It had been a sad and tragic year for the boy. At just nine years old, he lost both of his parents; killed when their village was raided by a horde of Giddy Goons. Orphaned, he fell to the care of his uncle, Sir Duncan the Bold, his father's brother and a knight serving King Ethelred of Etheria. Duncan was a caring, but tough man. To teach the boy the value of hard work and to strengthen his body, he got him work as a palace stable boy. The boy hated it. He was up every morning just before dawn, and he spent most of his day shoveling manure, stacking hay, and various other chores. &#
