I lay in my bed after lunch, taking advantage of their equivalent of siesta for some private time. Being the singular Lord of the Realm present was turning out to be rather time-consuming. The morning of Day One was mainly taken up by officially meeting all the lords and their families.

This was not the nod-and-bow format like we'd done on the road. I was to embrace all of the Lords and Sirs and their sons from age seven and kiss the hand of every Lady and Maid from that same age. How many whispered, "If I could have a private word with you later, Milord," went into my ear, I wasn't sure, but Lord Calin told me to expect these and to pass them off to him to schedule.

He'd also double-checked that I really wanted Adrian as my squire since he was only the son of a cavalier and typically not suitable for my rank. He smiled at my expected answer, then went to Stefan. "He's not suitable for carrying oral messages, which is one of his duties. The Lords are not as patient as you are to decipher such a message."

"He stays my page."

"I understand, Milord. You can have more than one page...one more presentable, and Master Stefan can handle your more personal needs. He is less than two years away from moving to squirehood, should he make that leap. A younger page would be better. Master Stefan hadn't had training before being assigned to you. Likewise, Master Adrian's training was cut short with the death of his first cavalier."

"The same is true of me, as I'm sure you understand." I held up my hand to stop his apology. "Sir Filip oversees both boys' training, but you are correct about Stefan. We're working on his stutter, but that is a long-term issue, so I'll be on the lookout for an additional young page who is glib of tongue. Understand that I will be looking for a boy I like and who will fit in rather than one of the finest standing."

That got a smile from Calin. "I would expect nothing less from you, Milord. While we're on the subject, Lady Sabina requested to be relieved of her duties as lady-in-waiting to Maid Elexus of the Realm. This way, she could return to Suata and ensure the proper operations of their manor and lands. Maid Elexus accepted her request. She also requested that Maid Doina also be relieved to return with her. Maid Elexus denied that request, to the apparent relief of Maid Doina. Maid Elexus was adamant about keeping the younger Maids and said she would select a replacement for Lady Sabina during this morning's procession. Is this acceptable to you?"

"It wouldn't matter if it wasn't," I replied with a grin. "It's what's going to happen. Any idea what age Ellie is looking for?"

"None whatsoever," Calin said, returning my grin. "My Lady would love it if you reined in Maid Elexus, but I didn't encourage that outcome."

"Wise man," I responded. I found myself like Lord Calin, even if I tried to heed Lauretti's words against trust.

I did select three boys to interview after siesta. They all looked around seven and seemed bright, articulate, and not entirely overwhelmed by speaking to a god. The treatment I received this morning made me feel like one, and I didn't like it.

I spoke to each person presented, mainly running through a list of questions in my head to learn more about the area. More than once, I had to tell the parents to let their son or daughter speak rather than answer for them. In response, I got everything from silent glowing faces to extended soliloquies which I listened to in whole, much to the embarrassment of their parents.

While I could say that I was trying to have fun with this duty, it also helped me to remember each of them. Ellie spoke more with the teenage girls than the rest, which answered the question about who she was looking for. She also talked more to the families who weren't resplendent in their garb but instead in worn and threadbare formal dress. And all this with Oana sitting on her lap, holding her hand out to be kissed. At least there was no embracing by the women, but low curtseying instead.

A knock at my door brought me out of my reverie. "Come in."

Adrian entered. "I have the boys downstairs, Milord, as you requested. Stefan is watching them. Are you ready to see them?"

"I am," I said as I slipped on local-made shoes and tied them. "Did you have any problems?"

"One Lady was concerned about where we were taking her boy, but her Lord told her it didn't matter."

I missed my tennis shoes, but they were getting ratty. I'd already changed into less opulent and more serviceable pants and tunic and slipped my vest on. A man simply isn't dressed if he doesn't wear a vest around here. Beaded with my rank and embroidered in red and gold, it was otherwise lightweight and loose-fitting cotton like my other clothes.

I headed out and saw Boian and Calin join us. Going down the broad staircase, we met Ellie coming up with a younger girl, maybe fifteen, her coppery hair and green eyes standing out from her off-white dress.

"Kevin," Ellie said. "This is my new lady-in-waiting, Zoe. Maid Zoe, this is my brother, Lord Kevin of the Realm. This is Lord Calin, Lord Boian, and Master Adrian."

The new girl curtsied deeply. I recognized her and nodded in return. She'd given a good yet brief answer on what there was to do around her manor. She and her mother seemed to be the only women I met this morning with red hair and green eyes.

Ellie looked back down the staircase. "Where are you going?"

"To test out some boys to be my second page."

"Let's go watch this, Zoe," Ellie said. "Unless it's some macho secret initiation thing."

"Nope," I said and continued down the stairs.

I gestured for Stefan to bring the boys, then headed outside to a well-worn trail that led to the granite dome.

My ribs were aching, and I was breathing hard by the time I reached the top, Adrian, Ellie, and Zoe right behind me. Boian and Calin joined us a minute later.

