Matthew Pryde walked a step or two behind his father Mark. The two males were dressed in full golden knight armor carrying their helmets in their right arms (tucked under the armpit). The red capes of their uniform added a regal feel to their walk into The Golden Circle. The Circle was another name for the barracks and castle of The Knights of the Red Branch. Matthew was somewhat proud of the armor though he hated the fact his destiny was to wear it for the rest of his life. The buildings of stone were brown and sand in color almost khaki. Though clean and well kept they appeared old and common. Most of the Knights were family to the king and by extension family to Matthew as well. Most men here had the family name Pryde, some of them were jut unlucky enough to be born ‘far’ from the King’s line, distant relative. Others were bastard children of Pryde men but they at least had enough honor to allow the child to keep the family name. They fought for gold and sometimes land; Pryde family politics were strange to outsiders.

The males ruled small regions which they often took from other families or from conquests of enemies or a gift from the King. They zealously protected these regions even from each other put paid a tax to the king. Yet they all followed the King’s laws and orders though they behaved as mini governors, they and their families patrolling and ruling their region. Pryde members never fought each other unless sanctioned by the king; it was never to the death. Whatever squabbles or bitterness there was inside the family was always put aside for the cause of fighting ‘outsiders’. Male children were favored as future rulers while females were seen as ‘assistants’ to the house. Though female children were often used in deals to promote wealth or closer family ties with King Richard.

Matthew’s grandfather was the current leader of the Knights, General Martin Pryde a man in his early seventies and only a few years younger than Richard. Martin was the King’s first cousin and they grew up playing together, one destined to be King the other, whatever scraps the King gave him.