Dev was told to find a place to live close by. Lord Benaldin suggest two places that were discreet, and rented to palace workers. He settled on a room at a place called The Eagle's Claw Inn.
For one silver a month, he had a room, and one meal a day. The room Dev had, was located at the back of the inn, on the second floor. It was far enough away from the noise of the customers, so that he was not disturbed.
It was a fairly large single room. It was well, if sparsely furnished. There was a very comfortable bed, a comfortably cushioned chair a table, and an armoire. It had one of those new iron stoves also. It was a small one, but it would be sufficient to keep the room warm in the winter months.
The best part was, it was only a short five-minute walk from the palace. Lord Benaldin got Dev immediately to work. The work he had was strange, though. He was ordered to get to know the city.
He reported to the palace every morning, and Lord Benaldin would suggest a section of the city. This particular morning, he was wandering around the west end of the city. This was where the city received most of the produce that arrived, daily.
From there, it was distributed throughout the rest of the city, by carts and wagons. However, extra was being shipped in for the coming winter. The extra was going into large warehouses.
Two of the largest warehouses belonged to the king. These were already three quarters full, and would be used throughout the winter for the poor. While it would not be very much, per day, it would be enough for them to make it through the winter.
Each section of the city had storage warehouses. The west end was where most of the merchants kept their produce for the winter. The king had a total of eight warehouses, two in each quarter of the city. Most of them contained only grains.
What Lord Benaldin particularly wanted Dev to do was track pilfering. Not to stop it, or to prevent it; but to track it. Benaldin wanted Dev to come back and report in detail, all about the trafficking of the pilfered royal grain, step by step.
Dev had a feeling that Lord Benaldin already knew what was going on. This must be some sort of training exercise he wanted Dev to do. So, he did it. He was able to cast a spell over himself that made people overlook the fact that he was there.
He spent several days watching people receive baskets of grain, which went in the front door of the king's warehouse, and were moved immediately to a waiting wagon at the back. When the king's warehouse was scheduled to receive a large amount of grain, an empty wagon would drive up to the back, and some of the grain entering the warehouse would be diverted to the wagon at the back.
Still, the giant grain bins in the warehouses were filling, despite the theft. After the wagon at the back of the warehouse was filled, Dev followed it to a merchant's warehouse, just one row away from the king's. It would pull up to the front, and unload the grain that should have gone into the king's warehouse.
Dev got the names of all the workers involved, and of the merchant who was receiving the stolen grain. It took about a week for Dev to get all this information collected. He then gave it to Lord Benaldin.
"Lord Benaldin, may I ask a question?" Dev asked hesitantly.
"Certainly. Good report, by the way," Lord Benaldin said.
"You already knew all about the pilfering, didn't you," Dev made it more of a statement than a question.
"Definitely. I have been watching our good merchant and his crew of thieves for several months, now. I wanted to know how long it would take you to figure everything out. It should please you to know you were able to duplicate in one week, what took me six weeks to do," Lord Benaldin said in a pleased tone of voice
"I don't understand. Was this just a training mission then? And if so, why?" Dev asked.
"Devlin, you are in a position to help out the kingdom in a unique way. You are able to do very potent magic. You have military training. You are also one of the finest swordsman in the realm, according to our swordsmaster. And he is someone I would hate to cross blades with.
"Yes, I have been testing you to see how long and how well you would accomplish the goals I set you. You have met and even exceeded my expectations, so far. Devlin, why do you want to stay in the army?" Lord Benaldin asked with a serious expression on his face.
"Why my lord? Why, I love military life. I want to serve my king," Dev answered.
"There is more than one way to serve your king you know. Military service is an honorable occupation to be sure, but I have something else in mind for you. In all honesty, you are much more valuable to me as an intelligence asset," Lord Benaldin stated.
"Intelligence? Well, I know the need for it, but that is not what I am trained to do," Dev said, digging in mental heels at the idea.
"You're better at it than you think. For example, in this test I set you at the warehouse, you cast a spell that misdirected peoples eyes and senses where you were concerned. Do you know how long I had to work to get the right people in place to find out what you did in such a short time?" Lord Benaldin asked in an exasperated voice.
"It seemed the simplest way to go at the time, my lord," Dev responded.
"Well let me assure you, after I get done with you, you will probably be the best intelligence asset in the land," Lord Benaldin said, beaming.
"But the army..." Dev started, but was interrupted.
"Devlin! While I applaud your single-mindedness, you did ask me for my help. That help comes with a price. You can remain in the army if you like, but you will be detached to me for the duration of your enlistment. I will even make you a captain. How about that?" Lord Benaldin asked.
Dev felt insulted, and it must have shown.
"Oh, do calm down. I didn't mean it like it was nothing. You will be in the army, and you will serve a very real and serious function within it. Even the military needs intelligence, Devlin," Benaldin said with a sigh.
"Sorry, I misunderstood," Devlin apologized.