"You're going to do the test up here," Calin gasped, and Boian chuckled.

"Oh, it's already started," Ellie replied.

Stefan had stayed behind the lords, and the boys strung out behind him.

He grinned as he came to me, the first boy directly behind him, then brought him to me.

"I want you to say the following," I said, watching Stefan hurry the other two boys up. "Say, 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.'"

The boy's eyes went wide as his sides heaved. "Peter Piper," he began, "picked a peck...of....peppers...pickled...peppers" He hung his head and shook it.

"That's fine. Go stand over by Master Adrian."

I repeated it to the second boy as Stefan went for the third.

He gasped, "Peter...Piper...picked a peck...of...of...of...something....Milord."

I sent him to stand by the first boy, then repeated it to the third as he arrived, gasping for breath.

"Peter...Piper...picked...a...a...pickle...pepper."

I walked him to the other two boys. I could see the grin on Boian's face, and Calin seemed to be getting it now as I turned back to the first boy.

"Say, 'She sells seashells by the seashore.'"

"She sells seashells...by the...she-shore? What's a she-shore, Milord?"

Ellie and Zoe stood behind them. Both of them looked like they were about to burst.

"You give it a try," I said to the second one. He was still breathing hard.

"She sells...seashores...by...the.... She sells seashores by....that's still...not right," he finished glumly.

"And you," I directed to the third one.

He froze, gasping even harder than before, then shook his head.

"Stefan, who's your man?"

Stefan went to the first one and touched his shoulder. "H-h-him."

Adrian passed a waterskin around to the boys.

Once they'd all had a drink, I said, "Congratulations, Master Radu. You are now my second page. In a little while, Lord Boian and Master Adrian will accompany you to your parents to tell them the good news. Until then, all three of you look out and enjoy the view. I know I will. Stefan, escort them around the top."

As he herded them off, Calin stepped close to me. "That was your test?"

"It was," I replied.

"It was a good one, too," Ellie added from behind me. "They had to give difficult messages immediately under stressful conditions. That's the number one thing that Stefan can't do."

"And you let your page select his second?"

"Why not? He's a smart kid, getting close to squire age, though I'm not sure he's interested in that." I looked at Lord Calin. "Would you have chosen differently?"

"That's not the point," he began when Boian slapped him on the back.

"I told you from the start that they're not going to do things the normal way, and from both this and the choice of Maid Zoe, I believe that's obvious. Time will show us this wisdom, but I don't doubt the competence of either choice today. What do you think of this test, Maid Zoe?"

Boian turned to face her as she curtsied, her face pinking slightly. "Milords, if the test's purpose was as stated, I think it worked. Master Radu understood the best, stated it the best, and asked about the part he didn't understand correctly. However, Milord, I am a young girl who may not fully understand the test."

"Maid Zoe," Boian continued. "You are replacing my Lady Sabina as lady-in-waiting. You have big shoes to fill, but I think you are making a good start." He gave her a slight bow, then added, "It's been quite a while since I've been up here. Let's take this opportunity to view the surrounding lands from all directions."

At that, he began to stroll to the north. Calin and I followed, and I asked them questions about how this was used for observation and defense. I was pleased to discover that their plans and operations were similar to my thoughts but much better fleshed out than I'd even considered. Ellie and Zoe had walked their own way around the top. It'd been a couple of years since I'd been up here, and it was interesting to see that a lot of this appeared the same as I remembered. The natural areas were almost identical. It was only the manmade structures that brought differences between home and here.

Upon our return to the keep, we split, Boian and Adrian taking Radu to his parents, Stefan the other two to theirs, Calin and I to my chambers, and Ellie taking Zoe to hers. Filip followed us to the balcony with a pitcher of warm beer. The three of us sat in a shaded area to drink and talk.

"Milord," Filip started. "You did manage to avoid a few lords who wished to sequester themselves with you this afternoon. I provided them with your regrets and suggested they find Lord Calin to schedule appointments.

"Please continue doing that," Calin replied. "I don't want Lord Kevin disturbed by petty problems and intrigues until he has a better feel for the place."

Filip nodded. "Do you have this second page?"

"Master Radu, son of Lord Tiber," I said. "He's quick-witted and light on his feet."

"Excellent."

"Sir Filip, I'd like you to be in charge of his training," Lord Calin said. "You'll have more time for that than Lord Boian or myself."

I smiled into my sour beer. That had been my plan, but letting Calin state it would work better.

"I'm not sure about this Maid Zoe," Calin continued. "I'm sure Lady Lavinia expected to get someone older and more experienced as a lady-in-waiting."

"Well...Maid Elexus beat her to the punch, it seems. If Lady Lavinia really wants an older woman, I'm sure she can add her too."

Calin laughed. "That's a likely outcome. My Lady isn't thwarted that easily. It will be interesting to see who she brings to the party."