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The golden-haired man bowed ever so slightly in Aldric’s direction, with Aldric returning his gesture of salute. The man then spoke in greeting, saying, “Welcome, Lord Aldric. We have eagerly awaited your arrival and that of those you have escorted to us.” He looked Avalana over with a cocky grin and a half-nod of approval. My men shall stable your beasts and see that your soldiers are housed. I will personally arrange for you and our other esteemed guests to settle into quarters.” The man peered curiously at Aldric and commented, “I will also send a servant to fetch you fresh garments. If I did not know better, I would say that all the lands south of here were flooded, for you look as though you swam the last mile hither.”

Some of the household guards chuckled at their leader’s humor.

Aldric sheepishly returned, “Yes, my lord. I understand your confusion. Please pardon my failure to change into dry finery. Fresh attire and a fireplace would be most satisfying.”

“I hope the mighty Bushubu did not cause you to suffer too much loss of life,” the younger man added, his arrogant tone and his cocky grin burying all signs of genuine concern.

“Our losses were small by the counting, but those who fell will always be missed, lord,”

Aldric assured the man before him. “The Bushubu were but a hindrance, as always. Let us hope our response to their attack has given them scare enough not to engage us again in a fight so near your stronghold.”

“We should not concern ourselves with tribesmen of little account when there is a much greater enemy demanding our attention, Aldric,” the golden-haired man said with a sigh. “Come and prepare yourself for court. We have much to discuss with my father.”

The man commanded his soldiers to stable the horses. At Aldric’s bidding, everyone in the party dismounted and prepared to surrender reins of their beasts. Loric eagerly swung down from his saddle, but Sunset became fidgety when the Moonriver Soldier drew near him. The young traveler from Taeglin warned the soldier, “You would be wise to leave him to me.”

“I have my orders,” grumbled the soldier, grabbing for the bridle. Sunset rolled his eyes, shuffled his hooves, and brayed in protest. The man cackled at the stallion’s nervousness, as if Sunset was no more than a foal frolicking in a field. He found out his mistake when Sunset tore free from his grasp. The red stallion reared up with a piercing whinny and violently tossed its legs in the air. The man fell to the ground with his arms raised to shield his face from whirring hooves. Sunset did not strike the man, but instead brought his forelegs down next to him with a hard stamp to chase him away. When the man failed to obey his warning, he rose upon his hind legs again and let loose a deafening shriek.

The leader who had exchanged greetings with Aldric yelled, “Boy, control that animal of yours or I shall have you lashed!”

Loric grabbed Sunset’s bridle and spoke soothingly into his ear. The stallion settled down at once, afterward snorting contempt for the man who had threatened its master. “All is well, lord”

Loric assured the man, doing his best to suppress his tremulous tone. He bowed respectfully before the man and said, “By your leave, lord, I will stable my own mount. As I tried to warn your soldier, he will suffer no hand to touch his bridle besides mine.”

“By all means,” the man snarled impatiently, his eyes nearly squeezed shut in the tightness of his displeasure. “Get thee gone from my sight!”

Aldric commanded Loric, “When you have finished stabling your steed, ask the guards to show you to your quarters. Be sure to tell them you are my squire and personal attendant.”

Loric ignored the quirky eyebrow of the sharp-tongued lord, who had threatened him with a beating, and followed other soldiers to the stables. When he asked where Sunset was to stay, one of the men pointed out his assigned stall. Loric unburdened the animal from his bags and saddle.

Then he groomed him and tucked him into his stall. Once Loric was satisfied that Sunset was comfortable and happy, he bade him farewell and flagged down a passing soldier.

“I was wondering, sir-” Loric began, but the man stopped him with a cackle.

“I am no sir,” he explained. “I am Marblin.” He extended his hand.

Loric clasped the callused hand firmly, looking the man in the eye as his father had taught him to do. “Loric of Taeglin,” he replied.

Marblin laughed again and asked, “What can I do for you, Loric, lad?”

“Could you show me to my quarters?” Loric asked. “I am squire to Lord Aldric, and I am to be his personal attendant.”

“Of course,” the man answered uncertainly. “I am not sure where you are to be staying, but I can help you find out. Follow me.”

