Newcomer: Day 13

Word Count: 78,037

Summary of Events:

Miķelis continued his training, as well as spending time with Kristiāns and Dzidris, and dealing with Genādijs' continued disagreeability, in addition to Mārtiņš' unfriendliness for the next while before he was summoned to Prince Zigmārs' tent again. Having gotten so busy with everything else that he'd forgotten about his previous visit, Miķelis feared that he was going to be meeting the King, and so was relieved when he found the King wasn't in Prince Zigmārs' tent. Prince Zigmārs informed Miķelis — with evident disappointment — that the King had rejected Prince Zigmārs' request that Miķelis be sent to the front early, prompting Prince Zigmārs to declare that he was going to do the next-best thing…

Excerpt of the Day:

Someone — Miķelis supposed Ainārs the stool-bearer — removed his fur-lined winter hat from his head. Prince Zigmārs placed the cap he’d been given on Miķelis’ head in its stead, then he unbuttoned the ends of each of Miķelis’ unadorned epaulettes and slid the decorations onto them before refastening them.

The decorations weren’t familiar to Miķelis, thus he was sure they didn’t represent any sort of important position like his brothers held, but they evidently signified something.

Prince Zigmārs placed his hands on Miķelis’ shoulders once he was finished. Miķelis returned his gaze to Prince Zigmārs’ knees and hoped the Prince couldn’t feel the nervous tension in his shoulders.

“I, Prince Zigmārs Ozoliņš, heir of the House of Ozoliņš to the throne of Ovilis, firstborn of His Majesty King Alvis Ozoliņš, first of his name, do hereby, in my authority as Crown Prince and Commandant of Military Training Camp Sargs, appoint you, Miķelis Eglītis, son of Vitālijs Eglītis, of Elejādirozen, as my personal Esquire of the Body from this day forward until you shall for yourself earn a superior rank,” Prince Zigmārs said, his voice sounding serious and authoritative. “This I do before the witness of God, the Holy Virgin, the Saints, and all who have heard these words.”

Silence — excepting the crackling of the wood burning in the stove — fell over the tent. Miķelis felt even more perplexed. He’d never heard of an Esquire of the Body, and he didn’t know how it was the next-best thing to his being commissioned early.

He tilted his head so the shiny black brim of his new cap allowed him to see only Prince Zigmārs’ feet.

“My lord,” he said quietly.

“Yes?” Prince Zigmārs asked.

“I am not familiar with the rank of Esquire of the Body,” Miķelis replied. “What does that mean, my lord?”

“It means you are my personal attendant,” Prince Zigmārs replied. “A manservant of sorts. It will be your duty to assist me in dressing and undressing for battle, and otherwise, and requires that you go wherever I go. Therefore, when I am well enough to return to the front, you shall go with me, regardless of whether you have completed your year’s training or not, for it supersedes such requirements.”

Miķelis nodded.

“As you know, I am by no means well enough to return to the front soon,” Prince Zigmārs said. “As a result, you will remain here for the time being, and that requires another document.”

The Commandant-Adjutant handed over the other paper in his hand and the two men filled it out and signed it before more wax was poured on and Prince Zigmārs imprinted his seal therein.

“This document releases you to participate in regular training with the other trainees until the time that I am well enough to depart, thus there will be little change to your routine until I have recovered as much as necessary to return to the frontlines,” Prince Zigmārs said. “The only thing that is required is that you should move from your tent into this one.”

Pronunciation:

Ozoliņš: auzaulihn'sh