The King turned to Administrator Tappy who sat and took quill in hand.
‘Squire Dale, approach his Majesty,’ Administrator Tappy ordered. Dale approached the throne. He lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head before his King. Tappy read from a small scroll. ‘Squire Dale of East Inlet, son of Baron Daarin and Baroness Alise, proven in loyalty and tested in courage. You have defended the lives of the Princess Eijelin and her friend, the boy Elliot of Castle. Your deeds will be made know to all within our realm.’ He turned to face the general assembly. ‘It’s the desire of the King that Squire Dale accepts his hereditary title of Baron of East Inlet, to serve his King and the people of Alkira.’ He turned back to Dale. ‘Squire Dale of East Inlet, will you accept your title and the duties relevant to your station?’
Dale stared open mouthed at the King.
‘Well?’ the King prompted.
Dale snapped to attention. ‘Majesty, I accept.’
‘The oath please, Administrator,’ said King Dannicus.
‘I expect Dale knows the oath, Majesty. He has heard it once before,’ Tappy dipped his head respectfully to the King and glanced knowingly at Dale.
‘Proceed!’ King Dannicus ordered.
Dale took a deep breath and fixed his eyes upon the King. With absolute sincerity he spoke. ‘I give my life to serve my King. As Baron of East Inlet, my duty is to the people. I will serve loyally, both in leadership and in defense of the citizens of our nation, in peace and in war. I swear to serve with courage, as the shield and spear of the people, ever laboring to protect and defend by whatever means I am capable, without hesitation and placing the needs of the people above my own. My life belongs to my King.’ Everyone in the room rose, except Dale, who remained kneeling before the King.
‘Stand, Baron Dale of East Inlet. May your government be just and your service honorable. May you live in peace and bring peace to your Barony.’
Dale rose to his feet, his eyes still fixed on the King. ‘Thank you, sir,’ he said. He bowed once again and moved to stand beside the Baroness Kielie. Tappy watched the King and waited for permission to proceed.
‘One moment, Administrator,’ said the King. ‘King’s Marshall, you are excused. Baron Dale, Lady Valeska, and General Callian, make ready to sail. It isn’t necessary for you to be present for the remaining business. Administrator Tappy will make a second record of the remaining matters and this will be placed with Prince Galbraith for your later perusal.’ Danil, Valeska, Callian and Dale bowed and hurried from the room.
Dale’s belongings had been arranged in appropriate places around the tiny cabin. To his surprise, his favorite pillow was waiting on the neatly made bunk. He looked up at the top bunk where there was a small bundle of gear and he supposed that it was Enrique’s belongings. He turned and inspected the cabin. It contained two bunks, a tiny wash stand, a small desk and one chair. The only other item of furniture in the room was a small teak chest, which was divided into two compartments. Dale lifted the lid and found that his clothing had been neatly folded and stacked inside. Wondering who had gone to the trouble of folding his clothing, he sat back onto the bottom bunk and accidently smacked his head on the bunk above. He gasped in pain and let his body fall sideways onto the bed, his hand going to the back of his head. His fingers came away wet with blood and he groaned, feeling a little faint from the blow. There was a knock at the door.
‘Enter!’ he said, sitting up cautiously and leaning forward to avoid another collision with the wooden underside of the bunk. Enrique entered and shut the door.
‘Squire Dale, King Dannicus told me that you said you would be happy to take me on this journey and pleased to have me as your Squire.’ He hesitated. ‘Please sir, was this your exact wording?’ There was no mockery or arrogance in the young man’s eyes, only worried curiosity.
‘Actually, I said I would be happy to have you as my Squire and pleased to take you with me. Enrique, we didn’t get off to the best start. When I first came to Castle you treated me as though I had wronged you and I’ve never taken the chance to ask you why. Perhaps we were both at fault.’
‘No sir. You were not at fault,’ said Enrique emphatically. ‘When you arrived, I was told to help you as needed. I was angry as I thought you would be giving me a lot of extra jobs, the way the senior Squires always give the juniors and the Pages all the worst jobs and I don’t mind the work at all, but I knew the other Pages would laugh behind my back as I worked. I was wrong, because you rarely asked anything of me. Then I thought this meant you didn’t think I was capable enough.’
‘Enrique, I was raised in East Inlet and then in Emerald. In both places it wasn’t possible to rely on others to complete one’s everyday tasks. I saw no reason to bother you with trivial jobs when I wasn’t too busy to complete them myself. Besides, you really seemed to hate me so I have to admit, I deliberately avoided you.’
‘I’m sorry, sir.’ The apology was sincere. ‘Sir, if I may ask, why am I going on this journey?’
‘The King thought it would be interesting and educational, and that I would need a Squire. The King himself selected you as the most capable.’
Enrique stood staring at Dale in open mouthed amazement. ‘The King selected me?’ He leaned against the cabin door, lost in thought. ‘Sir, I hate being here in Castle. My parents sent me here and I’m so-’ He stopped abruptly and his face went pink as he stared down at his boots.
‘Continue!’ Dale ordered.
