Fox twisted and turned in his bed, his thick winter blanket dropping to the floor; too hot. It gave him space to move his limbs up and down, like a young bird about to spread its wings but not brave enough to fly just yet. The moon, grown twice in size, appeared high in the sky but not quite as high as the last time he had stared outside. Midnight had come, hadn't it? Wild bees were buzzing through his veins. He was eleven. Officially a man.

Unable to contain the excitement, he rushed out of his night prison and leapt down the stairs, momentarily flying, then landing on his feet with a thud louder than he had intended to.

Katla shot up, a slender emerald flame already dancing his in hand, the light illuminating his shock-filled eyes. As Fox let out a gasp, the lethal fire went out. From the darkness, his master croaked, "Gods in the heavenly halls, son, I thought you were a burglar."

"I'm not. I'm eleven." Fox jumped up and down, his bare feet lifting well off the floor and making stomping noises. "My birthday—it's finally here."

"You're too early with your celebration, son. You should be sleeping," Katla grumbled.

"But I can't. I'm eleven now," Fox argued, ready to dash off, race up all three hundred and thirty-one steps of Moonstone castle to climb onto the roof and shout to all of Moondale that he was the happiest man in the world. Why couldn't Katla be equally happy?

His master snapped his fingers, igniting the candle on his nightstand, then reached for the silver pocket watch he had bought a few weeks earlier from a merchant who had claimed that all fashionable magicians wore one. He clicked it open. "Hmm... looks like you're still ten years old."

Fox stopped jumping. "But the moon is already lower in the sky than before."

"Doesn't matter. It's about an hour until midnight."

"Oh." He pouted, disappointment falling to his stomach, killing the bees' buzzing. "Are you sure that watch of yours isn't broken?"

"Son..." Katla beckoned him to sit on the bed. As Fox sat down, confused, his master placed the silver chain around his neck and gave him the pocket watch. "Even if it were already a new day, you weren't born at midnight, were you?"

"I dunno. Father... I mean... the blacksmith... not Lord Brandon... always said that I came early into this world. When he was angry at me, he would sometimes say that he shouldn't have prayed to the Gods to make me cry when I was born because I never stopped crying afterwards. But, I don't think I was born at midnight. If I had, I'm sure Mother would have told me."

"Then let's assume that you were born at six. You can read six on the clock, can't you?" Katla asked, drawing an imaginary line from the north side of the miniature clock to the south.

Fox nodded. Telling the exact time was difficult—too difficult, but following the small arrow along the cardinal points was so easy that knowing where the big arrow was pointing to wasn't that important. It did many rounds around the clock anyway.

 "So my birthday starts at six?" he asked.

"Yes, son. Now back upstairs—on the double—wouldn't want you falling asleep in your birthday cake."

"Is Doe baking that sweet Jade Islandic cake?"

Katla gave him a pat on the side. "You'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"But that's not fair," Fox mumbled. "I wanna know now."

Soon he found out that were other things that were even more unfair, like the big arrow moving at a speed slower than a snail, slower than Sloth himself. A floating flame flickered above his head; bright or dim, time moved just as slowly. He even blew against the pocket watch, but it didn't help to persuade the God of Patience either. The God wasn't his friend, and never would be. 

Why couldn't he already be eleven?

For a while, he fidgeted with the flat hooks in the hollow part of the case, listening to the plinking sound. The watch must be broken; time couldn't move this slowly.

Darkness settled into his room as the moon slipped behind the clouds and the wisp he had conjured turned into a strand of smoke. His eyelids struggled to remain open. Feeling a sudden chill, he pulled his blanket over him. He was tired, so tired.

In the last light of the floating candle, the big arrow began its second round around the clock. He closed the case, undid the chain, and stuffed into under his pillow so Mother could take care of Katla's watch.

"I wanna be a Time Magician, if that even exists," he muttered to himself as he shuffled to find a comfortable spot in his foxhole. "Maybe it does. I have to ask Storm if the Enhancer has ever lit up in a strange colour, like Katla's, but then differently."

He dreamt of green and silver-white, and an abundance of fire ablaze in light. Of the moon pursuing her tender lips and sun falling into a dark abyss. Of snow and rain, and someone calling his name.

"Fox, Fo-ox, wake up, son," a sing-song voice reached out to him and grabbed him from...

