Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel -William Shakespeare – Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3
Bredin followed Tobias down the stairs to the Collegium dining hall. Bredin stared wide-eyed as they entered. It was larger – and vastly noisier! – than the refectory at the Temple in Bransat. It was filled with a horde of grey-clad figures. A small patch of men and women in Heraldic White held the favored places nearest the fireplace.
Tobias led Bredin to a table with half a dozen youngsters his own age. "Here are some of your yearmates. Have a seat." As Bredin sat on the bench, Tobias introduced him "This is your new yearmate, Bredin." He left Bredin to make acquaintances.
The boy seated across from Bredin stretched out his hand. "Hello, Bredin. I am Jan. Welcome to the mob." Jan had the cultured accent and bearing that Bredin associated with one of the nobility. Bredin suppressed the urge to pull his forelock and shook Jan's hand instead.
"Don't let Lord Jan's highfalutin' airs put you off." a freckled girl with red-brown hair said from Bredin's side, "He's ok for a highborn. I'm Jillyan Geeve. Call me Jill."
As Bredin shook Jill's hand, Jan complained "Why did you have to say that? It's not as though I ride over commoners every morning. Besides, I had to give up being heir to the title in favor of my brother."
Jill looked at him skeptically. "No. You ride over commoners after lunch because you don't get up in the morning. And who had a crate of tailor-made greys and riding boots delivered yesterday?"
Jan flushed. "Mother did that. I asked her not to, but what can you do about your mother?" He passed Bredin a bowl of vegetables. Bredin took some and put them on his plate.
Bredin filled his plate from the bowls and trays being passed. The others around the table introduced themselves. When Lars Stoppard – a gangly thin boy with short brown hair – introduced himself, Bredin grinned at him and told him about seeing his name in the register at The Blue and The White.
Bredin listened carefully to the others, learning something about each of them. They were all fascinated with Bredin's experience at the Temple. With the exception of Jan, none of them had had any sort of training in fighting.
"I wouldn't tell Herald Alberich about it, though." Lars said. "He's just going to come down harder on you for that." The others nodded and agreed with him.
Bredin had heard some of the stories about how the Karsite Herald had saved the life of the new Queen. He asked what the weaponsmaster was like.
Ari, the daughter of a merchant in Haven rolled her eyes and said "You'll see." The others nodded and mirrored Ari's expression.
Bredin thought the food was a feast. His mother rarely put so much on the table, even on feast days. When the berry tarts came at the end of the meal, Bredin felt he was in the Havens.
After the meal, Tobias reclaimed Bredin and led him to the Dean's office. "You are excused from chores for today." The Herald said "You'll see the housekeeper tomorrow and she'll give you your assignment."
Bredin, used to doing chores for his mother, simply accepted the idea. Tobias was a little puzzled by Bredin's lack of reaction, but said nothing. He left Bredin with Elcarth and went back to his quarters.
Bredin felt apprehensive as he entered the Dean's office. He worried that the Dean would decide he was unworthy to be a Herald after all and send him back to Bransat.
Elcarth, having seen many new trainees on their arrival, knew that this was a common misconception and adroitly drew Bredin's fear into the open. After reassuring Bredin that he and Lacaral would never be separated, Elcarth explained to Bredin that he would learn all that he needed to know about being a Herald before Bredin ever went out into the field.
Elcarth drew Bredin into a conversation, seemingly talking about a many unrelated subjects as he discovered what Bredin had been taught and what he needed to learn.
The Dean touched only lightly on the combat training that Bredin had taken at the Temple of the Iron God. Alberich would test the boy's strengths – and more importantly, his weaknesses – in that regard. Elcarth was impressed with the academic training that the monks had given Bredin. The boy was far in advance of his yearmates, with the possible exception of Jan who, as a Baron's heir, had been tutored intensively from an early age.
When he found out that Bredin had a good working knowledge of Karsite, Elcarth decided to place him with Myste, who could polish his Karsite to the point where Bredin could speak it like a resident of Sunhame.
"I think I can place you in your classes." Elcarth said at last. "You are going to need to do some classes in law and in commerce; your monkish friends don't do much teaching for either of those. The law classes should be easy for you because of the moral training you've had.
"I'll leave it to the weaponsmaster to determine how well they have taught you fighting techniques, but you are going to be doing a lot of riding lessons at the beginning. You really are going to have to learn how to be comfortable on your Companion's back." He winked at Bredin, drawing a laugh.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Elcarth said. A young man four or five years older than Bredin stepped in. "Harrow, here, will be your mentor. Starting tomorrow, he will show you around the Collegium and the palace grounds, so you know where you are. He'll also introduce you to some of your teachers and generally help you figure things out."
