Chapter 70

Gasper was woken up by the sunshine coming through the window. His father had returned to his subtle ways again. He got up, earlier than he wanted to.

After washing himself and gazing at the faint waves of water in the basin, he sighed. His father had told him once that if he had enough leisure to stare at meaningless things, then he had too much leisure.

He drank some water and walked out of the house with his sheathed sword. He circled around the house and came behind it where there was a very small patch of dying vegetation, hardly large enough to compare to a room.

He unsheathed his sword and began swinging. He'd become a Sky Warrior a while ago, before returning to Ard. Since then he'd been training to let the new strength settle in his body. It would take a while. Most people had divided it into four steps, or four ranks. A Sky Warrior would have to reach the fourth rank before thinking of taking the next step and achieving what very few people could, becoming a Heaven Warrior, which could only come through combat. Gasper didn't care much for ranks. He only cared about getting himself as far as possible with training.

He kept swinging his sword, and only paused when the neighbor's wife glanced at him while hanging clothes to dry.

He stopped once again when he heard his father's voice.

"Have you broken your fast?"

Gasper turned around to his father who came with a plate covered in bread, cheese, and some fruit. "I'm not hungry."

"There is no surprise in that," his father said. "A man who looks as melancholy as you is likely to starve himself to death."

"Melancholy?" Gasper raised a brow. "I think not, father."

"I thought you would notice the pale skin and those droopy eyes of yours while doing your morning stare at the water basin. Remind me, son, what does that train you for?"

Gasper's mouth twitched then he shook his head. "I'm not hungry father."

"You're not? Well then—" his father paused as he noticed Gasper's gaze moving behind him. He turned around and saw the man Gasper had just watched appear from around the corner, Master Rudolf.

"You are?" his father asked.

"Father, this is Master Rudolf, the lord's steward," Gasper said, his eyes still fixed on the old man who was smiling faintly.

"Ah, forgive me," his father said, nodding his head and lowering it slightly. "Please, grace us with your presence inside." He stretched his arm and gestured towards the house.

Master Rudolf shook his head with a neutral expression. "There will be no need for that." Then he smiled again and shifted his eyes to Gasper. "The lord has a need for your presence."

"A- . . . huh," Gasper stuttered, shifting his eyes between Master Rudolf and his father.

"Of course, he will be at the lord's command in moments," his father said, giving him a glance. "Go on, Gasper. Get dressed and don your armor." He pointed at the house and urged him in.

Gasper nodded and headed into the house. He quickly washed himself and donned his leather armor. After donning his armor, he walked to the water basin and looked at his reflection in the water. His skin was pale, and his droopy eyes struggled to hold themselves up even after washing himself twice. He threw some cold water on his face and took a breath.

He wasn't certain what the lord wanted of him, but he was glad that he was still at least needed. He balled up his fist to resist that anxious shudder that overwhelmed him for a moment. He would have to do better this time. Perhaps he still had a chance to get into the Viscount's good graces, after all.

He walked out of the house to the two waiting old men. His father flashed him a quick smile that spilled encouragement. Master Rudolf gave a more lasting but subtle smile as he turned around and prepared to lead him to the keep.

Gasper took two steps after Master Rudolf then stopped and turned around. "Father," he gave his father an apologetic look. Then he turned to Master Rudolf. "Ahem, is the matter discreet, Master Rudolf? Can my father know when to expect my return?"

"No need. No need," his father said to Master Rudolf. "Just serve the lord well, son."

Gasper stared at the old steward, awaiting an answer to his question.

"No, he cannot. He can accompany us, however."

Gasper narrowed his eyes. "Are you certain?"

Master Rudolf nodded. "I suppose the lord wouldn't mind his presence. Perhaps he would even prefer it. He might find good use for a former merchant."

Gasper glanced back at his father who'd lost his words for a moment. The old man took a while to realize that he was to accompany them. He nodded his head and grinned. "Master Rudolf, I hope you will give me a very brief moment to dress myself more appropriately." He ran into the house with the recklessness of a much younger man, and it took him a bit longer than promised to emerge from within again.

Gasper raised a brow as he saw the blue robes he'd never witnessed before. The golden runes fit on the edges of the robes as perfectly as the robes fit his father.

Master Rudolf gave an approving nod, and Gasper's father grinned at him. And they soon headed towards the looming white keep.

..