"The problem is, I have to keep you close to me for the time being. Now that you have entered my circle, people are taking note of you. Until I can get you properly trained, I can't let you go anywhere outside of Taslon," Dev was told.
For the next couple of weeks, Dev was taught several tricks of the intelligence trade. Dev started noticing when he was being followed. Some of it was Lord Benaldin training him, other times it was unnamed persons.
He decided to turn the tables one day. He discovered he was being followed, and ducked into an alleyway. He cast the spell that caused people to seem to ignore him, and then carefully followed his follower.
It was interested to note that the man, after losing him, went to the Ralm embassy. Now what would the Ralm want with him or have men following him for? This worried him, and Dev reported it to Lord Benaldin. He simply nodded, and moved on to the next subject.
It was during a chilly fall day when Dev was called to Lord Benaldin's office.
"You sent for me?" Dev said after entering.
"Yes. His majesty is having a ball coming up in a few weeks, and he wants you there as part of his protection," Lord Benaldin said.
"His majesty? Why would he want me? I mean, he doesn't even know me," Dev almost stuttered.
Lord Benaldin stared at him a moment.
"Certainly he knows you, and you know him. You have met and talked to him before," Lord Benaldin replied.
Dev thought for a moment shaking his head.
"My lord, I can honestly say I have never met his majesty," Dev answered knowingly.
Lord Benaldin laughed long and hard. Dev looked at him, wondering what the joke was.
"Sorry," Lord Benaldin said, "But it never occurred to me that you had not discovered by now what his majesty looks like. You met him that day you first came to me. He sat right in that chair, over there," Lord Benaldin said, pointing at the chair.
Dev thought back to that day and it came to him in a rush! That man in his mid to late twenties! He is the king? Come to think of it, Dev had never even seen a portrait of the king, and the stamp of his head on a coin, did not due him justice.
"His majesty has been following your training with interest. He was most impressed with your bit of 'intelligence' down at the border. The map, you know. He watched you're demonstration of swordsmanship in the practice hall, also.
"Oh yes, his majesty knows you, Devlin. Still, it wouldn't matter if he knew you or not. Do you think his majesty knows every person in his guard? There are hundreds of guardsmen assigned to his protection detail. You are very qualified to protect his majesty and if you are assigned to protect him, you will," Lord Benaldin assured him.
Dev spent the next couple days thinking about all the things Lord Benaldin had told him about his work for the kingdom. He realized that while it was true he loved the army life as he had lived it, there was more than one way to serve his king.
Dev did not know what to think about the king knowing he was even alive. There were so many people in the kingdom, important people... and yet the king knew of Dev? Then he remembered that the king had stated Dev's name and troop that day, and had even complimented him about the map!
Dev also had to admit that 'intelligence' was an important job. After all, it had been his 'intelligence' that had shown the general the way through the swamps of the south. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he could best serve the king, where he was most needed.
When Dev realized that, he seemed happier, suddenly. It was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, which he hadn't even known was there. After training that day, he returned to the Eagle's Claw Inn at the end of his day, and ate a good meal.
Another thing he had discovered was his pay had gone up to one gold a month! Dev was now wondering what to do with his money. While he didn't have a lot compared to a merchant, he was already far ahead of the average person, who made close to two gold a year.
He was making about the same as a colonel in the army if he reckoned it correctly. Maybe a little less. Lord Benaldin had already told Dev he should have some good clothes made. He did have a lot of gold left over from the healer's payment to him. Why shouldn't he have a few sets of clothes made? And buy another set of boots, and purchase a new winter cloak.
Dev was nervously waiting with Lord Benaldin in a small library in the king's portion of the palace. The ball was underway, and guests were still arriving. Lord Benaldin had told Dev that while he was on the king's protection detail, he was to seem an invited guest, which was how Dev found himself waiting in the king's library.
Dev looked good in his uniform. He also had the symbol markings of a captain in the army on his collar.
"Never get too a gathering to early Devlin, but don't arrive too late either. The eager people arrive as soon as possible, and most people try to avoid that. Besides, the king won't show until most of the guest have arrived, and it is so boring talking to some of these people.
"Still, it is my lot in life to mingle with these people, and see what I can ferret out. I will leave you here since I must put in an appearance. Give it about half an hour then give your name and rank to the herald as I have instructed you to do, and mingle," Lord Benaldin instructed.
Dev waited alone, and time seemed to move with a slowness and speed, which seemed confusing to him. He wandered around the room, looking at the books that lined the shelves. He stopped when he came to a thin book that seemed to call to him. He pulled it off the shelf and looked at the blank cover. He opened it
Two spells by Telgar
The spell of teleportation
The spell of summoning objects.
Dev was excited by finding this book when he heard the sound of a throat clearing behind him. He turned, and found himself face to face with the king.
"Your majesty," Dev almost stuttered and bowed.
"And which of my books has your attention captain, Cantor?" the king asked.
Devlin handed the book to the king who looked through it.
"Ah, this one. No one has been able to read it or tell me what it says as of yet," the king said.