Harrow and Bredin shook hands. Bredin took an immediate liking to the young man, whose brown eyes and open face gave a sincere welcome. Due to his temple training, Bredin noticed Harrow's extreme fitness, which make Harrow seem taller than he actually was. Bredin also noticed the sword calluses on Harrow's hand.
"Harrow is one of the best riders among the Grays." Elcarth said. "He will be assisting Herald Keren in your riding lessons."
Harrow laughed. "Mostly it is a matter of keeping still and letting the Companions do the work." He said. "They get testy if you nag them too much."
Bredin smiled, thinking of Lacaral's sarcastic comments earlier in the day.
"Let's get young Bredin settled in his room." Elcarth interrupted. The three left the Dean's office and climbed a staircase to the third floor of the building.
"This is the boys' side of the building." Elcarth said. He pointed to a door at one end of the hall. "The girls' side is on the other side of the common area, which is through that door."
He led Bredin to a room two doors from the staircase. He opened the door and waved Bredin in. The room had a bed, a battered desk and bookshelf, two chairs and a nightstand. There was a faded and worn rug on the floor. All of the furniture showed scrapes and chips. There was also an open closet with some shelves. The walls were freshly painted but bare. There were two lamps: One on the wall above the desk and the other over the nightstand.
Bredin looked around. The bed seemed very narrow. Thinking it would be uncomfortable to share, Bredin asked "Who else uses this room?"
Elcarth smiled. "This is your room and no one else's."
Bredin gaped. "All for me?" He had never had a bed to himself before, much less a whole room.
Elcarth repressed a chuckle. Jan Nilsen's reaction had been much different. As the eldest son and heir of a wealthy nobleman, Jan's private study had been twice the size of this room. Though Jan was too polite to actually say anything, Elcarth had read volumes in the young nobleman's clenched-jaw reaction to his new quarters.
There was another uniform like the one Bredin was wearing on one of the closet shelves along with some towels. When Bredin picked up the uniform and examined it, Elcarth said. "Harrow will take you to Gaytha tomorrow to get you fixed up with a supply of uniforms that fit properly and get you measured for boots."
"Who is Gaytha?" Bredin asked.
"She whose wrath must be appeased at all costs." Harrow put in. "She's the Collegium housekeeper and may Kerenos protect you if you tear your uniform, come to meals unwashed or fail to clean your room." Harrow grinned as he said this. Bredin thought of his own mother's scoldings and grinned back.
Elcarth snorted. "Housekeeper Gaytha is very familiar with the antics of youngsters, but she is no tyrant. Follow the rules and she will work wonders to help you. She will also be your instructor in Courtly Graces."
"Courtly graces?" Bredin asked.
"You will have to learn how to interact with the highborn and other people of all ranks and stations. Your class in Courtly Graces is really about learning good manners and to speak politely with others as well as not offending them."
Since the monks at the temple had often spoken of finding ways to avoid a fight along with learning fighting techniques, Bredin thought Elcarth's explanation made sense.
Bredin noted the small pack of his own belongings that he had brought with him sitting on the nightstand. He asked Elcarth who brought it from Lacaral's saddlebag.
"I did." Harrow said. "I was in the stable when Herald Leo came in with Jaracin and Lacaral. I untacked and groomed Lacaral, then brought your pack here. Ylsa stopped me on the way and handed me the uniforms she'd fetched for you. I gave one set to Tobias in the bathing room and brought the other here. I sent the clothes you wore today to the laundry for cleaning. They will be returned to you for days when you prefer not to wear your uniform."
"Thank you very much, Senior." Bredin said with a slight bow. If good manners were important, Bredin was determined he would be as polite as any.
Harrow and Elcarth smiled at Bredin's bow. "You are welcome, Bredin." Harrow said. "But we are friends and brothers and sisters here. No need to be so formal."
Bredin was unsure of what to say to this. Before he could think of a reply, he yawned.
"It has been a very long and tiring day for you, Bredin." Elcarth said. "We'll leave you now and let you get some sleep. Harrow will come for you first thing in the morning to show you around."
The three exchanged 'Good nights" as Elcarth and Harrow let themselves out. Bredin closed the door behind them; he noted that there was a lock on the door. It stunned him. He really did have a whole room all to himself.
Bredin went to his pack on the night table. He pulled out a few personal belongings: A knife, a chess set, a few favored books and some small clothes and socks that his mother had sent along.
There was something else at the very bottom: A small purse that jingled as he lifted it. Bredin was puzzled. He did not have a purse, let alone one with coins.
He opened the purse. Twenty silver shillings tumbled out. There was also a note: "Some spending money for you in the big city. We love you, son, and are very proud of you. Mama and Papa." It was in his father's handwriting.
