Two days later Thomas declared the Duke fit for travel, so the Duke called the Baron into his chamber while Dana and David were there.

'I must thank you M'Lord Baron. You have been a very gracious host. My doctor tells me that I am fit enough to continue my journey and I am very anxious to reach the capital. My son should be expecting me very soon, and I understand it's still a week's travel. Now, I would like to ask you another favour before I leave.'

'M'Lord Duke, you have only to name it,' said the Baron, who was obviously looking forward to having his castle to himself again but wondering how much it would cost him to do this favour.

'The Lady Dana here was forced to leave her home in somewhat of a hurry and was unable to bring many clothes with her. I was wondering if one of your ladies would have something that would fit her. She's also bereft of servants. Samuel and David are my servants and, believe me, I keep them busy enough when I'm healthy. I was wondering if you could spare a man or two? I'm quite willing to recompense you for any expense.'

The Baron looked a little relieved, 'I think I could spare a servant, and I believe some of my wife's clothes are still around. They are of no use to me, so I'll provide them as a gift.'

Dana spoke up, 'I was rather hoping that you could spare that wonderful young man that was my page as we were riding the other day. What was his name? Markun?'

The Baron blanched. 'Oh, you wouldn't like him as a servant, M'Lady. I have a nice lady-in-waiting who would suit you much better. She served my wife before her untimely demise.'

'While I would like a lady-in-waiting,' said Dana, 'I'ld much prefer a page. For the next week I will be travelling and someone to carry my things and an extra body to protect us would be much more helpful. I am sure we can find a lady-in-waiting in the capital while I'm not travelling.'

'I'm sorry,' said the Baron. 'He's not available.'

Dana decided she would have to out-stubborn the Baron. He was hiding something now. She pouted and sat down on the floor like a bratty schoolgirl. She said in the most selfish voice she could muster, 'I want him and I'm not going to let you keep him from me.'

The Baron was a bit taken aback. 'You can have any of my other pages, M'Lady,' he said.

'But he's the one I want,' she pouted.

The Duke picked up that the Baron was hiding something and said, 'So why can't you release that man?'

'He's turned out to be a criminal, M'Lord Duke,' the Baron said.

'What?' screamed Dana.

'He was observed pilfering our larder and attempting to set it alight to cover his crimes. He was most violent when he was apprehended, gave one of the men a black eye. I did not want to bring this up in the presence of Her Ladyship, but she insisted.'

'So for a few extra bits of food he turned violent?' said the Duke.

'It would appear that way,' said the Baron.

'Doesn't matter,' said Dana begrudgingly. 'He'll be nice to me.'

'I think that settles it,' said the Duke. 'He's of no use to you. I'll pay you what he would have been still worth to you, and you'll be rid of a nuisance.'

'I should warn you, M'Lord, M'Lady,' said the Baron. 'He was hurt rather badly when he was taken. My men didn't take kindly to him reducing their food supply, nor poking out the eye of one of their own.'

'Well, I guess we'll have to live with that,' said the Duke and looked at Dana who smiled through her alligator tears.

'Okay then, I'll have a servant bring some clothes and I will fetch Martug.'

'What a lying deceiptful man!' Dana exclaimed after the Baron had left. 'I am quite sure that Martug would not be a theif or an arson.'

'Well, we'll have to see what he says when he gets here,' said the Duke.

The Duke called for Thomas to come in. 'If Martug is as hurt as the Baron suggested, a doctor might be in order,' he said.

A few minutes after Thomas came in, one of the Baron's lady's came bearing some frocks and petticoats. 'Here you are, M'Lady, or would you prefer I take them to your chambers?' she asked.

'This is fine,' said Dana. 'David and Samuel can take them down to the carriage later. Thank you.'

The lady curtseyed and left. Dana started to feel anxious. Time seemed to slow down. Dana wasn't sure why she felt so anxious.

They heard the Baron approaching with Martug long before they saw him. Yohan was cursing and defaming everything he could, insulting Martug as much as he could. When they arrived, Martug was barely able to stand and looked like he was about to fall down. Fresh blood wet his wovens and partially hid his face. Thomas approached him and led him to a chaise lounge. The doctor quickly examined his patient while Dana watched.

'He's healthy enough,' said Thomas eventually. 'He's had a lot of pain the last few days apparently, but he'll survive. No permanent damage.'

'So how much do I owe you?' asked the Duke.

'M'lord Duke,' said Johan. 'I can't charge you for the last two weeks of his contract. That's all he has left with me. I suspect he would not recover in my doctor's care anyway, even if I had a desire to help him recover. I see my wife's clothes are already here. I'm sure you would like to leave soon; so please, don't let me keep you, but be on your way. I'll be down to see you off in the courtyard.'

