I had been in Malin now for about a month and settled well into my new life as a knight apprentice. Stamina training was the main feature of my life but I was improving - and now sat firmly in the middle of the pack in our lap running; if only that was all stamina training was but recently our instructors, it seemed to be a lesson that any knight who was free was assigned, had added in climbing up walls, running with packs and sprint/walk exercises which made it even more exhausting. Still some of my other lessons were fun, archery was always a highlight and I found I was starting to see the benefits of the crossbow for someone like me who needed power with limited strength. I was also enjoying learning more about the history of Malin and how it was run.
My company days so far had mainly been joining my squad in their usual duties, most of these right now were patrols of the ward and I was now quite familiar with Northgate. Last week however, Sir Satou had called me into his office and spent three hours showing me examples of the Militia’s maps, what the symbols on them meant, how to read scales and how contour lines worked. I found that really interesting and eventually as a scout, part of my duties would be taking measurements, notes and drawings that would improve our maps or contribute to new ones. I found that our mapping activities extended well into foreign territories; I didn’t ask how we mapped those areas but I think I could guess; that would definitely make my life in the Militia more interesting and more dangerous.
All in all though I was comfortable, hiding my secret was proving to be a lot easier than I could have hoped for and I found I got on with my squad really well, who took care to look out for me. Whilst Alex, Fig, Dene and I were still getting on well and had been back to the Leaping Hare on all of our rest days. I wish I had more classes with them - but maybe next year once I’d improved my physical attributes.
All this is to say I was completely unprepared when Sir Shi gave his daily briefing after dinner. I had just finished a bowl of lamb curry and rice. Nearly all Malinese food was spiced I’d found, the plainest thing I seemed to eat these days was the congee, savoury rice porridge, served for breakfast some days
“Right, listen up men,” Sir Shi said, getting to his feet, “I’ll start with the small stuff. Lots of reports of shoplifting from the Bear Street Market, keep an eye out if you’re on patrol. New platoon of auxiliaries is going to be covering Northgate for the next year, play nice, Sir Erik and I will be meeting their commander for dinner tomorrow night, so Sir Loos will do tomorrow’s briefing. As for the big news, well we have another royal visitor to put up with - although I doubt they will be as much of a pain as Prince Lancel - Princess Estelle Helenides of Trieste is due to arrive in the city tomorrow…”
My heart leapt into my throat, what the hell was my sister doing in Malin, was she going to marry Lancel in my place? I couldn’t think of anything else it could be and a wave of guilt washed over me. It was all I could do to keep listening to Sir Shi.
“...now as you know, the other Triesti Princess Neesha Helenides disappeared about two months ago in the Alascean Marches, since then there’s been no trace of her dead or alive. Now she’s probably dead, it’s bandit country and she was a princess in the wilderness, but if she did somehow survive the theory is she might have followed the road she was travelling on which was the road to here, Malin, where she was meant to take Prince Lancel off our hands. As far as I can tell, although she doesn’t hold out much hope, Princess Estelle is here to search for news of her sister. So I very much doubt there will be any but if you do happen to hear any gossip bring it straight to Sir Erik or I.”
She was here to look for me, that was surprisingly touching, and I was holding back tears now for an entirely different reason. Obviously, she couldn’t be allowed to find me as then it would be an end to the new life I was enjoying, but I appreciated that she had come. Sir Shi reassured us that she wouldn’t be passing through Northgate, we’d probably have nothing to do with her, apart from a few squads being assigned to be in the guard of honour when she met the Speaker at City Hall. That was a relief, even if my squad was sent, she’d surely not even glance at me, I’d just be part of the scenery.
I resolved the best thing I could do was to just put it to the back of my mind, act as normal as possible, trust there was no reason for our paths to cross and to hope she gave up searching soon. Well, so much for best laid plans, because as soon as I got up from dinner, Sir Erik made a beeline for me.
“Mind joining Sir Shi and I for a nightcap?” he said, smiling warmly.
I followed Sir Erik to Sir Shi’s suite on the top floor of the barracks, by the time we got there Sir Shi was placing a third glass on a small table by the fire, a foot stool drafted into being a seat for me at short notice.
“Ah Neesh, glad you could join us,” Sir Shi said, “sorry about the seating arrangements but I find myself a bit short of proper chairs.”
“It’s no problem Sir,” I said as I sat awkwardly on the stool.