Bredin sat on the bed, holding the purse in his lap. Tears sprang from his eyes. For the first time in his life, he was homesick. However wonderful Lacaral was, however marvellous it was to be at the Collegium, however proud he was to be a Herald Trainee, he no longer lived at 'home.'
He undressed, turned the lamp down, and got into bed. At first he thought of his family and the home he left. A lump rose in his throat. Then another memory intruded. ::I am Lacaral. I Choose you.::
With a smile, Bredin fell asleep.
Bredin woke in the dark and silent Collegium well before dawn. Accustomed to rising early to help his mother, the early hour did not bother him. He lay in the bed for a moment, not sure what to do.
His muscles were stiff from the long day in Lacaral's saddle yesterday. He decided another hot bath would help relax them. He grabbed a towel and his uniform and walked down to the bathing room at the end of the hall.
To his surprise, there were already two boys in the bathing room. They turned to look at him as he came in. Both boys looked a year or two older than Bredin.
"Ho! Another newbie!" Said the taller of the boys, a youngster with shoulder-length black hair and a cultured accent. "Have they got you on kitchen duty already? I'm Amos Songer and this is Percy Kerner." He gestured at another boy with short white-blond hair of average height.
"I'm Bredin Kase. What's kitchen duty?" Bredin shook both boys' hands.
Amos looked incredulous. "You're up already? And you don't have to do kitchen duty?"
"Not every trainee has your lordship's slothful habits." Percy put in. "We common folk are used to seeing the sunrise." As Amos aimed a mock-backhand at his friend, Percy explained. "We all have chores to do. Amos and I are on morning kitchen duty this fortnight, so we are up early."
"Herald Elcarth said I would be given chores to do. He said I'd find out about that today." Bredin said.
As the three boys went about bathing, Bredin told the others he had just arrived the night before. The others nodded and told him it would all be straightened out over the next few days. They chatted with Bredin, who learned that Amos was the third son of Earl Songer and Percy was the son of a grain farmer who lived about two days' ride southwest of Haven.
As they left the bathing room, the others invited Bredin to join them on kitchen duty. Bredin, having nothing better to do, agreed.
In the kitchen, Amos and Percy introduced Bredin to Mero, the cook, a huge, balding man with a round face.
Mero questioned Bredin about what chores Bredin had done at home; when he learned that Zelar had never let Bredin do any cooking, he set Bredin to the simple task of stirring a huge pot of oatmeal.
Bredin enjoyed helping in the kitchen. He watched closely as Mero coordinated Amos, Percy and two female trainees, Sarin and Charsal, in preparing the breakfast.
When it was ready and the servers came to take the food to the dining room, Mero sat the preparers down to eat. He added a special syrup to the oatmeal that made the plain food sing in Bredin's mouth.
Bredin was just finishing his breakfast when Harrow appeared at the kitchen door. "Ah! Wondered where you had gotten to." He said. "Those two reprobates kidnapped you did they?"
Before anyone could protest, Harrow waved Bredin to follow him. "Did you get enough to eat?" He asked. "We have time for you to get a full meal if you need it."
After Bredin assured Harrow that he was full, Harrow took Bredin back to his own room, explaining that Bredin had to tidy it every morning for inspection. Since his mother had insisted on the same ritual, Harrow was soon satisfied that Bredin had left his room ready.
"Since you got up early, we are ahead of schedule. We have a candlemark before your orientation class. Would you like to visit Lacaral?"
At Bredin's enthusiastic agreement, Harrow showed him the way to Companions' stable.
They were not the first at the stable. Several Heralds and trainees were already there. Harrow explained that some Heralds and trainees preferred to exercise in the morning before the yard got busy. The weather had warmed from the day before and the snow was gone, so quite a few others were saddling their Companions.
Bredin spotted Herald Tobias, who was fastening a saddlebag to Irian's saddle and tightening her girth. He waved at Bredin as he vaulted onto Irian's back. "Ho, Bredin! We'll see you in two sennights. We're off with dispatches for Kelmskeep and points north."
Bredin waved back. He noticed the silver arrow on Tobias' sleeve as Irian leapt into a gallop and was off. He remembered Rhys telling him that Herald Couriers wore a silver arrow embroidered on their sleeves as a mark to their assignment. "Is Tobias a Herald Courier?" He asked Harrow.
"Yes." Harrow answered. "He lost his left arm at the Battle of Redruth, so they put him on Courier duty. Don't think that missing arm makes him any less capable though. I've sparred against him and haven't won a round yet."
Harrow brought Bredin to a tall thin female Herald with short brown hair and gray eyes. She was overseeing half a dozen trainees tacking up their Companions. "Stirling, straighten that saddle pad! You'll give Aley a sore back if you leave it like that!"