"But it clearly says what is your majesty. Two spells by Telgar. One of teleportation, and the other is a spell of summoning," Dev responded without thinking.
The king froze with the book in his hand.
"You say you can read this?" the king asked sharply.
"Yes, your majesty," Dev answered truthfully.
"Amazing. No one here has been able to read it since we've had this book. You say it is a book of two spells from Telgar himself? Well, well, well," the king murmured.
"I think I should make my appearance at the ball now your majesty. I will leave you to your peace," Dev said and made his escape.
Dev went down two corridors and found himself at the back of a line of people to be presented at the ball. This was another aspect of court that he found strange. Still, he had been warned it would happen.
While he was actually working the ball as part of the king's protection, he would appear to be a guest. Seemed like a good way to hide protection. While Dev was not armed with a knife or sword, he did have quite a few spells handy.
Dev finally reached the front of the line and gave his name to the herald, who went forward and tapped his staff on the floor and announced Dev.
"Announcing Captain Devlin Cantor, of his majesties horse," the herald said.
Dev who had been standing to the side of the herald now moved down the four steps into the room itself. Dev found himself wondering what to do first when he spotted Lord Benaldin coming towards him.
"Ah, there you are. Welcome to the palace. That was an excellent job you did down at the border, Captain," Lord Benaldin said loudly.
"Thank you, my lord. It was my pleasure to serve his majesty," Dev responded, a bit more quietly.
"Have you tried the wine yet? There is a good selection just over here," Lord Benaldin said, steering Dev in the right direction by the elbow.
"No more than one glass of wine. Keep your wits about you. I have already spotted one known assassin," Lord Benaldin said in a quiet voice.
As soon as they got to the table, the boisterous voice returned to Lord Benaldin and he then left Dev to his own devices. Dev got a glass of wine, wishing it were ale as he was not really a wine drinker. Still the one he'd had thrust upon him was pleasant enough.
Dev wished that he knew who this assassin was. Just to tell Dev there was one at the ball and then leave him hanging like that was aggravating. Still, if Lord Benaldin had his eye on the assassin, then the king should be safe.
A middle aged man and his wife approached Dev.
"Did I hear correctly? You were down at the southern border, during the recent border incursions by the southern kingdom of Ralm?" The lady asked him anxiously.
"Lidia, manners. I am the baron Tolheth and this is my wife the baroness Tolheth. We are worried about our son. He is stationed at Arnu," the baron stated.
"I am sorry, but I don't know the name. But I do know that Arnu did not come under direct attack," Dev responded as kindly as he could.
"Thank the gods for that," the baroness burst out.
Dev was about to tell them that this did not mean that their son did not march out to battle, but he thought better of it. If the lady was relieved a little, then perhaps that was for the best. Still, it made him uneasy to be asked such questions. How much should he tell of what he knew?
That started the flood of people wanting to either know about relatives, or what the fighting was like. Dev found it all distressing, and on some occasions even disgusting. One elderly man limped up and asked him what strategies were used. Here was someone who was interested in the mechanics of battles.
He told about what he had experienced only, and the man responded that this was ever the way of the common soldier. The man wandered off and Dev hadn't even gotten his name.
There was a measured thump, thump, thump. It cut through the many conversations going on, and everyone turned to find the sound.
"My lords, my ladies, his majesty King Kaslen," the Herald announced.
Everyone watched as he made his way down the stairs and he was accompanied by four armed guards. People parted like magic before him, bowing or curtsying. He walked to his chair and sat down, his guards moving into position on either side of the chair.
Soon, musicians started playing, and people started dancing. This was something that Dev had never done before. He watched avidly as the men and woman danced through some simple or complicated steps.
Still, he did not forget what he was there for, and he kept looking for anything that seemed odd or out of the ordinary. Time went by and Dev mingled and learned to talk about nothing to these people.
The music stopped and did not continue. Again the herald stepped forward and announced the king. He stepped forward from his chair and the room was quiet.
"My lords and ladies. During the past few months, our southern border was again a point of contention between the kingdom of Darlonther and Ralm. As happens during such violent times, men rise to the occasion and sometimes beyond.
"This evening, we have one such man with us. He was a lieutenant during the skirmish. He has been promoted to captain, just recently. I want to personally do something as a way of thanks from his king.
"Devlin Cantor, step forward," the king commanded.
While stunned at being singled out, Dev had the presence of mind to step forward and walk to the king. He paused three steps away and bowed.
"Kneel, Devlin Cantor," the king commanded.
Dev did so, unsure at what was going to happen.
The king turned to one of the guards who handed him a long straight sword. The king turned back to the crowd and Dev and raised the sword.
"I, Sero Kaslen, King of Darlonther do hereby dub thee, Devlin Cantor, Knight of the Realm," the king said solemnly as he tapped first Dev's right shoulder, then his left with the sword.
"Arise, Sir Cantor," the king said.
Devlin did so, to the applause from those assembled.
"Congratulations, Sir Cantor," the king said.
Edited by TeNderLoin