“Here, try this, it’s from my father’s homeland, it’s called Rakka,” he said, handing me the now full glass, “sip it slowly, it’s potent.” He was right about that it was sweet and strongly flavoured with a taste I’d never experienced before but it also burned like I was pouring liquid fire down my mouth.
“Good?” Sir Erik asked. I spluttered.
“It’s an acquired taste,” Sir Erik laughed.
“Well anyway, I expect you’re wondering what you’re doing here?” Sir Shi said.
“It had crossed my mind Sir,” I replied.
“Well it’s simple really, as one of the few Triesti in the militia, I was hoping you might know something about the princess, especially as I hear your parents worked in the palace for a time.” That was information I thought I’d shared only with my squad mates, clearly not everything said in the squad common room stayed there, I would have to be more careful in future.
“They did,” I said, sticking to my story, “what would you like to know, you realise I never met her and grew up far away from the capital.”
“Of course, just anything you can tell us might be useful,” Sir Erik said, “and if it isn’t it’s still pleasant for us to spend time in the company of our new apprentice.”
“Alright,” I said, trying frantically to think of what would be safe to say. “Well, my mother and father thought highly of her from what they remembered of her as a child. She was one of the most intelligent people my father said he had ever taught and my mother said she was always kind to her servants and the poor. That’s pretty much all they told me. I know most people thought well of her although like all the royal family we never really heard anything about what they’re really like, just what we see in proclamations and pamphlets describing great banquets, battles and courtly politics.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Thanks Neesh,” Sir Erik said, “funny coincidence your names are so similar.”
“Mine’s the masculine version of Neesha,” I said, faking sheepishness, “it derives from an old Triesti word, Kaneesh, which means hunter.”
“Interesting,” Sir Shi said.After that there were no more questions much to my relief and after roughly half an hour of small talk about how I was finding my training I was finally was dismissed. I traipsed back down to the squad room. I probably should be mad that they had divulged my background to the officers but I had never said it was information I wanted to keep private and they probably had been asked to find out a bit about me. I just had to be more careful in what I said to anyone. Still I had no hesitation in sitting down with my squad mates that evening and playing cards with them for a couple of hours before turning in.
The next day, the day of her arrival passed uneventfully, until Sir Loos delivered the news that the seventh squad was one of those representing the fourteenth at her formal welcome to the city by the speaker, and since it was my squad day, that included me. I didn’t panic though, having convinced myself that she would not even be looking for me in the ranks of knights. I’d be required to wear full uniform which meant I needed to draw an additional belt, steel cuirass and helmet from the stores and go equipped with my sword and a bow or crossbow. I went and collected the items after dinner, not trusting I’d have time in the morning. The belt was a broad white one, with a large silver buckle embossed with the fourteenth’s emblem. The steel cuirass was heavy but I didn’t think it would be too bad once I had strapped it on properly. It was the helmet that was ridiculous, another piece of gleaming steel, it had a peak and a protruding nose and chin guard to protect my eyes and face, the actual helmet was a simple round one, again with the emblem of the fourteenth embossed onto it’s front, with cheek guards and a lobster tail neck guard hanging from it. At least it meant I’d be even harder to recognise wearing it.
The next morning I found myself with the rest of my squad in the square in front of city hall, knights from every company were here lining the four sides of the square; in a way what we were was a human fence, keeping the growing crowd of interested spectators hemmed in a six metre wide corridor around the edges of the square whilst the great and the good did their greetings in the middle of the square before my sister would be whisked into City Hall for more speeches, introductions and a banquet. By that time though I’d be safely dismissed and back in the fourteenth’s headquarters. However, that freedom was hours away, here we were formed up at eight in the morning, the late spring sun now making me uncomfortably warm already, when this whole shindig wasn’t due to take place to one in the afternoon. It was going to be a long day!
Full uniform, wasn’t too bad, the steel helmet and cuirass initially were good for reflecting heat but now they had started to warm up I was getting concerned they were going to end up an oven by the afternoon; at least the cuirass left some room for airflow which my leather armour did not. The crossbow I had slung across my back was an unwelcome additional weight that would not sit comfortably, part of it was always digging into my back despite the many subtle adjustments I’d tried to make. I was going to have to see if I could invest in some sort of carrier, more comfortable than the standard issue leather strap, if I was going to be using one more regularly.
