Michael balanced carefully on the white stallion he’d been given. The steed was beautiful, but far less even tempered than what he was used to. He still lacked skills as a rider, a deficiency he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to make up for. Ollie sat on a black stallion next to him, much more confidently balancing in the saddle, smirking as he watched Michael adjust for the tenth time.“Gods can’t help you with that?” he asked.“No. Horses are apparently at the edge of their expertise.” He gave the stallion a firm pat on the neck that seemed to settle him a bit. He was just ready to go, Michael couldn’t blame him. He looked at the rest of the parade, a number of men and women in full armor wearing capes of grey-blue and a dozen standards being carried to represent those that came from noble houses. The knights all carried lances with banners hanging from them that were meant to trail behind them as they rode. Along with the knights were soldiers that had been given laurels with flowers mixed into them, and sashes of a grey-blue that matched the capes on the knights. Michael recognized a number of faces as men and women that had fought with him in Lataxia. He could think of a number of others that should be honored as well, or that he would prefer could take his place. Unfortunately as he, Lance, and Ollie were the centerpiece of the parade that would’ve been impossible.He glanced back at his banner, being carried by a young squire. He smiled at the sight of the two headed eagle, and the memories it brought up of Gabriel. He could feel Veras’s touch as images of his son flooded his mind. Him shoving mashed potatoes in his mouth by the handful, burying his head in books of history Michael had never expected any of his children to take interest in, pulling into the driveway singing along to the radio loud enough that Michael could hear it, though he’d never tell him so.He blinked away the wetness that gathered in his eyes, unable to actually (...)