By evening Sir Lucian was my new valet, and Master Gabriel was my new squire. Lucian was from Panait, the late Lord Marian's Burgraviate to the west. He had light brown hair and eyes, rather than the almost ubiquitous blond with blue eyes of the nobles, and was a few inches shorter than me with a stocky build. While he'd been a cavalier for four years, he wasn't in a hurry to marry and still was looking for the right woman. I could appreciate that sentiment in this world where marriage seemed to be the goal of so many.
Gabriel was everything his father said he was. He looked twelve years old, complete with a cracking voice, but his thinking was older and in keeping with his years. He was not quite five feet in height and scrawny, but those would change if I could keep him alive for a year or two.
The same went for keeping Lucian alive. They both seemed pleased and a little surprised they were selected.
Both of them should work for now. I didn't have the energy to hunt around and see what others might be out there. Lord Calin was sapping me of that. He'd caught me alone after I interviewed Mihai and broke down completely, apologizing profusely for his failures in security both in the keep and in town. It didn't seem to help much when I told him that the attack was unprecedented here and he shouldn't have been able to anticipate something like that.
Guards had been increased significantly throughout the castle grounds, plus a couple of contingents patrolling the town, though I heard Emil gave those orders. I knew Calin's wife wasn't doing well, which was heavy on his mind, along with all the other deaths and maimings. She'd taken a wound to her abdomen, which was almost certain to end with her slow death. I wasn't sure how Calin would handle her demise. Unlike his snideness from the pre-dawn morning, he seemed to have nothing left.
I considered all of this as I sat out on the balcony of my new...apartment? Rooms? Chambers? Instead of the single area of pallets like my previous quarters, this one had separate outer rooms for the valet and squire, with only the pages on pallets by my door waiting for my orders. Likewise, I had multiple rooms in my chambers. The largest was set for my private meetings, though with the ubiquitous four-poster bed. The other rooms were for any family I might have, my Lady in the one and a nursery for any kids on the other, with room for the Lady of the Nursery.
There was a second outer entrance for the Lady's chamber, with extra rooms for her Ladies and Maids. I had that outer door locked as there was no reason for that area to be used in the foreseeable future.
All three rooms opened to the balcony that stretched most of the way across that end of the building, looking out to the west. The sunsets should be lovely, though I missed tonight since I was interviewing Lucien after supper.
Right now, a cool breeze filtered through the growing darkness as more stars continued to appear. No modern lighting meant that the night skies were dazzling. I went to the edge of the balcony to see the stars.
How did these worlds work? Were those different planets out there? That didn't make sense. How could this have the same terrain as back home?
Was it some quantum mechanical thing? Take a left at the five billionth electron and duck behind a quark? I snorted. Ellie tried to explain that stuff to me. Superstring theory and some other Bosonic theory with ten, eleven, or twenty-six dimensions. She liked it, but it made my head hurt.
"Milord K-K-Kevin."
I jumped slightly, then turned to see Stefan at the doors, and he bowed.
I sighed. Visitors, if he was being formal.
Radu stepped in front of him and also bowed. "Maid Elexus of the Realm and Maid Sorina wish to visit you."
I suppressed a smile. Stefan was working this nicely. I needed to talk with Gabriel in the morning about how to work with Stefan on his stutter. They should've been settling in since they'd already had their baths.

YOU ARE READING
Wherever I Am
Science-FictionCollege-age Kevin Covali and his family have lived on his uncle's estate for the last year instead of in the city. When he and his sister Allie are attacked on the road home from school, he finds out that there is more to his family than he ever sus...