Xalvador and Gaillard waited in the Lord’s sitting room. Xalvador’s father was apparently quite upset with him.
Gaillard paced around the room, too upset to sit patiently like his foolhardy “friend”. He swallowed the last of the wine in his goblet and went to pour another glass from the bottle by the door.
“Calm thineself.” Xalvador said.
“Calm?” Gaillard raged, “Calm?! We have traveled across half the region with no success. We’ve been targeted by bandits, kidnapped, and had to be rescued by an old drunk! We still have a dragon to kill, which is apparently in Wilderland where we can all get captured again or killed by tyrns!
“We were due back at the academy weeks ago! We’re missing lessons and training on this errand that should have been over within days of when it began. We need to bid farewell to Taelroy and get back to school.”
“Unfortunately, that is no longer an option, young Gaillard.”
Xalvador’s father entered the room holding a single sheet of parchment up before him like some ancient treasure.
“This letter arrived from thine academy, informing me of my son’s disappearance from the school with thineself and young Taelroy. The latter had informed the school of his resignation, but when the rest of thine companions returned to the academy without thee, they assumed thou wouldst not be returning. Thine resignation has been registered by the academy; if thou dost return, thou wilt be sent away.”
Gaillard stood in shock. They had, of course, gotten leave from the academy to take holiday and escort Taelroy back to his estates, but they hadn’t thought to send word back to the academy that they would be helping Taelroy with his quest – not that the academy would have approved even if they had.
As he slowly overcame his shock, Xalvador stuttered, “Father… I’m…”
“No apology is needed, son. I have done what I can for thee to ensure thou has a good life. It was thy choice to see it through, and it was thy choice to leave it behind. Thou art welcome here as a member of the family, but thou will need to make thine own way now.
“I will continue to do what I can for thee, thou art still academy trained and that bears great weight; find me at the ball.”
Taelroy was not surprised by the news as Gaillard and Xalvador passed on the word they received. He had known, somewhere in his mind, that the academy would have this reaction. What else were they to assume? Gail and Xal hadn’t returned with the others, and they had chosen to follow another resigned student on a “foolhardy errand”.
He had never been more grateful for their companionship.
He embraced them each, expressing his sympathy for what his quest had cost them, and the three descended the main stairs into the party.
A man at arms stood on the last landing of the stairs, calling the names of each attendee as they descended into the ball.
“Taelroy, Dragon Hunter!”
“Xalvador, Heir of House Frimrin!”
“Gaillard, Armsman.”
Gail has nothing left, Taelroy realized. His family was lowborn – they had given everything they had to afford his academy tuition in hopes that he would be able to ascend to a new station. With his resignation, they wouldn’t be eligible for a refund.
Taelroy was approached immediately by curious noblemen asking about his quest and sharing tales of attacks by the Wilderland dragon. Despite its lair being across the Wall, the dragon frequently terrorized the citizens of Paelstead and its nearby towns and villages.
The announcements of people entering the room were unconsciously registered in the back of Taelroy’s mind as he was continually assaulted by new questions and stories. Amid one elderly man sharing the story of how he remembered the first time the dragon had attacked his estates, Taelroy heard the man at arms announce “Rosie, Betrothed of Taelroy”.
Taelroy shook his head at Jasnafih’s ploy. They were NOT betrothed, but in announcing that Rosie was betrothed already she effectively removed an object of other men’s attention. Besides, it’s not like they weren’t betrothed… he just hadn’t thought to ask the question yet.
With the entrance of his “betrothed”, the noblemen around him dispersed, allowing Rosie to practically bounce into his arms.
“We’re betrothed now?” Rosie asked, “When did that happen?”
“About the time that thou met Lady Jasnafih, since she gave the man at arms thine title.”
“Yes,” Rosie agreed, “That does seem like something that she would do…
“Are you mad?”
“Not at all.” Taelroy answered, “Art thou?”
“No.”
“Dost thou… agree?”
“Yes. Do you?”
“Yes.”
The simple exchange was enough. It was not a formal betrothal by any means, but it was theirs.
Xalvador and Gaillard had left Taelroy as the other noblemen dispersed. His “distraction” had arrived, and he would be of little use for the rest of the evening. Still, there were other noblewomen here with which to distract themselves.
Gaillard however led them to the bar.
“Something strong. Whatever thou hast.” Gaillard ordered.
“Art thou well?” Xalvador asked.
In response, Gaillard only glared back at Xalvador. The two sat drinking in silence.
It was a long night. Xalvador understood why Gaillard was upset and stayed by his friend. They had gone through several glasses when another young nobleman approached.
“Xalvador and Gaillard?”
Gaillard kept looking into his drink, but Xalvador addressed the newcomer.
“Indeed, we are. Who art thou?”
“I am Cole, Captain of the Guard of House Vael. I have been looking for some new officers, and I was thinking of sending to the academy for some candidates – since thine circumstances have changed, I would be honored to have thee join us. Academy training, even incomplete, is too valuable to ignore in a potential recruit.”
“We appreciate the offer, Captain Cole,” Xalvador began, “but we have agreed to…”
“I’d love to.” Gaillard interrupted.
“Wonderful!” Captain Cole replied, “Report to the front gate at House Vael tomorrow at sunrise! I’ll show thee around and introduce thee to thine men.”
Captain Cole turned away, pleased with the recruit that he was able to secure, and began socializing with another group of noblemen. Xalvador angrily grabbed Gaillard by the arm and pulled him out of earshot from his new employer.
“What art thou doing!?” Xalvador growled.
“My family sacrificed everything to get me into the academy and name me a Lordling. It was their only hope to have a better life in the coming generations. As a House Guard I can move up the ranks and one day be a Lieutenant or even Captain.
“I can send for my family and let them join me here in Paelstead. I can give them the life they sacrificed for.”
“And what about Taelroy? Thou will abandon thine oath to him?”
“The others were right, Xalvador! We could not even survive against thugs in an alley! How are we supposed to defeat a dragon? This quest is a fool’s errand and we were both cursed fools for staying with Taelroy when he proposed it!
“We should have both returned to the academy.”
Xalvador dropped his hand from Gaillard’s arm in defeat.
“I’m sorry that thou dost feel so discouraged. We shall miss thee.”
Without another word, Xalvador turned and walked away from Gaillard failing to be discrete as he wiped tears from his eyes.