'Really? What kind of tool is that?'
Aldes asked curiously.
'I thought you might need it for your study on the continent of Merfeld today, so I brought it with me.'
Aris had a book on another table in the room, and on it was a small wooden tool.
Aris picked it up and placed it on the desk.
'Isn't this a spinning top?'
Aladdif said.
'It looks like a spinning top. It's called a solar panel.'
A scale was carved around the rim of the circular wooden board, and in the middle of the board was a finger-sized wooden rod, like the handle of a spinning top.
'If you look at the sun, you can see the direction you're going. The sun rises and sets slightly differently on the horizon depending on the season, and you can see that on the sun plate.'
'So, are we travelling east or north. You mean you can tell by looking at the solar panels?'
Aldes asked.
'Yes. That's right. When you're sailing across the ocean, it's an essential tool.'
'I see. I suppose pirates have solar panels?'
Rato asked.
'I don't think so. Very few people know about solar panels. Pirates look at the constellations at night to determine their direction.'
'If it's such an important tool, shouldn't someone like Aldes know about it?'
Rato turned to Aldes.
'A good tool, a new invention, can't be hidden, can't be gagged. Anything worth its salt is bound to get out, one way or another.'
Aldes studied the solar panel, trying to familiarise himself with its shape; if it was such an important tool, he had to remember it.
For the next hour, Aris talked a lot about geography.
When the lesson was over, they parted ways. Aldes returned to his room with Ahar.
Ahar soon brought them their meals.
'I will accompany you to Arisu's lectures only twice in the future. After that, Aldeth, you will be on your own time. Enjoy your meal. Get some rest, and in the afternoon I will show you around the castle.'
'Alright, thank you.'
Aldes ate his lunch and thought. From the history he'd learnt from Wintry, the bachelor of Arenberg Castle, it was not uncommon for the Sioux to take the sons of Buril families hostage and marry them off to their own daughters or nieces.
If he continued to stay at Castle Griffenstein and eventually found a woman to marry and have children with Lord Gauthau, he would find himself even more bound to House Gerho.
Aldeth thought it could happen to him.
The Griffensteins seem to be treating him well, but there's no telling what they're up to behind the scenes.
Aldeth would play it cool for now, but if the Gerhos were to be turned on their heads, he wouldn't stand idly by.
No, he must sense it coming.
After lunch, we wandered the grounds of Grifenstein Castle, guided by Ahar, to see the facilities.
Aldeth had dinner and was resting in his room. I looked out the window to see if the aroma pigeons had come near.
Still, no aroma pigeons were in sight.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
'Come in.'
Bachelor. It was Arisu. She was carrying several books. Aris looked as old as Wintry, the bachelor back home.
'You're resting, I'm sorry.'
'No, bachelor.'
Aldeth led Aris to a table and sat down.
Aris placed her book on one side of the table.
'So, Aldeth, what have you been doing?'
'During the day, I toured the facilities of Castle Griffenstein. I saw the guards' quarters, the library, the chapel, and the cookhouse.'
'What did you think?'
'The facilities were large, and there were a lot of people working. There were all sorts of meats in the galley, as well as fish. I've only eaten fish twice.'
'You can't eat fish unless you're near the sea, so they salt it and bring it into the castle.'
'During the day, we spent time exploring the castle's facilities, had dinner, and rested.'
'Aldes, if you want to send a letter home, you can do so through Paval.'
Officially, the letter would be sent through Paval. Aldes realised that he would need to prepare both a letter to be sent using the aroma pigeon and a letter to be sent through Paval.
If he only used the aroma pigeon and did not send a letter through the paval, the Gerjos might suspect that Aldes was communicating with the Boldos through other channels.
'Very well, I will send it through Faval.'
'And I've brought some books with me.'
Aris pushed the books toward Aldeth.
'The history of House Gerho, the geography of the Zirnewald region, and the history of the continent of Merfeld. Take a look at these three books for now. When you're finished, I'll bring you the other books.'
'You're being too nice to me, bachelor, when I'm a hostage.'
'My lord has told me not to lack for Aldeth.
Aldeth has come here as a hostage under less than favourable circumstances, but I do not wish him to think ill of House Gerho.
I encourage you to broaden your social circle here, not only with the Gerhos, but also with vassals like me.
As you study with me, you will have many conversations with me about this world, and while I will teach you some things, I will also learn from you.
Through teaching and learning, master and pupil grow together.'