He already couldn't remember. Blinking and murmuring, Fox opened his eyes. 

A ray of sunshine fell on Katla's wide grin. His master sat on his knees by the bed. "Good morning, sleepyhead. Happy birthday!"

"Did I miss it?" Fox scrambled up. He grabbed the chain from under his pillow, pulling the crinkled drawing of his mother out with it. Clicking the watch open, he could hardly tell what direction the arrows were pointing to. "I missed it, didn't I?"

"Six o' clock you have missed." Katla chuckled, turning the pocket watch so the little arrow was pointing north-west. "But breakfast you haven't missed yet. I might have gone overboard, but it's not every day your apprentice turns eleven."

Fox shot out, only to get stopped by the wealth of flames and candles that greeted him in the living room. A tumbling ball of orange fire was swooshing up and down the stairs, on the floor below burnt two giant torches, their flames taller than he was. By the door stood three bright red candles that shared the same hopping flame. Four flames, in green, yellow, red, and orange were curling in the fireplace. 

He followed the five star-like twinkles pointing at the breakfast table, where six flares kept a frying plan afloat, the savoury smell of bacon filling his nostrils. Seven wisps of rainbow-coloured smoke swirling around his chair. 

There were—he really had to count now—eight tea-lights on small Greenlander green plates on the shelf above Katla's bed, and nine on silver plates on the other shelf in the kitchen. Ten candles, spread over two iron candle trees, were standing on each side of his plate, on which laid an envelope bearing his name.

He snatched it, not fully taking in the roaring lion on the seal. His mind still on his birthday fire. "Where's eleven?"

"Here." Katla placed a heavy crown on his head, the heat of the eleven flames dancing from side to side. 

The crown was cold yet he felt giddy and powerful; today he could handle the whole world, and the sun and moon and stars too. Even that lion bearing a silver crown on his letter.

"Who gave you this letter?" he asked.

"I dunno." Katla heaved his shoulders into a weird shrug. "Open it, and you'll know."

With a spark that shot from his finger, Fox melted the wax until the crown and the lion's manes united into a soft but messy blob, then he pulled at the paper, the seal breaking into two. Before he began to read, his eyes were sucked to the bottom of the page to the silver signature of King Ariel. Curious to learn what the King of Silvermark had to say, he began at the top:

Dear Fox, 

A happy eleventh birthday. To celebrate this joyous occasion, I shall hold a small ceremony at the hour of noon in the throne room, after which I shall gift you with a title a man of your standing deserves, that of a Knight.

My cousin, Leo, shall be present as your witness, as shall my wife, Queen Cobra, and my son, Prince Felix.

Please arrange four more witnesses for this oath-taking.

Yours Sincerely,

His Majesty King Ariel I

"A Knight?" Fox asked out loud. "But that's something of the old ages."

"But also the official title of the Lords of War,  the highest rank in the Silvermark army, only given to those most loyal to the crown," Katla explained. "Leo is one too."

"And you?"

Katla scooped bacon—deep orange in colour, just the way he liked them—onto Fox's plate. "I play a slightly different role."

"You're King Ariel's assassin."

"Yeah." Katla took his own plate, giving himself half the portion he had given Fox. "I've... err.... taken the liberty to arrange your four witnesses. Myself, Doe, Phoenix, and—"

"Storm?"

"No... Badger. She and Fawn stayed in the area after the council meeting."

Fox stuffed three strips of bacon into his mouth, but even the crispy crunch and smoky taste couldn't save his disappointment. "I wish you had asked Storm," he said with a mouth full of food.

"He's Ician." Katla sat down on the bench with a sigh.

"And you're a Jade Islander."

"I've lived here long enough," he said, taking a piece of bread.

Not fully understanding why that mattered, Fox stuffed his now empty mouth full of bacon, then drank half of his milk cup empty, washing away the salt. 

Though he didn't like having to see Fawn on his birthday, it had its perks too. From today onwards, she would never steal his flames anymore. He was already a Prince, and now he would become a Knight.

The big arrow of Katla's pocket watch was but a thumbnail away from meeting his little friend in the north when Fox, crownless because his master hadn't allowed him to wear it, stepped through the gate of Moonstone Castle. 

To his surprise, all of his friends were already present in the throne room, which had two additional fur-covered thrones for the occasion. Silvermark banners had been hung in places where there had been damaged or missing stones before. Despite four fires burning bright, he shivered. The place bore such bad memories too.