Enrique took a deep breath. ‘I feel trapped in the city. I don’t fit in with the other boys. They think I’m stupid and…agrestic I suppose, but I’m just different from them. Western Downs seems like a primitive land to them. I try to fit in, worrying about how I look, how I act, what to say, trying to sound smart. And at the same time I just want to go home. Sometimes I think if I act… incompetent, maybe the King would send me home.’
‘Enrique, I think I know why you don’t fit in, but tell me what you think.’
‘In Western Downs you dress so that you’re not naked, you train with weapons so you can protect and defend the people, and you study so you can improve their lives. In Castle, you dress so that you can impress each other, you train so you can beat each other and you study because if you don’t you will have to answer to Administrator Happy. It just seems ridiculous to me. It doesn’t make any sense and I don’t understand it at all, and I guess that’s why everyone has no difficulty in making me feel ridiculous, and I just want to go home.’ Enrique continued to gaze to his boots. ‘I’m sorry. I must sound like an idiot.’
Dale sighed. ‘After my home in East Inlet was destroyed by the fallen and my parents were killed, I was sent to Emerald. This has been my first visit to Castle. Please don’t think that I cannot understand how you feel.’ Dale’s words were so sincere and heartfelt that Enrique looked up at him curiously.
‘Do you want to go home too sir?’ asked Enrique.
‘Always, but I haven’t yet sunk to acting like an idiot to try to get sent home by the King.’
Enrique grimaced. ‘If all I have to do is act like some kind of ridiculous twerp to get out of this horrible place, I’d do it again in a second. But that’s not why I got sent away is it? Now I have no idea where I’ll end up.’
‘This ship is bound for Warbilla, and from there…I’m not entirely sure what will be our final destination, but you cannot leave us if we stop at Western Downs. You must complete the journey with me and when we return to Castle you can petition the King to be transferred. You’re a Squire now; you may be sent wherever the King requires you to go.’
Enrique’s face was alight with excitement. ‘We’re going home?’ He practically shouted the question.
‘We’re going past Western Downs. We may stop briefly if the King’s Marshall deems it necessary to take on more soldiers. Enrique, has anyone taken the time to explain what we’re doing?’
‘No sir. Not yet.’
‘Sit,’ Dale suggested, pointing to the chair. ‘What do
you know of the fallen?’
‘Not a lot, sir,’ said Enrique, dropping onto the chair. ‘I’ve heard they are brothers to the Daoine Maithe, but have lost…well, I really don’t know anything. I heard Baroness Kielie talking to Lady Sophie about soldiers going to rescue Governor Ringo’s daughters from the fallen. Is that what we’re doing, sir?’
‘That’s it, in a nutshell.’
‘How in the name of His Supreme Majesty are we going to get into fallen territory, find them, get them away from the fallen and get out again alive?’ Enrique was alarmed. ‘Sir,’ he added.
‘I have absolutely no idea. Even if we stop briefly at Western Downs, we will be following the Great Southern Current so this ship will be moving really fast and it won’t take us long to reach Warbilla. So we have little time to come up with a plan. I’m to meet with Prince Galbraith, Danil, Callian and Valeska after we depart. I want you to be there. You and I have a lot to learn. I’m barely a Baron and you’re barely a Squire.’
‘Technically sir, you became a Baron when your father died.’
‘In inheritance yes, but the title isn’t officially recognized by the crown until the holder turns eighteen and the King himself proclaims your title.’
‘The King proclaimed you as Baron?’
‘Yes, and I turned eighteen.’
‘When sir? I mean, when did you turn eighteen?’
‘This morning, I turned eighteen this morning.’
‘May your day be blessed, sir!’
‘Thank you.’ He studied the boy’s face for a moment, wondering how he could have possibly misread him so badly. ‘When we meet with the others,’ he said, ‘I want you to listen carefully to everything that’s said. You’re not to speak unless you’re asked a direct question. If there’s something you wish to contribute, that you feel is vital to our mission, indicate in the correct manner of a Squire, by raising your hand.’ Dale paused. ‘In actual fact, we may find ourselves floundering so far out of depth that we might both be better off listening in silence.’
Enrique laughed at this observation. ‘If we’re meeting with one Prince, two guardians and the King’s Marshall you can rely on me to shut my mouth, sir.’
‘The King’s Marshall is also a guardian. His marriage to Lady Valeska is the catalyst for his change.’
Enrique sat in stunned silence for a moment. ‘Danil is a guardian now? Well, one Prince and three guardians. You can still count on me to imitate a clam. Can I go back up to the castle sir? I forgot something.’
‘You can’t be serious! Weren’t you instructed on what to bring? I’m sure we were given the same list!’
‘Yes sir. Sorry sir.’
‘You have to read lists like that Enri! In a situation like this it could be the difference between life and death, or at least convenience and inconvenience.’
‘You’re right. I’ll be more careful sir.’ Enrique shifted his feet uncomfortably.
‘Have you got your list? Dale held out his hand.
‘Er...no. I left it up in my room.’
‘What? You haven’t got your list and you haven’t got some of your gear! What did you forget?’
