VI. The Enemy Draws Nearer (4)
VI. The Enemy Draws Nearer (4)
There were only a few ways for a knight to acquire an attendant.
His house could assign him a servant, or he could hire someone from the lower classes—a slave or a commoner.
Taking in a slave was less a matter of employment than providing food and lodging, though it still counted as hiring after a fashion.
Why would a slave be mad enough to follow a knight around? In truth, becoming a knight’s attendant meant escaping slavery halfway.
At the very least, the treatment was far better than being sold as a galley rower or spending a lifetime breathing in horse manure.
An attendant who followed a knight around and handled odd jobs also served as his representative to some extent, though not as much as a squire did.
When a knight handed over money and ordered something purchased, the attendant’s job was to buy it cheaply and secure the necessary supplies.
Tending and saddling the warhorse and maintaining the armor and weapons also fell to the attendant.
A knight could hardly get by without an attendant. Keldric had been an unusual exception.
"So you’re finally taking on an attendant?"
"Mm. I think it’s about time."
"You’ve come to the right man. I’ve replaced my own attendants several times."
Sir Henri seemed quite pleased by Keldric’s change of heart.
He had never shown it, but Sir Henri had not approved of Keldric wandering alone without even an attendant.
For a knight, delegating menial work to his inferiors was considered a virtue.
A knight ought to know how to maintain his weapons and armor, but knowing how and actually getting grease on his hands were different matters.
To conventional knights like Sir Henri, such menial work properly belonged to attendants and other inferiors.
It was the order God had ordained, and no one questioned it. It was simply taken for granted.
"I hate to admit it, but Sir Henri is right this time. If you won’t take a squire, you should at least take an attendant."
"Mm..."
"Frankly, I’ve thought it was overdue. Didn’t your house assign you any servants?"
"I refused. I had my reasons."
Unexpectedly, even Sir Alan urged him to take an attendant, leaving Keldric at a loss for words.
Until now, managing his belongings himself had put him at ease, but with Aveline added to the burden, handling everything alone had become too much.
Keldric admitted it. The time had come to take an attendant.
"Where should I go?"
Keldric asked with a reluctant expression.
Needing an attendant was one thing; knowing where to find one now was another.
Sir Henri, whose attendants were treating his bruises, was the first to answer.
"You could buy a slave, but I’d recommend taking in an orphan or a vagrant instead."
"Why is that?"
"You’ll regret taking in a heathen or one of those southern natives."
Attitudes toward slaves varied enormously by region, but one common principle underlay them all.
The Church forbade enslaving someone who shared the same faith.
People guilty of grave crimes were sometimes excommunicated on the grounds that they were no longer believers and then enslaved, but that was the principle.
Serfs, who received subsistence in exchange for their labor, were a different matter.
They were treated as one tier of the social order and were at least not regarded as lowly as foreign slaves.
Thus, slaves were usually heathen captives or people from the southern tribes.
Keldric considered for a moment what the word “native” implied, then grimaced when he realized how blatantly racist the label was.
"Then I’d best avoid slaves."
"A wise choice. Keeping slaves can also diminish a man’s dignity."
Surprisingly, nobles were often considered undignified for keeping slaves.
Most slaves were poor people driven into desperate circumstances.
Owning them might serve as a display of wealth in some regions, but most people did not look kindly on it.
No matter how menial the work, serving a knight was considered an honorable and respectable position.
If a slave performed that work instead of a commoner, it undermined the social hierarchy.
For that reason, nobles preferred to pay and employ commoners.
"Is there somewhere I can hire a decent attendant?"
"You’ll find plenty of commoners at the market looking for masters. Watch for pickpockets, though."
Sir Alan suggested looking among the commoners who wandered the market seeking a master to serve.
Keldric was not keen on the idea. Sir Henri apparently agreed, shaking his head and waving it away.
"No, that won’t do. The market is full of unreliable bastards. They have no loyalty."
"That does sound likely."
"I recommend going to a monastery."
Sir Henri instead recommended hiring one of the orphans or paupers cared for by a nearby monastery.
Since they were already desperately poor, Sir Henri explained, they could be employed as attendants for low wages.
Keldric cared more about the loyalty and trust he might win by lifting someone out of poverty.
"Being cared for by a monastery doesn’t guarantee that they receive enough affection. Many will want to leave someday."
"Oh..."
