"Try apples," said Paks.
"Bribe a horse?"
"That's what I did."
"It works," put in Rufen. "They're such greedy-guts, horses are. We use apples in our training."
"Yes, my lord," said the groom, with a slight bow. Rufen colored, glancing at Paks. When the man had left, and they were walking back across the stable court, he sighed.
"I suppose you know we use only one name here?"
"No—" Paks hadn't thought about it.
"Well, the—the servants and all, they know our full names. But don't worry about it. Just call me Rufen."
"And I'm Paks," she said. He nodded, and led her back into the maze of buildings.
"It's simple, really," he said a few minutes later, after taking her to the Low Hall where they would eat, and then to the bath house and past some of the classrooms. "The High Lord's Hall opens into the Forecourt, and directly across from it is the Marshal-General's Hall. Her quarters are upstairs, but they hold large meetings downstairs. And several other Marshals live there as well. Where you came in—that archway—that's all quarters for the gate guards and some of the servants. The other side of the Forecourt is the Training College—where we live and meet for classes. It used to be quarters for the Knights of Gird, but when the order grew too big for it, they converted it for us. The ground floor is much larger—rooms on the back side look over the roofs. That's because it doesn't have cellars; all the storerooms are above ground."
"Why?"
Rufen shrugged. "I don't know. I never wondered; they just told us when we came. Anyway, the Low Hall is more-or-less behind the Marshal-General's quarters; you saw where the kitchens were, between the steward's office and the Hall. The stables are really confusing, and I hear they're thinking of redoing them. Most of our horses—those assigned to training—are stabled in that little court just back of us. But the only way from there to the guest stables is through the tackroom—so you'll have to ride out the back of the guest stables, and around the smithy. Then the Knights' horses are stabled on the other side, south of the training armory."
Paks was still confused, but hated to admit it. "There are other armories, then?"
"Gird's teeth, yes. Each order of knights has its own, of course, and the paladins have theirs—and by the way, don't even think of trying to see what magical things they've got. Elis of Harway tried that, a year ago, and was knocked senseless for two days by the guard power they've set."
"Oh."
"And the Marshal-General chewed her out when she came to, and had her assigned to be Suliya's servant for a week." When Paks looked blank at that, he explained. "Suliya's a paladin—she—well, she stays here now." Paks said nothing, since he seemed uneasy. Finally he went on. "Sometimes, they say, even a paladin is defeated. You think of them dying, but sometimes—" He shook his head. "Of course, I've never seen her. Elis said it was—well, she said she'd fight any of us if we tried violating paladin secrecy. You don't know Elis, of course."
Paks began to think she'd like to know Elis. She was about to ask which of the students was Elis, when Rufen went on. "You won't, anyway, unless she comes back before you leave."
"Was she dismissed?"
"Elis? No, but her father died, and she was the oldest. She had to take his place. As soon as one of the others is old enough, she wants to come back. And she will. In the long run, if Elis wants it, she gets it."
They were now in the passage outside Paks's room. A neatly lettered card fitted into a slot she had not noticed before, so that anyone would know it was her room.
"I'm down four doors, across the passage," said Rufen. Paks finally found words for something that had puzzled her.
"How did you know about Elis? I thought the Marshal-General said the new class had been here only a few weeks."
"Oh, them." Rufen laughed. "There are—oh—a dozen of them. They're all younger than you. I've been here a year and some."
"Were all those in practice with you?" Paks did not want to reveal how unskilled they had seemed to her.
"No—we train in groups according to skill. That's the most basic group, in sword-work. My father, you see, planned for me to be a scholar. I had a badly broken arm, as a boy, and he thought it would never hold up to fighting. I thought differently."
"Oh." Paks found his composure as interesting as his story. He did not sound angry, or defensive—he might have been talking about the training of a horse.
"You won't do your sword-work with us, I'm sure. But then Aris and Seli won't do staves with you. By Gird, I've never seen anything so clumsy as your grip on a staff." Paks flushed, but he obviously meant no insult. "It gives me hope for my swordwork, for I was just as clumsy to start—perhaps you were so with a sword, and yet you've learned great skill."
