Be careful of him. He is no less than a sorcerer. Saer recalled Doctor Eryne’s saying in Rudolph’s doorsteps.

I chose anatomy and medicines despite of being middle blood because I knew sorcery doesn’t go well for those who don’t have noble blood in their veins. Saer kept knocking. Rudolph, as a low blood, surprised everyone by his learning. Some people doubted he was bastard of a nobleman.

Saer had asked her what he hated the most.

Poor people. She had said, Maesters couldn’t teach him to be humble.

He noticed a button on his right sleeve displaced out of the slot so he stopped knocking and buttoned it tight. Still there was no guarantee of it staying in its place for long to hide the burn marks under his wrist. The cotton shirt was tight for a man of his stature.

Air passed through his clothes which made him think if the clothes were transparent. In several occasions Saer would find himself searching for the sword on his waist. The one which he was inseparable with was in the pub in Logrum Forest. He presumed it was safe there unless someone decided to step in the place where a massacre had taken place.

But he knew well this was not time for testing sharpness of his sword. He was hearing tramps coming to the door from inside. Saer adjusted his braided hair to hide bald part of his temple.

Door opened and a dark skinned Maester looked at him. His eyes were searching for somebody else but in the end they got fixed at Saer.

“Maester Rudolph?” Saer asked.

Maester came forward and bowed, leaving Saer awkward.

“Where is your sister, my lord?” Maester Rudolph said in soft voice but Saer was unable to create any type of excuse for the problem which he didn’t even know existed.

He opened his mouth to speak but didn’t allow a single word to pass through it. Saer decided to ride the misunderstanding as long as he could.

“I am Rudolph.” he put hand on his chest as if he was telling it to himself. Maester opened the door and said, “Don’t doubt, my lord. You have come to the place where Lord Bloudkast had told you to be in.”

“Sorry Maester. I hadn’t heard good things about this place so I…” Saer said.

“Those saying so must be low bloods.” His smile vanished. It didn’t take long for the smile to crawl over his face again, “Come in please.”

Saer walked inside the room behind Rudolph.

“It would have been better if your sister was also here.” Rudolph closed the door from inside.

“She couldn’t manage time.”

“Aye, I forgot she is to be married. Lord Bloudkast would laugh at me if he hears about my mischievous memory.”

“I wouldn’t let him know.” Saer faked a sense of harmless jest which worked.

He found stacks of books everywhere in the sitting room. More of them were in the cupboard with spiders making cobwebs on their leather bounded spines. A quill was on the table with a book’s page open where the ink was drying. Big spot of spilled ink on table made him think Rudolph was writing when he had knocked the door.

Saer moved his finger like playing a harmonium, feeling the tension boiling in his head. One wrong thing he would say was enough to push him closer to death. He didn’t even know what his name was supposed to be.

“With me please.” Rudolph said.

Saer walked along with him, seeing more books in the way.

Where is he taking me? Why didn’t he call me Lord like before? Every bit of moisture left his mouth.

“I thought you would be young,” Maester Rudolph said, “considering your sister is eighteen.”

“I’m the elder brother.” Saer said while Maester was unlocking the door.

As the door swung open, he was looking at a yard. Gust of air evaporated some droplets of sweat from his face whereas he wiped the rest. He walked along with the Maester, trying hard to hide his nervousness. He hoped Rudolph was taking his behavior as natural shyness.

The yard resembled to an armory with different type of weapons he could think of. Saer couldn’t name more than half of them. He walked towards those he was familiar with. Saer lifted a sword inside a sheath on a rack. Maester watched Saer’s actions patiently with never-ending grin.

Saer gripped the shiny hilt and drew the sword out of it. The sword came out with ease but didn’t make the sound he considered satisfying. It was when his eyes met blunt edges of the sword. He put it back on its place and lifted an arrow. Its tip was missing