"Hire someone like that, and he’ll be loyal to you. It’s economical as well."
Keldric was drawn to Sir Henri's suggestion.
What bothered Keldric about Sir Alan’s proposal was that it offered no assurance of loyalty.
Hiring from a monastery guaranteed nothing either, but anyone with a shred of decency would at least remember the favor.
"Is there a monastery nearby?"
"There’s one in Bogenberg. It’s small and has few monks, but you should find what you need there."
Setting out on a journey required many things.
Keldric decided to deal with the largest of those problems first.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
Protected within Bogenberg’s walls, Saint Albertus Monastery appeared well maintained, at least by Keldric’s standards.
No ivy covered its walls, and masons or laborers came to repair any damaged sections.
The monastery itself was not ramshackle either.
Though built of wood, it was at least insulated against the cold, making it a good refuge for paupers seeking shelter from winter weather.
That was proof that Count Bogenberg regularly supported the monastery.
Keldric stopped Aveline in front of the monastery.
He would normally have brought Boreas, but Alisa had convinced him that riding Aveline would project greater dignity.
"Is this the place?"
"Yes. This is Saint Albertus Monastery. It’s very well maintained."
"You speak as though you’ve visited several times."
"I have not, but... I know something about monasteries."
It was rather strange that Alisa knew so much about monasteries.
Even as fallen nobility, anyone who had graduated from an Academia must have belonged to a functioning house when they were young enough to need a monastery’s care.
But asking her outright, “Were you an orphan?” would have been strange, so Keldric kept quiet.
"Where do we tether the horses...?"
"We should go inside. There happen to be people over there."
A monastery didn't only house monks.
Monasteries in the countryside or on a city’s outskirts also employed lay servants, but this was especially true of monasteries inside cities.
Several servants spotted Keldric and Alisa on horseback and hurried over.
Their eyes held both fear and respect, most of it directed at Keldric.
"May God bless you. Welcome to Saint Albertus Monastery, honored knight."
"May God bless you. I am Keldric of House Bellaf."
"Ah, of course!"
Keldric’s fame was still limited, but he was already well known within Bogenberg.
The undefeated knight who had swept every event in the tournament!
Most spectators had been nobles and knights, but many attendants and servants had accompanied them.
Even a monastery servant was therefore likely to know something of his reputation.
"Sir Keldric of House Bellaf. What brings you...?"
"I'd like to meet the abbot of this monastery. Would that be possible?"
"I am sorry, but the abbot is away. I will fetch a monk who can stand in for him."
"I’d appreciate it."
Two monastery servants withdrew, and before long a middle-aged monk with a tonsured crown appeared.
"May God bless you. I am Brother Antonius of Saint Albertus Monastery. Sir Keldric of House Bellaf, it is a blessing that God’s will has brought us together."
"May God bless you. I consider this meeting a blessing as well."
"Scripture tells us to practice hospitality. Please, come inside."
Keldric readily followed Antonius, guiding Aveline forward.
With Alisa behind him, they left the horses with the servants and went straight to the abbot’s office.
The monastery’s interior was as well maintained as its exterior and looked quite clean even to Keldric.
"Sir Keldric, may I ask what brings you here?"
"Mm. I know that Saint Albertus Monastery has long labored for Count Bogenberg and the city."
"I am humbled to hear you say so."
"This may not equal that devotion, but it is a small token of the goodwill I wish to show the Church and God."
Keldric held out a pouch containing a handful of silver coins toward Antonius.
Monasteries followed Church policy in principle, but each had to fend for itself financially.
Country monasteries organized like manors usually funded themselves by producing wine.
But a city monastery worked differently.
They raised operating funds through their lord’s patronage and the offerings of visitors.
In other words, without an interested lord, they were badly underfunded.
Count Bogenberg seemed to take considerable interest, but a monastery could never have enough money.
Keldric had come to take on an attendant, but walking in empty-handed and simply carrying off an orphan or pauper did not sit well with him.
That was why he had offered the pouch.
"Ah! Thank you, Sir Keldric."
Antonius wore a deeply moved expression.
It was understandable. Most knights who visited offered a pittance and expected the monks to arrange their absolution.
Knights were arrogant creatures who never doubted that God loved them.
From their perspective, monks might well seem to care only about taking their money.
Seen in that light, Keldric’s offering was substantial.
Once Antonius had tucked away the pouch and crossed himself, Keldric broached his true purpose.