"Well—I'll work hard," said Paks, trying to copy his calm.
"Oh, you'll learn. Cieri could teach a cow grace, if he wanted to. And he likes you somewhat—not that that will take the sting out of his blows. But if we want baths before supper, we'd best get going. The rest of them'll be crowding in soon enough." He went in his own room, and Paks turned to hers. Already two complete sets of gray tunics and trousers were folded neatly on her bed. She took off her mail, and her sweaty clothes, and put on the loose bath-gown of heavy gray wool. A knock on her door. Rufen called from outside. "I forgot to tell you—lots of us don't wear the uniform to supper. It's up to you, but don't wear mail, or weapons but the dagger."
"Thanks," she called back. She rummaged among her things, and decided finally to wear her second-best shirt from Brewersbridge. Perhaps they would think it strange if she showed up in students' gray at once. Then she thought of the Training Master, and wondered. It seemed that she could be wrong either way. Why hadn't they told her exactly what to do? She was willing to do what she was told. She looked from one stack of clothes to the other, biting her lip nervously, trying to remember exactly what the Training Master had said. At last she took up her own shirt and trousers, and headed for the bath house.
* * *
Bathed and dressed once more, Paks returned to her own room, wondering now how she would know when it was time to eat. No one had mentioned a gong or other signal. Rufen's door was shut; she was too shy to knock. She heard voices in the passage, but could not distinguish the words. Suddenly a commotion began—shouts, thuds—Paks leaped for her sword, then stopped short. No weapons. She snatched at her door, and looked out.
A black-haired boy in red velvet lay flat on the floor, blinking up at two who had their backs to Paks. She saw Rufen's door open, and his narrow good-humored face peering out.
"And if you come up here again, Aris—" said one of those standing.
"What are you doing now, Con?" asked Rufen.
"Don't bother yourself, Rufen. Just reminding the juniors that they've no right to come up here—"
"I do!" began the boy in red, but the second of the standing pair laughed shortly.
"You do, eh? Then we've a right to dump you on your tail." He took a step forward, but Rufen came out of his room.
"No one has a right to brawl, Jori, and you and Con know it. I don't know where you got the idea that this is your passage—"
"You'd dispute that?" asked Con scornfully. "You? By Gird's toe, Rufen, I can throw you with one arm alone."
"I doubt that," said Rufen. The boy had started to roll to his feet, but Con aimed a kick in his direction.
"Stay there, little boy."
Paks had been growing angrier. Jori sneered at Rufen, and said, "We have to do something—the Master's put one of 'em on our floor!"
Rufen cocked his head. "So?"
"So, we'll have to teach them all a lesson—I don't suppose a peasant girl can be much trouble."
Paks felt her anger like a leaping flame. "You don't?" she asked, trying for a pleasant tone. The two whirled; she saw the shock in their faces as they saw her size and condition. Behind them, Rufen helped the boy in red to his feet. "What kind of lesson," she asked, rocki
ng slightly from heel to toe, "did you think to teach me?" She hoped they would jump her; she wished she had gone for them at once.
"Who in Gird's name are you?" asked Con, glancing sideways at Jori for support.
"Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter," said Paks quietly, still ready to jump. "A—peasant girl, I believe you said, wasn't it?"
"You're the new—?" Con seemed unable to believe it.
"Yes." Paks waited, suddenly finding it funny.
"Paksenarrion," said Rufen pleasantly from behind them, "is a veteran of the wars in Aarenis. I believe she is known to Sir Fenith, as well as Marshal Cedfer of Brewersbridge and others." Paks glanced at him quickly, still balanced to fight. The boy Aris was grinning openly.
Con shook his head. "I'm sorry for what I said, then. You're no novice, barely trained as a squire. I had heard you were a sheepfarmer's daughter, but obviously—"
"I am a sheepfarmer's daughter," said Paks, dangerously quiet. "Does that change your opinion?"
He looked confused. "But you're not Girdish. Where did a—a girl like you learn warfare, outside the granges?"
"In Duke Phelan's Company," said Paks, glad to see the surprise return. "I began there, as a recruit."
"Phelan!" That was Jori. "But he's—" He looked quickly at Con.
