When Salvador returned to the castle grounds word was going around that the duchess had announced there would be a feast to commemorate the arrival of Samee Aguino, son of Lord Emmanuel Aguino. The mood in the castle was frantic as servants and stewards rushed around the castle to get things ready for the feast. The lordling arrived on the morrow, after all.

Salvador decided to have supper brought to him instead of eating with the Florjes family. After all, it would do no good cause trouble for them, and he had no doubt that Carlos wanted nothing more than for revenge after beating him in sparring this morning. So he and Gerard sat at their little dining table, eating casually. They talked about places they wished to go, and the best parts of their previous adventures. They spoke of news that they had heard today about different parts of the kingdom, places of opportunity, or just whatever seemed interesting.

"House Lunea seems to be ready to go to war with House Albantes," Gerard brought up. "There were multiple skirmishes along their borders, the king seems to be doing what he can to stop all conflict, however."

" A first." Salvador snorted. "He knows that if two large houses sworn directly with him go to war, it'll pretty much be like holding up a sign that says 'Do whatever you want, I can't stop you!' in bright red."

"Everyone already can do what they want without the king doing anything. The fool is powerless!"

A sharp knock sounded at their door. "Angelica," Salvador said.

Gerard raised an eyebrow. "So sure?"

Salvador grinned. "Certain. Who knows, maybe Inejgo is with her."

Gerard went to answer the door and was met by the sight of Angelica and Inejgo. He turned to Salvador and said, "I guess you were correct."

"I'm always correct," he retorted.

"Oh?" Gerard said in a mock surprise voice. "Well, I do remember that one time in Nyove Royne when you led us straight to a nest filled with brigands. Do you remember?"

"Yes, yes," Salvador admitted exasperatingly. "You always bring that up! I was green back then, that was only my third time on the job!"

"I remember that," Inejgo said. "Whenever you two came back with a report of your job to my lady mother, Gerard was laughing hysterically as he forced you to tell your mistake to my mother!"

"What was your client for that job?" Angelica asked.

"Some Royni lord," Salvador said, waving his hands in a dismissive gesture. "He wanted us to clear the brigands from his lands. I remember the job, he gave us a hundred fifty swords to do the job."

"After two battles that number had lowered to seventy-five," Gerard added.

"I remember," Angelica said, nodding. "You told us that you were forced to have to resort to killing the brigand leaders."

"We wanted to do it honorably," Salvador admitted. "And it partially succeeded. None of the brigands would face Gerard so we had them face me. I killed all who did. However, not all of them accepted our challenge to combat, so we had to kill them in the dark." Salvador felt his expression turned grim as he remembered those times. They were some of his first assassinations. After he had killed three brigand leaders, Gerard had noticed he wasn't feeling well after, no matter how hard Salvador had tried to hide it. So Gerard had taken it upon himself to take twenty men and ride into the last few brigand nests, slaughtering all who dared oppose him. He killed the rest of the brigand leaders and caused all of the brigand bands to collapse.

The rest of supper was pleasant. They chatted about perhaps the most random things in the world, but for some reason, it felt like they were the best things to talk about.

"Have any of you met this boy that's to come to Fiorá?" Salvador asked abruptly.

Both Inejgo and Angelica slowly nodded their heads. "He's a fierce child, he wishes to be the best knight in Sersalvon. He's a squire to his father, Emmanuel Aguino."

"And now Gerard and I must train him," Salvador muttered.

Angelica smiled. "It won't be too bad. I mean. . . the boy's a bit. . . brash."

"And rightfully so?"

"Maybe," Angelica said, shrugging. "He's strong for his age. He's also tall. I don't think he's too bad with a sword."

"Brash, young, and perhaps better than average with a sword. Not a good combination."

Angelica stared at him incredulously. "That sounds just like you!" she quipped.

"I know. Not a good combination."

Gerard gave out a bark of laughter. "That's one thing you're right about."

"Still," Salvador said with a small smile. "He's also the son of a lord. He's bound to be very arrogant. I don't particularly wish to work with boy's like that."

