Chatterbox: Inkwell

I wrote this. You can guess me, if you want. Sorry it is so long, Admins! 

A horn blared through the stillness. All at once, a quiet morning turned into loud and bustling activity. There was shoving and jostling and much shouting as a large group of boys tumbled out of the large castle, outside into the sunlight. They ran to do their morning chores of washing their faces, feeding the animals, and any other task to which the the young pages and squires were assigned. A sturdy looking boy of about fourteen stood quietly by the fount, smiling and whistling as if he was waiting for someone. He hadn't long to wait before a blond boy stumbled out of the crowd. "Why, hallo, comrade! I declare, 'tis been a regular skirmish there at the fount!" The blond boy cried out cheerfully. His companion answered back with a smile, "Any more than usual, Ferrian?" "Nay; only, Tom bloodied a fellow's nose because the rascal had the boldness to cry out, 'Tom, Tom, pages' boy!' and quite embarrassed the good fellow. I say, Gideon, never have I laughed harder than at the look on Tom's face. He resembled an angry tomato." Remarked Ferrian. Gideon looked quite serious. He said quietly, "Tom is a good fellow. It was not right for the scoundrel to accuse Tom of being, as you so delicately put it, a 'pages boy'." To be called a pages' boy was about the worst insult a squire could receive; to teach a page was one thing, to laugh and play and care for one, however, was quite unacceptable. The squires would say, "We are here to teach them to be men; no more womanly coddling for these fellows!" Tom was known to have a great love for his pages, and it must be said there were no more devoted pages than his own. "Well, come on, then. Let's go finish our chores." Said Ferrian restlessly. Gideon nodded and they wove arm-in-arm through the crowds, and went to the stable. Gideon walked up to a quiet old war horse, just as dark and stout as himself. "Hallo, good mornin', old boy." He murmured into the mane. He fetched out hay and oats, while Ferrian did the same for his chestnut, a fiery young stallion. The horses matched their rider's personality well, and the two boys were excellent horsemen. They finished feeding the horses, then Ferrian said, "I say, we better hurry if we want any mess for breakfast!" Gideon agreed, and they raced back to the castle, with rosy cheeks and eyes and lips laughing. They hurriedly walked into the breakfast hall, where they waited in line for the usual breakfast of fruit, Manchet bread, and cheese. As they sat down, they discussed with some other boys the thief that had been stealing from all the nobility. "Even the Lord's, I have heard." Whispered one boy in awe. "They say that capture of this thief has been knighthood for those of noble birth and a bag of gold for a peasant." Another one said. "Knighthood!" exclaimed Ferrian. He was silent for the rest of the meal, thoughtfully chewing and swallowing. Gideon was silent as well. He wasn't interested in the reward; it bothered him that someone could be so bold as to actually mock and steal from the respected nobility. Just at that time, a boy rushed up to the table. "Have you heard?" He practically shouted. Gideon asked quietly, "About what?" "The latest news from this thief! He actually knocked over our lord! Our own lord, Lord Arthur of Javregna!" Ferrian jumped to his feet. "What!?" He shouted. Yes, the rumor was true, and everyone was talking about it. That very afternoon, the Lord Arthur himself gave the announcement, "Everyone who has ears ought to hear; the impudent thief among us has to be caught and hanged! All pages and squires may report to their knight for orders. If you see the thief, catch him! Your reward will be great. Likewise, remember, if you are plotting with the thief, protecting him, or acting with him, your punishment will be great. I give my order now: that the thief will be caught, arrested, and executed on sight! Also, a little bit of information: the rascal who knocked me over happened to be wearing a most strangely colored outfit of orange and grey." A great cheer went up. Ferrian and Gideon rushed to find Sir Pyridine. They found him. He spoke immediately, without waiting for their question. "You two work well together; I wish you to take your horses, some supplies, some money, and a bow and sword each. Do not fail me or the Lord Arthur; catch the thief!" Ferrian stumbled backwards. It was all happening so quickly! He couldn't think, and Gideon, slow and steady as usual, helped Ferrian. Before he knew it, Ferrian was on the road with Gideon. All he could do was ask, "Where are we going?" "To where the last known sightings of the thief were." Replied Gideon, confidently and calmly. They rode in silence for an hour. Then they passed a village. Gideon dismounted and asked a nearby woman, "Have you seen or heard anything about the thief? Is there anything you can tell us?" She said politely, "There was a man, dressed in the strangest clothes of orange and grey, who passed by here not long ago, maybe three hours. He went to the left side of the road. I don't know who he was, I don't know if he was even the thief." She pointed to the fork. "Thanks and God Bless, lady!" Called Gideon as he swung up on his horse. The two boys urged their steeds into a trot. Orange and grey... Grey and orange. What odd colors, Gideon thought. Grey represented 'sadness' and 'despair'; orange, on the other hand, represented a 'lukewarm revenge', or 'evilness'. He shuddered. He told himself, "Maybe the thief doesn't know or care what the colors represent... Perhaps he just likes them." But he couldn't convince himself. Instead, he spoke loudly and cheerfully to Ferrian, saying, "Fine day for a ride like this." Indeed it was. It was bright and sunny, it was not too hot nor too cold, and a nice breeze was blowing. Ferrian replied, "Aye, 'tis a fine day. My sakes, I am hungry, though." "Shall we stop and lunch soon?" Ferrian nodded. After the sun climbed the sky a bit, the two quickly dismounted and shared the bread and cheese Gideon had brought, and drank some water from their flasks. They ate silently and hurriedly. As soon as they had finished, they continued on their way. As they neared a village, they pulled up their horses from astonishment. The village was in chaos. People were yelling and shouting. "The thief took my money!" Yelled one man. Another yelled, "He took my wife's jewelry!" Gideon and Ferrian exchanged an excited glance. "Do you hear that, Gideon? The thief was here, and by my Lord, not long ago!" They now urged their horses forward. They rode into the village. Ferrian shouted, "You, there! The thief; where is he?" As a man ran around, he shouted over his shoulder, "I don't know! I saw him last riding off to the south, about a half hour ago." The two boys spurred on their horses. "Come on, boy." Gideon said as he urged his horse. They trekked onwards. Ferrian sighed. "I have a feeling this thief is going to lead us in circles." He confided in Gideon. Gideon said cheerfully, "A thief that steals so many things will travel slowly." After a while, Ferrian began to get hungry. He didn't want to say anything, but Gideon looked at the sky. "Did you hear thunder?" He puzzled as he looked at the clear sky. Ferrian blushed. "That was my stomach." He muttered, embarrassed. Gideon bust out with a hearty roar of laughing. After a frown or two, Ferrian joined in. Then, Gideon said as he chuckled, "I suppose it is time to lunch, before we hear an earthquake."