‘Of course, sir.’
Mulgrave watched the youth run lightly up the steps to the side doors. Just then the tall, spidery figure of Alterith Shaddler came into view. Mulgrave removed his own chest guard and offered the schoolteacher a short bow. ‘Good day to you, sir teacher,’ he said.
‘And to you, Master Mulgrave. I trust that you are well?’
‘I am, sir. The Lord Gaise has asked me to convey his apologies for lateness. Our practice was delayed and he is changing his clothing.’
‘The martial skills are always considered ahead of the cerebral,’ said Alterith, without bitterness.
‘Sadly, sir, I must agree with you. A true student of history would learn of the endless stupidity war brings out in men.’
‘And the nobility, Master Mulgrave,’ admonished the teacher. That too.’
‘Indeed. Nobility is found in great quantities among warriors. It is notably lacking, I find, in those who send them to war.’
Alterith Shaddler blinked and licked his lips. ‘I must have misunderstood you, sir, for your words could be seen as a criticism of the king.’
Mulgrave smiled. ‘We were talking of matters historical, sir. Not political. For example one could read the Essays on War of the Emperor Jasaray. There is little nobility there – merely a vaunting ambition to conquer as much of the known world as possible.’
‘But there was great nobility in Conn of the Vars who defeated him,’ observed Alterith.
Mulgrave chuckled. ‘Conn of the Vars? He was one of us then? Fascinating. I’d always been led to believe he was a clansman.’
‘A common misconception among non-scholars, sir. The power of the Source brought him to this realm as a child, in order that he could one day defeat Jasaray.’
‘Ah yes, the Source,’ said Mulgrave, with a grin. ‘I understand He is also of the Varlish.’
‘I believe that you are making sport of me, sir,’ said Alterith, sternly.
‘My apologies, sir teacher,’ replied Mulgrave, with a bow, ‘for indeed I am. When I was a child my mother taught me of the Sacrifice. As I understand it the early saints were people who preached peace and love. How strange it is that, in their names, we have conquered many lands, burned cities, slaughtered thousands. I’ll wager the legendary Veiled Lady would turn her face from us in shame. We are no better than the savages she sought to convert.’
All colour drained from Alterith’s face. ‘By the Sacrifice, man! You could burn for such remarks! The Varlish are the chosen race of the Source.’
Mulgrave’s pale eyes held the schoolmaster’s gaze. ‘Aye, I guess I could burn for the truth. Other men have.’
Alterith sighed. ‘I shall not repeat this conversation, Master Mulgrave, but I would appreciate it if you do not repeat such heresy within my hearing.’
‘Agreed. We will not talk of matters religious. In the same spirit please do not insult my intelligence with nonsense about Conn of the Vars. It is enough that we destroy the culture of the Keltoi, without polluting their proud history.’
‘Connovar’s origins are a known fact,’ insisted Alterith. The historian . . .’
‘I’ll tell you a known fact, sir teacher. Four years ago, a small church some thirty miles from here, in the province of the Finance, was undergoing renovation. They removed a cracked flagstone close to the altar. Beneath it was an old chest, and within it a number of ancient scrolls, yellow and crusty with age. Upon one scroll was written the table of Keltoi kings, and their lineage. An elderly monk spent months deciphering the Keltoi script. Many of the stories contained in the scrolls were unknown to us, dealing with myths of the Seidh. The old monk became very excited. We always knew that Connovar carried the soul-name Sword in the Storm. We did not know why. One of the scrolls explained that his name was actually Conn-a-Var, or, in pure translation, Conn son of Var. His father’s name was Var-a-Conn, Var son of Conn. He was not of the Var race at all. The scrolls also gave insights into known historical events, battles, and the philosophy of the Keltoi kings.’
‘I would have heard of such a find,’ argued Alterith. ‘It would have been priceless, and much talked of.’