Although he was yet to be acknowledged as a blade master, Boro was a few steps away from that title officially. There were a few ways to obtain the title of blade master. The most common way was to defeat a titled master in a duel, whether that be a duel to the death or not, beating someone who holds that title, usually witnessed by others to authenticate the claim, would allow one to become a blade master. Furthermore, being tutored by an acknowledged master, and in turn being acknowledged by that master, was another way for one to finally obtain that title.
Boro had yet to have either of those occur yet, so Littume's request was highly unusual. As Boro could not acknowledge Littume's sword skill as a master, then his tutelage would only be good for further Littume's skill. Training under someone not yet a master, was something not often done. A perspective master would only seek out those that could acknowledge them normally.
Boro was silent for a few seconds after hearing the request. Naturally, Littume took the brief pause as a silent rebuke, thinking Boro would refuse and he began to sink into despair when he did not get an immediate answer.
Truthfully, Boro was taken aback, he would never in a millennia have thought the proud lord would ask him for lessons, let alone to allow himself to become a student to someone not yet recognized as a master.
After the brief pause Boro looked at Littume seriously and said, " I accept your request. but I have a condition in return."
When Littume heard the answer his heart was filled with a storm of emotional turmoil. He simultaneously felt joy for his acceptance, frustration for this upstart commoner who dared give condition to a Lord, and finally mirth, that this man could be so bold. He laughed out loud, truly finding joy at meeting Boro. He would go far with him, this he knew.
"Name your condition then Master" Littume replied bowing his head in acquiescence.
"Very well then, my condition to mentor you is that you will tell no one of your true identity without my approval first." Boro said solemnly. " I am no one, even with the title of Major Knight I am an insignificant existence. You on the other hand are the son of a major noble, as such, if someone were to hear of you traveling around talking of rebellion it would bring dire consequences to the cause."
Littume nodded, this was a very thoughtful condition and made sense to him. Truth be told he had considered doing that anyway just for the fact he did not want to be seen, or heard about, being tutored by someone not a master. If word of that spread, some might think him truly unskilled to ask a commoner for lessons in the blade. Not only that but it was as Boro had said. Littume and his father had long discussed the possibility of their house marshaling troops against the king. The only issue was that Lord Jetir thought his son too inexperienced and immature to handle something this important. Hence they had not moved forward beyond talking. Although Boro was just two years his senior, he had a wealth of certain practical experiences from his time at the Academy. On the other hand Littume was very well versed in statecraft, their skills and weaknesses should perfectly complemented each other.
"This is a reasonable, and intelligent, request. I give you my word to reveal myself to no one without your knowledge, and consent, first." Littume agreed, giving Boro a crisp salute.
"Great, now that that is over with, come back here tomorrow morning with the rising of the first sun, we will begin your training then." Boro commanded his new student. " We have much work to do and not much time to do it."
Boro began entering his rooms but stopped before closing his door and looked towards Littume's departing figure. " Littume!" Boro called after him, watching him pause mid-step and look back towards Boro. "Pack your things as well, we will be departing your home in three days. I'm not sure when we will next return, and we will be traviling swiftly so pack only what is absolutly necessairy" At the end of his order he raised his eyebrow knowingly at Littume. In return he got a deeply furrowed brow and a firm scowl.
"As you say master" After bowing deeply and mockingly, he laughed and continued walking off.
A few hours later Boro and his guard found themselves back in The Golden Goose. As soon as he walked into the establishment his eyes darted about, searching the faces for Isbella's but she was nowhere to be found tonight. The guard walked off seeing a familiar face at a different table. So instead Boro walked to the bar where Rendra was standing wiping mugs dry with a fresh, white linen cloth.
Before Boro had even sat down in the stool Rendra began poking fun at him, "Lookin' fer your new lady friend?" She gave him a sad little smile then said, "Sorry lad, but I'm afraid you just missed her. She and Evin left an hour ago for some business in Forlem. They'll be gone for at least a two full turns."
Boro sighed and thanked the bar woman and asked her to give a message to her for him.
"Of course lad, but mind your tongue, I'll no pass along lovers whispers" She laughed deeply when she saw Boro's cheeks flush and he stammered to tell her he would never be so crass.
After Boro gave her the message, Rendra filled a glass of ale for him and he moved to the chair by the hearth and sat for some time thinking. He thought of Isbella for a while, making up senarios in his minds eye, in one he fought off men to save her and as a thanks she vowed to be share her live with his forever. In another he was fumbling his way through a conversation with an important noble, and just before he could make a complete fool of himself, she walked in their field of view. She took his breath away. Walking over gracefully, wrapped in a black silk gown intricatly embroidered with shimmering gold thread, she saved Boro from himself. With her there he felt complete, and the akwardness he had earlier was gone. He made friends with the nobles and because they loved Boro and Isbella so much they made them king and queen of the world. He smiled at the beauty, and the foolishness, of his thoughts but kept on thinking, and he kept on drinking.
By the time he had returned to his room in the castle he was well and truly drunk, stumbling when he walked and stopping every now and then to speak with a particularly friendly suit of armour. At some point, his own personal guard had to throw his arm around him clumsly, he was nearly as drunk as Boro was when the two of them stumbled out of the Golden Goose, and that was how the two of them walked back to Boro's chambers. When they arrived, Boro pulled a chair out for the guard to sit on while he sobered up a bit, and walked into his room, dropped himself on to the mattress and slept as soon as his head hit the feather pillows. His dreams that night were vivid... and filled with death and loss.
He dreamt that Nila was by his side and across from the two of them was Isbella and Evin, each brandishing their musical instruments as if they were weapons. They fought each other desperately until Nila turned to Boro and began trying to kill him as well. In the end Boro laid flat on the ground with the three of them standing over him, and just before he felt the final blow he woke from his nightmare, sweat covering his body and beading down the side of his forehead. He was worried that the dream was a prophecy of what was to come. Not many would be happy to know that he would be joining a rebellion. Unable to fall back asleep, he lay in his bed planning out this next leg of his journey.
Finally light began to creep into the spacious room. It was finally time for Littume and he to depart. Who knew where his task would take him, but he knew that he would only become stronger and that he needed to be ready for anything.
When he was finally dressed and ready to leave he made his way to the castle sables where he found Dingir waiting patiently. She was fully saddled and a small dirty girl ran a brush through her mane.
Damnit why is everyone, but me, able to handle her Boro thought with growing frustration. He gingerly reached out his hand to pat her neck but stopped short when she turned her head his way and let out a loud huff.
Laughing, the grubby girl patted Dingir's neck a couple of times. "She's a sweet girl Sir, She juss don't like men"
"Give her some time to warm up to warm up to you, she juss needs to know she can turst in you i think"
The young girl handed him the reins and turned to walk back to the stables.
"Is this true Dingir? Do you not trust me?" Boro whispered to her, avoiding her teeth and patting her neck gently.
She huffed at the question and turned to look him directly in the eyes, as if to say, No i do not trust you, and if you value your fingers you shouldn't trust me.