The Dog of the North by Tim Stretton

mind was occupied.’
    ‘Understandable enough,’ said Pinch with a twinkle. ‘The lad is off to war next week. Who knows, perhaps he is contemplating his progress along the Way of Harmony.’
    ‘He would learn more from listening to a viator,’ said Sleech. ‘Such introspection smacks of the Wheel.’
    ‘Really, Sleech,’ said Pinch, setting his bread down on the cloth. ‘Can the boy not show some apprehension over his first battle without you accusing him of heresy?’
    ‘With all due respect,’ said Arren, ‘I have displayed no apprehension. I welcome battle, as do all men of true heart.’
    ‘Well said!’ declared Oricien. ‘We are all true subjects of King Arren and look to acquit ourselves with honour.’
    ‘We are not men until we have the blood of a foe on our swords,’ said Guigot.
    ‘Hmm,’ said Master Guiles. ‘The true knight does not dwell with relish on the gory aspects of battle. When occasion demands, he slays his foe with courage and vigour, but also
with regret. He most certainly does not brag and boast of his prowess with the blade, or dwell on the crude mechanics of the act.’
    Guigot managed to look angry and crestfallen at once. Pinch interjected:
    ‘Have you ever fought a battle, Master Guiles? Have you slain a foe with regret?’
    Master Guiles dabbed at his lips with his napkin. ‘One need not be a fish to appreciate the sea, Master Pinch, and in any event I am unclear as to your own martial history.’
    Pinch smiled. ‘I freely admit that I have never participated in a battle, nor did I ever intend to. Nonetheless, Lord Thaume has requested my presence and I shall travel north, even if
only as a spectator. Perhaps you might be prevailed upon to accompany us?’
    Guiles blinked his watery pale eyes slowly. ‘That would not be seemly. I have duties here in Croad, particularly in regard to Lady Siedra’s education.’
    Siedra looked up from her plate, where she had been absentmindedly pursuing some undercooked turnip. ‘Please do not detain yourself on my account, Master Guiles. You have taught us that
the first rule of etiquette is consideration for the feelings of others. I hope I have been an apt pupil, and the last thing I should wish would be to deny you the richness of experience,’
she said with an expression of innocent modesty.
    Oricien nearly stifled a giggle. ‘Sir, the road north might lie upon the Way of Harmony. As I would expect, my sister does not insist upon her privileges. She has a generous heart, well
schooled by you.’
    Guiles peered at Oricien through half-closed eyes. ‘My value to Lord Thaume in the field would be negligible at best, while I can never spend too much time helping Lady Siedra to prepare
for court.’
    ‘You underestimate your value,’ said Guigot. ‘You must be on hand to guide Lord Thaume in the gracious acceptance of Tardolio’s surrender.’
    ‘The matter is settled,’ snapped Guiles. ‘I remain at Croad to continue my duties. Why do you not attempt to persuade Viator Sleech to make the journey?’
    Sleech beamed. ‘No such attempt is necessary. I am already resolved to travel north with Lord Thaume’s army. Many folk will need assistance in finding Harmony as they lie on the
field of battle.’
    Master Guiles’s lessons in deportment must be having some effect, thought Arren, for there were no audible groans at the thought of Sleech’s sermonising accompanying them to, and
beyond, battle. Guigot’s cough might charitably have been attributed to gristle stuck in his throat, while Oricien’s expression could have arisen from gastric discomfort.
    The time weighed heavily on Arren. Viator Sleech interrupted the dessert course with a homily on the Humble Tailor and the Proud Knight – a person of mean origins might achieve Harmony
more easily than a gentleman who denied the intercessory power of the viators – and Master Guiles took Guigot to task for passing wind with unseemly relish. Eventually the meal