But it is the Curse of Greatness, that it must step over dead bodies, to create new life
—Thou

“Come on, momma and papa, we’re gonna miss the king!”

The young boy, excitement teeming in his voice, yelled, pulling the large paws of the two Diamond Dogs at his sides. There was a skip in his step, a large grin adorning his youthful, soft face, as his brown eyes twinkled with merriement. The two Diamond Dogs with him had exasperated looks, surprised by the strength of their small child, though their hearts warmed at the sight of his joy.

“Ease up, Mazbeth, we won’t miss the King’s passing,” the male said, his large frame and short brown fur hidden behind his modest tunic and vest, tail wagging behind him.

“Oh, come now, Raynard, let our young one have his fun,” the female replied, her cream coat shining in the bright sun of the afternoon,” pups, will be pups, after all.”

“I know, Jadine, I just don’t want to lose him in the crowd. It looks like the entire capital is here!”

Averting his eyes from the gaze of his loving mate, Raynard looked around at his surroundings, taking in the breathtaking view of the glorious Capital city all around him. Cottages and houses and buildings of all kinds encircled the city, bricks of stone red adoring the walls. Amongst the streets of cobblestone filled to the brim with Diamond Dogs of all kinds and breeds, vendors and artisans lined the sidewalks, peddling their wares and creations.

House and clan banners fluttered in the noon breeze, manned by soldiers and knights, their squires and attendants at their sides, all here to represent their leaders, and pay homage to the king, who was returning from his greatest victory yet.

Raynard smiled a deep grin, tightening his grip on his son’s paw.

Was it a paw?

He never could really tell what his son’s appendage was called, being that he did not know exactly what his son was.

Ever since he and his beloved mate found the young child wandering the Sullen Forest, the great forest bordering the Everfree’s northern edge, they were befuddled to the species of their adopted pup. He was young, no less then two, scared, and crying over the bodies of two other similar creatures. All three of them had brown skin, with dark brown locks of fur atop their heads. The two older ones were clearly dead, bodies maimed by gods’ know what, while the child wailed in sorrow and fear.

The hearts of the pair tore at the sight, and throwing caution to the wind, took the young creature with him, raising him as their own, alongside two of their older pups.

As the boy grew older, members of their clan within the Capital City grew to know and care for the child as well, and within his fifth birthday, was adopted as full member of Clan Pyrite. They named him Mazbeth, in honor of their clan’s first Diamond Dog Knight, a title the boy grew to love, and inspire him down his own path to seek glory.

“Come on, papa, you’re falling behind.”

Shaken from his thoughts, Raynard turned down to see his young son, both of his “paws” grasping his, a pleading look in his eyes.

Shaking his head, he grasped Mazbeth in his arms, swaying him on his shoulders, causing him to giggle.

“Come on, little one, let’s go get a good spot,” Raynard responded, ruffling the fur on the top of his head,before taking the paw of his wife.

“Do you think Kay and Poppy will be there by now?” Mazbeth asked, thinking of his older siblings,”I can’t wait to see Kay in his sparkling armor! I want a set when I get big enough!”

“Wouldn’t you wanna be merchant like your papa?” Raynard asked his son,”merchants have adventures, too.”

He struck a heroic pose, Mazbeth holding on to the shoulder straps of his cloak, laughing gleefully.

“You’re silly, papa. Merchants don’t get to fight and save princesses!”

Mazbeth turned to look at all the knights and soldiers, admiring the shine of the polish on their armors, the sharpness of their spears and swords, the fluttering of their capes and flags.

His own clan’s banner proudly waved in the breeze, showing the first Alpha of Pyrite in full plate, adorned with the finest jewels and metals that he had amassed in his conquests, the massive Sword he weilded firmly grasped in his gauntlets, while the a crescent moon lay beneath his feet.

His namesake.

A name he knew one day he would bring glory to again!

“There’s a good spot right their to stand, Reynard,” Jadine said, pointing to an empty spot by the side of the road,”We’ll get a great view of Kay marching with his troop, and Poppy could see us there when she comes with her friends.”

Reynard kisses his wife along the side of jaw, giving a tender stroke along her ear.

“Good eye, honey,” he said, eliciting a small laugh and a blush Jadine, causing Mazbeth to gag.

“Ew, don’t do that when I’m right here,” he cried, a look of disgust crossing his childish face, causing both of his parent to laugh.

“Mother, Father!” A feminine voice called out to the trio, causing them to turn their heads. Parting through the groups of various gatherers, a pure white Diamond Dog female approached, a happy spring on her strip, as her flowing gown of green fluttered. A wreath of wild flours encircled her mane, as she flashed a smile.

Putting down Mazbeth, Raynard turned to embrace his beautiful daughter, spinning her around as he had done before when she was a much smaller pup.

“Glad you could join us, Poppy. I thought you would be with the rest of your friends on the north side of town.”