‘I forgot to get a walking pack from the soldiers’ stores. I just shoved all my gear in an old sack but it sounds like we might be doing a bit of walking, so I thought I’d better go back and get something a bit easier to carry. It was noted at the end of the list.’
‘Oh.’ Dale’s face reddened and a wry smile crossed his face. ‘Um...could you get one for me whilst you’re there?’
Enrique crossed his arms and grinned delightedly. ‘Is that on your list too Baron Dale? How very...interesting!’
‘Just shut up and get me a decent pack Enrique!’
‘Yes sir! Fine sir! Do you need anything else sir?’
‘No!’ Dale grimaced. ‘Well, since you’re going back, could you bring the dagger I accidently left on the chest in my room, my bow and quiver of arrows - they’re under my bed, and my black cloak. It’s folded up and sitting on the end of my bed...with my list.’
Enrique burst out laughing. ‘Anything else?’
‘Ha ha, very funny. Just get me my dagger Enri. You’re making me think I might need it.’ He rose from the bunk and slammed his already bleeding head into the wooden edge of the top bunk. Enrique leapt forward and caught Dale as he fell forward, managing to push him back onto the bunk.
‘I’ve been assigned to the clumsiest Baron in Alkira!’ he muttered as he knelt beside Dale, holding up his head to study the wound. ‘I’ll get the physician, sir.’
‘No!’ Dale whispered hoarsely. ‘There are some cloths in the washstand. If we just stop the bleeding, I’ll be fine.’
Enrique grabbed several cloths from the shelf below the washstand, dropped them into the basin and poured water over them. He wrung some of the water from the cloth and began to clean the blood from the wound and from Dale’s hair. Then he knelt beside the bunk and held a clean, dry cloth firmly on the wound. ‘Probably better if you don’t move for a while, sir,’ Enrique suggested.
‘Squire, when we’re in a formal situation, you are required to call me Baron or sir. Otherwise, my name is Dale.’
Enrique smiled at Dale. ‘Thank you…Dale. Sir, my friends call me Enri.’
Dale smiled back at the Squire. ‘Enri, did you fold my clothing and arrange my possessions in this cabin before I arrived?’
‘Yes sir – Dale,’ he corrected himself.
‘Thank you. It was considerate of you.’
‘It seemed you could use all the help you could get.’
‘And you felt bad because you considered placing my belongings aboard the wrong ship?’
‘Er, yes. There was this little fishing boat…’
Dale laughed. ‘You’re tall enough Enri that I could have stolen most of your clothing.’
‘Would you like something to eat sir?’
Dale sat up. ‘No. Not now, but get something for yourself if you’re hungry.’
‘Do you wish to change clothing before you meet with the Prince and the guardians?’ asked Enri, noticing Dale was still wearing the torn and dirty clothing he’d been wearing that morning.
‘I suppose I should,’ Dale grumbled.
‘On the other hand perhaps not. They might not recognize you.’ Enri dodged out of the way as Dale swung his foot at him. He accidently kicked the washstand and hopped out of the door cursing the laughing Squire.
Chapter 21
Courage
Elena and Immosey sat with their arms around each other, with Louisa doing her best to wrap her own arms around both of the girls. She had found that she could transfer a little heat from her body through her hands, but it was very difficult and extremely tiring. Milgorry found a relatively safe place for them to rest and he now stood not far away, staring into the bushes and listening. He looked uneasily at the girls huddled together for warmth and cursed under his breath. They had nothing but the clothes they wore and the weapons he carried. He knelt and picked up Immosey’s cold hand and then Elena’s and then stood up looking even more concerned.
‘I have to go back,’ he said.
Louisa shook her head anxiously. ‘If you’re caught, you’ll be returned.’
‘They won’t see me and your sisters need warmth and food. We’re too far from any human settlements. I don’t know Alkira as well I know Nyinaku. I can lead you to wherever you wish to go, but the land is not as familiar to me. The nearest place I can think of to get blankets and maybe a little food is back at the camp. Please don’t move unless you have to.’ A second later he was gone.
They didn’t move. Louisa concentrated hard on controlling the heat in her body. A small surge of warmth ran through her fingers. She sighed. It wasn’t enough. She had been trying all night since Milgorry left and she was exhausted, and now she wondered what she was doing wrong. Maybe it just took practice. Elena gave her a smile of encouragement.
‘Louisa, we appreciate that you are trying. Don’t pa
nic, we’ll be alright until Milgorry returns. He can’t be far away now,’ she said decisively, looking up at the sky which was beginning to brighten.
‘Elena, your teeth are chattering and your legs are shaking. What am I doing wrong?’ Louisa asked desperately.
‘I’ve had very little contact with the Daoine Maithe before, so I’m not much help. But look, even though Milgorry is one of the fallen he was able to help Immy – only it seems he had to ask. Maybe you need to ask?’ Elena suggested.
Louisa’s eyes widened. Almost instinctively she placed her hands over Elena’s and Immosey’s hearts. ‘Please?’ she thought, feeling a little foolish. Warmth flooded from her body and out through her hands. Elena and Immosey simultaneously gasped as the heat raced through their bodies, completely warming every part like they were suddenly immersed in very warm water.
The Fallen (Book 1) Page 19
