Published: 5 Apr 2021

The boys had gathered in Dmitri’s room to wait for him and it was only about fifteen minutes later when they heard the heavy footsteps of the guards coming towards the room. When the door opened and Dmitri stepped through they could see immediately he was upset about something but did not want to intrude until he was ready to tell them.

Dmitri noticed all his friends waiting for him and turned to dismiss his guards then looked at the waiting boys and tried to force a small smile on his worried face. The group of friends waited until Dmitri had composed himself before Helmut asked him if he was alright. Dmitri replied with a sad look on his face and his eyes close to tears. Once again Helmut translated for the others when Dmitri had finished explaining it.

“Well it appears that the old Baron here mistook Dmitri for his son who had travelled away for a year. After telling Dmitri a few things the Baron died as Dmitri watched. This has upset Dmitri but unfortunately it also meant that now Dmitri has been named as the new Baron of this land which is called Skoffia. Now Dmitri has told them all that he wants us, as his closest companions, to be given rooms in this corridor so we are close to him. He has also asked that they find a tutor for us to learn their language, which according to Dmitri is the original form of the Roma language. We will now have to practice the new titles and our homelands so if we are questioned about them we will not disclose Dmitri’s small lie. I hope you have them all worked out Peter. You are the only one that has the history knowledge to be able to help us with land names of this timeline?”

Peter nodded his head and produced a roll of parchment he had found during his search earlier in the day. He then used one of his few ballpoint pens to write down his list so the boys could learn them and practice until they were well used to them. Peter took the parchment to the nearby table, laid it flat and with a few additions with his ballpoint pen he stepped back so the others could look it over.

The rest of the boys surrounded the table to look at what Peter had come up with. They all knew their very lives may depend on what Peter had written down for them. The parchment was obviously not anything like the fine paper they were used to but it served its purpose for them for now. The words on the parchment stood out very clearly and the boys were able to read it all in a few moments.

Dmitri’s name had been added at the top once they had heard the report from Helmut.

Dmitri – Baron Petrus Stanislaw of Skoffia
Helmut – Baronet Helmut Von Swartz of the Holy Roman Empire
Pierre – Prince Pierre Fouse of Abyssinia
Alberto – Don Alberto De Souza of the Principality of Cordoba
Spider – Jonathon West Heir Apparent to the Marquis of Westshire in Angevin. Spider was to comment on the long title and new name once the others had seen the parchment
Peter – Peter Dupree Heir Apparent to the Duke of Malmesbury of Wiltshire in Angevin

After they had all looked over the list, even though Peter had told them verbally before, it was still a shock how he had come up with it all. Spider stepped back and looked Peter up and down before expressing his view on the matter.

“What the bloody hell you go giving me a new name and all them title things to practice for?”

Peter smiled at the frowning boy and replied with a small smile of his own.

“Well you can’t be called Spider when you have titles so I made up the name for you because you won’t tell us your real one. As far as the title goes, in ancient times the bigger the title the more important you are so I thought I would make you look more important than a barber’s son.”

Peter’s thin smile may have been the cause of Spider’s frown but in the end the smaller boy just harrumphed and turned back to the parchment but still with the frown on his face. All the while the others were smiling broadly at Spider’s reaction. It had been a bit of fun to see the usually smiling boy with a frown on his face.

For the next ten minutes there was total silence in the room as the boys studied the list of their new titles, none of them had yet seen the usual smile on Spider’s face. It was not too much longer before there was a light rapping on the door. Dmitri called out and the door opened to reveal a paige-boy standing there, for a few moments the young lad spoke to Dmitri before giving their friend a bow and leaving. Dmitri turned to Helmut and spoke before stopping to wait for Helmut to translate.

“The paige-boy said there is a meal waiting for us and all the more important people are gathered there to greet Dmitri as the new Baron. I think it might be a good idea for Peter to bring that parchment with us as Dmitri will have to introduce all of us at the banquet so I hope you have all remembered most of what concerns you.”

Helmut turned back to Dmitri and spoke to him for a minute or so before turning back to the others.

“I have asked Dmitri to make sure I am placed beside him and that Peter sits next to me, that way I can translate for all of us and Peter will have the list under the table so Dmitri can get the titles and names right when he has to introduce us all. For the sake of reality it has to look as though Dmitri knows it all so be careful to listen for your name and title so you can acknowledge it with a nod of your head towards the other people there. Dmitri is going to make sure that it is known we don’t speak their language so we should be safe from any questions for now.”

Dmitri informed Helmut that the others did not need to change clothes as the locals would probably think them normal for the lands they pretended to come from but soon they would have to conform to the local dress for the sake of the times.

When the translation had finished, Dmitri signalled for them all to follow him to the large dining room they had first seen when entering the citadel. It was the obvious place for a large gathering Dmitri had surmised and so it turned out.

As the group of six entered the large room they saw a mass of people standing waiting for them. Dmitri immediately strode to the far end of the large table with what appeared to be a little arrogance in his step. He explained later that the locals would have expected it from him now he was the Baron although the boys had never seen him behave in such a manner before now.

All of the newcomers bowed to the boy as he passed them and once he was at the head of the table, signalled his five friends to join him and take the chairs closest to his high-backed chair. After seating himself, Dmitri signalled for the visitors to take their place along the table. The only other high-backed chair was at the far end of the table and was taken by the old advisor but would normally have been taken by the Baron’s wife but for this occasion the advisor was the next most senior to Dmitri and so took this place of honour.

Before the long list of introductions began, Dmitri looked around the room as though to make sure there were enough paige-boys to attend to himself and his five friends. The normal servants would take care of the visitors but for Dmitri and his friends they would be watched over by the twelve paige-boys selected for them earlier in the day.