This whole speech was spoken like he had practised it several times. Dana felt like he wanted to be rid of them but still wanted to keep up appearances that he was a good man. It made her head spin.

'So, Thomas, is he ready to travel?' asked the Duke.

'As ready as you are, M'lord Duke,' came the reply. 'I wouldn't recommend giving him much work to do for the next two days or so, though.'

'Well, you'll have to attend him and me and act as page for the Lady Dana then,' said the Duke.

'As you request, M'Lord,' said Thomas.

'I thank you, M'Lord Baron,' said the Duke, turning to Yohan. 'We'll be down to the courtyard momentarily.'

'Yes, M'Lord Duke,' said the Baron as he bowed out of the room with the two guards that had held Martug on the trip up from the gaol.

The next half hour was quite busy as Dana, David and Thomas carried everything they were taking with them down to the carriage while Samuel prepared the horses.

Within a half hour, everyone was down at the carriage and they were waiting for the Baron to come see them off. The horses were yoked and the luggage was all set atop the carriage. The Duke sent one of the pages standing nearby to find the Baron, but he did not come. They waited another ten minutes and still he did not come. The Duke sent all the pages and told them he was leaving in five minutes whether the Baron came or not. He told them to spread out and search the whole castle. They waited, and just as the Duke was telling Samuel to start, the Baron came.

'You could not wait but a minute?' called the Baron as he saw that Samuel was starting off.

'We've waited for you for fifteen,' said the Duke under his breath but told Samuel to stop.

'Well, I shall miss you, M'Lord Duke, and you, M'Lady,' said the Baron. 'I wish you well on your journey.'

'And thank you, M'Lord Baron, for you hospitality,' said the Duke. 'May the Roubbes shine upon this home.'

The Baron looked a little suprised, 'That's on odd farewell,' he said.

'It is what I wish upon all the homes I visit,' said the Duke. 'The Roubbes give to each what he deserves. An honourable gentleman such as yourself will receive good weather, I'm sure.'

The Baron smiled a smile, bowed and said, 'Then I will not keep you. Success on your journey.'

The Duke spoke to Samuel and they started off.

****************************

Marchan was bored. Since arriving at the Hall of Records he had eaten extremely well. So well, in fact, that he was afraid he might start growing taller than his kind normally grew. He did a lot of walking. Richard insisted someone from the Hall escort Marchan whenever he left the compound. The City of the Kings was quite beautiful and Marchan enjoyed the site of stone and admired the architecture, but he had covered everything he could easily reach on foot with the escorts. Most of his escorts would refuse to go very far from the Hall, Marchan could never figure out why. It was like he was tethered to the Hall. The few escorts that would go farther were usually interested in visiting some shop or other that did not hold Marchan's interest at all.

So Marchan sat fidgeting on a bench in the garden with nothing to do but wait. He had never had this problem before. Up until a week before his arrival, work was easy enough to find on the farm, and for the last week before ariving, Marchan was travelling and there were so many things happening that Marchan was very busy.

Marchan saw Richard crossing the compound and called out to him. Richard waved and called, 'Just a minute!' and disappeared into the gatehouse.

When he reappeared he came over. 'Good morning,' he said. 'Why are you sitting on this bench like a bored frog?'

'Because I am bored. Is there anything here for me to do?'

'Do you read? We have one of the largest libraries in the kingdom.'

'I don't know if I could concentrate on reading while waiting for an answer like this. I was hoping for something more active.'

'You've explored the whole neighbourhood of the Hall,' said Richard. 'Maybe you would enjoy a game?'

'What kind of game?' Marchan asked.

'Well, we have a chess competition here.'

'Chess! I think that would take my mind off things.'

'You know how to play?'

'Yes, my mother taught me.'

'Well come along then. I've got an hour before my next appointment.'

They walked across the courtyard and into the mess hall. One corner was set up with several chess boards. Marchan was a little confused by what was sitting ont them.

'What are these?' he asked, picking up one of the objects sitting on the board.

'Those are the chess pieces,' Richard said.

'Oh,' said Marchan. 'We used rocks.'

'Oh,' said Richard. 'Were you not playing draughts then?'

'No, that's another game we played. The size and colour of the rock told us what piece it was. I guess this one with crown is the king?'

'No, the king is always the tallest piece,' said Richard. 'And is never on his own colour.'

'Right,' said Marchan. 'I see. If I had known chess pieces were supposed to be so beautiful, I would have carved some for us to play with.'

