Wise Words From a Knight.

 At Battlemoor, I was asked seriously about fealty as a member of the chivalry.

First, if you ask 100 members of the chivalry you get between 110-120 different answers. I speak for no one but myself.

I replied that, as a knight, my fealty is to the crown and the kingdom, not the person.

This answer was wholly unsatisfying to the questioner as they had heard the exact same answer over and over. I accept this criticism. I have also contradicted myself already.

Fealty is easy when you have good people on the throne and good people around them. You work as a team to build everyone up. That’s not what fealty is for.

As a member of the chivalry, I am to be the sword of justice and the shield of the innocent.

Starting with the sword of justice:

Were a crown to be unworthy, I would do all I could to make sure that damage is limited and joy is multiplied. What are the tools in my toolbox for this? Give and receive wise counsel. Praise loudly. Rebuke thoughtfully. Spread song, good food, cheer, and the joy of arts martial and domestic that we do. In extremis, I would deliver an unworthy crown-bearer at my expense to crown tournament and coronation so that the awards given during their reign would not be invalidated.

If a crown was dangerous, I would gladly see them removed to prevent further harm. I would fulfill my part to the best of my abilities.

A member of the chivalry is not a fell beast or an unthinking extension of another’s will. The first blade cuts to the truth. The second administers the Crown’s justice (even against the Crown itself). The scabbard counsels mercy. Without truth there is no justice. Without mercy there is only savagery.

As the shield of the innocent, I may be called to defend the needs of a single innocent person at some cost to the crown and the kingdom. For a dangerous person cannot be allowed to continue “for the good of the organization”.

To allow harm to one so that others may not have to feel shame or regret is cowardice. It is the rot at the root.

Every member of the chivalry is my comrade in arms and worthy of praise and rebuke. I am peers with all of the orders both new and ancient.

I cannot dictate another’s path, but my oath binds me to give worthy counsel and take worthy actions.

I hope that is a more satisfying answer.

I remain,

Sir Marcus de la Forest, KSCA