Chapter Ninety-six: Bastard Silverkin (Part Four)
Alistar smothered a small seedling of envy as he stared at the badge on the boy’s chest. He had reached this level a long time ago, but Tramon still hadn’t even bestowed upon him his first stripe. Such things were important, since these badges were issued by training institutions, guilds, and local governments on behalf of the crown, and they were also recorded on legers with copies sent to an archive in Cedor, the capital of Civus. These badges served as proof for swordsmen to provide to potential employers, and any sellsword looking for work was expected to have one in order to prove that they had received traditional training in one of the known sword styles.
“I’ve got my first stripe of the adept stratum,” added Edmun, who confidently showed his badge off in the same manner that his brother had done. This one had a single black stripe on a yellow background. “I’ve only been practicing for seven years, but Master says I should receive my second by the time I’m sixteen.” Even though he was only one tier above his brother, it was a very important tier and thus set a strong distinction between his and Calum’s attainments.
“How impressive,” said Caedmon, who wore a patient smile. “As expected of Daniel’s boys.”
Antoine and the youth behind him still hadn’t dismounted, both of them observing the gathered group with silent eyes. Once Edmun and Calum had finished greeting their uncle, Antoine nodded at his son, who dismounted and followed suit after his cousins.
Pulling his hood back, the boy revealed a handsome face that was recently shaven, showing himself to be more of a young man than anything else. “It’s nice to see you, Uncle Caedmon. You’ve been working hard for the sake of the kingdom, so I hope you take time during our visit to take things easy with us. It’s not often that we have the chance to meet like this, after all, and I for one am happy to have a chance to avoid my duties for a time.”
“Johan, how you’ve grown. The last time we saw one another you were about a hand’s length shorter.” Caedmon’s expression became a bit more tolerant, though only those who knew him well like Alistar and Anice would have been able to notice. “It’s been a year since you’ve become the lord of Hapselen. How are you getting along with your new duties?”
“I do what I can,” said the youth with a smile, though this was quickly followed by a quiet sigh. “Though Grandfather is particularly interested in my territory, so I don’t always have the final say with certain matters.”
“Johan.”
Hearing the tone of his father’s voice, the young man moved on in a tactful manner. Unlike Daniel and his sons, he turned to the others in attendance and gave everyone a light bow. “Thank you all for gathering to receive us. We’ll be in your care for the next week.”
Antoine finally dismounted from his horse, handing the reins to his son without looking at him. Ignoring Caedmon’s offer to have someone else lead the horses away, the broad-shouldered man strode past his brother and stopped directly in front of Alistar, stooping down and staring him dead in the eyes.
Without looking at Caedmon, he asked, “Is he the one?”
“Yes, this is—”
Without standing on ceremony, Antoine opened one of Alistar’s eyes wide with a thumb and finger, staring intently at his irises in a long, tense moment. Knowing that the situation would go south very quickly if he were to lose focus and fumble with his ocular alteration spell, Alistar ran through his mental meditations and mediated his heartbeat and his breaths. Antoine pulled his hand back a moment later, the shadow of a frown on his strong-featured face.
Alistar gave his uncle a deep bow and spoke in a measured tone. “My name is Alistar Silverkin. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency.” It was an odd thing, facing so many people that had the same shade of eyes as him.
Antoine continued to examine him from behind a mask of lax facial muscles. Turning to Caedmon, he said, “You allowed him our name?”
“What’s the fuss?” said Daniel, who kept glancing at the doors to the manor house with impatience. “It would look worse on our house if Caedmon was raising a Scuff, wouldn’t it? Let’s hurry in before the food gets cold.”
Antoine didn’t return Alistar’s greeting and instead approached Lessa’s family to exchange brief formalities with her parents. While they did this, Edmun and Calum came over to Alistar to introduce themselves. Once the formal introductions had been reciprocated, the eldest of the two gave him a rough clap on the shoulder and said, “At least this time we have a male cousin to hang around. Anice is too much of a baby.”
It was at this moment that Alistar realized that Anice had slipped away from his side and was now hiding behind Alder and Mr. Albeck, both of whom had been ignored by the dukes and their boys.
“How do you know he’s actually our cousin?” asked Calum, who was looking Alistar up and down with open curiosity.
“Cousin? His eyes are the same shade as Grandfather’s. If not our cousin, then he can only be our brother.”
Daniel smacked his son across the head, his silent expression one of chastisement. With that done, he walked over to greet the Silvus family as well.
“What? It wouldn’t be the first time we met a bastard brother.”
“You’re to be lords of great cities,” said Johan, who gave his cousins a disapproving frown from behind a curtain of long hair. “Minding your mouth is one of the most important skills you’ll need to learn if you ever want a chance at having a say in how your territories are run.”