Richard picked up a pawn from each side and shook them in his hands, then seperated his hands. Marchan picked Richard's right which turned out to hold the white pawn. They sat down and started to play.

Marchan started with a normal opening move placing his King's Pawn two steps forward and brought his King's Knight out to attack the Pawn that Richard brought out to mirror it. When Richard mirrored him again, Marchan moved his Queen's Pawn forward two steps as well.

Richard thought for a second and took Marchan's first pawn with his Knight. Marchan smiled. 'You know,' he said. 'I took you for a much more cautious person.'

'Why's that?' Richard asked.

'Well, you won't really let me go out of sight of the Hall of Records,' Marchan said moving his King's Elephant in front of his Queen.

Richard brought his own Queen's Pawn forward to support his Knight and said, 'Well, your safetly means more than my Knight.'

'Well then, I'm suprised you let your men take me to those shops,' Marchan said and he took the opposing King's Pawn with his Knight.

Richard's Queen's Knight moved in front of the Queen to attack the intruder while it's owner said, 'What shops?'

Marchan removed that Knight with his own and watched his scout fall to the Queen's Elephant. He thought a bit, then said, 'A few days ago, one of the men took me to a shop. It had a dragon painted above the door. He ordered a drink and told me to sit quietly. The building was one of the poorer looking buildings. Just wood, not a very interesting building at all.' He castled.

Richard looked suprised. He thought for a moment then said, 'Well he should not have done that. Do you mind telling me his name?'

'Oh I don't think I ever heard it. Your men do not seem interested in making friends with me.'

Richard moved his King's Elephant in front of the other, finishing a wall across the board. 'That's too bad for them,' he said. 'You seem to be a well educated youngster.'

Marchan moved his Queen's night up beside his Elephant and watched as Richard slid his Queen anglewise to the side of the board. He slid the pawn before the King forward to attack her. Richard left that and took Marchan's remaining Knight with his own remaining Knight which quickly fell to the footsoldier in front of the empty square. Richard's Queen slid sideways to sit in front of the Pawn that had been threatening her and Marchan's Rook slid sideways to put Richard's King in danger.

'Be that as it may,' said Marchan. 'Why am I stuck to this Hall?'

Richard thought for a second, then moved King to the Queen's original position and said, 'I'm sorry you feel a prisoner. It's not intenional.'

Marchan's Elephant slid back to disrupt the line between the Queens and the Black Queen slid one step toward her Elephant. Marchan slid his Queen's Rook one step sideways so he could bring it into play.

'It is the effect, however,' he said. 'I would like to go out to the Merchant's City and find my friend Peter that helped me when I first arrived. And I would like to purchase some shoes.'

'Oh, I assumed you did not know anyone in the city,' Richard said. 'I thought you had just arrived.'

'I did,' said Marchan. 'I just met him a week ago when I first arrived. He was very helpful to me and I would like to go thank him.'

Richard moved the Pawn across from that Rook forward two steps so that his Elephant was protecting it. Marchan moved his veteran Pawn forward to threaten it but the Pawn on the other side took it, so Marchan's Elephant took that.

Richard nodded. He slid his King's Rook to the open slot to face down Marchan's and said, 'Tell you what. I can spend a few days myself. We'll take two of my men and the four of us will go to the Merchant's city, the day after tomorrow. We'll see if we can't find this Peter and some new shoes for you.'

Marchan slid other Elephant between the Rooks to where it had been and said, 'Thank you.'

Richard moved forward his back Elephant sliding it forward and to Marchan's left one step. Marchan thought that gave Richard too much advantage since it now looked right past his King, so he moved his forward Pawn forward to block. Richard's Elephant returned to its previous position and Marchan slid his own Elephant down beside his King.

Richard moved his leftmost Pawn forward one step up the side of the board and said, 'So why else did you think I was a cautious person?'

Marchan moved the pawn just by his Queen forward two steps and watched as Richard's central Rook stepped forward one space. Marchan thought Richard might be preparing to line up his Rooks, so he moved his Elephant to threaten the Queen which stepped back one space out of the line of fire.

'Oh, the Hall of Records does not seem like the place for a daring adventurer,' said Marchan and slid his King forward. Richard's own king slid behind his Rook and Marchan moved his last moved Elephant back and to the left. Richard placed his Queen just in front of it, to threaten one of the Rooks and the forward Pawns. Marchan moved that Elephant forward and left one square to get the Pawns some protection.

Richard picked up his King and said, 'You know, you're absolutely right. I have been rather stay at home. I've been trained for campaigning, but haven't been outside of the city for four years now.' He put his King back down to complete the transition behind the Rook.