Aldeth could sense that Aris was as well-spoken as he was learned. It was like water seeping into cotton wool if you let it, slowly turning you into a Gerho. Aldeth was determined to escape the Gerho's embrace one day.
Rato's attitude was irritating, but Aris and Aladif seemed to be decent people.
Aldeth had a question for Aris.
'I look forward to learning from you, bachelor, and I think that solar panel you showed me earlier is a great tool. If I ever need it, will you give it to me?'
'Let me know when you need it, and I'll give it to you. I have the blueprints, and I can make one for you.'
'Really? Thank you in advance. And as for me, the Boldo family, we're under the influence of the Gerjos, and we're feeling very much watched and threatened by them.
The financial situation has deteriorated to the point where I am now a hostage to the Gerjos.
So, what kind of threats do the Gerjos face?'
Aldes' question could have been a sensitive one for a Gerjo to hear.
'Even if you're a wealthy family or a king, there are dangers.
That's why a bachelor like me is there, to diagnose what the risks are, and to work with the lord on what needs to be done to reduce them.
House Gerho is located in the northeastern part of the continent of Heneruk, and in the northwestern part of the continent are House Boldo and House Bertha, but these two houses are under the influence of House Gerho, so they are not a danger to House Gerho.
And far to the south of the continent of Heneruk is the Elfold family of King Obaus.
However, the Elfolds are geographically far to the south, and the Mystic Mist Mountains, which lie between the northern and central parts of the Heneruk continent, stretch far to the east and west. So while the Elfolds are powerful, their influence does not extend beyond the Mystic Mist Mountains.'
'I see. Are you saying that there is no danger to the Gerho Family?'
'There is no threat from the other Houses, but there is a place called Waleibach, south of Zirne Wald, where the Orcs occasionally cause trouble.'
'Trouble from the Orcs is hardly a threat, is it?'
'Yes, they are.'
'If that's the case, then we should organise a raiding party and drive the orcs out.'
'My lord is thinking of organising a raiding party as well.'
'The people of Wallabach must be suffering quite a bit from the Orcs.'
'There is a lot of damage. There has been a request from Wallabach to send men to organise a raiding party to drive the orcs out.'
Aldeth talked with Aris for another half hour. After sending Aris away, Aldeth went to bed.
When he was in Ranefels, he hadn't realised that House Gerho was struggling with the orcs in Wallabach, and House Alfold, far to the south over the Misty Mountains. Even House Gerho feared them.
Aldeth kept his gaze on the window, wondering if the Aroma Dove would come, even if it was late.
Aldeth stared at the stars outside the window. The stars were the same from his room at Arenberg Castle as they were from his room at Griffenstein Castle.
Aldes wondered how Castle Arenberg was doing without him.
Without Aldes as the eldest, his father must have chosen his younger brother Tari as his successor.
If good-natured Tari were to become lord of House Boldo, she would have many challenges to overcome.
Chief among them is the Gerjo family. If only he could break the power of House Gerjo and balance it with House Boldo and House Bertha.
As the bachelor, Aris, had said, the mighty Elfolds of the far south of the Heneruk continent pose no threat to the northern houses of the Heneruk continent because of their great distance and the mysterious Misty Mountains that stand in their way.
Aldeth gazed out the window at the stars and waited for the aromatic pigeons, and eventually his eyes closed.
The next morning, Ahar brought him a wash and breakfast.
'Aldeth, today is a training day. Get ready and let's go to the swordsmanship training grounds.'
Aldeth was already feeling tired. The memory of waking up from a long sleep in the Boundary Forest and taking on a giant boar was fresh in his mind.
He remembered how Woodod had been so impressed with Aldeth's swordsmanship.
He had trained with Udo since he was a child, thinking he might one day defeat him, but after his trip to the Boundary Forest, his swordsmanship had far surpassed Udo's.
Aldeth knew his swordsmanship was extraordinary. Even though he was a hostage, if there was a physical threat to him here, he would actively use his swordsmanship.
He had faith in his swordsmanship, so he was not afraid, even though he was alone in Castle Griffenstein.
The people of Grifenstein Castle do not know of Aldeth's swordsmanship. There's no need to show off Aldeth's skills.
If you get too excited and show off your swordsmanship, you might make them wary of you.
Aldeth followed Ahar to a clearing at the side of Grifenstein Castle. It was near the buildings that housed the guards.