“You’ve only been a count for a year,” snapped Calum, crossing his arms in a show of annoyance. “Now you think so much of yourself?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Johan. Just because Uncle Caedmon doesn’t have an heir doesn’t mean your brother will be the one to inherit this county.” Edmun wilted as Antoine turned his head a fraction and gave him a calm, steady stare. As his face began to pale, he looked around with a flushed expression and then snapped, “Anice, don’t think we can’t sense you there behind Master Albeck. Why haven’t you greeted us yet?”
Johan shook his head with a sigh and said nothing more.
Sensing Anice’s unease, Alistar walked over to where she was trying to remain as inconspicuous as a fly on a wall and then grabbed her hand. With a firm and reassuring grip, he led her over to their cousins and then said, “You’ll have to forgive her. She drained all of her energy this morning during her magic lessons, so she’s been too tired to talk.”
Both of the boys had quieted down the moment that he brought Anice over. Their expressions were a bit complex as they stared at their younger cousin, who looked every bit the beauty with her freshly brushed hair and recently commissioned dress of a slightly brighter shade. According to the Dozen, the last time that the three had seen each other had been just over three years ago, so it was no surprise that all of them had changed a great deal.
“Anice, I…” Edmun cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable. “It’s nice to see you again. Erm, about last time, I think we owe you an apology.”
“Yes,” Calum was quick to add, “it was all in good fun.”
“All in good fun? Do you seriously think that after—” Thankfully she responded to a subtle prod from Alistar and managed to calm down. “Well, as long as you’re sorry.”
Their conversation was cut short as Daniel’s impatience reached its limit and the duke took the initiative to brush past the Silvus family before leading the way inside. Just as Alistar was about to follow after Anice and Lessa, who were being barraged with questions by Daniel’s boys, Caedmon volunteered his help in stabling the horses after the dukes showed discomfort at the thought of the stable hands doing so. Because of this, he wound up walking across the grounds of the estate with his eldest cousin, who he’d learned beforehand was almost eighteen years old. Interestingly enough, the young man was nothing like what Anice had said about their other cousins, though admittedly she had never mentioned him in particular.
“When did you start living here?” asked Johan, genuinely curious. “Since you weren’t here last time, it must have been within the last three years, am I correct?”
Chapter Ninety-six: Bastard Silverkin (Part Four)
Alistar smothered a small seedling of envy as he stared at the badge on the boy’s chest. He had reached this level a long time ago, but Tramon still hadn’t even bestowed upon him his first stripe. Such things were important, since these badges were issued by training institutions, guilds, and local governments on behalf of the crown, and they were also recorded on legers with copies sent to an archive in Cedor, the capital of Civus. These badges served as proof for swordsmen to provide to potential employers, and any sellsword looking for work was expected to have one in order to prove that they had received traditional training in one of the known sword styles.
“I’ve got my first stripe of the adept stratum,” added Edmun, who confidently showed his badge off in the same manner that his brother had done. This one had a single black stripe on a yellow background. “I’ve only been practicing for seven years, but Master says I should receive my second by the time I’m sixteen.” Even though he was only one tier above his brother, it was a very important tier and thus set a strong distinction between his and Calum’s attainments.
“How impressive,” said Caedmon, who wore a patient smile. “As expected of Daniel’s boys.”
Antoine and the youth behind him still hadn’t dismounted, both of them observing the gathered group with silent eyes. Once Edmun and Calum had finished greeting their uncle, Antoine nodded at his son, who dismounted and followed suit after his cousins.
Pulling his hood back, the boy revealed a handsome face that was recently shaven, showing himself to be more of a young man than anything else. “It’s nice to see you, Uncle Caedmon. You’ve been working hard for the sake of the kingdom, so I hope you take time during our visit to take things easy with us. It’s not often that we have the chance to meet like this, after all, and I for one am happy to have a chance to avoid my duties for a time.”
“Johan, how you’ve grown. The last time we saw one another you were about a hand’s length shorter.” Caedmon’s expression became a bit more tolerant, though only those who knew him well like Alistar and Anice would have been able to notice. “It’s been a year since you’ve become the lord of Hapselen. How are you getting along with your new duties?”
“I do what I can,” said the youth with a smile, though this was quickly followed by a quiet sigh. “Though Grandfather is particularly interested in my territory, so I don’t always have the final say with certain matters.”
“Johan.”
Hearing the tone of his father’s voice, the young man moved on in a tactful manner. Unlike Daniel and his sons, he turned to the others in attendance and gave everyone a light bow. “Thank you all for gathering to receive us. We’ll be in your care for the next week.”