The boy blushed and hurried to adjust the saddle pad. The woman turned and faced Harrow and Bredin.
"New trainee, Keren. Bredin Kase. Came in with Lacaral yesterday evening." Harrow introduced. "Bredin, this is Herald Keren. She will be your equitation instructor. If it's got four legs, a mane and a tail, Keren can ride it."
Herald Keren offered her hand and Bredin shook it. "So you're the young 'un that got stuck with Prince Lacaral, are you?" Bredin thought the epithet was curious, but he nodded. Keren went on. "How much riding have you done?"
"Until yesterday, I'd never ridden in my life." Bredin said. Her question reminded him of his still-stiff muscles.
"We'll take it easy then, until your body gets used to the feel of riding. You'll be in my afternoon class, just after weapons class." She said. She plucked an apple from a box along the side. "I'm guessing you are here to spend a little time with him now. Give him this." She turned back to her class.
Bredin took the apple and followed Harrow to Lacaral's stall. The Companion was waiting for him. Did Bredin imagine it, or was there a look of impatience on the Companion's face?
Bredin stroked Lacaral's neck. "How are you today, boy?" He asked.
::I am fine. And I am no one's 'boy'.:: The Companion sounded testy. He reached for the apple. ::I assume that is for me.:: Lacaral added. The Companion grabbed for the apple.
"Hey! How about some manners?" Bredin said, pulling his hand back.
::I am not going to beg for a treat like some common palfrey.:: Lacaral arched his neck and looked down at Bredin.
"And I'm not your servant!" Bredin retorted.
The Companion paused. He lowered his head. ::I apologise Chosen. I am sorry. Pax?::
Bredin relented. He handed the apple to Lacaral. The stallion touched his cheek to Bredin's then took the apple gently from his hand.
Bredin threw his arms around Lacaral's neck. "I still can't believe you came for me." He said.
::Heartbrother, I can't believe there is anyone else worth Choosing.:: Lacaral's mindvoice was tender, warming Bredin all the way through.
Bredin noticed something. Though still faint, Lacaral's mindvoice was clearer today; Bredin did not have to work as much to 'hear' the stallion. ::That is because our bond is growing.:: Lacaral said. ::Also, your 'focus' has improved. You are closer to being centered.::
Bredin rubbed his cheek on Lacaral's neck. "I hope I can get 'centered' soon," he said, "I love talking to you like this."
Harrow cleared his throat. "If you two are over your quarrel, we do have to get on with our day.
"Bredin, you should spend as much time with Lacaral as possible for the next few days. I see he has told you about centering. The more time you spend together at the beginning, the easier that will be."
Bredin thought that would be no problem. He had never before felt as loved and comforted as when he was with Lacaral. He turned his face toward Harrow and smiled.
Harrow smiled back. "You will be back here after your weapons class. Keren will be teaching you the basics of riding this afternoon and you will get plenty of time together."
Reluctantly, Bredin let go of Lacaral and followed Harrow to a classroom where he found his yearmates waiting. "You will have your Orientation class here for the next few mornings." Harrow said. "I will be back in two candlemarks to take you to the Housekeeper for a supply of uniforms.'
Bredin joined his yearmates. No sooner had he sat down than a Herald came in and introduced himself as Teren. Teren reminded Bredin of Father Toma: He radiated the same calm authority, but seemed perhaps a little more approachable than the priest.
Teren was a good teacher. He kept Bredin and his yearmates enthralled through the whole lesson. Teren answered their eager questions cheerfully; he was never impatient with an interruption or diversion. After two candlemarks in which Bredin learned more about Heralds and Valdemar than he had ever known before, Teren dismissed the class for the day. Bredin was surprised at how quickly the time had passed.
Harrow arrived just as the class was finished and took Bredin to a room in the basement, where he introduced Bredin to Gaytha. The housekeeper was not the termagant that Harrow had described, but a warm and friendly woman who blended brisk efficiency with an open welcome.
Gaytha supplied Bredin with a load of uniforms in his size and measured him for boots. She questioned Bredin about the chores he had done for his mother at home, eventually deciding he would help as one of the servers and in the laundry at first. "Although if Alberich decides your leatherworking skills are useful, I may assign you to help him with equipment repairs." She added.
With Harrow's help, Bredin carried his supply of uniforms back to his room and put them away.
They had a half candlemark before luncheon, so Harrow gave Bredin a quick overview of the Palace, Collegia and Companion's field.
As he took Bredin back to the dining hall, Harrow told him that he should go to the salle to meet the weaponsmaster and start his lessons after luncheon. Bredin's yearmates could show him the way.