I’m writing The Sword of Fire novels for my son Daniel. He’s a bit too young to read my books now, but one day I want him to realize that to be a man is to be a warrior, but that to be a warrior is much more than what he might think at first. One of my characters sums it up this way when he describes the warrior code: NOBILIS VOS ESTO. That’s Latin for “Be Noble.”  The idea is that to be a man you must protect those in your care as a good king protects his people, even to the point of laying down your life for them. 

Here is the warrior’s code from my novel Asulon. I took the idea from many such codes of chivalry you’ll find in tales of medieval knights.

THE CODE OF THE PALADIN

The Warrior Virtues

DISCIPLINE

LOYALTY

COURAGE

HUMILITY

(Practice these things and you will be a good soldier)

The Kingly Virtues

WISDOM

HONOR

CHARITY

JUSTICE

(Practice these things and you will be a good leader)

The Godly Virtues

FAITH

TRUTH

MERCY

LOVE

(Practice these things and you will please God)