It was a warm summer day in the year 1348 and Shelby was outside playing with her little brother, Henry. Her parents were hard at work, making clothes inside. She saw the other peasants working hard in the fields.

 "When I grow up, I want to be a knight!" said Henry.

One of the neighbors happened to walk by when Henry said that and they said; "You can't be a knight! You're just a measly peasant! Besides, even if you could, you're 8 years old and you have to start training at age 7."

  Shelby was infuriated, but she didn't say anything because she knew her place. The neighbor sneered at Shelby and walked away. Then one of the other neighbors walked up. He was a very nice old man who always looked out for the kids.

"Hello children!" he said.

"Hello sir!" said Shelby. "How have you been?"

"I've been better. I've just gotten news that my son, a squire, has died of the plague. There was black spots all over his body, they told me."

"Oh no!" said Shelby. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you for your condolences. Now I'm headed out of town to escape the plague. It's already spreading through the town. You should leave." 

"Thank you for the warning. Safe travels!" Sure enough, in the distance, Shelby could see people already dying in the streets.

As the old man walked away, Shelby and Henry ran back to the house to warn their parents that the plague was here.

After they told their parents, their mom said: "Ah this reminds me of an old queen from many years ago. Her name was Good Queen Maude. She would personally help care for the sick. She was pretty powerful as well."

"Wow." breathed Shelby. "A queen did that? That's incredible!"

"Yes indeed. But now we must hurry and leave before we catch that awful plague."

They quickly packed their things and headed out on the trail out of town.

"Mom." said Henry. "Why can't I be a knight?"

"Henry. I know you want to be one but we didn't know that until a few weeks ago and to train to become a knight you have to 7 years old. After that, you become a squire, and then you become a knight."

"Oh. Well, I guess I'll be a farmer or something then."

They didn't speak again until long after they had left their lifelong home behind.