Meeting with the paladin Anselm.

You slowly remember the name of the inn you need...

It seems to be called "Troll's Smile"...

The owner of the inn clearly has a strange sense of humor...

So, your way through the streets of the evening city lasts about half an hour.

Dark alleys...

The hubbub of the crowd near the market square...

Dirt, swearing and drunken fights...

Contemptuous glances in your direction from most passers-by...

Everything is as usual.

When you enter one of the small inns near the Southern Gate of the city of Ranelborg, you immediately walk past wooden benches and tables, maneuvering among the numerous visitors of this place, most of whom are indulging in an evening meal and conversation.

The unfriendly glances that some visitors of the inn sometimes direct at you sideways leave you indifferent.

Your tall stature, muscular build and determined appearance will most likely prevent any brazen lovers of fights and scandals from causing you problems.

Soon you find the innkeeper, who is busy giving instructions to the teenage waiters about serving customers.

The smell of fried meat, which comes from somewhere inside the inn, makes you feel hungry. You swallow.

Your thoughts: "Food later. First, I need to decide the main question. Will I have a job or not? Perhaps this knight will change his mind and I will have to get out of here..."

The innkeeper (a fat and rather tall human with a large protruding belly, a large round and flattened nose and a bald head with a small amount of light brown hair on the sides) looks at you dismissively.

However, your persistence makes him tell you where the paladin Anselm is.

A grumpy voice said, "Go to the second floor. You need a room at the far left end of the corridor..."

You turn around and walk towards the stairs.

Your ears catch an irritated grumble: "This is some kind of nonsense... Why would this rich knight communicate with this stinking half-orc? Rich people have strange quirks..."

You quickly find the room you need.

Judging by the appearance of a clean and reliable oak door, which is covered with narrow strips of iron - this is the most expensive room in this inn.

A knock on the door.

After ten seconds, a slightly hoarse voice of a man answers you from the room: "You can come in. The door is not locked."

You carefully enter the room, closing the door behind you.

This room is quite spacious. A large oak table. A spacious bed. Several closets. Carpets on the walls and curtains that cover a small window.

A human male dressed in a light satin shirt is sitting in a chair at the table.

He looks about 40 years old.

Short-cropped dark brown hair on his head. Dark brown mustache and beard with a small amount of graying hair. Determined look of brown eyes.

This is the knight you know.

Paladin Anselm.

Seeing you, he smiles affably and says: "I am glad that you finally decided to accept my offer of work, Ulkin!"

Looking around the rich decoration of the room, you say in response slightly sarcastically: "Could I refuse such a noble and rich person as you, sir Anselm?!"

Anselm laughs and says: "I am not a supporter of obsessive demonstration of wealth and status. But, alas, if I tried to hide my status - it would only attract unwanted attention and this would lead to some ... "negative" consequences for the deal I am engaged in. So I have to live up to what most people expect to see… “A bored rich noble knight visits a provincial town” – let all observers think so…”

You ask with interest: "Your "deal" in this city... What is it?"

The paladin's face takes on a serious expression: "I am not at liberty to divulge details. But I will need your help. Therefore, little by little, you will learn individual details... of my mission. So, have you made your final decision?"

You nod and answer: "I want to work for you, sir Anselm."

The paladin frowns slightly: "It is more than that... It is not just working for me. It is something that will affect your life, Ulkin! Serving a righteous and sacred duty... It will bring you much more than just money... Now we will begin the ceremony. Of course, the conditions here are very modest... But we will have to be content with what we have."

You follow the paladin's instructions.

During the ceremony, you kneel before a small portable altar of the deities Orlan and Alaratos.

A few lighted candles...

Familiar symbols of the Church of the Equal-Great Brothers-Deities: a metal (probably bronze) figurine in the form of a miniature sun rising over the sea waves and miniature figurines of towers.

You, based on the well-known Orlanian prayers and Anselm's instructions, in a kneeling position pronounce the ritual phrases in response to the knight-paladin's questions.

The final part of the ceremony will be imprinted in your memory:

"Do you swear fealty to the Supreme Deities of Orlan and Alaratos, bringing the Pacifying Order to the world of cruelty, chaos and pain?

I swear and may my duty be fulfilled as long as I live.

Do you swear fealty to me, Anselm Riedens, knight-paladin of the Order of the Burning Maple?

I swear and may my duty be fulfilled as long as I live.

Do you swear to fight Evil, Darkness and Chaos with steadfastness and ruthlessness, proudly bearing the Light of Civilization and crushing your enemies?

I swear and may my duty be fulfilled as long as I live."

The flat side of a long steel sword touches your left shoulder.

Then the steel touches your right shoulder.

Anselm brings the hilt of the mcha to his forehead for a few seconds and says the final ritual phrase: "Ulkin Nordane. In the name of the Light and Power of the Higher Deities Orlan and Alaratos - I proclaim you a novice squire of the Order of the Burning Maple. I pledge to be a worthy and just liege suzerain for you. I pledge to guide you on the true path. I pledge to crush your weaknesses and help you on the paths of righteousness. Rise, novice squire Ulkin Nordane!"

Rising from your knees, you feel strange...

Perhaps, despite your skepticism, the solemnity of the ceremony affected your thoughts and feelings.

Apparently, this "work" is not just a way to earn money...

After the formalities are over, Paladin Anselm gives you a solid sum of money. Ten gold coins. That's a lot. Most commoners rarely see gold coins during their lives. The most common in everyday life and trade are silver and copper coins.

In addition to money, the paladin gives you several small books.

"The Prayer Book of the Holy Orlanian Faith."

"The Catechism of Saint-Martyr Normund the Steadfast."

Anselm explains that you will need to pray regularly (the first book is needed for this), and you will also need to gain basic knowledge of the history, norms, and goals of the Order of the Burning Maple (you will learn this by reading the second book).

Your literacy leaves much to be desired...

You can barely read large texts...

But you will probably still have to spend a lot of time reading these books.

The paladin's gaze leaves no doubt that you will have to do so.

Fortunately, in addition to the books, Anselm gives you something more useful (in your personal opinion). These items are armor and weapons: steel chainmail reinforced with metal armor elements (the shoulders and chest are protected by additional metal plates), mail coif, a small spear with a steel tip, and a mace with a steel pommel in the shape of an eight-pointed star.

Anselm also mentions that starting tomorrow, you will regularly train with him in both foot combat and mounted combat (the paladin has two horses in the stables of this inn).

So, you are happy that you now have money.

You go down to the first floor of the inn and buy the most expensive and delicious food.

The looks in your direction now contain something other than contempt. Surprise. Envy.

You pay the innkeeper a month's rent for one of the more comfortable rooms.

For the next two weeks, you are busy with regular training and learning the duties of a novice squire.

Anselm patiently teaches you the intricacies of mounted combat (for this, you both ride outside the city walls every morning). Your abilities in foot combat are clearly better than when fighting on horseback. But even in foot combat, the paladin shows you that your skills are still very undeveloped.

You still have a lot to learn...