Chapter 12: Jon
Jon took a breath, the nerves he felt fluttering in his stomach were normal. Ghost cocked his head and Jon took another breath. There would be a calmness there. He was sure of it. It was nothing major. The King wanted him to meet his two other squires, Tyrek Lannister and Lancel Lannister. Both of whom were the King's cousins by marriage.
Jon had seen them both during the festivities that had accompanied the King's arrival and Robb's wedding. Lancel was tall and looked a little like Ser Jaime, but he was willowy where Ser Jaime was strong. Tyrek was shorter but seemed as if he knew how to fight.
Jon cleared his throat and stepped into the light of the practice yard, he moved to where Tyrek and Lancel were standing and spoke. "Lancel, Tyrek, His Grace asked me to introduce myself to you both. I will be joining you as his squire." Now the words were out, they felt more real than at any other time since the King had told him of what he wanted.
"Snow, good to meet you." Tyrek said extending a hand which Jon took and shook.
Lancel said nothing merely frowned.
"So, what do you know about being a squire?" Tyrek asked.
Jon focused on the younger Lannister-he was used to people reacting the way Lancel did, at least southerners-and said. "I know a little. That we're meant to attend the King whenever he needs us. We're meant to fetch him his clothes and his weapons and we're meant to prepare his horse for when he wants to ride."
Tyrek nodded and smiled, causing Jon himself to smile. "Yes, that's about the sum of it. Things with the King are relatively easy. He doesn't demand much, and we've got a lot of free time. So, you're going to have to find ways to pass the time."
"I'm sure as a bastard, Snow knows exactly how to pass the time." Lancel said haughtily.
Jon frowned. "I'm not sure I understand your meaning."
"Are you an idiot?" Lancel asked sneering at him.
Jon's frown deepened, what was Lancel's issue with him?
Lancel clearly took his silence for agreement for he said. "You're a bastard, you probably spend your days whoring and causing all kinds of mischief."
"I do not." Jon said, his anger rising.
Lancel snorted. "I'm sure that's what you tell yourself, Snow. But you are a bastard. It is in your nature to cause problems."
Jon stepped forward but stopped himself from doing anything. He had learned over the years from the taunts he got from Theon and from Lady Catelyn's silence that southerners saw bastards as evil and that they would always do what they could to goad him into proving them right.
He could not do that. He did not have the luxury of making any mistakes. So, he simply said. "I fear you are mistaken, Lancel. I do none of the things that you state I do."
Before Lancel could say anything more-and Jon had no doubt that he had more to say-a booming voice called out. "Snow, I want to see what you can do." Jon turned and bowed when he saw the King standing before him.
"Snow, you're going to fight Lancel. Let's see how good you are." The King commanded.
Two knights of the Kingsguard handed wooden practice swords to Jon and to Lancel, and they entered the circle that formed the sparring area. Jon looked at Lancel and saw something in the other boy's eyes-was it anger or fear-and then he bowed as was custom. He straightened and saw that Lancel had only partially bowed. No doubt meaning it as an insult.
Jon pushed the thought away and focused.
"Begin." The King boomed.
Jon didn't move forward; experience of fighting Robb had told him to wait. Usually, younger boys tended to want to fight and attack quickly. He as a bastard could not afford such action. He needed to wait.
Sure, enough Lancel moved quickly. His sword raised high; Jon moved to his right as Lancel swung down. His sword hit the ground. Jon turned around so that his sword was pressed against Lancel's back.
"You're dead." Jon said.
Lancel said nothing.
"Again." The King boomed.
Lancel turned around and moved back, Jon stepped back, so he was at the edge of the circle. Lancel was as well. They bowed to one another and then moved forward.
Lancel swung his sword at Jon, Jon moved to the left. Lancel hurried after him, swinging hard. Jon blocked the boy's swing and then pushed, causing Lancel to stumble. Jon knocked the other boy's sword out of his hand and pressed his own sword to Lancel's throat. "You're dead again."
"Tyrek, you're in. You and Lancel shall push Snow." The King commanded.
Jon watched as Tyrek took a sword from one of the Kingsguard and entered the circle. Jon nodded at him and bowed low. He straightened and then once the King had given the command to begin moved forward. He had never fought two men at once before. He and Robb usually only sparred; Theon considered sparring with Jon beneath him.
Tyrek was quick, Jon found himself stepping further and further back in the circle, having to think on his feet as it were. When Lancel joined in, Jon was worried he'd step out of the circle and thus lose. He took a few hits on his arms and on his legs, but neither boy could get inside his guard.
The small lion has a gap between when he roars and when he bites.
The thought came unbidden to Jon causing him to start, but he blinked and noticed it. Tyrek raised his sword but took a time to bring it down. In that gap, Jon moved quickly and got inside the other boy's guard pointing his sword right at Tyrek's throat.
"You're dead." Jon said. Tyrek smiled and lowered his sword.
Jon turned and saw Lancel charging right at him. Jon stepped to one side and thumped Lancel on the back as the older boy passed him. Lancel tripped and fell, Jon placed his sword on the older boy's back.
He looked up and saw the King laughing. "Excellent. Excellent. We'll make a Kingsguard of you yet."
Jon smiled and felt a warm glow spread through him.