Frozen Frontier Prequel: Coming of Age

Recap
Year 1484? It is many years ago before William Marshal became a Knight.

At age 14?, he is a this family home, north of Suulwikk, trying to learn math from a tutor. William's eldest brother, John Marshall III is giggling as William isn't good at math. William would rather be training with the sword out in the yard.

Having enough of making mistakes and being mocked, William storms out of the room in a rage and heads out to the yard. He grabs a training sword and heads outside to the fields.

He spots the son of the butcher (14) and the son of the rope-maker, Liam (16), fencing with sticks. William stops to watch the pair. After a while William joins in using a stick, not his training sword. He promises that his rank and name isn't important

The play fighting turns violent as William is losing the bout. Liam's parents come over to break up the fight and give Liam a spanking for beating up William. Later William feels shame for escalating the fight and not speaking up for Liam.

William's father, Lord John Marshal II, tells William that the Marshal family are custodians of land, not fighters. William wants to be a fighter still, pointing out he isn't as smart as his brothers. Lord Marshal tells William they'll talk about it over diner.

Over dinner Lord and Lady Marshal propose that William be a squire in order to see how hard work it is so he'll give up these notions. They'll ask Kel Roderick if William can be his squire tomorrow. William is overjoyed. That night William is mocked by his older brother Edgar.

Before going to bed William reads about Desmond the Dashing killing the Black Dragon of Deepwood Swamp that had been terrorising Bon' May.

The next day Kel Roderick arrives on his warhorse. Lord Marshal goes to greet him. After a time William is invited into the room. Lord Marshal asks Kel Roderick if he would take on William as his squire. Kel Roderick questions William about his motivations and his beliefs. Kel Roderick is happy to take on William as his squire, as his last Squire got kicked by a horse and died.

Kel Roderick they can go to Suulwikk and make it official, but the knight has to take care of a troll cave nearby first thing in the morning. William volunteers to come along on this mission to the Troll cave, against his father's advice.

''End of Part 1. To be continued - McTacky''