In the great hall, musicians played, jesters performed, bards sang, and dancers danced.
Aldeth's eyes and ears were not bored while he ate his meal. Sometimes minstrels would visit Arenberg Castle.
They stayed in the castle for a few days, reciting poems and singing songs. They also told us about other parts of the world.
Because bards are always travelling, they know a lot about the world.
So the lords did not take the bards lightly.
Aldeth ate his food and watched the dancers. The dancers wore sheer chiffon cloths, which showed their legs and hips seductively through the chiffon. The glimpse of the chiffon was more eye-catching than the bare skin.
Across from Aldes, Wolpo was staring at the dancer in fascination.
When the dancer finished, Wolpo wrote something on a piece of paper and called for a servant. Wolffo whispered something to the servant, who hurried to deliver the note to one of the dancers.
Aldes pretended to eat his food and watched the movements of Wolffo and the servant. Aldeth shifted his gaze to avoid eye contact with Wolffo.
Aldeth thought Wolffo was playing a trick on the dancer.
'What are you thinking?'
A woman's voice came from beside him.
'No, it's just that with such good food and such good entertainment, I'm reminded of the people back home.'
'That's because it's your first day here. I'm Aladdif.'
If Alladiph was Rato's two-year-old sister, then she was a year younger than Aldes.
'Aldes, why do you speak so stiffly? Make it easy for me.'
'Of course. I will.'
'I said make it easy.'
'... Okay, okay.'
The friendly Aladdif had brown hair and blue eyes. She was big-eyed, round-faced, and cute.
'When you're done eating, the butler will show you to Aldeth's room. How much luggage do you have? Where is it?'
'The escort that came with me has it. I have very little.'
Aldeth had brought only his sword and dagger, his leather armour and a tunic.
'Uncle Wolpo up front didn't play well with me when I was younger. Always playing betting chess with people, and revealing a lot of women. You haven't talked to your uncle yet, have you?'
Aldes didn't want to talk to Wolpo so abruptly.
'You're a very active man.'
He couldn't say he was a troublemaker.
'Say hello. It's my uncle. Uncle!'
Wolffo looked at Aldes. There was a hint of annoyance in his voice.
'Hello. I'm Aldeth of House Boldo, and I've never met you before.'
'Hmm. I see. Have you eaten much?'
'Yes, I've eaten a lot.'
'Good.'
Wolffo said nothing, and rose to his feet.
'My uncle is in a lot of trouble with my dad. He works with the treasurer, and he's often naughty.'
Aladdif watched his uncle leave, then looked at Uncle Yung.
'Hmm. I see. I hope Wolffo can help the Treasurer.'
'Indeed.'
Aldes turned to see a thin man in his fifties walking towards him.
'Aldeth. I'm Eikor, the butler, and the feast is coming to an end. Have you finished eating?'
'Yes, sir. I'm done.'
'Let us go to your room, Aldeth.'
Aldeth rose from his seat, greeted Alladiph with his eyes, and followed Eikor.
Grifenstein Castle had several castle buildings within its wide walls. The castle was centred around a central hall, and the buildings surrounded it.
Alladiph, the two servants, and Aldeth exit the central building. They headed east to a castle building some distance away.
They entered the building and travelled up to the fourth floor, where there were several rooms. Aladdif went to one of them.
'This is the room you will be using, Aldeth.'
Aldes followed Alladip into the room. The room seemed three times the size of his room at Arenberg Castle.
There was a large, oval-shaped carpet on the floor.
'This is much bigger and nicer than my room at Arenberg Castle.'
'It must be. Where is the luggage you brought?'
'The convoy has it.'
'Very well. I'll have someone bring it to you.'
'Thank you.'
'This is Aldeth's personal servant from now on.'
'I'm Ahar, please take care of him.'
Ahar was 17 years old, black-haired, and thin.
He showed Aldeth the bathroom, the toilet, and explained the furniture and supplies.
'Aldes, please have a seat.'
Aladif pointed to a chair on a round table next to the bed.
Aladdif and Aldes sat down across from each other.
'Since you are here as a hostage, Aldes, you are not allowed to leave the castle alone without permission. Only on special occasions or events are you allowed to leave the castle, accompanied by your vassals.'
Aldeth had expected this. Hostages can't come and go at will. Gryffenstein Castle was a prison to Aldeth.
'Yes, I understand.'
'Your daily routine is education, study, and training. You do not work, as you did at Arenberg Castle. Your meals will be brought to your room by servants, and you will be allowed to attend the occasional banquet with members of House Gerho. There are no set bedtimes, but you shouldn't oversleep. You must be awake when the servants bring you water for washing, and you must be diligent in your education and studies. If you are not diligent in your education and studies, you will be punished with corporal punishment.'
'I will keep your instructions in mind. I like to learn from learned men and have dialogue with them.'
'Good, my vassals and the people of House Gerho are keeping an eye on you, Aldeth. You must not do anything suspicious. You must go about your daily routine.'