He didn't get long to dwell on that. Doe pulled him into her motherly embrace, almost choking him, then she grabbed his cheeks and pinched them. "Happy Birthday, darling."

Though he appreciated the gesture and secretly liked the hug, he was big now and preferred Leo and Phoe's congratulatory pat on the back. Badger stood next in line. She gave him two kisses, a Silvermark tradition Fawn loudly—and luckily—refused.

"I know what presents you'll be getting," she whispered, the sharp giggle that followed hurting his ear. 

Jutting his chin up, he puffed his chest out. "It's not a secret. I'll be a Knight, just like Leo."

A broad smile filled her face. "Oh, but there's more. I paid for it too, a whole silverling," she added with a nod.

"Thank... you."

Bear saved Fox from hurting his brain. With a loud but formal voice that echoed throughout the throne room, the guard caught his attention and that of his friends. "Lord Felix, Crown Prince of Silvermark, has arrived."

Fox was the last to lower his head, his eyes following the little prince along the worn-out, dirty red carpet. Felix hadn't recovered from yesterday. His faltering feet moved quicker than his unsteady balance allowed; his breath was audible and raspy, like the next cough wasn't far away.

Various sighs of reliefs were uttered as he moved onto the throne in the middle. Placing his arms on the armrest, he gave a quick nod to Bear.

The guard bellowed, "Her Majesty, Lady Cobra of Sapphire Island."

The hammer in Fox's heart skipped a beat as she passed him by, her long silver dressing dragging on the floor. The most beautiful Queen he had ever seen, though—he had to admit—he had only seen one, sat down on her son's left. Of all seven of his witnesses, she was his favourite. With Doe coming close.

"His Majesty, King Ariel, Lord of the Grey Sea and all mines between the Horseshoe Mountains and the Long Water," Bear announced the King.

The man walking in carrying a long silver blade that uncharacteristically clung against his knee with every other step. He pushed the hilt up for the remainder of the walk to the right-most throne. Before sitting down, he gave the sword to the blond serving boy in a silver apron that had trailed behind His Majesty.

Momentarily, the sizzling sound of the flames in the fireplace was the only sound in the room; even Prince Felix had stopped breathing loudly.

"Welcome, my dear friends," the King began.

Phoenix looked up, which was Fox's cue to lift his head and stand tall, his hands fidgeting behind his back. 

King Ariel sat stately on his throne, his otherwise wild beard trimmed. "It has been far too long since our family had had an opportunity to celebrate. The ghost of Panthera still wanders this hall, but let's cast off our armour of grief and allow the warmth of the fire in our hearts. Today is a day that many of you will treasure, that you might even remember in the last flashing light before the balancing of your soul. I know that today shall live on until the ends of time in tales and songs. For it is today that eleven years ago, a baby came into this world, his voice silent but, as his destiny, growing louder each day. Happy Birthday, Fox Brandonson."

Fox gasped, but he seemed the only one. Not even Fawn seemed shocked by the revelation that he was the son of Lord Brandon. Did they all know?

"Though the concept is absurd to us," King Ariel continued, "Greenlander boys come of age when they turn eleven. It is the age from which they can own lands, take wives, and be given any title except that of King." He leant back into the covers as he added, "A damned shame, but a man can't be too picky."

"Though it would be handy," Leo said.

"Yes." The King turned back to Fox. "A hand in marriage I cannot give you, young man, and I would be breaking my own laws to give you land. But I can make you a Lord of War, a Knight, a defender of all Silvermarkers—if you accept the honour, that is."

"I accept it, Your Majesty," Fox said without thinking, his toes wiggling in excitement.

"Come closer then, Fox Brandonson, and lay your weapons at my feet."

"Oh, no!" His voice rose as he showed the King his hands. "I don't have any weapons but these. You aren't going to cut them off with that sword of yours, are you? Can I still refuse?"

The King patted his thigh, guffawing loudly. Next to him, Felix was chuckling too. 

The Queen's smile was that of Kindness reborn. "That won't be necessary, Young Fire Master. Your friends have told us that we can each give you an additional present, one that will help you during this ceremony. Do come closer—Fe will give you the first one."

Fox walked until he was a foot's length away from the edge of the carpet, so happy he could already picture thinking of this day for the rest of his life to regenerate magic. 

