Chapter 5
"This is the practice court," Roald said. Many pages were training hard on swords by Sir Laris Nicoden, the new training master of pages and squires.
"So Prince Roald has been a page just like them?" Louisa asked.
"Yes," Roald said while trying hard to ignore her high-pitched voice.
"The trainings of a knight must be very hard!" Catherine exclaimed.
"Yes," Roald said again. Alexis sighed. He knew what his sisters and cousins were up to. Suddenly Roald stopped walking and said, "This is the mess hall. It is lunchtime now. If you all don't mind, why don't we have our meals here?" The entire crowd shook their heads. "Then let's come in."
Roald led them to the high tables, and found that King Jon, Queen Thayet, Sir Laris, Lord Courmon, Duke and Duchess of Manam, and the little Adele were already settled on the high table. The younger people seated themselves and some servants began to put some delicious food on the table. Then Sir Laris stood up from the table and said, "We are so honored to have some guests from Bardia to visit us. Now let's say our prayer." Sir Laris said his usually short speech. Everyone in the mess hall except the Bardian said a prayer. Then everyone began his or her meal.
"That was a prayer to Mithros, the sun god. We usually have our prayers before our meals," King Jon explained later.
"We have something similar to that. We will say a prayer to Licannio, the god of spirits," Duke Boris said. Then the conversation carried on until the lunchtime was over. The youngsters could have their free time again.
Just when Roald and the Bardian stepped out of the mess hall, Roald raised his voice and called, "Kel, Neal." The two people whom Roald called at turned around and smiled to him.
"Roald, I thought you will forget us because of your… guests," Neal said.
"Of course not! Anyway I want you two to meet some people." Then Roald turned to face the Bardian. "This is Keladry or Kel of Mindelan, the lady knight. This is Nealan or Neal of Queenscove. They are my friends. This is Prince Alexis of Bardia. Princess Alice and Princess Louisa, Alexis' sisters. Princess Catherine, Princess Florence, and Duchess Natalie of Carnought, Alexis' cousins." All the ladies curtsied and looked at Kel curiously. In Bardia they didn't have female knights.
"Where are you two going?" Roald asked suspiciously.
"Nowhere, just the library," Kel said
"Really?" Roald said with a twinkle in his eyes and that made Kel's face turned a shade of pink.
"Really. We have to go now. See you later, Roald," Neal said. With that the couple turned and left. Roald and Kally smiled at each other. Obviously they knew something that other people didn't know, or not supposed to know.