When the meal was over, Meecham cleared the table, then began washing the dishes with clean sand and fresh water, while Kulgan and Pug sat talking. A single scrap of meat remained on the table, which Kulgan tossed over to Fantus, who lay before the fire. The drake opened one eye to regard the morsel. He pondered the choice between his comfortable resting place and the juicy scrap for a moment, then moved the necessary six inches to gulp down the prize and closed his eye again.
Kulgan lit his pipe, and once he was satisfied with its production of smoke, he said, What are your plans when you reach manhood, boy?
Pug was fighting off sleep, but Kulgans question brought him alert again. The time of Choosing, when the boys of the town and keep were taken into apprenticeship, was close, and Pug became excited as he said, This Midsummers Day I hope to take the Dukes service under Swordmaster Fannon.
Kulgan regarded his slight guest. I would have thought you still a year or two away from apprenticeship, Pug.
Meecham gave out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a grunt. Bit small to be lugging around sword and shield, arent you, boy?
Pug flushed. He was the smallest boy of his age in the castle. Megar the cook said I may be late coming to my growth, he said with a faint note of defiance. No one knows who my parents were, so they have no notion of what to expect.
Orphan, is it? asked Meecham, raising one eyebrow, his most expressive gesture yet.
Pug nodded. I was left with the Priests of Dala, in the mountain abbey, by a woman who claimed she found me in the road. They brought me to the keep, for they had no way to care for me.
Yes, injected Kulgan, I remember when those who worship the Shield of the Weak first brought you to the castle. You were no more than a baby fresh from the teat. It is only through the Dukes kindness that you are a freeman today. He felt it a lesser evil to free a bondsmans son than to bond a freemans. Without proof, it was his right to have you declared bondsman.
Meecham said in a noncommittal tone, A good man, the Duke.
Pug had heard the story of his origin a hundred times before from Magya in the kitchen of the castle. He felt completely wrung out and could barely keep his eyes open. Kulgan noticed and signaled Meecham. The tall franklin took some blankets from a shelf and prepared a sleeping pallet. By the time he finished, Pug had fallen asleep with his head on the table. The large mans hands lifted him gently from the stool and placed him on the blankets, then covered him.
Fantus opened his eyes and regarded the sleeping boy. With a wolfish yawn, he scrambled over next to Pug and snuggled in close. Pug shifted his weight in his sleep and draped one arm over the drakes neck. The firedrake gave an approving rumble, deep in his throat, and closed his eyes again.