As Geff and Sir Anthrock traveled down the road through the forest, they discussed what Geff's training would look like. He would have to learn how to fight with a sword, how to ride a horse, and, strangely enough, how to read. In addition, Geff would have his own duties as a squire--attending on his knight, taking care of his armor and weapons, carrying his shield and his flag, and essentially doing whatever he said. Geff only nodded at each task, overwhelmed by what was happening, thrilled at the chance to become a knight, and willing to do anything to make that happen.
Because they had left in the afternoon it soon grew dark, and they found a clearing just off the road where they could camp. Geff was a little wary, never having slept outside of his own home or the home of an employer, and he raised the concern of safety as he was pitching a tent (not something he knew how to do, really, but Anthrock had told him how). The knight laughed, "You'll sleep in far worse places as a knight, I assure you. Anyway, the bandits and the gnolls haven't been active for months." The people of the village always whispered that things far worse than bandits and gnolls were hiding in the shadows of the forest, but Geff didn't want to say so. It would just make him look like a superstitious peasant.
It came time to go to bed, and Geff climbed into his tent and drifted off to sleep, dreaming about a fantasy land where he lived in a huge, clean house with magic boxes that showed things that weren't there, and where he went to an even bigger palace full of other boys and girls learning how to read. However, his dreams were soon cut short. He was woken up by a noise from outside. The horse was whinnying in what sounded like fear, and there was some sort of commotion outside. Nervously, Geff exited the tent to see what was going on, and saw figures moving in the darkness. Filled with fear, he began to shout, "Sir--", but before he could finish there was a painful blow to his head, and he passed out. This time, he did not dream.
When Geff woke up, he was bound and gagged, and there was a throbbing pain in his head where he had been hit. He did not know how long it had been. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see that he had been captured by...