"Yes?" Paks let her hand slip to her dagger hilt.
"I didn't say a thing—" began Jori. He held out his hands, palm up.
"Look, Pak-Paksenarrion—I don't know Duke Phelan, I only know what I've heard. Don't—"
"And what is this?" The Training Master had turned into the passage from the stairs. Paks, facing them all, saw their faces stiffen at his voice. She stood silent, waiting to see what would happen. No one spoke for a long moment. Then—"Well? Have you set a gauntlet for our new student to run? Aris, I thought you were to escort her to supper, and now I find you all standing about up here as if you had all night to chat."
Even Rufen seemed to have no quick answer to this. Paks moved forward, passing Con and Jori without looking at them. "Pardon, sir," she said. "I did not know the usual signal for supper, and delayed them talking about your customs. You did say, did you not, that I need not change to the student uniform for tonight?"
"Yes—I did." The Training Master looked taken aback. "But—"
"Is it permitted to wear one's own dagger to the table?"
"Yes, of course, but—"
"Then," she said, with a glance back to the others, who were watching in some kind of shock, "I apologize again for making everyone late. Aris, will you show me the way?"
The boy in red seemed the least dazed of them all, and came quickly to her side, nodding respectfully to the Training Master, who looked down at him thoughtfully. "Someone downstairs reported a disturbance up here," he said at last.
"Oh, sir?" Aris managed to look doubtful.
"Yells," said the Training Master.
Paks intervened. "They were expecting a peasant girl," she said, carefully not looking at Con and Jori. "I think I surprised them."
"I see." The Training Master looked them all over carefully. "I will see you after supper, Paksenarrion; we must be sure you understand the rules of the house."
"Certainly, sir. Where shall I come?"
"Aris can show you." Aris colored at this, and Paks surmised that he had been called often to the Training Master's study. With a last nod, the Training Master turned away; they all descended the stairs behind him, silently. When he turned away, and they were alone in the passage between the kitchens and the Lower Hall, Rufen spoke.
"Paks, thank you for not going into all that with him—"
"I thought we were in for it," added Con. Paks looked at him with distaste.
"Soldiers don't complain to commanders about every trifle."
Con reddened. "That's not what I meant—"
"It's what I meant." She turned pointedly to Aris, who had not spoken to her yet. "Where are you from, Aris?"
"From Marrakai's House, in Tsaia—do you know it?"
Paks laughed. "No—but I've heard of Duke Marrakai."
"My father," said the boy proudly. "I'm the fourth son."
"And knows it, too," muttered Jori, from behind them. Aris whipped around.
"At least my father is a duke!" he said. "And I have three estates already to my name—"
"Oh Gird's grace," muttered Con to Jori, "did you have to start him off again?" Even Paks was tempted to smile at the boy's intensity. But they were at the doors of the Lower Hall, and looking for a place to sit at the crowded tables. Obviously more than students ate here: it seemed to Paks that a whole village was in the room, and the noise confirmed it. She followed the others between the tables, to a serving hatch. There her platter was stacked with sliced meat, a dipper of redroots in gravy, a small loaf of bread, and a slice of something that looked like nutbread dipped in honey. On a table beside the hatch were mugs; she had seen that each table had two pitchers.
The Hall was so crowded that they could not sit together; Aris found a space for the two of them, and the other three wandered away. Paks was hungry and began eating at once. When she slowed down enough to look around, the crowd was thinning out a little. Aris was chatting with another fairly young boy across the table—he was straw-blond, with gray eyes, and slightly crooked teeth. The person next to Paks had left without her noticing. She mopped up the rest of her gravy with the bread, and looked around the table. Next to Aris was a heavy-set redheaded man in a blue tunic, munching away steadily. Next to him, on the end, was a tall, slender—Paks stopped, and stared.
The elf looked up, and smiled at her. "I did not hear your name, lady—will you share it?" The voice held that strange music that all elves' voices shared, a hint of harpstrings or bells.
Paks choked down the last bit of bread. "Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, sir."
The cool gray eyes sharpened. "Would you be that Paksenarrion who traveled with one Macenion?"
"Yes, sir."