“I know, but the market decided to pop up over here, since most of the crowd is gathering for the procession,” she replied, after giving her mother a hug of her own,” Has Kay come by yet? The procession is already moving up the King’s Road, and King Ector is not far behind.”

“Not yet, but we’ll see him soon. Our banners having marched yet.”

Poppy smiled and nodded her head, before leaning down and placing a kiss on Mazbeth’s cheek.

“And hello to my too, my cute little cutie patootie,” she said with a small giggle, causing Mazbeth to grumble even more.

“I’m not cute, I’m almost ten! I’m practically a grown up!”

“We’ll, you’re my cute little grown up, then,” she responded with a sickeningly sweet smile.

Mazbeth loved his sister, deeply and dearly, he may add, and swore when he was old enough to swear that he would always protect her (even a young boy such as himself knew the troubled teenagers could get into), but sometimes, he really hated how affectionate she could be.

One day, Mazbeth would be a knight, and he couldn’t have people be lovey dovey towards him! He had to be tough!

But for now, he would fold into the embrace of his older sister, as she wrapped her arms around him. Only to make her feel better, of course.

He didn’t really like her hugs.

Right?

“Oh, look, there he his!”

Mazbeth’s head shot up and turned towards the spot his mother pointed at. He heard them before anything. The loud stomps of armored paws, the sound of clanking plate and clinking maille. The echoing cheers of the crowd surging in glees of ecstasy.

The king was coming, and his Brother was marching behind him!

Besides his namesake, it was Kay that inspired him everyday; to be brave and strong, to be a knight of King Ector’s court. Kay became a squire around the same age Mazbeth is now, and now, at nineteen, proudly bears the emblem of his clan etched into his shield, marching with the rest of the army as a Knight of the Gem Vale.

Seeing his beloved brother march in line filled Mazbeth with such pride and love, that we couldn’t help himself. It almost was like his feet moved on their own.

“Mazbeth, wait! You can’t just run out there!”

He felt the precense of a paw reach out to grab him, but it was a second too late as Mazbeth burst from the crowd, stumbling a bit and falling to his knees, before sprinting back up to his feet in his youthful optimism, and running towards his brother.

“Kay! Kay!” He yelled, seeing his brother, a broad shouldered Diamond Dog, his dark brown fur barely visible beneath his shinging plate armor and sea blue cloak draped over his shoulder.

Kay turned to the voice calling to him, seeing his younger adopted sibling running towards him, the noise barely audible amongst the fanfare of the procession and the screaming of the crowds. How his brother managed to squeeze through all those Bossk was beyond him. He felt a firm paw on his shoulder, shifting his gaze to his left, to see that it was the paw of the King.

“Isn’t that your brother that you mentioned about before, Kay? The one you call your little knight?” King Ector asked, a small smile on his face.

Kay blushed in embarrassment at the pet name he let slip during one of his many training sessions with the Ector.

“Uh, yes Milord, that’s my brother, Mazbeth.”

“Mazbeth, eh? That’s a strong name,” Ector remarked, bringing his gauntlet enclosed paw to his chin in thought.

“Indeed, Milord, he bears that name proudly,” Kay replied, a fond grin adoring his muzzle. His little brother adored the title given to him.

“Let ya stop the procession here, I wish to greet some our folk, and meet this little warrior of yours, Kay,” the king said, rising a paw into the air to signal the stop of his entourage. The procession behind him, many different Bossk alphas and nobles, as well as his best company of soldiers all halted in place, awaiting the company to proceed forward again to the royal palace.

“Milord, is that a good idea? You’d be to exposed our here in the open,” Kay protested, a hundred different scenarios going through his head,” the commoners could meet us at the palace like intended.”

“I’m sure that my best and brightest can protect me,” Ector said, glancing and waving at the crowd as he began to walk towards them,”unless you have reason for me to doubt your abilities?”

“No, My King!” Kay cried in protest, shocked the that his lord would say such a thing to him. Ector merely laughed, patting the side of his head.

“You worry too much, Knight Kay. Come on, let’s meet your brother.”

Mazbeth was in disbelief, as the king and his brother, as well as a whole platoon of Bossk knights walked towards the part of the crowd that he was with. The king would stop and shake paws with various individuals, patting shoulders, evening giving out the odd coin or two. Mazbeth would’ve been the first to run out there and greet him, if not for the fact that crowd grew so large and tight, that he could barely fit between their legs.

He could vaguely hear his parents and sister call out to him, their voices drowning with clamor and noise, but he ignored them, he just needed to get a little closer, he just needed too—

“Make way, make way! You there, boy, the king wishes to see you!”

That voice couldn’t have been talking to Mazbeth. He turned his head to see if the knight that was shouting was calling to some other pup behind him, but he saw no one.

“You, hairless one, come now!”

He was talking to him!

The crowd seemed to part as Mazbet was lead through, excitement welling in his young body. The knight with him was stoic and quiet, with a face of stone as he marched forward. That was posture that he would have to practice when he got home.