Anyway the squad, along with four others from our company, was arranged in a single rank with Sir Steven standing in front of us holding up the seventh’s squad’s banner. Our squad’s banner consisted of a stylised fox moving through a forest, above the fourteenth’s emblem. I quite liked it and it seemed an appropriate image for a scouting squad. We were on the middle of the western side of the square, my sister would be entering from the north side opposite the grand main entrance to City Hall.
I’d seen the inside of City Hall myself now, as last rest day I had gone with Dene to register my new name on the list of Citizens and Denizens. Citizens were residents of the city with full rights whilst Denizens were probationary citizens, who once they’d lived in the city for five years became citizens provided they hadn’t committed any crimes. Citizenship meant a right to vote in Council elections, own land in the city and own a business. Denizens had a right to reside in the city, to work and to receive hardship relief from the city. Under sixteen year olds, whether they were born here or just arrived in Malin, were all considered denizens by right but adults who immigrated to the city had to pay a registration fee of ten marks and then five marks a year thereafter.
However, I found out when I arrived that as Knight Apprentice I’d also become a citizen of Malin at the same time, regardless of whether I ever became a full knight (Dene also explained for the rare cases where an apprentice didn’t become a knight, so long as the reason wasn’t misconduct, they were usually offered the chance to serve with the auxiliaries or in civil administration). Now I wasn’t about to start a business or buy a house but the idea of voting in the summer elections was a fascinating one. I would have to get some details about Malinese politics and work out how I wanted to vote.
Anyway, City Hall it turned out, was a warren, the grand building I had thought of as the City Hall was haphazardly connected to dozens of others, extending all the way to the banks of the Este. I’m glad Dene came with me, as even with detailed directions given to me by the receptionist I’m sure I would have got lost without his help. We followed the maze of corridors out of the grand hall, the part I’m sure my sister would spend all her time in, and into a building that seemed to house the offices of the various functionaries who administered the city. I saw signs for business licensing, tax enquiries, court applications, guild affairs and finally, what we were looking for, the records office.
Inside we were met by a bookish looking man, he looked to be in his late thirties, with salt and pepper black hair, brown eyes and squarish features. He introduced himself as Paval and asked what I was here for.
“Hi I’d like to register myself properly, I only recently arrived in Malin.”
“Happy to help,” the man said, “let me see, do you remember the day and the gate you entered in and what name you gave?”
“Yes, it was the fifteenth of Tor’s month, the day of the Militia Trials, I came in the Southgate and I gave my name as Neesh, which is my name.”
“Good, just give me a couple of minutes,” he said, walking off into a back room.
“Here we are, found your entry records,” he said, as he returned a few minutes later, “I can add to these to make you a full record. I see you were successful in joining the Militia so it will be a record of citizenship we’ll be taking today. I’ve also got your Militia records to add to the file and update. I’ll just need to ask a few quick questions.”
“Sure, ask away,” I said.
“Very good, so it’s Neesh, and your preferred last name?”
“Um, I didn’t have one but I thought Wanderer was appropriate.”
“I like it,” the man said smiling at me, “and now your age, and date of birth”
“Fourteen, I was born on the second day of Serise.”
“So fifteen this autumn? And where you were born?”
“In Trieste in the country near Fellberg,” I replied, giving my cover story.
“Current Class Set, Class and Level?”
“Explorer, Scout, twelve.”
“Species background? Sorry it’s not always easy to tell, a lot of mixed people these days.”
“My mother and father were both human as far as I know.”
“Good, well that’s it then, I’ll just put the official seal on and now you’re officially a citizen of Malin Neesh Wanderer. Copies of this will be given to the Militia, the electoral registrars and to the tax office, but don’t worry you won’t be asked to pay tax until you come of age at sixteen.”
Well that was a relief, I hadn’t actually considered my wages would be taxed, but I guess that was to expected given the amount of services that the city had available to its residents: the militia, the Council and its administrators, the auxiliaries, hardship relief, the orphanages, the apprenticeship system, old age pensions, public schools, ward infirmaries, a university and the college of mages. Pretty much all taxes in Trieste had paid for: the army, the bureaucracy, the royal family and one hospital in the capital, which was free for anyone who could make it there, which was precious few.
The squawk of a gull broke me out of my memories; even after all that reminiscing it was still only half nine, as I said, today was going to be a long day.