Marchan's Rook slid right to attack Richard's Queen which ran back to her last position. Marchan slid his Elephant back down in front of the Rook and saw his opponent line up his Rooks. He knew he was at a definite disadvantage. He finally moved his Queen two steps forward and was met with his opponent's Elephant angling up to take command of his King's two forward squares. He felt like he was going to be running soon. He moved his own Elephant behind his Queen, preparing to defend the structure around the King and his Rook suddenly had a black Rook in its face. He took it, but realised his mistake when he saw the opposing Rook take his. Nothing was protecting the structure around his King. He slid his remaining Rook into position behind the Pawn and his Elephant was taken by the opposing Rook. Just then, there was a shout.

'Cap'n, Cap'n, we've found something!'

Marchan and Richard looked up. There was Trevor running up to them.

'Cap'n,' he said breathlessly when he arrived. 'We've found a reference to a Dwarvenhold in the records.'

'Okay, where is it?' said Richard.

'Far in the East. In the time of Queen Bedua's Father, the King sent out scouts to chart the lands north and south, east and west. When the Queen, our beloved King's Mother reigned, one group came back and reported a Dwarvenhold at the north end of a peninsula, in the rock of a volcano, East across the Bay of Chitay.'

'Well there you have it,' said Richard. 'I don't suppose you'd care to finish our game?'

'There's no point,' said Marchan, 'You have me at a distinct disadvantage and I resign.'

'Ah, a good warrior knows when he is defeated,' said Richard.

'Can you find nothing else in the records?' Marchan asked looking at Trevor.

'They've been looking for a week now,' said Richard. 'It has disrupted all our normal work. The King will soon return to the city and we must have all of our work done. He will check. I'm afraid I can no longer spare my men from their duties or my Lord King will be very upset. Trevor here will continue to search, but the rest will go back to their regular duties.'

'Oh, okay,' said Marchan, a bit disappointed. He was sure his family was from somewhere nearer. It just did not feel right that they should be so far away.

'In the meantime, said Richard. 'I promised I would take you to the Merchant's Ring tomorrow. Do you have any money to purchase your shoes?'

'Hmm, no, but I think I can come up with something to barter or sell,' said Marchan. 'Is there any spare marble nearby?'

'As a matter of fact,' said Richard. 'I know where there is some. The workmen when they repaired the Hall this past summer left a broken block of marble in one of the courtyards. They claimed they would return for it, but it has been months. What do you have in mind?'

'These chess pieces must be worth pair of shoes,' said Marchan. 'I think I could do better.'

'Trevor,' said Richard, 'Show Marchan the block of marble. It's in the Northeast Courtyard. You know, the one we had the gardener's cover with vines? Then go get one of the gardeners and have him help Marchan uncover it.'

'Yes, sir, Cap'n,' saluted Trevor. 'This way, sir Dwarf.'

On the way, Marchan thanked Trevor for working so hard to help him.

'Think nothing of it,' said Trevor. 'A search like this is well worth it for the sheer joy of doing it. We love searching the records for little bits of information like this. And finding something is really exciting.'

They entered a courtyard that seemed a bit cramped. In the middle of the courtyard stood a large marble block, cracked through several times. Marchan could see that it would be terrible trying to move it as a piece, and would not make a very good wall. It was covered in climbing vines, but the leaves had all fallen off and the marble showed through. Marchan did not even notice that Trevor left, he was so excited. He circled the slab twice and chose a large chunk at one end. As he wondered how he might get the vines off it, Trevor returned with the Gardener.

'You want to take this marble block?' he asked. 'Excellent, it is a nice marble, but all cracked like that it just makes my garden look bad.'

'I don't think I'll take all of it today,' said Marchan. 'I'd like to take this piece here though.' He reached most of the way to the two cracks that he was sure joined.

'Now, little Master, how would you move such a large piece?' asked the Gardener.

'I've moved bigger and heavier pieces,' said Marchan. 'No worries there. Can you move the vines aside so I can lift it out without hurting them?'

'Well, if that's what you want,' said the Gardener and carefully pulled the vines' tendrils from the cracks and laid them off the piece Marchan wanted.

Marchan pulled out his rock hammer, which he had carried with him everywhere since he got it when he was five, and gently tapped the piece. It was a single solid piece as he thought. He found a good spot and gently slid the sharper edge into the crack and slowly twisted until he heard a 'pop' and then, grasping the edges with his back to it, lifted the piece out. He walked forward a few steps, slid it a bit to get a better grip and then walked with it on his back to his room.