Marblin led Loric to the portico, where he spoke with one of his fellow guardsmen to learn where the squire was to stay. The doors opened before them, and they entered the keep. Within, a wide hallway stretched as far as Loric could see to the left and the right. A large set of double doors was set directly across their path. These twin oak-and-iron barriers were exact replicas of those outer doors through which they had passed to enter the castle. A pair of tall, stern warriors with chiseled faces and powerful builds stood guard beside the doors.

Marblin nodded in reverent admiration of those sentries as he broke to the right. Loric followed him with many a rearward glance, as he too was awed by the statuesque quality of the duo. Two sets of boots echoed against flagstones with their passing, with the damp leather of Loric’s soles noisily squeaking out the tempo of their paces as he and his guide made their way down the lengthy corridor. Occasionally, a small doorway or side passageway presented to the left of the hall, but Loric’s guide disregarded those openings.

Marblin spoke with Loric as they walked, remarking, “This is the first time Lord Aldric has seen need for a squire to attend upon him. Usually, his lordship sees to his own needs. I hope he is not ill?” he questioned.

“No,” Loric assured him, venturing nothing more than that.

“We weren’t sure where to put you, but it seems that Lord Aldric specifically requested your room be adjoined to his own. I suppose it will be convenient for him that way. He’ll have you near him should he need anything from you.”

“Yes,” Loric agreed. “I guess he will.”

“No matter,” the old guard said, waving his hand in dismissal. “We’ll see to it that you have a set of dry clothes and a warm place to sleep.” The veteran guardsman led Loric in silence for a time before he absently commented, “So, you are squire to Lord Aldric.”

“Yes,” Loric answered, uncertain whether Marblin had asked him a question.

“If you don’t mind my saying so, that is a fine blade at your side,” he remarked.

Loric subconsciously moved his hand to his belt, looking down to see his cloak flapping freely. Woolen fabric was no longer hiding the Sword of Logant.
How long has it been like that?

he thought. He pulled the damp cloak securely about him once more, offering no reply.

“That seems the weapon of a knight or lord,” Marblin remarked. “And if you don’t mind me saying so, it seems above your station,” said the guard, seemingly oblivious to Loric’s guarded behavior. “But it’s a beauty.”

“I am lucky to have it,” Loric replied quietly, once again feeling the burden of his theft.

Marblin stifled after that, as if he sensed Loric’s discomfort and thought better of pressing the issue.

They came to the end of the hall, which wound to the right and stopped at a door. There was a sharp bend to the left. Marblin opted for the sudden shift to the off-hand and hastened on. The new passage was not as wide as the one they had just vacated, nor was it as tall, but it was a long corridor with a great many more doors to each side.

Marblin stopped at the second door on the left, offering, “Here you are. Enjoy your stay.

Perhaps we’ll chance to meet again during your visit.” With a final bow, he was about his business once more.

Loric bade Marblin farewell, entered the chamber and shut the door behind him. Much to his surprise, the room was already occupied. Lying upon the bed, fast asleep in her travel-worn dress, was Princess Avalana. Loric gazed at her angelic face for a moment, before he turned to reopen the door. As quietly as he could, he rotated the latch.
Click!
Loric peered over his shoulder to see if the noise had awakened the sleeping princess. Avalana’s eyes were wide and fixed upon him, demanding,
What are you doing here while I sleep?

“I-I am s-so s-sorry,” Loric stuttered. “I-I did not mean to wake you. Y-you see, someone has shown me to the wrong chamber. And, well, I-”

Avalana’s face relaxed into an amused smile. “There is no need for embarrassment,
lord,
”

she assured him.

“E-Embarrassment?” Loric questioned.
Lord?
he thought privately.

“Yes,” Avalana said, her smile broadening. “You are stammering and your face is red.” The princess nodded past him and said, “I think
your
room is across the hall.”

Loric’s face was warm and he could not deny his stammer. “My apologies, fair princess,” he offered. “I had no idea this was your room, or I would not have disturbed you.” With a shaky bow, he turned to leave.

“That is okay,
lord,
” Avalana assured him. “I was rather hoping to see you again. I had not planned it like this, but I am glad to see you just the same.”

“You are?” Loric asked, his heart fluttering into the back of his mouth to make his voice crack. He cleared his throat to hide how awkward he felt.
Lord again....

“Yes, of course,” she confirmed with a sweet smile. “I never had the chance to tell you how lovely your purification ceremony was today.”

