The Apprenticing

Chapter Five The Apprenticing My Master Jamal had a special day picked out when the weather was cold and the ground was covered in a blanket of fresh snow and ice froze on the manor. On this day we did not do the cooking, I was sent to the Baronesses chief Lady in Waiting to have my bath and hair done. To be fitted for a very special dress and chemise. My blue boots had been put away for the harsh winter months. I wore fur boots with bells on them, the Baron always wanted to know where I was at all times. Incase he ever needed me for anything.  I love learning all that I can. I like wearing boots that sing. Emerald likes it for he can find me easier when we play. On this day, even emerald has been dressed up. He is wearing a grand cape of green and gold. He will be with me when the Baron takes me as his apprentice.  I am so very excited about this. I will bare the coat of arms of the Baron on a belt. So all in the land will know whom I am apprenticing for.  The ladies in waiting have been fusing over me all day. It seems like just yesterday I arrived here, but I am nearly 19 yrs now. How the time flies. I miss my mother and father deeply, but the Baron keeps me busy with tasks and lessons, that I lost track of the days. The time has come for me to take my vows and swear fealty to Master Jamal Damien Marcus. I have proven myself worthy to be his apprentice. 4 yrs I have worked with him, now I will be an apprentice to him. I have earned this right. As the people of Tyre gather, the herald speaks in a loud voice, "Since ancient times, it has been the custom and responsibility of those of noble birth to take into their household's young people of gentle birth, for the purposes of instructing them in all of the arts, sciences and skills necessary for the running of their own households. It has likewise been the custom for craft masters to take unto themselves apprentices for the purpose of training them in the arts and mysteries of their craft, to further and continue that craft. Come now therefore Master Jamal Damien Marcus and the lady Arganteilin filia Elfin, to enter into just such relationship in the ancient and honorable tradition." The promises are made and the bonds are forged.  I kneel before my Master and swear fealty to him.  Then it is done. I am given the green belt with his coat of arms upon it. I shall wear this symbol proudly and with honor. Now all that gaze upon this belt will know without a doubt I am serving the Master of the Manor. A full moon has passed since I became Master Jamal's apprentice; the work has been hard at times, but always good. The manor is a buzz with the Baron giving demands to the cooks, "We need breads baked, and a goat and steer dressed out, and we need the freshest vegetables!"  Gather these for we have a great feast to cook for in 4 days time. No time to waste!! 3 Barons and there Baronesses will be here for the great conference. The King and Queen will also be attending. My Master took me off to the side and explained what was happening. It was time for the king to announce his heir to the throne. The guest list was: Baron David of Calafia and Baroness Adelicia of Calafia in the Kingdom of Caid, Baron Thomas Bordeaux and Baroness Angelina Nicolette de Beaumont of Lyondemere in the Kingdom of Caid, Lady Peregrine Rose Falconer, His Majesty, Sven Orfhendur and Her Majesty, Kolfinna kottr of the Outlands. I was in awe of the list. But then it struck me we have four days to get this together. Oh my, we have so much work to do. My Master just smiled, it will get done. The day came when all on the list were coming to the manor. I always stood behind my Master. The Baroness stood beside him.  The first to arrive was Baron Thomas Bordeaux and Baroness Angelina Nicolette de Beaumont they traveled the farthest. Baron Thomas was not pleased a dragon came to get them. He did not like the traveling through the air it was not natural.  After they were announced, Baron David of Calafia and Baroness Adelicia of Calafia had gotten to the manor. Baron David and Baroness Adelicia loved the dragon and were a bit jealous he did not have one for his barony. The others had no come yet.  Baron Jamal sat with his guests and friends in the library. I served some of the mead I had made for the Baron and Baroness. Everyone enjoy it. They all talked about the up coming meeting the King was having.  They wondered if one of them was to be High King. I was just excited to meet other barons and baronesses. My Master introduced me that I was his apprentice. Then off to work I went making sure all was ready for the great feast this eve. Baron Thomas was a man who liked to tease in a serious way. Baroness Angelina was always saying to the Baron "Thomas, stop that" I just chuckled; he was a funny man in what he had to say. He liked to joke about but he also wanted to get rid of the dragon.  