Sergeant Kace let me have the rest of the day off as I was still hurt and could use some time to get my gear and bunk sorted.
Once I got back I noticed another bunk had been claimed by a boy dressed in what seemed to be expensive-looking over-coat and hose. The boy was maybe 16 years old with shoulder-length brown hair that looked brushed fresh. " what are you looking at?" the boy said with a condescending voice, "haven't you ever seen a nobleman before?"
I didn't even feel like dealing with this guy, I had seen many merchant sons like him in my old village when the caravans used to go through on yearly trips. Arrogant, self-important bullies the lot of them! I Learned as a small child that they thought they were better than the rest of the other village kids and would rub noses up at us when we weren't looking or when they thought they could get away with it.
I just laid down on my bed and closed my eyes, I didn't care what this "nobleman" problem was, I had a rough day and just wanted to get some sleep.
The other boy walked up to the foot of my bed "What's your name boy, I will have my guards whip you bloody for your disrespect!" he shouted at me.
I didn't want to put up with any more shit today so I cracked my right eye open and let just the smallest sliver of my anger through my mask of calm. Orange sprung through the roots of my hair and a glow started to come from my opened eye. "Piss off, I don't have the ability to deal with you right now and if you threaten me once more I will throw you through that window after I give you a thrashing so bad you would wish you were never born!" I said with as much venom as I could muster, I was dead tired and probably couldn't even lift my arms to defend myself so I bluffed as hard as could hoping to just deal with this tomorrow.
The other boy took a step back in fear before pushing his nose up in the air as far as he could and walked after making a "Hmmp" noise. He went back to his bunk and grabbed all of his stuff and left the room.
Not even 10 minutes later, Sergeant Kace came in with the boy following him close on his heels while he pointed at me and demanding in an imperious voice "This is the boy the threatened to beat me up! I want him whipped!" he snarled as Sergeant Kace walked to the foot of my bed with a smile on his face.
I opened my eye again as the boy was yelling at me. So you are the one that threatened violence towards another trainee he said as he stared into my eye that was having a hard time staying open.
"Yes Sir, I did threaten him, AFTER he threatened to have me whipped bloody for some perceived disrespect he said I showed him," I responded with little energy.
"Good, next time he threatens you, I give you full permission to beat thick skull against the floor until he remembers that until he leaves here he is bound by the same rules AS ALL OF US! he said as he turned around and started yelling at the now terrified trainee.
"You are lucky that Bruni here is too exhausted to properly put you in your place trainee Richard! You may be the fourth son of the Sunguards house patriarch, but when you are here, you are a trainee of the lowest order!" Sergeant Kace spat out as he started to walk towards the nobleman he grabbed him by the collar, "For thinking YOU could give me an order, I will have you digging latrines till nightfall!
That was the last I seen of that boy as I passed out in my bed too exhausted to care that I had been used to threaten the boy. As far as I was concerned the kid could go kick rocks for all I cared.
I woke the next day at dawn as the first light started to shine into the room. I quickly changed my clothing to my second set and headed for the door, along the way out I finally noticed another boy sleeping face down on the first bed that was the closest to the door, it was the noble son Richard that had threatened me. I decided to leave the stupid boy in blissful sleep as I was well aware that even though the official Training season hadn't started Seargent Kace would expect us at the training yard after the last Breakfast bell had wrung. "shouldn't have threatened me with a whipping you ass" I said to the slumbering boy when I walked out.
After I had breakfast I went to the training yard where the Sergeant was waiting for us. "where is Richard" he asked
I saluted him in greeting as I was taught to do to a Senior officer while I replied "Sleeping Sir.' i responded with a straight face
"I see the boy hasn't learned how his life has changed yet, go fill 2 buckets with cold well water and meet me back at the bunkhouse, Looks like we need to go wake that idiot up." he snorted as I did as was asked and headed towards the well with a savage grin on my face.