A bright blue sky greeted him the next morning. He changed into his clean shirt, thanked his new friends for their hospitality, and continued into the city. He wanted to deliver the sword first thing and perhaps explore the town a bit when he was finished.
The palace’s market district stretched on for what seemed like forever. There were scores of stalls selling a wide variety of goods, and he was sure it was at least four times larger than Enald’s market. It was still early, but citizens were buzzing everywhere. There were more people here than he could possibly count. He wondered how easily he could blend in here, and how long he would have gone unnoticed had he grown up in a town this size.
Making his way to the palace was slow. The large crowds of people were in no hurry to move, and most of them walked back and forth between merchant stalls, browsing the goods and comparing prices. At last, he approached the huge iron gates of the palace where two guards stood at attention.
“State your business,” the one on the right said, sounding bored.
“I’m here to deliver a sword to Lieutenant Perrin,” Yori replied.
“Go ahead,” the guard said, waving his hand. “The page inside will give you directions to his chambers.”
Nodding, Yori entered the palace. Immediately, he was struck by the vastness of the interior. The stone floors were polished, and the walls were bright. Fancy brass sconces lined the walls, illuminating the room with a soft white glow. A large staircase with intricately detailed banisters filled the entire back wall and led upwards to rooms of unimaginable comfort. His uncle’s small home could fit in the entryway at least five times over.
A dark-haired page greeted him at the door. “What can I do for you, sir?” the boy asked.
“I, uhm...” Yori stumbled on his words for a moment. Never before had he been referred to as “sir”. “I’m sorry,” he started again. “I’m here to see Lieutenant Perrin. I’ve brought the sword he commissioned from the blacksmith at Enald.”
“Follow me,” the boy said. He led Yori up the vast staircase and down a long corridor. The walls were lined with paintings featuring all manner of noble lords and ladies. All of them wore fancy clothes, and some of the men carried fine swords. A few were painted with children or small dogs at their feet. They were so life-like that Yori had to restrain himself from the childish urge to touch them.
The boy led him into a sitting room that contained the most lavish furnishings he had ever seen. There were various chairs placed all around the room, each complete with its own velvet cushion. Yori couldn’t imagine having such a comfortable place to sit.
After a few minutes, Lieutenant Perrin entered the room. He was average height with a thick build. His eyes were bright, and his dark hair hung loosely at his shoulders.
Remembering his manners, Yori waited to speak until he was spoken to.
“You’ve brought the sword, then?” the man asked.
“Yes, my lord,” he replied, presenting the bundle to the lieutenant.
He laid the sword on a large writing desk and unwrapped it slowly. “Oh, this is nice,” he remarked. “This is very nice.” He lifted the sword in his right hand, checking the balance. Giving it a few swings, he tested the quality of the work. “Your master has certainly lived up to his father’s reputation.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Yori replied.
“Are you his apprentice?”
“I am, sir,” he said.
“Did you help forge this at all?”
“Yes, my lord,” Yori replied, forgetting his modesty. “I inlaid the hilt as well.”
“Most apprentices aren’t so bold. They only admit to lighting the fires,” Perrin said, laughing.
Yori looked at the ground, unsure how to respond.
Perrin turned the sword over in his hand and looked closely at the ebony inlays. “If I did work this good,” he began, “I’d want the credit for it as well. Apprentices can be much under appreciated. I was once one myself.” He winked at Yori. “I purchased this as a gift for Prince Aelryk. Would you accompany me to give it to him?”
Yori looked at the man with a stunned expression. He had never imagined meeting any member of the royal household, and he had no idea how to behave in front of a prince. There was no reason this man should want him present, but it would be impolite to refuse. Ren would be beyond angry if the customer wasn’t fully satisfied, so he nodded in agreement.
He followed the lieutenant back down the corridor and up a second flight of stairs. At the top of the stairs, they entered the first door on the right which led into another sitting room. The page darted into the adjoining room to announce their arrival to the prince. Yori’s heart was pounding, and he hoped he didn’t make a fool of himself. He felt underdressed and completely out of place in these surroundings. Now he was going to be viewed by a prince, who would probably be insulted by his mere presence.