"Indeed. It is my pleasure, then, to welcome you—you are welcome to us, as to the Girdsmen. I am one of the embassy from the Westforest elves to Fin Panir; my elven name would be difficult for you to say, but you can call me Ardhiel."
Paks realized that Aris was staring at her, open-mouthed. He hissed at her. "Paksenarrion! The elf spoke to you? He's never said anything to me!"
Silvery laughter fell around them; the elf's eyes sparkled. "I do not know your name, young sir—and what would I speak with you about?"
Now the man beside Aris was also alert, listening.
Aris changed color. "I—sir, I—I only meant that—that I thought elves didn't talk to—"
"To students, rarely. We fear it might distract you from your own affairs—and your affairs, young sir, are not mine."
"But I—but she—but my father is Duke Marrakai!"
"Oh—you are the Kirgan?"
"No, sir. I'm the fourth son; the Kirgan is my brother Juris." The elf waved his hand, dismissing.
"Whatever, young Marrakai—your father's affairs might march with mine, but yours—no. I mean you no discourtesy, but—"
"I'm not a child!" insisted the boy. Paks had to admit he seemed childish even to her; the elf's face expressed nothing, but she could feel his withdrawal.
"No? For me, young Marrakai, all in this room are but a summer's memory. If you would be comfortable with elves, you must admit this. I have known your family for more generations than you have lived in your House." Aris flushed, and set his jaw stubbornly. When his friend across the table whispered, he rose to go, looking pointedly at Paks.
"The Training Master said I was to show you where to go."
"Yes—thank you, Aris, I'll be right there." She looked back at the elf, whose eyes seemed for a moment sad. "Sir, I thank you."
"Lady Paksenarrion, it is nothing. I hope to see more of you hereafter."
Chapter Twenty
In the next few days, Paks felt that her mind and body both were battered and confused. Her instructors were f
orthright with both praise and criticism; other students accepted her presence without comment, but tested her skills relentlessly. Yet they tested each other just as freely, and seemingly held no rancor. She found it somewhat like being a recruit at the Duke's Stronghold, with the many hours of required drill. Yet out of class and drill there was no regimentation, no barracks chores. Clean clothes appeared in her room each day, and the room itself was cleaned while she was out. Someone else maintained the jacks and the bath house; someone else groomed the horses and polished tack. She began to wonder if this was the way the nobles lived, playing at war with weapons drill, but with someone else doing the dirty work. She had to admit she liked it.
Once she knew where everything was, and which place to go when, she began to enjoy it as she had never enjoyed anything else. Most of the students cared as much about weaponry and tactics as she did. They sat up late, arguing problems assigned by the instructors: where should a cohort of archers be set, or which order of march was best in heavy forest. At first Paks was shy of speaking up to Marshals and High Marshals, but silence was no protection: they would ask her. For Marshals in Aarenis had brought reports of the last season's fighting to Fin Panir, and the problems set were those she had fought through.
It started with an analysis, in a discussion of supply, of the march from Foss Council territory to Andressat. "Assuming a march of five days," Marshal Tigran said, "what would you need to supply a cohort of a hundred soldiers?" Paks tried to remember if it had indeed been five days. When the others had answered, and she was called on, she simply remembered how many mules they'd used, and blessed Stammel for insisting that she learn how to divide everything by three.
"Mules?" asked Tigran, and someone laughed. He frowned at them. Paks shook her head.
"To carry the supplies, Marshal."
"Aha! That was going to be my next question—how to transport it." Somehow Paks was getting credit for a right answer she had never actually given. But the next one she earned on her own. "Then," he went on, "how do you figure the extra transport for the supply taken up by transport?"
Paks knew that, from Stammel's many tirades on the subject. One Tir-damned mule in four, he'd muttered, just to make sure the beasts have enough for themselves. Tigran looked at her with respect, as did the rest of the class. When he found she knew how long fresh mutton or beef could travel in different seasons, and how long it took to grind the grain for a cohort's bread ration, he grinned, and turned to the other students. "This is the value of practical knowledge," he said. "Some of you know in theory, and the rest of you are learning, but here's a soldier who has been in the field, and knows what the ration tastes like."
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