“That’s it for me today!” I said, panting.
“Well fought, Lord,” Berushk said. He bowed to me.
I noticed our audience had grown to include a good dozen army officers and castle guardsmen. They began to clap and cheer, so I gave them a quick salute with my sword before returning it to the practice weapons rack. I had a feeling they’d be talking about my workout for some time.
Then I toweled off, thanked Berushk for his time and trouble, and headed inside. The watchers parted silently as I passed through their ranks.
Conner and Titus hurried to join me.
“I think you’re as good as Locke,” Conner told me.
“Maybe better,” said Titus. “Berushk still beats him now and again.”
I laughed. “That’s just because they work out together. They know each other’s tricks.”
“Even so…”
And we spent the walk up to our rooms chatting like old friends. I had found them dour and distant at dinner, but once they relaxed, I found I actually enjoyed their company.
We reached our floor and went our separate ways. That’s when I noticed the door to my rooms stood open. So much for my plans for a quiet rest before dinner.
I peeked around the door frame, expecting the worst.
Instead of lurking assassins, however, I found Freda and Aber waiting inside for me. Freda, at the writing table, had her set of cards out and was turning them over one by one, studying the emerging pattern. She did not look happy.
“Problems?” I asked Aber quietly as I entered. “Doesn’t she like what she sees?”
“The problem is, she’s not seeing anything.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Is that bad?”
“I don’t know.” He folded his arms and frowned. “She won’t tell me.”
That made me smile. “You should join me in the workout yard tomorrow,” I said, heading for my bedroom and the washbasin. I’d need to get cleaned up for dinner. “It’s a good way to get your exercise and bond with your brothers.”
“The problem with that,” he said, “is that I don’t like my brothers all that much. Present company excepted, of course.”
“Of course,” I said.
“And as for bonding with them?” He gave a mock shudder, “No thank you! Who did you work out with?”
“Conner and Titus. And an interesting weapons-master named Berushk.”
“I met him once. All he did was insult me!”
“What did you do?”
“I told him to grow up and went back inside.”
I had to laugh. “Everyone says a battle is coming. Don’t you want to be ready?”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I have a plan. If we’re attacked, I’m going to stand well out of the way while you and Locke and Dad kill everyone.”
I snorted. “That’s not much of a plan.”
“It will do for now.”
“Have you seen Horace?”
“Who?”
“My valet.”
“Oh, him. No. Want me to send someone to find him?”
“No… just show me the way to Mattus’s closet, will you? I need some clean clothes.”
“Sure. Come on.” He started for the door, and I trailed him.
Before we made it out, though, Freda said, “Oberon, please come here first. I want you to shuffle these Trumps.”
“All right,” I said. “If you think it will help.”
As I reached for them, a loud bell began to toll close by, its peals loud and incessant, coming every few seconds. I paused, listening, counting. Five then eight then ten strikes, and then it stopped.
Freda had an anxious expression on her face. Rising, she began to pack up her cards.
“What does that bell mean?” I demanded.
“An emergency!” Aber said. “We have five minutes to report to the main hall!”
Let me get my sword first,” I said, I wasn’t making the mistake again of getting sent off gods-knew-where without being properly armed.
Running back into my bedroom, I grabbed my swordbelt and buckled it on. Then I rejoined Freda and Aber, and together we hurried downstairs. Titus and Conner followed almost on our heels.
We met Locke and Davin on the ground floor. Both looked grim.
“Anyone know what the problem is?” Locke asked us.
“Sorry, no,” I said. “You?”
“No.” He turned and headed for the audience hall at a jog, Davin at his heels. Aber and I followed them.
“How often has the alarm been rung?” I asked Aber.
“First time that I know of,” he said. “It’s only supposed to be rung in the direct of emergencies.”