She pulled me to a stop in the corridor, staring into my eyes as she spoke.
“Girton, I think you are best to forget this whole business. I am sure it is little more than a prank that went too far and we have far more pressing concerns.”
I remained silently staring back at her and she shook her head before walking away. Part of me wanted to go after her but pride made me walk in the opposite direction. I wandered downstairs deep in thought and, as if of their own accord, my feet took me out of the keep and towards the stables.
When I passed the squireyard I saw Rufra, sitting alone outside.
“Rufra,” I shouted, giving him a wave. “I need to go and check on my mount. Do you have an animal in the stables?”
“Two,” he said. “They are called Balance and Imbalance.”
“Would you show your animals to me?”
“Aye,” he said. A smile lit up his face and almost tilted the scales of his looks into handsome.
We made our way around Festival. Huge wooden walls, painted with capering horned and leafed hedgings, had been raised around the central caravans and the air was filled with the stink of animals. I had the uncomfortable feeling we were being watched and twice I thought I caught a figure in the corner of my eye, but Rufra was oblivious to my worry. He chattered happily, telling me Festival was still setting up and would be for a few days and until it was fully set up no one would be allowed to enter. As we came around Festival he slowed his walk.
“Girton,” he said quietly, “I must warn you not to go alone at night in the townyard, keepyard or anywhere that is quiet during the day. Slights are not forgiven easily here.”
“Slights?”
“Tomas prides himself on his martial skill, and you came close to making him look a fool with your bow.”
“That is not the way Riders are meant to act, Rufra,” I said.
“Girton—” he put a hand on my arm and brought me to a stop “—we are not Riders. We are boys. You should remember that.” Even then Rufra had a knack for seeing the truth of a thing.
“They are squires, don’t their Riders keep them under control?”
Rufra looked at me as if I was a fool.
“Girton, do you walk around with your head in the clouds? How many Riders have you seen in this castle?”
As soon as he said that I felt like a fool for not noticing, Heamus was the only Rider I had seen.
“Why are there no Riders here, Rufra?”
He kicked a stone across the ground. “The same reason some of us are still squires when we could easily pass for Riders. Aydor.”
“He sent them away?”
“Not him, his mother. When the Landsmen came and set up the trials Aydor did not pass for Rider so no one else was allowed to try. His mother could not have the heir shown up and, gradually, she has sent away all of the king’s Riders. Worse, no squire may take the trials until Aydor has passed, and he will never pass the trials. Partly because he is lazy and partly because his eyes are so bad he could not hit the keep with an arrow. I feel sorry for him sometimes.”
“A king does not need to pass for Rider; it is bestowed on him with the crown,” I said, more to myself than Rufra.
“Aye,” said Rufra. “For some the old king cannot die soon enough. We wrote to Daana ap Dhyrrin asking for Aydor to be removed from training, but nothing came of it.”
“Talking of Aydor,” I added, “do you know the captain of his dayguard?”
“Dollis?” His eyes widened and he looked away. “No more than I have to. He’s a nasty piece of work, hates anyone he thinks is better than him.”
“Does he do Aydor’s dirty work?”
“Aydor’s and anyone else who can pay. Why?”
“Just curious. Our paths crossed.”
“Then I’d uncross them as quick as you can.”
When we entered the stables Drusl was leading out a stinking cart drawn by a heavily muscled draymount.
“Girton!”
“Drusl, you are leaving?” I could hear disappointment in my voice and hoped Rufra did not notice.
“Leiss is sending me to get fodder for the mounts and drop this pressed dung off for the farmers, but I will be back …” Her voice tailed off as she saw Rufra. “Blessed—” she gave a small bow “—forgive me. I did not see you there.” She seemed a different person when she noticed Rufra: smaller, meeker, the humour gone from her to be replaced with worry. It was almost as if she were trying to disappear into the ground.
“You are friends with Girton?” said Rufra.
“I only look after his mount, Blessed,” she said. She did not look at him.
“Well,” he said, and took her hand in his. “I think you are his friend then, and any friend of Girton’s can count themselves a friend of mine.” He executed a perfect court-style bow and the ridiculous formality of such a thing—a sweaty squire bowing to a stable girl in charge of a cartload of dung—was not lost on her. She let out a giggle. For a moment I hated Rufra.
“I cannot stay, Girton. Leiss will be angry if I dally but I will see you later? If you can come by?” Any dislike for Rufra vanished as her attention came back to me. She led the draymount and cart away and I noticed Rufra staring at me with a huge grin on his face. The heat of a blush rushed onto my cheeks.
“What?” He only grinned in reply and I hurried past him into the stable to see Xus. The mount was skittish, baring his tusks and snorting as if he picked up on my embarrassment. “Shh, Xus, shhh.” I said and stroked his thin muzzle. The animal calmed under my touch.
“… is beautiful,” Rufra said from behind me.
“Yes,” I said, “and he is fast too.”
“Fool,” laughed Rufra and gave my arm a push. “I was not talking about your animal, though he is a beauty. I was talking of Drusl. No wonder you were desperate to get down here yesterday.”
“We are only friends.”
“Really? Well, I suspect she hopes for a little more.” I tried to hide my blushing face but my heart leaped.
“What would she see in me?” I couldn’t look at him. I was afraid he would see how desperate I was to hear something good.
“Hmm,” he said, “what would penniless stable girl Drusl see in Girton, a blessed?” He realised his arrow had hit closer and harder than he had meant and quickly added, “A jest, Girton, that is all. Drusl is very pretty and if it was only privilege she wanted she would have accepted one of the other squires when he tilted his lance at her.”
“But she hasn’t?”
“No.” Then he whispered conspiratorially, “If you can imagine it, Girton, I suspect she would even turn me down.” He put his arm on my shoulder. He was slightly taller than me and I felt a little uncomfortable. “She could have her pick of the castle and yet she has chosen to be alone. We had all thought her and Leiss were together. You are lucky, and as the youngest son you may even get to marry for love rather than duty.”