“Balin, we will have some long days in front of us. Dealing with the ego and expectations of royalty is always a pain but I am sure that we will have fun. You are free until dinner. But stay in the house. I don’t plan to leave until the big dinner festivities, and it would be seen as unprofessional if someone saw my only bodyguard running around without me.”

“I’ll keep it in mind. Tracy please, show me the way!”

The two left the room where Bernhard stayed behind, showing his son how to build towers out of sand bags

“Was the travel over here difficult? I can’t imagine having to travel with a little child for more than a few hours. How did you do it?”

“It was not that difficult. Bernhards contacts have organized a mostly comfortable ride of us. At least it once we were on the road it became tolerable. We had to delay the departure for almost three days because Sieg got suddenly sick, just before we had to leave, both me and my husband have had no time to rest because were always watching over him. I have called a doctor over to make sure that he would be safe to travel. I just hope that the salve that this quack prescribed us would be worth it.”

“You are married? I didn’t know that.”

“I’ve never told you about Darren? He works as a butler for the head of the royal court in the capital. I used to work there as a maid as well, until Bernhards wife died in child birth and they needed a wet nurse. I had a few weeks earlier a miscarriage, but I still produced milk. My master, the head of the court, owed a favor to Bernhard. So, he asked me to do the job. There was a pay increase in it as well, so I accepted and replaced Bernhards original maid and she took over my position at master’s place. Oh, sorry have I stared to blabber? I am so sorry. It’s a bad habit of mine. Once I start going, I rarely stop. I’ve told you that before, haven’t I?”

“No, its ok. We haven’t had the chance to talk much and even if, I am a better listener than talker myself. If you are going too fast, I’ll tell you, ok?”

“Oh, that’s sweet of you, but not necessary. Well anyways here is your room. Right next to the master bedroom on the first floor.”

She opened the door to the small room. It contained not much space but was crammed with all the essentials. A comfortable bed, a wardrobe with multiple storage rooms a table with a preinstalled holder for ink and two different chairs. One for the table and a second free one for clothing or possible guests.

“As Bernhards bodyguard you are going to sleep next to his room. From where, in case of an attack, you could reach him as fast as possible. My room is on the floor below, were I will be closer to Sieg’s room. Also don’t worry if foreign maids come into this house at different hours. They are employed Bernhards father and will take care of the house, cleaning room, polishing silverware and so on. Chances are that you won’t come across them too often. They tend to be very good at avoiding people during work. Got that all? Good. Well there is….”

Tracy kept talking for quite some time. Balin was aware of a lot of these things already. His uncle hammered them into him as part of his training after all. But out of politeness he didn’t want to interrupt his coworker.

The rest of the day went for the most part uneventful for Balin. He slept for a few hours in his room and was content being alone for a while. When time for dinner came Balin was woken up by Bernhard and they left the house just before dusk. Apparently, Siegfried as deep asleep already and Bernhard didn’t want to wake him up. They would join later if Tracy thought that it would not be too late. As it turns out today evening would be the first day of the week-long party held in honor of Baron Aubrey’s birthday. There were feasts and games planned to entertain all the guests, with no expense being spared. Balin wouldn’t have to spend all the time next to Bernhard, seeing as the place was well guarded already but at least until most attendants were drunk, he should stay nearby. The first dinner would be held outside with a huge barbecue made from a wide assortment of different meats and poultry. As the two entered they were greeted by an already drunk man, who was introduced to Balin as a retired general. He and Bernhard talked for a while and then took their seats. At least Bernhard had a designated seat, Balin would stand behind him until given permission to leave. Bernhard would seat near the Barron’s right. Not as close as the Barron’s closest or the highest-ranking attendees but still close enough to be one of the first ones being served. The out garden was built around one big fire place, where a delicious spit-roasted ox already was searing on the open flame, being close to being ready to be served. Directly around the fireplace was an open circle of tables, where the highest-ranking guests would sit, near that circle where multiple tables stationed in strategic places. Some where for lower ranking guests and others were filled with food and around those were multiple decorative areas with either water pods or various plants, from rose bushes to trees with delicious looking fruit, ready for the picking. Most of the place was already filled with wither guests or servants. Officially no festivities would happen until an additional half hour passes but that didn’t stop anyone from already having plates filled with lighter snacks and glasses filled with wine. Bernhard mingled with friends and introduced Balin to some of them, some where people he served with, others were members of higher nobility and lower royalty and even two commoner merchants who got rich enough to become unofficial members of the highest society that Bernhard was part of. Balin knew some of those by name but due to the small divide between higher and lower nobility Balin never actually met any of them personally. This went on until Bernhards father sat at his designated spot and everyone else followed. For such a big group they were surprisingly fast at finding and sitting quietly at their place. Then some people that Balin didn’t knew stood up and held speeches and congratulated the Baron for his birthday. For Balin these speeches all went on for far to long and he was afraid that the ox would be overcooked by the time that he would be served.