Antoine finally dismounted from his horse, handing the reins to his son without looking at him. Ignoring Caedmon’s offer to have someone else lead the horses away, the broad-shouldered man strode past his brother and stopped directly in front of Alistar, stooping down and staring him dead in the eyes.
Without looking at Caedmon, he asked, “Is he the one?”
“Yes, this is—”
Without standing on ceremony, Antoine opened one of Alistar’s eyes wide with a thumb and finger, staring intently at his irises in a long, tense moment. Knowing that the situation would go south very quickly if he were to lose focus and fumble with his ocular alteration spell, Alistar ran through his mental meditations and mediated his heartbeat and his breaths. Antoine pulled his hand back a moment later, the shadow of a frown on his strong-featured face.
Alistar gave his uncle a deep bow and spoke in a measured tone. “My name is Alistar Silverkin. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency.” It was an odd thing, facing so many people that had the same shade of eyes as him.
Antoine continued to examine him from behind a mask of lax facial muscles. Turning to Caedmon, he said, “You allowed him our name?”
“What’s the fuss?” said Daniel, who kept glancing at the doors to the manor house with impatience. “It would look worse on our house if Caedmon was raising a Scuff, wouldn’t it? Let’s hurry in before the food gets cold.”
Antoine didn’t return Alistar’s greeting and instead approached Lessa’s family to exchange brief formalities with her parents. While they did this, Edmun and Calum came over to Alistar to introduce themselves. Once the formal introductions had been reciprocated, the eldest of the two gave him a rough clap on the shoulder and said, “At least this time we have a male cousin to hang around. Anice is too much of a baby.”
It was at this moment that Alistar realized that Anice had slipped away from his side and was now hiding behind Alder and Mr. Albeck, both of whom had been ignored by the dukes and their boys.
“How do you know he’s actually our cousin?” asked Calum, who was looking Alistar up and down with open curiosity.
“Cousin? His eyes are the same shade as Grandfather’s. If not our cousin, then he can only be our brother.”
Daniel smacked his son across the head, his silent expression one of chastisement. With that done, he walked over to greet the Silvus family as well.
“What? It wouldn’t be the first time we met a bastard brother.”
“You’re to be lords of great cities,” said Johan, who gave his cousins a disapproving frown from behind a curtain of long hair. “Minding your mouth is one of the most important skills you’ll need to learn if you ever want a chance at having a say in how your territories are run.”
“You’ve only been a count for a year,” snapped Calum, crossing his arms in a show of annoyance. “Now you think so much of yourself?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Johan. Just because Uncle Caedmon doesn’t have an heir doesn’t mean your brother will be the one to inherit this county.” Edmun wilted as Antoine turned his head a fraction and gave him a calm, steady stare. As his face began to pale, he looked around with a flushed expression and then snapped, “Anice, don’t think we can’t sense you there behind Master Albeck. Why haven’t you greeted us yet?”
Johan shook his head with a sigh and said nothing more.
Sensing Anice’s unease, Alistar walked over to where she was trying to remain as inconspicuous as a fly on a wall and then grabbed her hand. With a firm and reassuring grip, he led her over to their cousins and then said, “You’ll have to forgive her. She drained all of her energy this morning during her magic lessons, so she’s been too tired to talk.”
Both of the boys had quieted down the moment that he brought Anice over. Their expressions were a bit complex as they stared at their younger cousin, who looked every bit the beauty with her freshly brushed hair and recently commissioned dress of a slightly brighter shade. According to the Dozen, the last time that the three had seen each other had been just over three years ago, so it was no surprise that all of them had changed a great deal.
“Anice, I…” Edmun cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable. “It’s nice to see you again. Erm, about last time, I think we owe you an apology.”
“Yes,” Calum was quick to add, “it was all in good fun.”
“All in good fun? Do you seriously think that after—” Thankfully she responded to a subtle prod from Alistar and managed to calm down. “Well, as long as you’re sorry.”
Their conversation was cut short as Daniel’s impatience reached its limit and the duke took the initiative to brush past the Silvus family before leading the way inside. Just as Alistar was about to follow after Anice and Lessa, who were being barraged with questions by Daniel’s boys, Caedmon volunteered his help in stabling the horses after the dukes showed discomfort at the thought of the stable hands doing so. Because of this, he wound up walking across the grounds of the estate with his eldest cousin, who he’d learned beforehand was almost eighteen years old. Interestingly enough, the young man was nothing like what Anice had said about their other cousins, though admittedly she had never mentioned him in particular.
“When did you start living here?” asked Johan, genuinely curious. “Since you weren’t here last time, it must have been within the last three years, am I correct?”