From behind his throne, which was just as big as his parents' and the prince's legs couldn't quite reach the floor, the serving boy pulled something small and gave it to Felix, who instantly handed Fox the wrapped cloth. "A present from Master Badger, Fawn, Grandmaster Hawk, and Prince Storm."

Realising that the Grandmaster and the Prince weren't there, he removed the sloppily knotted string and unwrapped the shabby cloth that looked a lot like a piece of Badger's cloak. He pushed the silver chain aside, finding a red fox-shaped pendant with stones for eyes.

"An idea of the Grandmaster, since you so kindly gifted your original necklace to us, for the greater cause," King Ariel explained.

Fox stuffed the cloth and string into his pocket and pulled his necklace over his head, taking in the features of the fox's head. Though he had always liked the one Father... the blacksmith... had forged for him, this one was more detailed; seven whiskers were out on each side of the animal's snout and he was able to count at least fourteen distinct lines that marked its fur. The stones began to glow, alternating red, brown, and white.

"Is that?" he asked.

"Two tiny particles of Prince Storm's Enhancer, fit for a magician of your standing," Queen Cobra said, already having the next gift on her lap: a round knitted package the size of a large and exceptionally thick plate. "This is a gift from Doe, Leo, and Phoenix."

Darting a look over his shoulder, Fox smiled at his three most favourite Antler people. He slipped the green knitted coat off his present and found a round iron shield, in the middle a picture of a jumping Fox under a moonlit sky; at the back, a handy strap to attach the shield to a horse or a bag.

"Of course a shield is but a shield. Let's see what else we have..." King Ariel took his silver sword from the serving boy's hands, then immediately gave it back, winking at Fox. "No, this is a boring sword, isn't it? Not something your master would pick for you, am I right?"

"I got the specifications elsewhere, Your Majesty," Katla said.

The serving boy was standing in the darkest part of the room, furthest away from the fireplaces, by the table on which he had laid the King's sword. He returned with a new sword that he hid behind his back.

Had Fox's eyes not been attached to their sockets, they would have fallen off when the boy placed the unwrapped weapon on King Ariel's open hands. Fox opened his mouth but was unable to speak. The blade was made of iron, the name Fox and Henry, carved with angular lines. The cross-guard bore the same fox's head as his necklace, the pommel a sun melting into a crescent moon.

"My sword!" Fox slung the shield behind his back and grabbed the weapon firmly, feeling its well-balanced weight. He couldn't stop smiling, a tear of the purest happiness forming in the corner of his eye. He quickly wiped it off. This was his sword, his first sword. Nobody would take this from... No... he had to place it by the King's feet to become a Knight. 

"I will get my presents back, won't I?" he asked the King.

"Of course," King Ariel said, leaning forward. "It's just a ceremony. I won't keep them."

Fox laid down the sword in between him and the King; he did so carefully, not to damage it. He removed his necklace, the stones instantly stopping its glow as he slid the chain over the pommel and onto the heft. His shield, he placed over the hilt, the jumping fox protecting the other two foxes.

"Very well, turn around," King Ariel demanded. "Bull will record all that's happening during this ceremony. After which, your seven witnesses will have to sign the paper, confirming your oath to me. I have brought Leo, Cobra, and Felix. Who did you bring?"

The serving boy was standing by the southern fireplace, a thick book in his hands and on top of it a note. His grey feather danced along, almost jumping.

"I brought Badger, Phoenix, Doe, and Katla. Fawn is here too, but I guess she doesn't count," Fox said. Curse the God of Envy, but the thought pleased him, a little, a lot.

"No, she's neither of age, nor of royal blood. But it doesn't matter—we have enough witnesses," King Ariel added as Fawn curled her lip in disappointment. "Place your hand on your heart, Fox. Sit down on your knees, look at the heavens and repeat after me."

Fox sat down, his knees touching the cold black stone and the side of his shield, and brought his clammy hand to his chest. Steadily, his heart hammered on. He turned to the ceiling, dark and soot marking the woodwork. High above the three thrones, there was a hole they had forgotten to cover with lion banners.

"With my seven witnesses here today," the King began.

"With my seven witnesses here today," Fox repeated. His gaze shifted to Doe taking out her handkerchief, then he remembered he had to look to the heavens.

"Who in the Gods' names shall justify what I say."

"Who in the name of the Gods shall jus... justify what I say."