The princess omitted her feelings about his oath of service to Lord Aldric. Loric guessed her passive nature was against such vows between warriors and warlords. Nevertheless, Avalana had made a concession to find something beautiful to take from the ritual as a whole. Loric decided that was the kindest thing she could say. There was only one polite response for him to give.

“Thank you,” he answered, and he again pivoted to leave.

“Ami,
wait,” commanded Avalana. She spoke again, nervously, “Loric, I mean to say.”

She seemed to forget why she had stopped Loric, so he prompted her, “Yes, princess?”

“Do you dislike me?” she begged to know.

“Dislike you?” Loric asked, shocked that she would ask him such a thing.

Avalana looked fretful. Her face twitched with pain unbecoming one so lovely, as she

ventured to say, “Well,
lord
, it seems you have misled me by playing the commoner with me, and.... well, I only wondered if you thought that a kindlier deed than saying you liked me not.”

Loric laughed in spite of himself. He did not mean it to be harsh. In fact, it was tempered with joy that his like or dislike mattered to the beautiful Princess of Regalsturn. Yet, it was also bitter, for this misunderstanding had its roots in the lie that Aldric had commanded him to speak upon swearing his fealty.

Avalana was aghast. “So, it is true then. And worse, you make mock of me!”

The princess pointed through the door, but before she could command Loric to go, he

hastened words to his defense, saying, “No, princess. There is a misunderstanding between us, and I fear I bear the blame. It is a complicated matter that I am not at liberty to explain, but I hold no ill feelings toward you.” To himself, he thought,
I will see Aldric soon, and we will settle this
matter.

Avalana let her slender finger curl downward in leading her hand to her lap. A light smile tugged the corners of her mouth upward without blooming into a display of her shiny white teeth. “But you are a lord?” she questioned.

“I am an heir,” Loric answered truthfully, “but I am lord of nothing. I am a squire to Lord Aldric.”

“Are you not from Taeglin?” Avalana asked.

Loric could not lie to the princess, who had done so much to help him. “I am a common farmer, princess,” he explained. “As for the things I repeated during the swearing.... I must speak with the Lord of Egolstadt.” He sighed and shook his head, confiding, “I am not sure I understand.... anything.”

“Poor,
Ami,”
Avalana cooed. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Loric shook his head. “You have listened and given me understanding, when I have given you no reason to understand. I will burden you no more.”

Avalana nodded. Her cheeks tightened around her eyes, making them smile. “I truly hope I will have the opportunity to teach you Regalspeech, as we discussed earlier,” she suggested, almost questioning.

“I would like that very much,” Loric answered. “You are kind to offer me the gift of your language. I cannot refuse such a fine offering from one I earnestly like. Now, if you would permit it, my lady, I would like to find my room, before I have to explain my presence in yours.”

The princess nodded in agreement. “Yes,” she concurred. “You are right. You should go.

Goodbye,
Ami.”
Before Loric could exit the chamber, Avalana called out, questioning, “Loric?”

As soon as Avalana had his attention, she asked, “Do you ever wish you were a lord?” Loric did not have time to contemplate the question before Avalana confessed, “I often wish I were a simple peasant girl from a quaint little farm village like Taeglin.”

That was an unmistakable compliment, but Loric coyly questioned, “My lady, whatever

would make you wish that?” A surge of excitement swept over him and a wave of warmth

simultaneously spread from his heart up to his cheeks. He saw visible sullenness in Avalana’s fair face, but she offered no explanation. Loric grinned to evoke a like expression from the princess, before he responded, “In answer to your query, my lady, I would gladly accept the weight of such rank just to count myself among your peers. Though propriety might say otherwise, our differences of social standing need not disturb our friendship. Until we meet again. Goodbye and rest easy.”

Avalana’s smile broadened and Loric exited her room.

The young traveler knew the power of rank would undermine his new friendship, no matter his brave words, and he cursed himself for his stupidity regarding Princess Avalana. He felt excited within, even as he thought of the beautiful girl, but what connection it would take between them to appease his longing for her was impossible to gauge and impractical to consider, for the fact remained that she was royalty and he was common. Loric thought once more of Sir Palendar, but he dismissed knighthood as too lowly a title to suit a great king, like Avalar. With lingering questions about his ultimate restoration as a Logantian Knight still plaguing him, he strode across the hall and entered the chamber beyond--this time more cautiously, lest he should have another surprise. The room held only its furnishings.