He did not like the dragon and he did not like it flying everywhere. He liked traveling the old fashioned way, for days in a caravan. He felt the dragon should not live with people; he should live with its own kind. So with that thought he planned to have the dragon, dragon napped.  He plotted and planned with his closest advisors to him. Trying to devise a way to get rid of the dragon and have Baron Jamal remember the traditions we used to have before the dragon came to him. Baron Thomas has decided to have the dragon spied upon. He was bound and determined to give my dragon to the king. Baron Thomas and Baron Jamal run their respected baronies very differently. If he could get the dragon to the King, then maybe the King would pick him as an heir to the throne. Baroness Eowyn Amberdrake took Baronesses Adelicia and Angelina in the halls to show off her new works of art. Then off to the sun balcony to show her new illuminations that she just completed. Her work is so beautiful and perfect in everyway. The Barons just chatted amongst themselves of the up coming meeting. Down in the kitchen the breads were being baked; the animals were dressed out and started in the ovens and on the spit. The vegetables were being finished up on. The sweets for after the feast were getting the finishing touches before being cooked. Lots of sweet treats for all to eat.  I reported back to my Master that everything was right on schedule. He was pleased. Another guest has arrived, Lady Peregrine Rose Falconer. She is the baronies falconer; her falcon sits majestically upon her arm. His colours are amazing and striking. She is a happy woman with hair as long as she is tall. It glistens like the sun; her eyes are crystal blue and sparkle. She has a pretty smile and she is well respected in the barony. The Baron cares for her deeply and has since she was a young girl. She takes us outside for an exhibition of her falconry skills. Baron Jamal is pleased. The others are impressed with her talents. She is from Ludlow, England. She misses her home, but loves the ocean and life here in the Barony of Tyre. The Baron has cared for Lady Peregrine and loves her like a daughter. His and Her Majesties have arrived and have been announced. King Sven and Queen Kolfinna are making their way to the library. Baron Jamal is walking with them. They enter the library and the doors are closed. So I run outside to see emerald. I have been so busy today, that I haven't had time to see my best friend, my dragon. Emerald is out in the backfield pushing over rocks and eating the grubs. He has found he has the dragon's breath and has been burning many a field and trees with it. The Baron just watches him as he gets a better aim as he practices with it. He spots me, comes running. He is so clumsy but funny. I love him so much. I ask him if we should go home to see my mother and father. What should we do? It has been 4 yrs since I last saw them. They are beyond mad. They will be wrought with pain of my absence.  I will ask the Baron after the guests have left. Emerald and I go off for a quick flight, before I have to return to the kitchen for the feast. We fly over the tops of the trees and over the sea. I love the colours of blue. Emerald has gotten so big now. He stands over 12' tall and his wingspan covers half the manor. When he walks you can feel the ground shake beneath your feet.  He still eats grubs, plants, and grasses, but loves vegetables too. The Baron was right; he does love them. I say good-bye for a while to my dragon and I rushed back to the manor for the finishing touches on the feast. Everything was getting ready to be served. I ran into the manor and found where everyone is and let the Baron know supper was ready to be served. In a flash Baron Thomas arose and said, "Let us eat then" rubbing his stomach.  I chuckled; he is a funny man. Everyone got up and Baron Jamal showed the nobles to the great hall for the feast. After everyone was in place, the food came out on huge trays. First were the finger foods to eat. So many tasty tidbits of fruit and meats, just big enough for a small child. Then came the large trays of vegetables and roasted meats. Plenty of Mead and ale to go around. Everyone ate and talked and the Baron had arranged for dancers to entertain the guests. The feast lasted for hours with all the music, dancing, eating, and drinking. Their Majesties were enjoying themselves.  The feast is a great success. I feel so honored that I was in charge of the overseeing of this great feast. After the feasting was done, everyone retired to the main library again for talking and an after supper mead. The Baronesses all went to their rooms for the night and readied themselves for the next day of conferences. The Barons sat with the king and talked about the upcoming meeting scheduled for the morrow. There would be more people coming to the manor for the conference.