"I am a man of my word."

"I'm a man of my word."

"No demand too absurd."

"No demand too absurd."

"I protect the Queen, defend my King."

Fox got a vision of himself sitting on a throne that wasn't King Ariel's. "I protect the Queen, defend my King."

"In the war against all sin."

"In the war against all sin." Seb laid motionless by his feet.

"All my loyalty is to the crown."

He shook the thought away. "My loyalty is to the crown."

"ALL my loyalty is to the crown," King Ariel insisted.

"All my loyalty is to the crown."

"From this day until I fall down."

"From this day until I fall down."

"Stand up, Fox Brandonson, and rise a silver Knight, a Lord of War."

Fox got back on his feet. "Stand up, Fox Brandonson, and rise a silver Knight, a Lord of War."

"You didn't have to repeat that last part," the King said.

"You didn't... ow..." Fox froze, unsure of what to do next. 

Doe was pressing her white handkerchief to her cheeks; the rest was staring at him attentively, various shades of laughter on their faces.

"Turn this way, Lord Fox."

Fox shuffled around, careful not to step on his precious sword. He was a Lord and a Knight, and he had the best weapons in the world.

King Ariel placed in hand on Fox's shoulder. "Our oath isn't binding until there's one more thing you do."

"What's that?"

"You must kiss the Queen," he said with a grin.

"I must..." Fox couldn't say it out loud, not when he was close to mastering the only Water Magic non-Water Magicians were good at, producing a pool of pee. He held his breath as Queen Cobra turned to him, patting her lap. This couldn't be real; it must be a temptation from the Goddess of Lust. "Are you sure, Your Majesty? She's your wife."

"It's the only time I allow another man to get close to her. All Knights before you have done it too—gives them a lasting memory of whom to fight for."

"But I'm... scared. Everybody's watching," he confessed. "Can't I give her a hug instead?"

"It must be a kiss—it's the law," King Ariel said, his blue eyes all wide.

Fox moved past Felix, not daring to look at him. Air escaped his lungs as Queen Cobra touched his hip, guiding him to her lap. His body trembled, but resistance was futile, and part of him was curious too.

She caressed his face, the broad silver ring on her hand soothing his hot cheek. "Don't be afraid,  it's just a kiss."

"But I don't know what it's like. I've never done it before."

"I'll teach you." 

The second she leant forward, he squeezed his eyes shut and pursed his lips, half reluctantly. 

Queen Cobra was warm like being huddled into a soft blanket and sitting by a cosy fire. Her soft lips tasted of that same snug fire and steaming milk with exactly the perfect amount of honey. But then a slippery eel wormed in, invading his personal heavenly hall; a sensation he disliked at first, then he couldn't get enough of it. This was it—from today onwards he would never think of anything else when he needed fresh magic.

When he finally dared to peek, she stopped. For two whole heartbeats, there was nobody but them in the hall. Then loud applause erupted behind him, and she planted a final, albeit slightly disappointing, puck on his cheek.

Still treasuring the kiss, Fox kept throwing secret glances at her while one by one, the seven witnesses were approached by Bull to sign the document. He had the best of gifts, a necklace, a shield, a sword, and a title, but he wanted to spend every slowly creeping round of Katla's pocket watch with her, kissing, touching, or just staring at her.

"You liked that, didn't you, you sneaky fox." Leo pulled playfully at his nose.

"It was wet," Fox blurted out, "but nice. Thanks for the shield."

"You're welcome. It was Phoe's idea—turns out he isn't always a Puddingbrain."

Felix giggled, rocking on the oversized throne. "Phoe Puddingbrain." He put his hands on his head, and made a face, sticking out his tongue at Phoe, who—as the youngest apart from the prince—had been the last the scribble his signature on Bull's document.

"Felix!" the King raised his voice, after which he and Leo exchanged a brief conversation that consisted of raising eyebrows and a few nods. 

Grabbing his sword, the King rose up, facing Fox. "One last thing before I wave you off to a party in the Antler."

"A party in the Antler!" Fox cheered. He was going to get that Jade Islandic cake.

"Now that you are officially a Knight, and a Lord of War, there is something I must ask you something, a favour."

"I am your man. No demand to absurd," he recited what he remembered from the oath.

"Good." The King leant forward, their eyes on the same level. "Because I need you to execute a man."