The paiges were standing back against the wall just behind the six boys, as other servants began to fill the many silver goblets with what appeared to be wine. Six of the paiges stepped forward with separate silver jugs, one for each of the six, and then carefully poured their silver goblets almost to the brim with red wine. The boys were not quite sure about drinking the wine but after a little consideration they all looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. What harm could it do?

Dmitri whispered something to Helmut and he spoke to the others quickly and before they could drink their wine.

“Dmitri says not to drink too much, small sips are better or you will all be drunk very quickly and it will not look right as you are meant to be used to this sort of thing. If you get drunk too fast then there may be some questions.”

The others listened to Helmut’s advice and gave a short nod of agreement as at the far end of the table the Advisor stood up and looked the length of the table and bowed to Dmitri before he began to speak.

All of the boys faced the advisor and tried to put an interested look on their young faces as the older man began his speech. It went on a little longer than they thought it would and it was not until later when they were all alone with Dmitri that they found out the reason.

Shortly after the beginning of the speech, the advisor paused as all those around the table got to their feet and bowed low to Dmitri and then retook their places, the advisor continued on for a while longer and then began to nod his head towards the guests, one at a time. As each was mentioned by the advisor he would stand and bow to Dmitri before saying a few words to which Dmitri would nod his head and look to the next person as the advisor called his name.

When the final visitor had sat down the advisor said a few more words, bowed again to Dmitri and then also took his seat. Dmitri nodded to the older man and then stood to say a few words, as he did so he gave a very slight nod to Helmut who in turn glanced at Peter who sat beside him with the parchment on his knees and hidden from those at the table.

As Dmitri looked at each of his friends, Helmut would softly whisper to him the new titles without anyone else hearing him. Dmitri went through introducing his friends under their new titles without an error or pause and, as he mentioned each name the boys dutifully nodded to the visitors assembled at the table. As each boy was introduced, the visitors all bowed and smiled at them. At the end of Dmitri’s introductions he then continued talking for a short time more before he once again took his high-backed chair and nodded towards the servants and paige boys. The feasting could now begin.

It seemed normal for each of the boys to have two Paiges to attend them once the food was carried into the large dining room. One Paige held the tray or bowl and the other placed what the boys signalled they wanted from the selection. They all took Dmitri’s advice and only sparingly sipped at their goblets as they took in the grand scene around them. It almost looked as though Dmitri had really been born to this sort of lifestyle.

As the feast continued the guests began to stand at odd periods and propose a toast which of course, the boys were forced to drink to as well. Although they still sipped as little as possible. No one seemed to notice that the attendant Paige boys did not need to refill the boy’s goblets as often as the guests required. Had anyone taken notice they would have seen that the boys had barely drunk more than a few sips the entire feast and it was only Helmut who required a refill near the end of the long feast.

The feast and toasts seemed to go on forever and it was not until the boys noticed a number of servants arrive with large candles which they carefully placed into the silver candelabra and lit, that all of them realised how dark it had got. They had all been at the table for more hours than they thought. More candles were brought in and placed into wall sconces to add more light into the room as full darkness descended outside the citadel keep.

The mood in the room had changed to being over boisterous as the guests began to feel the effects of the copious quantities of wine, before anything could go too far, the advisor stood and called for quiet. Once he had everyone’s attention he began a short speech to which the guests all nodded in agreement.

At the end of the speech the advisor sat back down as the guests got to their feet one by one, bowed low to Dmitri and then, much to the boys’ surprise, all of the guests reached somewhere into their clothes and placed what could only be small gifts on the table where they had sat.

Some were what appeared to be leather purses while others were small gold or silver caskets. As each gift was placed on the table the person would once again bow to Dmitri and then turn to leave the large dining room. It was obviously time for all of them to go to their homes.

Once the room was empty of their guests, the advisor bowed again to Dmitri and also took his leave. At last the boys were alone and could now discuss the events of the long drawn out feast. As they all sat, around them a mass of servants arrived and began to clear the table of anything that was not wanted. The paige boys still stood against the wall in case they were needed. None of the paige boys seemed the least put out by the long hours they had been in attendance.

The small group of six friends remained at the table for another hour so they could discuss the day and for Dmitri to tell them what had transpired during the feast. Almost as an afterthought, Dmitri signalled to one of the Paiges to collect the gifts on the table, the young boy already seemed to know what to do with them as he left the room with the gifts piled on a silver tray while the boys talked on.

Had they not needed the extra time for Helmut to do the translations they may have been ready to go to their separate rooms nearly a half hour sooner. It was obvious now they really needed a tutor so they could learn the language and make it easier for all of them.

Just before they left the room, Dmitri said something to Helmut. His look was one of worry and insecurity. Helmut turned to the others and told them what was said.

“Dmitri said they have the assassin who killed his “father”. He is down in the dungeon and he wants our help to think of some way to get the information from the man. Peter, you know more about this time than any of us, Dmitri wants to know what he should do as everyone in the citadel expects him to take the lead in the questioning.”

Peter looked at Dmitri and then the other boys before he spoke.

“Well this time in history was a pretty brutal time. The torture of prisoners like this man was not only common but accepted as part of finding out the truth. I really think we should sleep on it and give me time to think it over. Perhaps we can come up with some way to make him talk without the need of torture.”

Helmut nodded and translated for Dmitri, the younger boy nodded and then stood up as did the others. It was time to leave and go to their rooms, and the need for some sleep after the long day and huge feast was now foremost in their young minds.

TBC

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