a
cover over the exhausted boy. He put out the lantern that hung on the
wall and let himself out. As he walked up the stairs to his own room,
he shook his head. “Absolutely incredible.”
Pug waited as the Duke held court in
the great hall. Everyone in the keep and town who could contrive a
way to gain entrance to the audience was there. Richly dressed
Craftmasters, merchants, and minor nobles were in attendance. They
stood regarding the boy with expressions ranging from wonder to
disbelief. The rumor of his deed had spread through the town and had
grown in the telling.
Pug wore new clothing, which had been
in his room when he awoke In his newfound splendor he felt
self-conscious and awkward. The tunic was a bright yellow affair of
the costliest silk, and the hose were a soft pastel blue. Pug tried
to wiggle his toes in the new boots, the first he had ever worn.
Walking in them seemed strange and uncomfortable. At his side a
jeweled dagger hung from a black leather belt with a golden buckle in
the form of a gull in flight. Pug suspected the clothing had once
belonged to one of the Duke’s sons, put aside when outgrown,
but still looking new and beautiful.
The Duke was finishing the morning’s
business: a request from one of the shipwrights for guards to
accompany a lumber expedition to the great forest. Borric was
dressed, as usual in black, but his sons and daughter wore their
finest court regalia. Lyam was listening closely to the business
before his father Roland stood behind him, as was the custom. Arutha
was in rare good humor, laughing behind an upraised hand at some quip
Father Tully had just made. Carline sat quietly, her face set in a
warm smile, looking directly at Pug, which was adding to his
discomfort—and Roland’s irritation.
The Duke gave his permission for a
company of guards to accompany the craftsmen into the forest. The
Craftmaster gave thanks and bowed, then returned to the crowd,
leaving Pug alone before the Duke. The boy stepped forward as Kulgan
had told him to do and bowed properly, albeit a little stiffly,
before the Lord of Crydee. Borric smiled at the boy and motioned to
Father Tully. The priest removed a document from the sleeve of his
voluminous robe and handed it to a herald. The herald stepped forward
and unrolled the scroll.
In a loud voice he read: “To all
within our demesne: Whereas the youth Pug, of the castle of Crydee,
has shown exemplary courage in the act of risking life and limb in
defense of the royal person of the Princess Carline, and; Whereas the
youth, Pug of Crydee, is considered to hold us forever in his debt;
It is my wish that he be known to all in the realm as our beloved and
loyal servant, and it is furthermore wished that he be given a place
in the court of Crydee, with the rank of Squire, with all rights and
privileges pertaining thereunto. Furthermore let it be known that the
title for the estate of Forest Deep is conferred upon him and his
progeny as long as they shall live, to have and to hold, with
servants and properties thereupon. Title to this estate shall be held
by the crown until the day of his majority. Set this day by my hand
and seal. Borric conDoin, third Duke of Crydee; Prince of the
Kingdom; Lord of Crydee, Carse, and Tulan; Warden of the West;
Knight-General of the King’s Armies; heir presumptive to the
throne of Rillanon.”
Pug felt his knees go slack but caught
himself before he fell. The room erupted in cheers. People were
pressing around him, offering their congratulations and slapping him
on the back. He was a Squire and a landholder with franklins, a
house, and stock. He was rich. Or at least he would be in three years
when he reached his majority. While he was considered a man of the
Kingdom at fourteen, grants of land and titles couldn’t be
conferred until he reached eighteen. The crowd backed away as the
Duke approached, his family and Roland behind. Both Princes smiled at
Pug, and the Princess seemed positively aglow. Roland
cover over the exhausted boy. He put out the lantern that hung on the
wall and let himself out. As he walked up the stairs to his own room,
he shook his head. “Absolutely incredible.”
Pug waited as the Duke held court in
the great hall. Everyone in the keep and town who could contrive a
way to gain entrance to the audience was there. Richly dressed
Craftmasters, merchants, and minor nobles were in attendance. They
stood regarding the boy with expressions ranging from wonder to
disbelief. The rumor of his deed had spread through the town and had
grown in the telling.
Pug wore new clothing, which had been
in his room when he awoke In his newfound splendor he felt
self-conscious and awkward. The tunic was a bright yellow affair of
the costliest silk, and the hose were a soft pastel blue. Pug tried
to wiggle his toes in the new boots, the first he had ever worn.
Walking in them seemed strange and uncomfortable. At his side a
jeweled dagger hung from a black leather belt with a golden buckle in
the form of a gull in flight. Pug suspected the clothing had once
belonged to one of the Duke’s sons, put aside when outgrown,
but still looking new and beautiful.
The Duke was finishing the morning’s
business: a request from one of the shipwrights for guards to
accompany a lumber expedition to the great forest. Borric was
dressed, as usual in black, but his sons and daughter wore their
finest court regalia. Lyam was listening closely to the business
before his father Roland stood behind him, as was the custom. Arutha
was in rare good humor, laughing behind an upraised hand at some quip
Father Tully had just made. Carline sat quietly, her face set in a
warm smile, looking directly at Pug, which was adding to his
discomfort—and Roland’s irritation.
The Duke gave his permission for a
company of guards to accompany the craftsmen into the forest. The
Craftmaster gave thanks and bowed, then returned to the crowd,
leaving Pug alone before the Duke. The boy stepped forward as Kulgan
had told him to do and bowed properly, albeit a little stiffly,
before the Lord of Crydee. Borric smiled at the boy and motioned to
Father Tully. The priest removed a document from the sleeve of his
voluminous robe and handed it to a herald. The herald stepped forward
and unrolled the scroll.
In a loud voice he read: “To all
within our demesne: Whereas the youth Pug, of the castle of Crydee,
has shown exemplary courage in the act of risking life and limb in
defense of the royal person of the Princess Carline, and; Whereas the
youth, Pug of Crydee, is considered to hold us forever in his debt;
It is my wish that he be known to all in the realm as our beloved and
loyal servant, and it is furthermore wished that he be given a place
in the court of Crydee, with the rank of Squire, with all rights and
privileges pertaining thereunto. Furthermore let it be known that the
title for the estate of Forest Deep is conferred upon him and his
progeny as long as they shall live, to have and to hold, with
servants and properties thereupon. Title to this estate shall be held
by the crown until the day of his majority. Set this day by my hand
and seal. Borric conDoin, third Duke of Crydee; Prince of the
Kingdom; Lord of Crydee, Carse, and Tulan; Warden of the West;
Knight-General of the King’s Armies; heir presumptive to the
throne of Rillanon.”
Pug felt his knees go slack but caught
himself before he fell. The room erupted in cheers. People were
pressing around him, offering their congratulations and slapping him
on the back. He was a Squire and a landholder with franklins, a
house, and stock. He was rich. Or at least he would be in three years
when he reached his majority. While he was considered a man of the
Kingdom at fourteen, grants of land and titles couldn’t be
conferred until he reached eighteen. The crowd backed away as the
Duke approached, his family and Roland behind. Both Princes smiled at
Pug, and the Princess seemed positively aglow. Roland
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