree and presented it to Geoff. It was a sword. His very own sword that wasn't borrowed from Adam, Twinsword's brother. He had forged it, but not owned it.
"Oh, I could kiss you!" Geoff cried, picking Twinsword up and spinning her around. She laughed at his joy and hugged him.
"I knew you'd like it! I had to beg Adam to do it, but he'll do anything if it's for a cause." Twinsword told him.
Geoff looked at his friend. She was just the slightest bit smaller than he was, with honey-colored hair and a face that most women would kill for. Her eyes were almond-shaped and so brown you could hardly see her pupils in their depths. Her nose was small and slightly pointed, and her lips were full and always had a smile ready. Her face was slightly crinkled with laugh lines.
By no means was Twinsword your average, ninety-pound weakling. She was tough and didn't take anything from anyone. Even one or two of the nobles left her alone (one had tried to have his way with her, and she had broken his jaw).
"Let's begin. We use the practice swords today. I am not risking a flesh wound when there are extra nobles in the village." Twinsword told him. She tossed him a wooden practice sword, and took her starting position. Geoff attacked her form the left, driving her back. She countered with a slash from the right and drove her sword forward, trying to pierce his defenses. He parried her blow and dealt another blow from the left. She raised her sword and struck downward, aiming for his shoulder, swinging her sword in a criss-cross motion that drove Geoff backwards.
An opening! Geoff struck and just barley missed Twinsword's right hip. The blow would have ended the match with any other opponent, but Twinsword's agility was stunning. She parried his blow and sent him spinning with another slash from the left.
The match was over. Twinsword extended her hand, helping him up. She smiled.
"You get better every day." She complimented. She adjusted her tunic. "Staff practice tonight. Meet me here. Be ready for action."
"As always." Geoff remarked. His tunic was the same color as Twinsword's. The color of anyone's tunic showed their station. Beige was the lowest, for orphans, poorer peasants and some of the beggars. Brown was for monks, nuns, and the more respectable peasants. Green was for richer peasants and the more important people in the city. Orange was for squires, lesser nobles and some of the palace suppliers. Red was for the King's advisors, wealthy people, knights and higher nobles. Purple was the highest, which went to the King, Queen, the rest of the royal family, and a few of the most important knights and nobles.
Geoff said goodbye to Twinsword and headed for the monastery. It felt good to have the weight of his own sword at his side, and it heartened him. He ran for the monastery, carefully keeping to the back roads.
There was a knight in red outside the monastery, with his squire in a bright orange. They appeared to be waiting for someone. Maybe it was Friar Harold, or Brother Thomas, the higher monks in the monastery.
Geoff paid them almost no notice, and strode past with out a second glance. The knight grabbed his arm and spun him around.
"What's your name, boy?" The knight asked him
"Geoff." Geoff answered. "What did I do?"
"Nothing yet. All you need to tell me is where you got that sword." The knight said in an icy tone.
"From my friend who is a sibling of the blacksmith." Geoff told him. "It was for my birthday."
"What's your friend's name?" The knight inquired.
"Twinsword." Geoff said. He was beginning to dislike this particular knight and his smirking squire more and more every minute.
"Hmm. That's an unusual name for a peasant. Why is this boy called Twinsword?" The knight wondered.
Geoff felt a giggle coming on. He covered it with a cough. This knight thought Twinsword was a boy!
"Twinsword is a really good swords-person. We practice every day. Twinsword is even better with two swords, one in each hand. So she's called Twinsword." Geoff replied. The knight and squire didn't catch that Geoff had said 'she'.
"Could this Twinsword beat my squire?" The knight asked. Geoff looked the squire up and down, studying him. He was medium-sized and wiry. He had the look of a formidable opponent.
"Never underestimate an opponent, no matter how they may look or act." Twinsword's words flared in his mind. Nevertheless, Geoff would do anything to win favor for Twinsword with a knight.
"Probably. It depends on how well he fights." Geoff replied. The knight released him, and the squire shot Geoff a look of anger.
"Perhaps we shall have a match." The knight suggested. "Maybe you could participate with your friend. How does next week and noon sound?"
"Fine by me. Where?" Geoff answered.
"I picked the time, you pick the place." The knight said.
"The river." Geoff said right away. "At the river."
"Fine. Next week at noon." The knight confirmed.
"Who shall I tell Twinsword is challenging her?" Geoff called as the knight and squire began to walk away. The knight and squire missed the 'her' in Geoff's sentence.
"Sir Henry of Blackwater, and his squire, Jethro of Malsbone." The knight called back. They disappeared into the crowd.
Geoff sat down hard on the monastery steps. He and Twinsword just made an appointment with a knight! Geoff ran to the local forge to tell Twinsword.

* * * * * *

That stable boy was a liar! How could he say that a weak peasant could beat him in a match!
These were the thoughts of Squire Jethro as he and his Knight-master strode through the streets. Jethro was seething with anger at the stable boy named Geoff.
Well, he would show that stupid stable boy! He would chop the mouth right off his lying face. The thought gave Jethro comfort and pleasure as he followed his Knight-master into the town.