Finally, they came to a stop before the rest of the knights, before Mazbeth barreled towards where Kay was standing, Kay bending down to one knee.

“Big brother!” Mazbeth shouted, wrapping his small arms around the gorget on Kay’s neck. Normally, Kay would’ve been embarrassed, especially since beautiful ladies of the court were not walking far behind and observing the scene with interest, but Kay ignored those feelings this time, instead encircling his brother in his arms , careful not to hurt him with the plate armor he had on.

“Hey, my little knight,” he chuckled, deeply, releasing him and looking him over,”shouldn’t you be with mother and father?”

Almost right on time, Raynard, Jadine and Poppy barreled forward, as well, panting shallow breaths.

“Max-huff-beth, don’t run-huff-off like that again’!”

“It looks like a while family reunion, Kay,”The king chuckled at the sight of the flustered family, who noticed who they were in front of, dropping to their knees and bowing their heads.

“Milord, forgive the intrusion” Raynard exclaimed, lowering himself even further,”my son meant no offense stopping your procession, he just wanted to see his brother, your grace!”

“Rise, sir, it’s alright,” Ector replied with a bemused grin,”you are Raynard of Vivia, are you not?”

Raynard’s head rose in shock.

“You know of me, my king?”

“My good merchant, the whole court knows of you and the swords you sell. I’m wearing one right now,” Ector laughed, moving his cloak aside to show a large, bastard sword strapped to his waste; its goldenhilt wrapped in fine red leather, with a blue sapphire engraved in its pommel. A sword both beautiful as it was deadly.

“Milord, I—I’m honored that you know my work!”

“You make and sell quality steal, Raynard of Vivia, take pride in it,” thevking replied before bending down to kneel in front of Mazbeth.

“And you must be the little knight I’ve heard so much about,” he said with a gentle smile. All the bravery within Mazbeth had fled, as he hid his body behind the leg of his brother.

“Y—yes my k—king,” he replied in a stutter, lost in the calm, yet fierce eyes of his ruler. Eyes, that even his young mind knew that commanded respect.

The king reached out a paw, and slowly, but gently, ruffled the hair atop his head, a gesture which seemed to ease the nerves that Mazbeth had built up. He moved from behind his brothers leg before taking a knee in front of the king.

“My Lord,” he stayed with as deep a voice he could muster, striking his fist against his chest in a salute, eliciting chuckles and smiles from the knighs and King.

“Rise, little warrior. You bear a strong name.”

Mazbeth sprung to his feet, making as much as a heroic stance that he felt looked appropriate.

“I wear that name with pride, my king! One day, I’ll be the greatest knight this kingdom has ever seen!”

The king grinned broadly, a booming laugh escaping his jaws.

“I don’t doubt that, little knight. With that attitude and a name like yours, you’ll do your clan proud, and bring glory to our kingdom. Maybe one day, you’ll fight by my side like your brother.”

Mazbeth felt his heart swell at that, emotion catching in his throat. What he wouldn’t give to fight by his brother’s side, for the kingdom he loved, and for the good of it’s people.

“But you’re missing something,” the king said, before reaching towards his side, and detaching a small dirk dagger, twirling it his paw, before slowly, almost religiously offering it to Mazbeth to grasp.

“Every knight needs a sword, little warrior. This dagger is called Trust. Trust it, and it will Trust you. This not a toy, but the greatest tool a knight will have. I hope you’re brother will teach you to use it?”

“Of course, my king,” Kay replied, he and his family touched by the gift of the king.

Mazbeth grasped the dagger in both hands, his face in awe and wonder.

His first sword.

He felt tears threatening to leak from his eyes. He couldn’t help it. He reached up and hugged the king as tightly as he could.

Ector’s face flashed with surprise, before his warm choke resumed and returned the embrace.

“Thank you my king! I won’t let you down! I promise!” Mazbeth mumbled into the cloak, the linen beginning to stain from the boy’s tears of joy.

“I know you will, little knight.”

The king released Mazbeth, nodding towards his family before resuming his place at the front of the procession and marching forward again. KY caressed Mazbeth’s cheek one more time before following his king, walking off into the distance before their group was beyond sight.

Mazbeth felt Poppy bring him close to her, as she and his mother and father lead him back into the crowd. He knew they were saying things to him, but his mind was elsewhere, to the land of his dreams, where he stood in golden armor at the king’s side, a hero and loved by all.

He smiled and walked, stroking his sword as he and his family entered the crowd.

Trust it, and it will Trust you.

Those would be words he would never forget.

Author's Note

Well, since I’ve updated In the Kingdom of the Blind after an incredibly long hiatus, I’m back with another story that I’m gonna try and update along with it. There will also be another story that will connect with these two that I have planned, and though each story will have its own plot, there will be an over arching narrative that connects all three. At least that’s plan. Like and comment if you enjoyed this and would like to see more, and please, point out my shitty grammar, because I know I’m terrible with that 😅