"And why is that..."
The militia lad first response was a yes,but something in him knew that would be a lie,and so he decided to be frank, though he understood that his life was probably at stake.
"I have always to be a knight since young,and dying in these woods because I was ordered to accompany you is not my ideal goal..."
"Though I took an oath,an oath that I will die upholding,I also made a promise to myself..."
The militia lad, expecting the young master to order for his capture and execution for his treasonous words.
"I get you..."
Johnny said stunning the young man.
"But for you to be a knight ht,you must be accepted by a noble household and a lord..."
The militia lad understood where the young master was headed,with them moving into Millville,where there was not a single noble household and where their death was certain,his dream of becoming a knight were as good as dead.
The militia lad sighed in dejection.
"Take a knee,swear allegiance to me and only me and I will ensure that when we reach Millville and settle down,your name will be written in my household's silver book..."
Johnny said to the dazed militia lad.
"But young master is not the lord of the Windstream Household...?"
The militia lad was confused.
"According to the Chulu Kingdom's customs,the sons of nobility not directly named as hires to the household seats can cut ties with their households to establish their own..."
Johnny did not finish as the young militia lad interrupted him as he quickly knelt and swore his allegiance to Johnny,in the process forgetting that they were supposed to be whispering, making their presence outside the tent known to the tents occupants.
"Pray that the young master does not learn of your treacherous words..."
The calmly young voice warned.
"And what will he do, strangle me with those bony weakness hands of his..."
"Enough...!"
The ruffian authoritative voice barked.
"He may be sick but we all took an oath to serve, protect and a t in the best interest of our liege,and your words are quite overbearing..."
The ruffian authoritative voice said.
"My liege is the lord of Windstream,the Duke himself and not his sickly good for nothing son..."
The angry voice retorted.
"Am with the butler,but I to agree that you should mind your words..."
The calm arrogant voice reprimanded the hoarse angry voice.
"You are all fools...!"
The hoarse authoritative voice cursed.
"Let's not argue but figure out a solution..."
The young calmly voice commented.
"The scribe is right,but what's solution is there...?"
The calm arrogant voice asked
"Run..."
The angry hoarse voice coldly said.
"And when the kingdom learns of our treacherous deserter act,what do you think will happen to us and our families back at home..."
The ruffian authoritative voice asked.
"Deserting is not an option..."
The arrogant calm voice said.
"Unlike you who cares little about your family,most of us here do,if it were not for my family's investment in my studies,I wouldn't have been a physician...'
The arrogant calm voice said,this time,there was a little bit of coldness in his tone,which Johnny deduced to be directed at the angry hoarse voice,that he had come to learn that it belonged to the butler.
"Family is nothing but..."
The angry hoarse voice was in the middle of a retort when he was interrupted.
"I swear my unfaltering allegiance,loyalty, strength and my little wisdom to serve,protect and act in the best interest of my lord and liege,the third son of the Duke of Windstream,Young Master Xclaimer Windstream..."
"Damn you..."
Johnny cursed the militia lad as his loud proclamation had notified the tents occupants of his presence.
The reason he had pushed for the allegiance of the militia lad was because he had earlier on received a chain of quests,after eavesdropping on the tents occupants.
{Quest Panel}
{You have received a quest}
Quest 1: Treacherous
Treacherous thoughts have started growing amongst your entourage and may lead to desertion and rebellion.
Curb them...
Reward: 100 system points.
{ You have received a quest}
Quest 2: Allegiance
Though the entourage is under your command,their allegiance is sworn to the lord of Windstream. As the third son and no heir to your household lordship,the Chulu Kingdom's customs allow you to cut off ties with your birth household and establish your own.
Gaining the allegiance of the entourage and adding their names to the household's copper covered or silver covered books, will go a long way in helping you establish a foundation for your future household.
Sworn Allegiance:
Reward: 10 system Points per person
{ You have received a quest}
Quest 3: Flue
Find a solution to the flue affecting your entourage
Reward: 50 system points.
{ You have received a quest}
Quest 4: Dwell Bandits
Scouts from the Dwell Bandits have spotted your entourage and have sent word to their lair of your presence.
You have five days before they attack.
Reward: Calculated based on your decisions,actions,coarse of action and outcome.
The second quest of allegiance was what made Johnny target the militia lad,as for the first quest,that happened to award him a hundred system points,he already had a solution for it.
{System alert: You have gained one allegiance}
{Reward:10 System Points}
"Good..."
Johnny said as he assisted the militia lad to his feet.
"What's your name...?"
Johnny inquired.
"Aazon son of a common farmer from Timu Village of the Windstream Dukedom..."
Johnny took in the prideful look of the militia lad as he introduced himself. What he did not understand was that to commoners like Aazon,it was not everyday that a noble asked for their name.
As for Johnny,he had not just asked for his name,but promised to have Aazon name entered into the household books,and to him and all commoners, entering in the household book was the second thing to gaining status.
There were four kinds of books for the noble households. The lowest being the wooden covered book,this had all the names of people under the rule of the household,the copper covered book followed,this included names of servants, militia, professionals, soldiers and warriors of the household.
The silver covered book was the second highest,in it were recorded names of the household's knights and high ranking officials,as well as the children of the lords concubines.
The highest ranking household book was the golden covered book,in it were names of the direct descendants of the original founder of the household.
Johnny pondered for a second why Aazon had only given his first name,that was also weird as his.