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Chapter 5 - Fillun at the castle

Chapter 5 – Fillun at the castle

The horseman and his two companions travelled down from the mountains.  The teenage boy was with the first horseman, covered by his cloak.

After spending another day in the mountains, admiring the view down over Velastria, they travelled down the other side, into Cavonia, and on to the castle.  Lord Elstar, or Bonnar as he was known to his close friends and family, brought Fillun back with him and tried his best to settle him in.

Fillun's chamber was next to Bonnar's and without him knowing, Bonnar checked on him once or twice during the night, to make sure he wasn't having nightmares or feeling completely alone. And Fillun appreciated his closeness. As a teenage boy he was unsure of himself and he trusted Bonnar, who at twenty-two seemed to have done a lot with his life and experienced and travelled a lot.  Fillun was short and pale and although thirteen years of age he looked about ten; the shocks of recent times and his sheltered upbringing had not helped him to grow.

They spent their days on horseback, visiting the different parts of the estate, going around the castle and getting to know the staff, and playing games with the younger children of the castle staff. He became popular as the 'new boy' and was not given any special status, although the other children knew he was living in the castle and would be given slightly preferential treatment.

 Fillun seemed to smile and he was aware of this, though he felt a little alien and every so often he thought of his parents and his family and friends in Velastria, and cried softly to himself. But in the evenings when he had dinner with Bonnar, usually just the two of them, Bonnar told him stories and jokes to make him laugh and wonder.  Sometimes there were visitors to dinner and Bonnar would introduce him as a cousin who had come to stay for a time. 

 He asked Bonnar about what his connection was with his family. Bonnar was happy to explain the connection to him.

“When I was about your age, some rebels came and invaded my father's estate in the south of Velastria. They took over the houses and killed my family” - here he paused for a second as he remembered his family members who were slain mercilessly - “and I had to ride away on horseback to escape them. They weren't from the area so they didn't know who I was, or that I had left, only that they had taken possession of my father's lands.”

Fillun was starting to feel understanding for this man, who had had a similar experience to his own.

Bonnar continued to explain that he had travelled on to the capital, where he had some family members remaining. He was introduced to the King, Fillun's father, who had taken him into the palace and spent several days learning about what had happened. Instead of accepting Bonnar's first instinct to return with soldiers, which he asked the king for, he suggested that he should get some training in warfare from more experienced fighters. Looking back, Bonnar explaind, he had been angry and wanted revenge, but wouldn't have achieved anything by trying to fight without knowing how. So the king used some contacts to get him placed with the Knights of the Temple in Cavonia, who were to train him as a knight and soldier.

“So you came to Cavonia to learn to be a knight?” asked Fillun, his eyes opening wide.

 “Yes, Fillun, it was the best thing I could have done”, answered Bonnar, his eyes closing slightly as he thought back in time. “I was angry and wanted to get revenge but if I had tried to attack the rebels as I was, it would have been a disaster and I could have been killed.  And it is thanks to your father's wisdom that I am still alive.”

 “So you just stayed here, and you're not going back?”

“I have always intended to go back, Fillun. That is very clear to me” the look on his face became very serious. “I will get revenge on the rebels and in my father's name I will win back our lands in Velastria. Just not now. I have business here and I have been fortunate in having inherited an estate in Cavonia which is giving me a comfortable living for now.”

“You inherited all this?” asked Fillun, his eyes widening again in astonishment.

“Yes, and I was very lucky. My grand-uncle, who was my grandfather's half-brother, was born here and his mother's family owned this land. When he died and I was here in Cavonia, close by at the temple, it was decided that I should inherit the land and the castle, and the rest of the family would live here and help to manage the estate. I will introduce you to my cousins soon.”

“I'd like that.”

 Fillun began to feel at home in the castle over the next few months. He did miss his family and his grand-mother wrote to him regularly, the letters were carried by a family friend from the highest small town in Velastria to Bonnar's mountain lodge and from there by one of the two young horsemen who had accompanied them from the capital. Sometimes Fillun sent a letter in response.

 Bonnar engaged a tutor for Fillun, who taught him subjects like History, Algebra and Latin, and some of his native Velastrian language which was similar to Cavonian. Fillun found these lessons a bit boring but he agreed with Bonnar to work at them and they were only a few hours each week. For the rest of the week he was free to roam the estate, on horseback or on foot, or travel with Bonnar as he went to different parts of the estate.

“The rent will be increased this year, we can't change this, and you are aware of our agreement.”

Bonnar was explaining why he was increasing some charge for some of the land he owned to be rented to a small farmer. The farmer was not happy because he had a large familiy to feed and insisted that he would find it hard to feed so many if he had to pay a higher rent. Although Bonnar was experienced in this, he knew that the farmer was sincere and agreed to leave the rent at the same amount. Fillun was impressed at these negotiations and how smoothly Bonnar carried them through on each occasion.