"At sixteen he's a man," Inejgo reminded him.

Salvador rolled his eyes. "Sure."

"Nonetheless," Gerard said, standing up. "The boy arrives on the morrow, and you should expect for the Duke Consort to want us to get to work with him immediately."

"Yes," Inejgo agreed, standing up. "It is time for us to be off. Dusk has settled and we wish to disturb you no further. Fare you well, Salvador Castellano and Sir Gerard Elwyn."

"Till we meet again," Salvador said, by way of farewell.

Angelica got up from her seat and walked out the door with Inejgo at her tail.

***

In the morning of the next day, Angelica stood at the docks of Fiorá, watching a ship with the banners of House Aguino slowly sail into the great docks. She stood with her siblings at the pier, waiting. Carlos had his wife, Lady Andela Chaver with him. Her curly red hair tumbled down to her waist, her cool green eyes scanned every part of the docks, assessing. She stood tall and proud with a lady's smile upon her face. Her skin was paler than most Sersalvonians, a characteristic of House Chaver. Freckles dotted her rosy cheeks and she wore a beautiful green dress.

As the ship pulled into the docks and slowly came to a stop, the boarding plank was set down and guardsmen in the colors of House Aguino descended with Lord Emmanuel's son, Samee Aguino.

Her father, Duke Consort Martyn greeted his nephew warmly and welcomed him to the city of Fiorá. Samee gave a confident smile and scanned the city docks.

"What are you looking for, my nephew?" Martyn asked him.

"The Freelancer," he replied. "He is to train me, after all."

"I am right here, young lord," Gerard said respectfully, with a bow.

"Is our training to begin immediately?"

"If you wish it so." Gerard bowed again.

"Can you at least wait till we've broken our fast?" A lone voice rang out. Salvador.

Angelica sighed, for already he was about to make trouble.

Samee looked around for the speaker. "What?"

"I said that we haven't broken our fast yet. At least breakfast and perhaps thirty minutes before we begin training." Salvador pushed his way to the front of the crowd, heedless of the shocked lords and ladies. "After all, you have to train with me as well."

Samee obviously did not know who Salvador was. "And you are. . ."

"Salvador Castellano, at your service." He gave Samee a mocking bow. "But you may know me by my lackluster name. The Peasant."

Samee looked as if he didn't believe it. "You? The Peasant? A boy perhaps a couple years older than myself?"

Salvador had an indignant expression on his face. "We shouldn't be speaking about age here. How old are you? Ten?"

The lords and ladies gasped. It took all of Angelica's willpower not to smile and look shocked. Inejgo's lips were slightly upturned, and her mother. . . she did not look happy this time. Neither did her father.

"I'm sixteen," Samee proclaimed with his shreds of dignity.

"It's the age of mind that counts," Salvador quipped, tapping the side of his forehead. "Nonetheless, I should not think it beneath a lordling to wait an hour or so before eating. Many of us out here had to forsake our breakfast to greet you from your ship. Surely you could be so kind to let people eat. For we must eat to survive."

Devilishly smart, Angelica thought. Now Samee could reject it and seem like a spoiled brat, or give them the mercy to break their fast. Angelica thought she felt her stomach growl. Unladylike, but she couldn't care. She had to wake up early, put on this uncomfortable dress and bear the humidity of Fiorá, only to greet a boy from his ship.

Samee's lips tightened as he ground out, "So be it."

Salvador gave him a winning smile. He looked at Duchess Florjes, who kept a calm expressionless demeanor, but Angelica could see the storm in her eyes. "If you have no need of me. . ."

"Take your leave, Salvador," her mother said smoothly. Samee nodded his agreement.

Salvador seized the moment and sauntered away, heedless of all the eyes staring at his back. Heedless of the barely contained anger of the Duke Consort. Heedless of the shock of Samee Aguino.

It was just like Salvador.

Although perhaps this time he took it a little too far. It'd be a miracle if he wasn't flayed, Angelica thought, slightly amused. But Salvador seems to have a knack for miracles.