'They feed me, house me, and educate me, so I must be diligent.'
While Aldes and Alladif were talking, Ahar had returned with Aldes's luggage.
'Well, I'll leave you to it, then. Your work starts tomorrow.'
'Yes. Thank you.'
Aldeth bowed his head in a curt salute and sent Aladdif on his way.
Aldeth was now alone in the room. He felt a little liberated.
He had been tired since his arrival at Grifenstein Castle, being watched and watched and watched what he said and did.
There was running water in the room. Aldes washed his face and changed into comfortable clothes from the wardrobe beside his bed.
Aldes could not live here forever. For now, he would have to be careful what he said and did, lest he be seen by the people of Grifenstein Castle, and he would think about his future plans as he watched the events unfold.
Aldeth went to the window. Outside the window, the castle walls stretched high and wide. The sun was dipping behind the mountains in the distance. The clouds in the sky were turning orange.
Aldes looked this way and that to see if there were any aromatic pigeons, but there were none.
'They'll come one day,' he thought.
Aldes woke up early in the morning. He went to the bathroom, did his business, and sat down in his chair.
On the table were writing utensils: ink, paper, and a quill pen. He planned to write a letter to Wintry when it came.
There was a knock on the door. Ahar came in with a basin of water and breakfast.
'Get ready and come out, I'll be waiting outside.'
Ahar said.
Aldes washed his face and ate breakfast. There were eggs, bread, milk, cheese, and bacon.
Aldes went with Ahar to another building.
They went into a room on the second floor of the building.
There was no one in the room.
'The others will be here soon.'
Ahar said as he placed refreshments, tea, on the table.
Aldes sat down in a chair. A moment later, an older man entered the room.
Aldes jumped to his feet and bowed.
'Aldes of House Boldo. I've never met you before.'
'Pleased to meet you. My name is Aris, bachelor of House Gerjo. I saw you at the banquet yesterday, Aldes.'
Aris stuck out his hand to shake Aldeth's, saying, 'Good evening.
Aldeth remembered so many people in the ballroom yesterday that he didn't even remember Aris.
'Your lordship's children will be here soon, and the lesson will begin then.'
Soon, two more arrived. The lord's eldest son, Rato, and his daughter, Aladif. He had two younger siblings, but they were too young to follow Aris's lessons and were being taught separately.
'Why are you here?'
Rato said when he saw Aldes.
'I was told to come to the training.'
'Bachelor. Why is a hostage being trained with us?'
'My lord has given me permission.'
'Bachelor. When you say my lord allowed it, you mean that my lord didn't tell you first that Aldeth should be educated like us? I mean, you brought it up to my lord that Aldeth should be educated like us.'
'Yes. Yes, there's a part of learning that comes from being with people who have different ideas and backgrounds, and you learn from each other. It would be good for Aldes to be educated with us. I think it would be beneficial for both you and Aladdif, which is why I mentioned it to my lord.'
Aladdif sat up first, annoyed by Rato's questioning tone.
'Brother. Your father gave you permission, so sit down.'
'Chit.'
Rato sat back down.
Aldeth saw the look of surprise on Rato's face as he entered the room. He felt like saying something like.
'Aldeth, don't be offended.'
Alladiph comforted him.
'I know you're upset, and you don't need me to make you feel better.'
Rato said.
Aldeth took a deep breath.
'Okay, then. Let the lesson begin.'
Aris had to move the lesson along quickly or Rato would continue to argue with Aldes.
'Today we'll be studying the continent of Merfeld, which is a long way east of Henneruk by sea, and as you can see, it's bigger than Henneruk.'
Aris had many questions for Aldes, but they would have to wait.
Aris opened the book she had brought with her and showed him the map.
'Here, I thought the continent of Henneruk was very large. Merfeld is even larger? Yes, it is. There must be a lot of people there.'
Aladdif asked.
'Yes, it is. There are many cities and many people in Mercerfeld. With such a large land, there are also many dangerous creatures. It's a long way by sea from Heneruk to Mercerfeld. It's hard to get there unless you're a very skilful sailor, and if you're unlucky enough to be caught in a storm, you could die.'
'Have you ever been to Mersfeld, bachelor?'
Aladdif asked.
'No. It's not an easy place to get to, unless you sneak aboard a pirate ship with good sailing skills.'
'A pirate ship? Pirates are dangerous.'
Rato asked.
'Of course they're dangerous.'
Aldes hadn't realised that crossing the ocean could be so dangerous. There were things he wanted to ask the bachelor, but he didn't want to be seen to be starting from scratch. Especially not in front of Rato.
'Aldes, do you have any questions about the continent of Merfeld?'
'You said you had to be a good sailor to sail such a long way ..., so if you can't steer a ship in the middle of the ocean, I don't think you'd be able to get to Mercerfeld.'
'That's a good question, Aldes. There are tools that can help you orientate yourself in the middle of the ocean.'