Gasper was greeted by a lot of liveliness in the keep on his arrival. Maids and servants in formal attire walked by in every direction. The guards were better dressed than they were the last time he'd been here, and there seemed to be some strangers in the keep.

"The envoys of the southern Baronies arrived recently," Master Rudolf whispered to him.

Gasper nodded in understanding, while his father preserved a rigid posture, measuring each pace of his walk perfectly.

"We're expected in the Lord's Hall," Master Rudolf said.

Gasper nodded and the three of them headed to the hall. There, the two guards at the doors of the hall stood in ceremonial armor, hardened iron, properly polished and clothed in the colors of House Tellus.

As the two guards prepared to open the doors, a hand grabbed Gasper's arm and a whisper came to his ear. "The lord and I have stood on your side. Robard has opposed it, while Arthur stayed neutral. You must repay the lord for this, by serving him well."

Another involuntary shudder ran through Gasper as he heard the words and at the same time the doors opened.

The first to catch Gasper's eyes was Frederick who received them in dashing formal attire. "The lord awaits you." He motioned them in.

Gasper was pushed by Master Rudolf to step in first. And he did, running his eyes briefly over the room. The lord was in his seat, while Arthur and Renard stood to his sides. Robard and Lucas stood a step down from them. Gasper also spied a lady and some old men standing to one side below the platform on which the lord was seated.

Master Rudolf headed up the platform to stand behind the lord, while Frederick guided Gasper's father to stand with the lady and the old men standing to the side.

The lord's minister, Master Arthur, loudly cleared his throat. "Gasper Fedelis, you have been summoned by the Viscount, Gerald Tellus, the rightful ruler of the Tellus Viscounty and the protector of all its territories."

Gaspe hurriedly trotted into place, just below the platform, where the lord could look down upon him and he could look up to the lord. He bowed deeply. "My humble presence is always at the lord's service. I answer the call." He felt his eyes moisten but he held back his tears. Master Rudolf's words—If this was what he believed it was . . .

As he straightened up, the Viscount stood up from his seat and smiled down at him. He took one step down, slowly, and said, "Gasper Fidelis, no one can deny that you have served me and this Viscounty faithfully and vigorously." He glanced at his aides.

Lucas gave Gasper a nod, while Sir Robard kept a neutral face.

The Viscount took another step down, his steel armor clinking. "You have bled for me. You have suffered for me. And you have shown courage as you've served me." He took the final step down and stood level with Gasper, staring him in the eye. "A lord who's been served with such vigor would be unwise to ignore your merits. Hence . . . In the name of House Tellus, and in my name, Gerald Tellus, I ask you, will you serve me and my family as a faithful knight of this House for all your years?"

Gasper clenched his jaw, preventing his lips from trembling and his tears from squeezing out of his eyes. He fell to one knee. "I will serve House Tellus for this life and for as many lives as may come, my lord."

The Viscount nodded, drawing his ceremonial sword, one adorned with gold at the hilt and pommel. "Then," he tapped the sword on one side of Gasper's neck and rested it on his shoulder. "I, Lord Gerald Tellus, vow to honor your loyalty, take your family as my own should they be in need, and value your blood as I would the blood of my kin should it be spilled. May all those present today stand witness to my oath."

Gasper was grateful that his head had to be lowered for his vow. He gazed at the ground, his eyes twitching and the heaviness of the sword on his shoulder. "Your oath is my honor, my lord." He took a breath. "I vow to serve your name, your House, and your children after you till the last breath I can muster. I vow to bleed before my lord bleeds. I vow to fall before House Tellus falls. Should the men of all lands come for blood, I shall defend my House and receive them with arms. May all those present today stand witness to my oath."

The Viscount raised the sword and tapped the other side of his neck then rested it on his shoulder. "I accept your oath, shall it forever honor me. I name you Sir Gasper of House Tellus. Rise."

Gasper stood up, meeting the Viscount's gaze. The latter stepped forward and embraced him, patting him on the back. As his head rested on his lord's shoulder, Gasper caught a glance of his father sobbing among the crowd behind the lady. He smiled, hoping his father would see him do so, but the old man's tears had blinded him. Gasper doubted that he could see anything for the time.

As the Viscount and Gasper separated, the former smiled at him goodheartedly. "I also announce you as the commander of the elite corps of Ard."

Gasper nodded. He swore a silent vow to himself too. He swore that he wouldn't escape next time, no matter what.