"I’ve heard that many orphans and paupers live here. Is that true?"
"That's right. Truly pitiable souls, all of them. We do our utmost to embrace them with mercy and love."
"God will reward your good works. On that subject... are there any whom God’s grace might permit me to help?"
The moment Antonius heard Keldric's words, he understood his intent at once.
'He’s come to choose an attendant!'
Were there orphans and paupers at the monastery? Of course. Their absence would have been stranger.
They flocked there for a meal and a bed sheltered from the cold.
Saint Albertus Monastery was no different, and knights seeking attendants visited from time to time.
"Of course! Since Sir Keldric has come in such faith to offer love and aid, surely God will guide you to a diligent child."
"I’d like to see them."
"Please, this way."
Keldric walked after Antonius.
Because it stood within the city walls, the monastery was not very spacious.
Keldric soon reached the place where the orphans and paupers had gathered.
"Everyone, this is the honorable Sir Keldric of House Bellaf."
Antonius stepped forward first and introduced Keldric.
House Bellaf was not famous enough to provide Antonius with much to say, but he threw himself into the introduction.
Keldric had just won the tournament, and his generous offering certainly helped.
When the introduction finally ended, Keldric stepped forward and spoke.
"God has given me an opportunity to care for the weak. How could that not be my duty?"
"Oooh...!"
"I promise you a better life. If you learn and work under me, I will pay you a proper wage."
Interest sparked, and many people stepped forward.
Following a knight could be dangerous, but they hoped that at least they would eat well and live like human beings.
Keldric studied them one by one.
Most looked frail, but two children caught his eye.
A boy with bright, intelligent eyes stood there holding tightly to a girl’s hand.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Arno, Sir Knight."
"And what do you know how to do?"
"I’ve worked briefly as a blacksmith’s apprentice. I’ve also learned my letters, so I’m confident in my memory."
"Oh..."
Arno was fourteen, answered clearly and confidently, and had a remarkably sturdy build for an orphan.
The monks had taught him enough letters that he could read and write to some degree, which was uncommon.
Keldric disliked the idea of taking a child with him, but he knew that trust given early in life could inspire far deeper loyalty.
That was an appealing prospect. After studying Arno for a while, Keldric spoke cautiously.
"Would you work for me? I’ll pay you one and a half Grasen silver coins a week."
"...Sir Knight, I’m very sorry to ask, but if I’m to follow you, I’d like my friend to come as well."
"Your friend?"
Even for a bold child like Arno, making such a request before the towering Keldric was difficult.
Though trembling with fear, Arno drew forward the child whose hand he held.
The girl, who had been shrinking back, let Arno lead her before Keldric.
"You should introduce yourself, Helga."
"I-it’s an honor to meet you, Sir Knight. My name is Helga. I’m fourteen as well."
Arno was young, but as a boy he seemed capable of accompanying Keldric as an attendant.
Helga gave him more pause.
Keldric might encounter bandits and find himself in a bloody fight as early as tomorrow.
His attendants would at least need to protect themselves, and he was not sure taking a girl was wise.
"What can you do?"
"I-I know how to care for horses. My father was a stable keeper."
"What else?"
"Other than that... housework in general."
"How do you care for a horse?"
Keldric quizzed Arno and Helga on various tasks.
He concluded that both could pull their weight.
Arno could maintain weapons and armor, while Helga could tend the horses, prepare meals, and organize the camp.
Taking them together seemed like a good choice.
'Would they do?'
Keldric pondered for a moment.
Both possessed useful skills, and Arno’s rudimentary literacy was especially attractive.
"Alisa. What do you think?"
"I think they’ll do. Teach the boy how to fight, and there should be no major problem."
"Mm..."
After discussing it with Alisa, Keldric finally nodded.
"I'll take these two."
"Understood. We will have them bathed and dressed in clean clothes by tomorrow."
"They’re to be my attendants. Don’t spare any expense."
"Yes, Sir Keldric."
Antonius remained deferential, thanks to Keldric’s generous offering.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Keldric left the monastery with Alisa.
He would take only these two attendants for now and hire more later if needed.
"If they’re going to follow me, they need to be armed."
"Let's head to Artisan Street, sir."
That meant focusing on Arno and Helga first.
Keldric turned his course straight toward Artisan Street.
His departure from Bogenberg was close, so he needed to settle everything he could while still in the city.